Halo 3 almost tops Amazon Japan

by Ross Miller { Jul 3rd 2007 at 5:15PM }

The Halo 3 hype has hit the Land of the Rising Sun, with Bungie's shooter placing second on Amazon Japan's list of bestselling videogames as of this writing, sandwiched between Dragon Quest Swords at three and Capcom's Gotcha Force for GameCube at number one.

The only other Xbox 360 title to place in the top 25 is Oblivion at number seven, which is likely bolstered by 2,300 yen (US $18.75) discount if you buy the American RPG with Halo 3 or with Trusty Bell (known elsewhere as Eternal Sonata).

Savings aside, Halo 3 has a lot going against it in the Japanese market -- an American-made first-person shooter for Microsoft's unpopular Xbox 360 -- and it still managed to be popular. Master Chief invades Japan September 27, and we'll be interested to see how the Japanese hardware sales are affected by the release.

Tags: amazon, bungie, halo, halo 3, Halo3, japan

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

master cheif @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:19PM

well i do have a small weener

GodisaMyth @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:21PM

Fascinating. This game might give the 360 a sales boost for more than one week. Maybe even 2 or three weeks.

Microsoft should be pretty happy about this.

Now, I wonder how many Japanese will actually get to play Halo 3 on their RROD60's.

Bradley G. @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:29PM

I think I just saw a pig fly over my house.
:P
J/K

Jose @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:32PM

What the hell is Gotcha Force, and where can I get five of them?

synce @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:31PM

Actually, it hit #1. Joystiq's always late on everything.

http://kotaku.com/gaming/microsoft/halo-3-tops-japanese-amazon-charts-274083.php

Andrew Hsieh @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:33PM

This is actually pretty cool. Go Halo? :D

horngreen @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:34PM

ME SO HALO!

synce @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:36PM

And it's funny how no one's surprised that a virtual pedophile simulator came in at number 5.

synce @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:37PM

And it's funny how no one's surprised that a virtual pedophile simulator came in at number 5.

Zertoss @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:42PM

What is that down at #20? Dragon Quest + Super Mario on one cart? Oh how I wish I could read those scribblings.

Ken Seang @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:44PM

Yea what the hell is Gotcha Force? How is a gamecube game selling?? Also, this only online on Amazon, it does not mean that the 360 will sell like crazy there...

Cal @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:45PM

@8/9.

It's Japan, what do you expect with their video games about witches and touching young, anime style females to find said witches.

Jose @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:52PM

Yes, although it's only Amazon, it's a great way to see how certain things appeal to the mainstream. Remember when Time Crisis shot up to #1 in the US charts because it was, like, $20 with GunCon? Although it isn't as good for MS as getting the #2 spot on pre-order lists and game stores, it's still a good sign for MS as far as mass marketing, not necessarily among the hardcore gaming audience.

kingofwale @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:52PM

why would the Japanese use Amazon?

Considering a GC game is currently topping that list, It should say a lot about the list's credibility.

I bet if each one of us order game on that, it'd push that game to number 1. ;)

Scutt Farkas @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:56PM

hey!@

Vidikron @ Jul 3rd 2007 5:59PM

@13

Ummm... because it's the Japanese front for Amazon? And, ummm, you do realize that Wii plays Cube games, right? Just because the system is all but dead here (US) doesn't mean it's not still getting games released over there. May as well buy Cube games, not many Wii games of value to buy, right?

GJM @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:04PM

GodisaMyth,
Actually in Japan, the only RROD claims have been on imports. All Japanese 360s use IceLink technology to keep it cool not to mention they have carbon fiber x-clamps instead of the plastic ones used here.

BPM @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:06PM

Gotcha Force? Really? That's a shock...

Ken Seang @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:19PM

Gotcha Force came out in 2003 and IGN score it a 6.5! This game is like pokemon meets powerstone...

http://cube.ign.com/articles/445/445100p1.html

Baby21 @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:36PM

Same with Trusty Bell which it was on number 2# when it was weeks before released.

I think it is because Japanese too shy to buy in store. Otherwise whole store will laugh at someone buying 360 game.

BPM @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:37PM

Ken Seang:
If only it was as good as either Pokémon or Power Stone, I'd have actually bought it.

syco @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:40PM

Uh, the chick in the boxart has breasts. I can't speak for the entire game (can't read japanese, no idea what it is or what it's about), but the boxart isn't pedo, just chibi.

GJM @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:41PM

Hey Baby21,
I'm assuming you're a Havard graduate? Great post. Thank you.

Digi Smalls @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:47PM

i just want to know what Godisamyth will do once MS goes to 65nm and fixes the RROD permanently. THEN what will he have to talk about?

.

Rob Accomando @ Jul 3rd 2007 6:56PM

What? Oblivion is $19 over there? Boy, we sure get raped by console game prices.

BPM @ Jul 3rd 2007 7:13PM

No, Rob, it's a $19 DISCOUNT.

Rob Accomando @ Jul 3rd 2007 7:25PM

so it's $40? ok. =)

GodisaMyth @ Jul 3rd 2007 7:25PM

"GodisaMyth,
Actually in Japan, the only RROD claims have been on imports. All Japanese 360s use IceLink technology to keep it cool not to mention they have carbon fiber x-clamps instead of the plastic ones used here."

I was wondering about that. So, the Japanese knew about this and did something about it. What a surprise...the Japanese find out about a potential problem and then they do something about it. Thanks for the info.

Digi Smalls @ Jul 3rd 2007 7:32PM

sigh, Godisamyth, that was a joke. clearly over your head.

.

GodisaMyth @ Jul 3rd 2007 7:42PM

Good one...got me you did Digi.
Gods I was gullible McFly.

Velops @ Jul 3rd 2007 8:03PM

Uh... online shopping for videogames isn't really that prevalent in Japan when places like convenience stores are known to sell videogames.

I suspect that Halo 3 made it to the list because it's difficult to find Xbox 360 games for sale anywhere in Japan except possibly in Akihabara.

Tamyu @ Jul 4th 2007 11:31AM

Hahahaha.

We ordered Gotcha Force from Amazon. Along with everyone else in Japan.
It`s been the most difficult to find game for the past 2 years. Used copies have sold for upwards of $300.
Amazon found a bunch of them, and put them on sale. Everyone and their dog is ordering a copy.

igl @ Jul 6th 2007 2:49PM

Amazon gets paid for that. It's working like you tube, you buy popularity.

There is absolutly nothing true about amazons rating or suggestion bs.
Never wondered why they tell you:
People who have bought "X Game 6CD" also bought: "X Game DVD" and "X Game Collectors Edition" ...
stay sane consumers plz.