Japanese hardware sales, March 24 - March 30: The Omega Man Memorial edition

by Griffin McElroy { Apr 6th 2008 at 8:30PM }

If this is the first you're hearing of it, allow us to apologize for putting a possible damper on your day -- Charlton Heston, former president of the National Rifle Association and star of "The Omega Man", "Planet of the Apes", and a plethora of other man-tastic films, passed away at the age of 84 last night. Regardless of your opinion of his fevered 2nd Amendment support, let's all take a moment to remember Charlton Heston, the actor.

From his iconic portrayal of Moses in "The Ten Commandments" to his unforgettable performance in the dystopian sci-fi classic "Soylent Green", and, lest we forget, his tear-jerking cameo in "Wayne's World 2", Heston was one of the most important figures in modern American cinema -- a pillar of the post-Golden Age of Hollywood. We'd like to encourage everyone to take a moment to shout out their favorite Heston-ism, no matter where you might be as you read this. He'd probably prefer a 21-gun salute, but it's the best we can do, for now.

With that somber farewell behind us, we can move on to our own dystopian future -- one where the PSP, riding a Monster Hunter Portable 2 G-flavored wave of popularity, nearly outsells every other console combined. That's not a bad thing, mind you -- just an unforeseen shift in momentum, seeing as how a year ago, the handheld market was quite reversed. As you ponder whether Japan has slipped into a parallel universe, here's a massive pot of number n' arrow stew.

- PSP: 129,986

70,153 (117.25%)
- DS Lite: 58,916

6,139 (9.44%)
- Wii: 48,785

13,619 (21.82%)
- PS3: 11,206

1,668 (12.96%)
- PS2: 10,296

366 (3.69%)
- Xbox 360: 1,547

197 (11.30%)

[Source: Media Create]

See: The damn, dirty archives

Tags: japanese-hardware-sa..., japanesehardwaresales

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

CB @ Apr 6th 2008 8:36PM

RIP Charlton Heston.

Obie @ Apr 6th 2008 9:32PM

"Can we pry the gun from his hands now?"

Lawl.

So wrong......but maybe he will be made into Soylent green now. ;)

343 Guilty Fart @ Apr 7th 2008 1:44PM

I AM SPARTACUS!

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 7th 2008 4:19PM

Wrong Actor, Guilty Fart

Mr Khan @ Apr 6th 2008 8:39PM

Great Actor, loathsome activist

Hopefully he is remembered more for the former

What's left to be said about Japan's love for Monster Hunter?

Mr Khan @ Apr 6th 2008 8:40PM

This is probably in bad taste, in fact it almost definitely is, but

Can we pry the gun from his hands now?

playwhutyalike @ Apr 6th 2008 8:58PM

Wow.

Kalroy @ Apr 6th 2008 9:27PM

It's unfortunate that Mr. Khan thinks the Civil Rights Movement was loathsome. Lost in all the anti-civil rights hatred against the second amendment has been Heston's activism in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960's. His stint with the NRA is entirely consistent with his support for civil rights in America.

Also forgotten was Heston appearing on stage with Dr. King in 1963's March on Washington.

Charlton Heston was an athlete, an actor, and a civil rights activist. Requiem im pace Chuck.

Kalroy

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 6th 2008 11:23PM

Heston was also the guy who once spat on a protestor to a rally he organized directly after a school shooting. A man who admittedly never had a breakin in his estate, and yet kept fully loaded weaponry in every room just in case something ever did happen. Meanwhile, behavior like his is what gives a twelve year old the power to place a .22 bullet in the back of his friends head as they fight over God of War...

Good guy, all around. I mean it.

Should be noted, I'm not about bannign guns as it won't solve our problems in any way shape or form, but when people with a violent history of mental illness can easily acquire weapons, there is a problem. Besides, half the fucks chanting second amendment don't even realize what it's for.

samfish @ Apr 6th 2008 8:41PM

He was a jerk on gun rights, but he was also VERY instrumental in the civil rights movement, taking up activism long before Hollywood thought it was cool and marched with MLK, so he ultimately did do a lot of good.

Mr Khan @ Apr 6th 2008 8:46PM

odd. I know conservative != racist, but you rarely see someone who advocates both 14th Amendment rights and 2nd Amendment rights

Makes him seem more dynamic in hindsight

ApolloIV @ Apr 6th 2008 8:43PM

Great actor, may he RIP.

On the note of the PSP, things are really looking up for Sony lately. Good for them I was really getting jaded on Sony jokes.

Triforceowner @ Apr 6th 2008 8:47PM

Am I just crazy, or is Joystiq putting Charlton Heston jokes in every post today?

Shmil (Brawl Code 2621-2310-1994) @ Apr 6th 2008 9:05PM

You may be crazy, though I'm not sure, I haven't seen that many Charleton Heston movies so I may be wrong. Post a few of these jokes and we'll see.

Stink Snake @ Apr 6th 2008 8:48PM

It's people. Soylent Green is made out of people and also available at Jamba Juice and your local Whole Foods. Try it now!

Mr.ESC @ Apr 6th 2008 9:43PM

I want to return my soylent green.

The problem is that is made of emos and each biter depresses me, don't you have something better?

Like priest, they don’t commit sins of the flesh so they are fresh! (Except for the pedo ones that should totally take a seat over there)

Carl Abrams @ Apr 6th 2008 8:54PM

Two key things to remember.

In this tabloid era of Hollywood quickie marriages, he and Lydia were married for 64 years. That says something about his values and beliefs.

Second - Soylent Green is people. I nominate Mr. Khan to be in the next batch. A trained, armed populace is a guarantee of civil liberty and helps REDUCE crime. (Go study some of the works of Robert Heinlein - his fiction reflects reality.)

Totally unrelated - what's up with the PSP? If you're over the age of 14, what's the attraction of handheld gaming, when you can play on a laptop or (even better) a good console with a decent sized TV?

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 6th 2008 9:10PM

laptops fit in your pocket? Or maybe gaming on a laptop just sucks and compared to a PSP, isn't even remotely cost effective.

DangerMouse @ Apr 6th 2008 9:12PM

The shitter.

Penguin Warlord @ Apr 6th 2008 10:05PM

@Carl Abrams

Being married for 64 years just shows that he's faithful. So is a dumb as fuck Irish Setter. It doesn't show true morals or values.

"A trained, armed populace is a guarantee of civil liberty and helps REDUCE crime. (Go study some of the works of Robert Heinlein - his fiction reflects reality.)"

lollollol
You know what reflects reality better? Statistics and reality.

Look at the countries with the lowest crime rates. Countries that have gun control laws. America's rate : 5.9 homicides per 100,000 people. Canada (closest and most similar country with the exception of gun laws) : 1.85.

Difference? Gun laws. The US has the most conservative gun control laws and has the highest homicide rates of first world countries.

Worst Review Ever @ Apr 6th 2008 10:18PM

@ Penguin Warlord,

"Look at the countries with the lowest crime rates. Countries that have gun control laws. America's rate : 5.9 homicides per 100,000 people. Canada (closest and most similar country with the exception of gun laws) : 1.85.

Difference? Gun laws. The US has the most conservative gun control laws and has the highest homicide rates of first world countries."

That's a really weak analysis. Could it also have something to do with the fact that the U.S. has a larger (almost 10 times) and more etnically diverse population than Canada? Maybe? What about social factors? No, you're probably right. The only possible explanation is the difference in gun control laws. You get sarcasm, right?

CGamble20 @ Apr 6th 2008 10:35PM

How about some of the trash shown on TV and other media...could it have an effect on polluting American values? Not the gun control laws. Just askin...

Draco @ Apr 6th 2008 10:48PM

@ Worst Review Ever

Canada's homicide rate is almost at par with the US... we just use knives and blunt objects. I personally prefer to be afraid of a knife then a gun.

so I don't know what to think... I like the idea someone can't kill dozens of us with 1 knife. but its easier to hide and easier to get away with... and our cops and judicial systems are a joke

Draco @ Apr 6th 2008 10:54PM

Damn, there I go not researching my claims again... looks like Wikipedia isn't on my side. :( although I guess its a good thing in this case.

Draco @ Apr 6th 2008 11:06PM

Damn, there I go not researching my claims again... looks like Wikipedia isn't on my side. :( although I guess its a good thing in this case.

samfish @ Apr 7th 2008 12:13AM

""A trained, armed populace is a guarantee of civil liberty and helps REDUCE crime."

Yes, it's called the National Guard and it's essentially what the Second Amendment refers to. If you think everyone having a gun or two would lead to a reduction in crime and violence, you're living in (a very violent) candy land.

It's also silly to think that by the time your civil liberties are gone, you'd be able to organize and do anything about it. It hasn't been that way for a few hundred years, at least in America.

brokenscope @ Apr 7th 2008 12:12PM

@SamFish

Every other amendment that mentions "the people", refers to the right as a right held by every individual.

If the definition of "people" in your interpretation of the second amendment was applied to the first amendment

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. "

Would for example only allow government organized protests.

It would also change the meaning of the fourth amendment completely, and I'm not even sure what the ninth amendment means with your interpretation of people.

Then again I'm just not sure how else to interpret

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

Maybe I just don't know how the national guard works, but I'm pretty sure the government owns their guns.

Carl Abrams @ Apr 7th 2008 7:42AM

Actually, Samfish, you're wrong.

At the time of the founding, there was no such thing as the National Guard, per se. Every household had a rifle, and since militia units were recruited locally and most members had to supply their own arms, having an armed populace was vital to freedom.

An armed society is by nature a more peaceful one, simply because you KNOW that if you break the law, some armed law abiding citizen is going to shoot you. The stuff from Hollywood with all the shoot outs in the old west is basically fiction. Most of the old west was settled by ACW veterans who weren't afraid of weapons - nor were they afraid to USE those weapons in self defense.

And for what it's worth - I'm retired from the National Guard, and my son currently serves in the National Guard - and we still keep additional firearms for peaceful purposes in my house.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 7th 2008 9:32AM

Also, the national guard doesn't count as a state militia in the sense of the constitution, as a state militia was supposed to be a separate entity from the federal army. Ever since the 50's, the national guard has been federalized, and is essentially and extension of the US Army.

Can't wait to see what the supreme court decides on the handgun ban in Washington.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 7th 2008 11:32AM

And I'll take my very violent candyland over your bubble wrapped reality any day.

343 Guilty Fart @ Apr 7th 2008 1:54PM

Personally, I'm all for hunting rifles and what have you. They serve the purpose as a tool for hunting and can be used for practice at a range.

The purpose of pistols and other small firearms, as I see them, are made to shoot other human beings, whether in self-defense or not. Somehow that just doesn't sit well with me.

Mr Khan @ Apr 7th 2008 4:09PM

Hey, i'm not in the anti-gun lobby, either, hunting rifles are here to stay

But give me one valid reason why someone should have the right to privately own Assault Weapons

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Apr 7th 2008 4:23PM

If I were to form a state militia, how would I go about getting my heavy weaponry?

If I were a member of a state militia that didn't have enough M16's for all members, how would I go about getting my heavy weaponry?

If the government decides that all guns are bad, and also so is democracy, how am I going to be able to overthrow said government (like in the revolutionary war) without having privately owned assault weapons?

You wanted one valid reason. Here are three.

warren2345 @ Apr 6th 2008 9:00PM

Hey, look...

Sony sold more PS3s than PS2s!!

Donald @ Apr 6th 2008 9:08PM

It's like we're in the next-gen or something.

John McPoop @ Apr 6th 2008 9:00PM

You go PSP

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 6th 2008 9:11PM

Damn, Mr Kahn... you posted the line I've been using on AIM allllll day long. Good job.

Batzarro @ Apr 6th 2008 9:12PM

There's never a cop around when you need one...Only monster hunters...

Shmil (Brawl Code 2621-2310-1994) @ Apr 6th 2008 9:12PM

Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!
on topic: woot

000000 @ Apr 6th 2008 9:30PM

RIP 360 in Japan.

Hello Dying 360 in US due to the 360 dying in Japan.

Mr.ESC @ Apr 6th 2008 9:39PM

What what in the butt?

I'm not your friend ,buddy.

(Seriously no one likes Japanese people that much so they’ll stop playing because Japanese like to play Super Tentacle Monster reap 3 instead of Grand Generic American Shooter 3:Shoot moar,in other words Nintendo FTW Sucka)

Snukadaman @ Apr 7th 2008 1:18AM

Looks like the ps3 is jumping in that grave with the 360.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Apr 7th 2008 1:56PM

ummm what?

You do realize that Japan and US are two completely different markets. We already knew that Japan wouldn't be sold on the 360, but it'll do fine in the US.

000000 @ Apr 7th 2008 8:25PM

PS2s over the top sales in the US has a lot to do with jp rpgs and other jp games. If 360 doesn't do good in Japan, it makes developers lack motivation to make something for it over in Japan. If I was a Japaneses developer, looked at sales, I'd put my bets in with ps3 and focus on that more than 360. That's why I'm mad about the sales there. Support Japanese games here for the 360 when you can it's very important for japanese developers to get more influence to develop for 360.

Does that not make sense? Please explain how I'm wrong.

Mr.ESC @ Apr 6th 2008 9:31PM

Talking about the PSP It seems I can't post in PSP fanboy anymore,weird.

BPM [SSBB: 5026 4120 1186] @ Apr 6th 2008 10:35PM

You maniacs! You blew it up! Ah, damn you! God damn you all to Hell!

fluffypuff @ Apr 6th 2008 10:55PM

Gun control stops crime! I suppose if you like the criminals being the only ones with guns. Let's also stop eating meat. Ha! Next you'll be saying video games make children more violent. What can I say, I have a concealed carry permit.

RIP Charlton. I respect his views on both the 14th amendment 2nd amendment.

I the one-liner he made to slick Willy, "America doesn't trust you with our 21-year-old daughters, and we sure, Lord, don't trust you with our guns."

Sir Fidlious Wong (Zeon Defense Force) @ Apr 6th 2008 11:18PM

Just curious, isn't this the same guy who organized gun rallies weeks, sometimes days after a shooting tragedy in various communities? Isn't this kind of like spitting directly in the face of every victims family? And for that matter, isn't the tighter regulation demanded by the people he's publicly called cowards the very same regulation that could have prevented Virginia Tech? Yeah, okay...

"Do you have mental illness, yes or no?"

Well, he circled no, that's good enough fer me. This guy eligible for the free rebel flag bumper sticker with every gun purchase?

Incidently, hate on "slick willy" all you want... but do you really think the last eight years have been better?

Vincent Avatar @ Apr 7th 2008 12:25AM

Re: Wong

If you're talking about the gun rallies planned months in advance prior to shootings in schools that he still went through with, then you maybe have a point.

You don't really, though, because his rallies would have been more about responsible gun owners being responsible parents as well, which may have had SOMETHING to do with the tragedy in question. I don't know. Maybe.

Let's all jump to conclusions because we