Vesperia helps Xbox 360 outsell PS3 in Japan

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 15th 2008 at 1:00PM }

We're not thinking it's another sign of the Apocolypse because we've seen it happen before, but we're always a little unnerved whenever the Xbox 360 outsells the PS3 in Japan. Thanks to the release of Namco Bandai's Tales of Vesperia, the Xbox 360 moved 25,000 units the week of August 10, up from 5,359 units the week prior. The PS3 sold 9,673 and, of course, the Wii beat both with 38,506 -- but that's not really news.

Tales of Vesperia debuted at fourth place on the Japanese sales charts with 108,000 copies sold. The game will be available in North America starting August 26. We doubt the game will help rally mundane Xbox 360 sales in the US.

Tags: japan, media-create, sales, tales-of-vesperia

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Wiinterfang @ Aug 15th 2008 1:03PM

EVERYBODY HIT THE DECK!!!!

Mr.ESC @ Aug 15th 2008 1:07PM

Are you nuts? I paid 10$ for this C.E.D.

anonim1979 @ Aug 15th 2008 1:36PM

In other news - X360 outsold PS3 globaly week for week for 4th consecutive time.

*if you believe vgchartz stats.

Cody @ Aug 15th 2008 2:08PM

"the Wii beat both with 38,506 -- but that's not really news."

Damn right it aint news. Wii got this!

Anticrawl @ Aug 15th 2008 2:49PM

You know, I love the 360 but vgchatz is so full of shit.

On another note I've been bugging my fellow Japanese gamers for their impressions on the game. I have several on my list that have been playing for a few days, unfortunatly most of them don't have the best of English and my Japanese is no better than their English.

finaldarklord @ Aug 15th 2008 4:09PM

I fucking HATE it that just another Tales game gets this kind of recognition, but a gem like Lost Odyssey goes by pretty much ignored.

I'm really starting to hate the Japanese gaming culture. ANIMU AND CASUAL GAMES DESU DESU DESU

Heh {XBL: P4nic 4tt4ck} @ Aug 15th 2008 4:32PM

"On another note I've been bugging my fellow Japanese gamers for their impressions on the game. I have several on my list that have been playing for a few days, unfortunatly most of them don't have the best of English and my Japanese is no better than their English"

I'll ask my cousin tonight when he's on, he said he just picked up the game.

The-E @ Aug 15th 2008 4:41PM

Right if crazy shit like this keeps happening by the time Fallout 3 comes out it will be like a documentary!!!!

FinalDragoon @ Aug 15th 2008 1:07PM

I bought a 360 for Vesperia....stop laughing....

Mr.ESC @ Aug 15th 2008 1:13PM

Good for you.

Dale @ Aug 15th 2008 2:11PM

Rightly so, now maybe you'll stay for the other great games. :)

StrangeBum @ Aug 15th 2008 2:34PM

I wouldn't laugh at that, now people that bought a 360 for Halo 3 on the other hand....

Fonic @ Aug 15th 2008 9:11PM

So did I. Can't help but love this series. Wish it got more recognition outside Japan though.

snarfoogle @ Aug 20th 2008 4:02PM

@Strangebum

I agree, I laugh at those fools who bought a 360 for a great FPS and exclusive titles. I only play superior JRPGs with their great storyplots, not to mention the amazing gameplay of navigating menus and pressing "A" on the right attack.

FOXHOUND @ Aug 15th 2008 1:07PM

"of course, the Wii beat both with 38,506 -- but that's not really news."

-watches water in a cup on the dashboard shake-

. . .ut oh.

Mr Khan @ Aug 15th 2008 1:12PM

I didn't take it as provocative, though i see how it could

It was meant more as "Wii always rules in Japan, what else is new?" not "Feh, who cares about Wii anyway?"

Ayrkain @ Aug 15th 2008 3:28PM

Anybody else think it was weird that the 360 bump seemed to cut into Wii sales instead of PS3 sales? Ah Japan, how I love your bizarre ways!

bm @ Aug 15th 2008 4:07PM

Yeah man, I'm easily the most militant Nintendo supporter here, and even I can see what they meant. :p

Ethan @ Aug 15th 2008 4:27PM

Godzilla is a Sony fanboy?

Mr.ESC @ Aug 15th 2008 1:09PM

This is one of these threads were you can't really post anything funny and the best thing you can do is wait for a fanboy comment to make fun of it.

So...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cozk9mTNLEo&feature=related

Mr.ESC @ Aug 15th 2008 1:37PM

*where.

Anam @ Aug 15th 2008 1:40PM

The Wii will outsell everything and Microsoft and Sony will go the way of Sega and Master Chief will be reduced to a mere trophy in Super Smash Bros 8!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mr.ESC @ Aug 15th 2008 1:44PM

C'mon Master Chief at least should be an assist Trophy but well at least there is going to be that Halo racing game for Grandmas, right?

Fenix @ Aug 15th 2008 1:10PM

Nice, but I would like to see 360 outsell PS3 for the whole month in Japan. That would really be something.

I read on IGN that because of the game a lot of retailers are experiencing 360 hardware shortages. What's up with that MS?! Get a move on it while they're buying! lol

Misfit Toy @ Aug 15th 2008 1:38PM

True. However it does make for a good headline. Maybe it will make people in Japan rethink about getting a 360.

atrimus @ Aug 15th 2008 1:47PM

well, i guess it's okay for the 360 to win 1/4 a round against the PS3 in Japan this year, since PS3 has taken 5 out of 7 rounds against the 360 in the US.

Duke @ Aug 15th 2008 3:10PM

yeah, cause the ones already sold in the US don't count towards sales and profits made.

Heh {XBL: P4nic 4tt4ck} @ Aug 15th 2008 4:37PM

The selection of 360 games and accessories is VERY small. Most shops dedicate loads of space to PS3 displays with MGS4, etc, compared to the 360 (which usually does not have a working display, or has limited room).

The reason for hardware shortages is because, in japan, there usually isn't any more than 2 units a store, lol.

Wiinterfang @ Aug 15th 2008 1:13PM

Too bad monster hunter 3 isn't for Xbox 360, if the had the game make use of xbox live it that would be something.

Mr.ESC @ Aug 15th 2008 1:27PM

That would be awesome.MH games are broken in the PSP,I couldn't stand the loading time sof the first one.

juju187 @ Aug 15th 2008 7:54PM

i wanted to like it but the pacing of that game is horrid i dont understand it

VampireHunter Z @ Aug 15th 2008 1:15PM

This is the real key to success in Japan. It's not about how many jrpgs or how many good games for that matter. It's about 2 things. Exclusive and established titles. MSFT got the exclusive part with Lost Odyssey, Blue Dragon and even timed exclusivity with Eternal Sonata. But these were not established franchises. Japanese mostly flock to the sequels. Not very open to new stuff.

Fernando Rocker @ Aug 15th 2008 1:15PM

Also, the DS outsold the PSP.

Mr.ESC @ Aug 15th 2008 1:28PM

Dragon quest release was this month?

Fenix @ Aug 15th 2008 1:30PM

Fernando, you have X-ray Nintendovision dont you. You see right through the story and straight to the Nintendo stuff...

:P

Jack of No Trades 85 @ Aug 15th 2008 1:33PM

Does saying that make you cum your pants?

Fernando Rocker @ Aug 15th 2008 1:33PM

Dragon Quest remake plus Fire Emblem DS.

hehe... Nintendovision =p

arrrgh @ Aug 15th 2008 1:42PM

great, now jack is coming on to fernando

Fernando Rocker @ Aug 15th 2008 1:47PM

arrrgh

I know... is nice to have my own stalkers. =p

Jack of No Trades 85 @ Aug 15th 2008 1:50PM

_ _
Me a stalker....no.....im more like a peeping tom (o_o)

The-E @ Aug 15th 2008 4:36PM

Fernando........

Seriously where have you been over the last while???We were one NIN fanboy down....us ps3 and 360 fanboys ran riot....Fenix and Cumaro ran wild!!!it was a scary time....now that your back i want to see several major arguements!!Liven the place up again!!!

Ok, i'll try and flamebait...."AHH DS IS DE GHEY!!!11!!1!!"

I patiently await your response......

Heh {XBL: P4nic 4tt4ck} @ Aug 15th 2008 4:40PM

"AHH DS IS DE GHEY!!!11!!1!!"

no u. Troll harder.

Microswirl (MKWii:1676- 4270-3674) @ Aug 15th 2008 5:40PM

That's kinda like my Americavision: I see right through this story about Japanese sales and can only really bring myself to wonder "Okay, but how well will the game sell in America?"

The-E @ Aug 15th 2008 5:49PM

@ Heh

ok, that was some bad trolling, my apologies....

colinbell @ Aug 15th 2008 1:28PM

It isnt that impressive, but the reason MS' Japan strategy tanked is simply the abject failure of Mistwalker. Its funny how every shooter on the PS3 is derided for not being a "Halo-killer" but what nobody mentions is all the hype about Mistwalker's games and they so totally failed to dent the Japan market. FF7 sold 9 million or so wordwide - Lost Odyssey couldnt even hit 1 million.

MS' last chance would probably be Star Ocean - but probably is just a timed exclusive only and in Japan its going head-on with FF13 and White Knight Story.

And the worrying thing for MS is that they while they lose the Japan market, Sony is about to storm the shooter-dominated US market. All MS has is Gears 1.5 (and likely to be on PC as well) versus SOCOM, Resistance 2, Killzone 2 and MAG over the next 6-9 months - no contest at all.

Delgado @ Aug 15th 2008 1:34PM

"This is one of these threads were you can't really post anything funny and the best thing you can do is wait for a fanboy comment to make fun of it."

GO!

Mr.ESC @ Aug 15th 2008 1:35PM

See, what I told you.

Except that; Socom isn't very well known (Sadly), Resistance 2 is going to be good but ain't much of a system seller and MAG seriously, seriously? LOL I love how some people make conclusions based on CGI trailers.

atrimus @ Aug 15th 2008 1:41PM

i'm sure people made their MAG conclusions more on the developers credentials than the CGI-ness of the trailer.

Vcize @ Aug 15th 2008 2:08PM

Gears 1.5, but Resistance 2?

Seriously? I mean, really?

Shouldn't that be the complete opposite. I mean seriously, Gears is changing so much crap that as an avid Gears fan, I'm actually worried that they're changing TOO much. So what is this Gears 1.5 bullshit you're spewing?