Japanese hardware sales, June 13 - June 19: Working it OoT edition

by Griffin McElroy on Jun 26th 2011 11:30PM

Link is a man -- or, depending on the game, a very, very young boy -- with his finger in a lot of metaphorical pies. He's the Hero of Time. Sometimes, he's the Hero of Two Times. He's the savior of Termina from impending lunar destruction, and perhaps most inexplicably, he's also a train conductor-in-training. His latest role, however, is Hero of the Nintendo 3DS: For the first time since April, the dimensionally-endowed handheld took top honors in the Japanese Hardware Sales ranking, largely thanks to the arrival of Ocarina of Time 3D.

Personally, we don't see why Link's lengthy list of occupations has to stop there. Let's see if we can get him a gig as Legolas' stuntman in the next Lord of the Rings title. With that goofy-looking cap, we think he could definitely get a steady wage serving as an airport windsock. Sure, that might not make for the best video game experience, but the dude is apparently too broke to purchase pants. We think he needs all the nine-to-fives he can get his hands on.

- 3DS: 40,649 [UP] 16,000 (64.91%)
- PSP: 31,741 [UP] 5,060 (18.96%)
- PS3: 16,081 [DOWN] 1,023 (5.98%)
- Wii: 6,678 [UP] 321 (5.05%)
- DSi LL: 5,464 [UP] 181 (3.43%)
- DSi: 5,322 [UP] 90 (1.72%)
- Xbox 360: 2,875 [UP] 505 (21.31%)
- PS2: 1,346 [UP] 55 (4.26%)
- DS Lite: 109 [DOWN] 37 (25.34%)
- PSP Go: 55 [DOWN] 14 (20.29%)

Read: The dimensionally-endowed archives

Source: Media Create

Tags: JapaneseHardwareSales

Reader Comments (62)

OOT is Awesome in 3D. It's a must play in my book.

@maxxgold

Sheeeeeit, OoT would be awesome in 1D.

Actually, Zelda by way of Edwin Abbott?...

...now that sounds awesome.

Willst the 3DS sales continue to soar? Or willst they suck? Have they what it takes?

@joeysan24, wouldn't that be "Willeth the 3DS sales continue to soar? Or willeth they suck? Hath they what it takes?"

@Vagn Henning "Hath thet what it taketh?"

@Vagn Henning OK, where is the Edit button?

@Vagn Henning Yeah I've always been pissed with the original ad campaign for Zelda OoT.

It should have been, "Wilt thou have what it takes?" Willst isn't a real word.

@joeysan24
Dost thou havest more Games coming forthwith?
Good games?

The fact that the PS2 is still on that list AND it's managed to increase in sales is amazing.

@MystileArmor
That is pretty impressive, especially that it's selling better than the cheapest DS model.

@MystileArmor

I just wish it would die already so Sony can bring back PS2 emulation for the PS3.

@CaramelZappa
That's simple to explain.
PS2 still in production. New PS3s don't have PS2 play back. Since most people sell/sold their PS2 to get a PS3 they tend to buy a PS2 once they miss their old games.
DS Lite is out of production and no stores have gotten a new version of the console for some time now.

@The Aquacharger

Don't forget, everyone and their cat in Japan has a DS or three.

@Enosoma

It's just too bad they ate their cats... or is that Korea?

It's dangerous to go alone, 3DS. Take this OoT remake!

I still want to get this game, but the price seems to high for me for a game over a decade old, no matter how good of a game it is.

I feel like the $40 price point is too high for most 3DS games. I'm especially surprised that titles that no one cared about like Steel Diver are still $40. But it's nice to see lesser selling titles like Super Monkey Ball finally hit $30.

@CaramelZappa

That's bullshit, the gameplay still stands head and shoulders above many games today, and the graphics have been completely replaced with new ones. Saying that you don't want to pay full price for it just because the original was released in the past is a really stupid excuse.

@bm111
Shitty excuse or not, I feel like $40 is too much to ask for a mobile re-release of an old game. And again, I feel like $40 is too much to ask for mobile games in general.

@bm111
'Completely' replaced? I agree the graphics are in general really good, but just a few places aren't. For example the texture on the Great Fairy looked pretty awful to me - I thought it must be an original one that they haven't redone. Am I wrong?

As for the cost I think it's totally fair bearing in mind that probably most potential purchasers never played the original. It was a long time ago!

So basically: if you *did* play the original then maybe it's not worth the money to you personally for that reason - that's your call.

But if you *didn't* play the original (that's my position, at least I didn't play it very far), this is not the kind of decade-old rerelease that isn't worth the money and is only bought out of nostalgia. This game absolutely stands up against new games - it's easily worth more than any other game yet on the platform imo. (Which is not saying too much... but I think it'll probably stay that way for some time.)

And they say Zelda doesnt sell well in Japan.

@jph89
Who said that?

@The Only Girl

Nintendo did, after the whole Spirit Tracks selling for the price of a Cheeseburger debacle. It sells well there, but not as well as it does in the West.

Also, a nation full of MILLIONS OF PEOPLE, and the PSPGO only sold 55 units. I mean, Japan even has the best list of games available on it too.

For the first time ever, I know a person who bought a system because of a new game.

Not sure how I feel.

@Acosta02

Whattaya mean, I'm a little confused, I always buy a system because of a new game. Wish I had more dough and could justify a 3DS purchase, want to play OoT soooooo bad.

@Acosta02

I bought a 360 because of GTA4.

Well worth it.

@Acosta02 *spit take*
What else would you buy one for, Twitter?

@MarkezJM

Everybody I know has always held off on a system until several games worth having came out for the system, or got it right at launch. The only exception is a friend of mine who got a 3DS for this. It was weird.

@Electrium

To clarify, I mean MULTIPLE games (or getting them at launch, in preparation of games but not for one particular one).

@Acosta02

I have a feeling that my wife is getting me a 3DS for my birthday because she knows I want this game so bad but don't have the system yet.

I'll keep you posted... in three days time...

65% is quite a surge, but not really that big of a surprise. Other than the die-hard fans who picked one up at launch, it seemed like most people were waiting for major release before they bought into the 3DS.

Now let's see if begins a trend or if it's simply an isolated sales spike. The PSP has been routinely topping the 3DS in Japan, as it seems to have a popular new title releasing every other week, but the 3DS is finally starting to build a library.

@pokota
Actually Japan had a good launch. It launched with a professor layton game.

OOT 3D is pretty fantastic. I finished it today (the main quest) and even though I've finished the other versions a million times, it didn't feel old. It's the definitive version of the game, if only because it includes the Zelda theme. :P

@Roto13

Wow, already? I mean, I got it almost a week before release and I just got to the Spirit Temple last night. Then again, I'm trying to make it last so that I have a reason to keep enjoying my 3DS for a little longer, but still, that was fast.

So now, what's the difference with the Master Quest? Is it just harder or is stuff moved around?

@baby sea tuna It took me 17 hours to finish because I have the game basically memorized. :P

Like the other versions of Master Quest, the dungeons are different. The layout is the same, but the puzzles are different (and harder) and there are more/different enemies. For example, the Deku Tree has Big Deku Babas in it. You don't normally have to fight those as a kid.

The 3DS version of Master Quest is also mirrored like the Wii version of Twilight Princess, and the enemies do double damage.

@Roto13

Sounds like fun. I usually don't have a problem with dying in Zelda games, so I'm glad it's more complicated than "the enemies do more damage."

I'm the only gamer on the face of the planet, who was born in the 80s, to not give a damn about Zelda. I just wanted to point this insane fact to my fellow Joystiq readers.

I'm pretty conflicted here. I mean, you have a profile pic of Franklin, so that's a plus... But, I think even the most anti-Nintendo fantards still like Zelda. And, I checked your comment history and apparently you dig the new podcast, sooooo.... Well, I'd downvote you and all, but what's the point in bothering if it doesn't fade out. There should be a button in additon to plus, minus, and report for 'luke warm,' or perhaps 'tepid.' Good day, sir.

@2Slick

Great game, im sure, but i dont care for it either. its funny that you got down voted for stating a personal opinion; i guess along with that comes a troll mask... im with ya tho

@2Slick If your only experience to Zelda were the CDI games, THEN I'd understand your hatred. : )

@2Slick i only liked Windwaker so I am more rare than you.

@Fire Walk With Me, simply liking WW makes you a rare beast around here.

OoT 3D is like going back in time to the moment that you lost your virginity. The difference is that it's like how you *imagined* losing your virginity would be like instead of the actual version where, beforehand, you threw up due to nervousness and both of your cried afterwards but for different reasons.

@A Sandwich
You shouldn't eat out an old sandwhich then.

@A Sandwich
I honestly think this is the best description of this game, everyone should be playing this, it's a shame so many are missing out.

@MINECAR

Really??

The best metaphor for OoT involves nervously fumbling with your awkward teenage penis while tearing four condoms in the process, only to last for a whopping sixteen seconds...then proceeding to throw up on some poor girls chest...and finally, crying about it afterwards?

I, uh...I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with you, there, sport.

I wouldn't use that as a metaphor for anything. Ever...

...Jesus Christ, I liked OoT as much as the next guy, but let's not fetishize the damn thing.

@Urethra Alfredo

...You threw up on her chest?

@A Sandwich

This thread is full of fascinating (and terrifying) insights.

Meh

What games come out in Japan that keep PSP sales up? Nothing ever comes out here anymore.

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Japanese hardware sales, June 13 - June 19: Working it OoT edition

Reader Comments (62)

Posted: Jun 26th 2011 11:39PM maxxgold said

Posted: Jun 26th 2011 11:48PM Urethra Alfredo said

Posted: Jun 26th 2011 11:42PM joeysan24 said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 6:59AM Vagn Henning said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 7:02AM Vagn Henning said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 7:07AM Vagn Henning said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 10:27AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 3:08PM Gandkaidos said

Posted: Jun 26th 2011 11:48PM MystileArmor said

Posted: Jun 26th 2011 11:52PM CaramelZappa said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 12:19AM Cypher FDP said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 12:30AM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 12:40AM Enosoma said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 1:40AM CleanUndies said

Posted: Jun 26th 2011 11:50PM jtothechan said

Posted: Jun 26th 2011 11:50PM CaramelZappa said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 6:43AM bm111 said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 1:02PM CaramelZappa said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 7:40PM xxxsam said

Posted: Jun 26th 2011 11:50PM jph89 said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 2:57AM The Only Girl said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 7:50AM Esposch said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 12:00AM jph89 said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 12:29AM Acosta02 said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 12:42AM MarkezJM said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 12:42AM Enosoma said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 3:33AM Electrium said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 3:58AM Acosta02 said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 3:59AM Acosta02 said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 6:35PM r4in said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 12:33AM pokota said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 1:46AM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 12:50AM Roto13 said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 10:09AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 10:20AM Roto13 said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 10:46AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 12:58AM 2Slick said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 1:11AM MarkezJM said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 1:42AM CleanUndies said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 2:21AM nerdydesi1 said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 8:21AM Fire Walk With Me said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 8:36AM Vagn Henning said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 1:18AM A Sandwich said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 1:48AM The Aquacharger said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 2:08AM MINECAR said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 7:10AM Urethra Alfredo said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 10:11AM A Sandwich said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 10:45AM baby sea tuna said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 1:24AM Dooliss said

Posted: Jun 27th 2011 1:47AM Tommy758 said

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