Japanese hardware sales, September 19 - 25: Ballz edition
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Now that Bloody Roar is back on the table, we consider the fighting-game flood-gates officially open. Sure, it would make sense to bring back big-name franchises like Killer Instinct, Clayfighter, or if you want a deep cut, Battle Arena Toshinden or Bushido Blade, but where's the fun in that? Repetition and predictability is what killed the scene the last time, and if we're going to bring a series back from beyond, it should be something most people are unfamiliar with.
That's right, we're talking about Ballz, the 1994 almost-3D fighter from PF Magic and Accolade. PF Magic, you'll recall, was also responsible for the Petz franchise that would eventually become Ubisoft's bread and butter. As you can see from the video above, Ballz was so ahead of its time, the smack-talk displayed by its billboards still hasn't been invented, 17 years later. The early nineties may not have been, but we think 2011 is ready for some Ballz.
- 3DS: 70,159 [UP] 11,322 (19.24%)
- PS3: 39,452 [UP] 3,391 (9.40%)
- PSP: 28,533 [UP] 3,411 (13.58%)
- Wii: 14,034 [DOWN] 1,372 (8.91%)
- Xbox 360: 3,897 [UP] 2,602 (200.93%)
- DSi LL: 2,991 [UP] 122 (4.25%)
- DSi: 2,351 [UP] 117 (5.24%)
- PS2: 1,517 [UP] 200 (15.19%)
- DS Lite: 86 [UP] 8 (10.26%)
- PSP Go: 15 [UP] 8 (114.29%)
Reader Comments (43)
Posted: Oct 2nd 2011 11:34PM Premature ejaculation man said
When it comes to Ballz, I'm the toughest there is.
Posted: Oct 2nd 2011 11:34PM (Unverified) said
I so still have my SNES Ballz cart lolol
Posted: Oct 4th 2011 12:33PM KrazyCalvin said
@(Unverified)
I was given Ballz 3d as some sort of gift. I HATED THAT GAME lol.
Reply
I was given Ballz 3d as some sort of gift. I HATED THAT GAME lol.
Posted: Oct 2nd 2011 11:35PM Once known as Shadsy said
Okay, CLEARLY we need to bring back Tattoo Assassins first.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmlYzfgvqBk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmlYzfgvqBk
Posted: Oct 2nd 2011 11:36PM MiguelAMX said
Pspgo is going to be on this list forever. Selling those tens of thousands of systems by tens every week is going to be a long haul.
Posted: Oct 2nd 2011 11:39PM Mach2 said
Oh my god. I have BALLZ on the Genesis still. I don't even own a Genesis, I just have two games that I refuse to let go of until my kids have had a chance to play them: BALLZ and Boogerman.
Remakes of either would make my year.
Remakes of either would make my year.
Posted: Oct 2nd 2011 11:56PM Roto13 said
I remember this game making me very uncomfortable for some reason. Looking back, it's a clever way to fake 3D models with 2D graphics.
Posted: Oct 2nd 2011 11:56PM Space Cobra said
@Meganinja
It does look impressive, but I think it is short-term; it's one of the lowest sellers when you take out the things under it, which are all mainly "last Gen" hardware, like the PS2. Although, the only one that bucks that trend is the ol' PSP, that beats it (while PSP Go is at the bottom).
It does look impressive, but I think it is short-term; it's one of the lowest sellers when you take out the things under it, which are all mainly "last Gen" hardware, like the PS2. Although, the only one that bucks that trend is the ol' PSP, that beats it (while PSP Go is at the bottom).
Posted: Oct 2nd 2011 11:56PM DarkKingSilvers said
So what just came out in Japan to cause a 200% increase in sales for the XBOX?
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 12:05AM CoconutSkittle said
Watch out 3DS, the PSP Go's gaining on you!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 12:08AM styleznma said
I remember playing that game, wow... and it was fun as well as looked totally awesome, i liked it when you character died and the ballz explode and roll all over the floor
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 12:13AM The Aquacharger said
they already announced clay fighters was supposed to have a come back
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 12:27AM ShadowXIII said
Thanx for this...now I know where to direct my hatred on where I first saw the phrase "Administer Smackies".
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 12:29AM FinalFantasyXIIIsucks said
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 1:01AM RickGhastly said
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 1:00AM RickGhastly said
Ballz was the Tekken to Rise of the Robots's Virtua Fighter...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zafl_68PfOo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zafl_68PfOo
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 1:01AM butthurt fanboy said
@Space Cobra Of course it would be the lowest-selling. Even 3DS would be if you took away everything under it
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 1:20AM Calatia said
Taunt the ostrich!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 1:57AM Cavall said
@Space Cobra And, of course, people in japan wanted to play gears of war. Which is represented in the sales spike. Youre right though, it wont last, but I think thats the reason why. People saw the reveiws and wanted to see the hype.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 1:58AM pluupy said
@Dickhole Pasta
It's people like you that justifies taking a break from
the computer every now and then.
It's people like you that justifies taking a break from
the computer every now and then.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 4:51AM Virus one said
I used to have this on the 3DO, had trouble with the ostrich guy.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 6:33AM Trilancer said
so Killer Instinct is tai-boo?
Thats one game that can raise Nintendo a few popularity points
Thats one game that can raise Nintendo a few popularity points
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 2:57PM ShadowXIII said
@kmcroc
Its a damn shame too, because of this...I highly doubt any of us will ever see this series anytime soon :(
Reply
Its a damn shame too, because of this...I highly doubt any of us will ever see this series anytime soon :(
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 7:05AM Punkrawk Bbob said
Man, I'd love a new Battle Arena Toshinden. I loved playing as the old dude with claws, Fo. His inane jittery noises were awesome, like when he rides the blue ball with a crawl walk or wins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K809i9VD21w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K809i9VD21w
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 7:37AM jcoggs said
Good times rocking this on the Genesis with my friends back in the day. Eff that ball-clown man. Let's clean up them Ballz and show 'em to a new generation! Err...um.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 8:32AM def PD said
Wow, I actually remember playing that game.
Anyone remember Weaponlord? Cool game, but controls were "sticky" and delayed like MK1 for the SNES, and the special move commands were like Primal Rage. The game even had fatalities.
I'd like to see Eternal Champions redone. That was a cool fighting game (at the time).
Anyone remember Weaponlord? Cool game, but controls were "sticky" and delayed like MK1 for the SNES, and the special move commands were like Primal Rage. The game even had fatalities.
I'd like to see Eternal Champions redone. That was a cool fighting game (at the time).
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 2:58PM ShadowXIII said
@def PD
I do, and it was a fantastic game...I still have it in fact.
Reply
I do, and it was a fantastic game...I still have it in fact.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 8:41AM Viriathus said
Ballz to the Wallz Action!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 11:26AM liquidsoap89 said
They're sliiiiiidddiiiiiiinnnngggggg!!!!!!
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 11:39AM killdash9 said
Ironic (intentionally?) that you discuss a game called "Ballz" in an article where only the Wii is down.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 11:43AM Tristan77 said
xbox managed to beat PS2 at least for a week. Next week xbox will be back to the botton of the list as always.
Posted: Oct 3rd 2011 2:11PM Suichimo said
I saw "Ballz" and was hoping for a gay robot impressionist sidekick who has a mutual hatred of Kristen Bell.
Posted: Oct 29th 2011 10:34PM DavidFeldman said
What do you mean "almost 3-D"? Ballz had a true 3-D engine. While other so called 3D fighters had a 3D camera but still restricted movement to up and back, Ballz was the world's first fighting game that allowed you to move your fighter AROUND the other players character.
The characters in Ballz were made out of balls to avoid the costly polygon rendering, thus allowing an 8Mhz 68000 to run a full 3d engine.
I know - I was the head of development at PF.Magic. So please, take back your "almost" - Ballz was true 3d.
The characters in Ballz were made out of balls to avoid the costly polygon rendering, thus allowing an 8Mhz 68000 to run a full 3d engine.
I know - I was the head of development at PF.Magic. So please, take back your "almost" - Ballz was true 3d.






