Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games headed to Wii and 3DS]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/mario-and-sonic-at-the-london-2012-olympic-games-headed-to-wii-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/mario-and-sonic-at-the-london-2012-olympic-games-headed-to-wii-a/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/21/mario-and-sonic-at-the-london-2012-olympic-games-headed-to-wii-a/#comments A leaked logo revealed the existence of a third Mario & Sonic Olympics game last week, and now Sega has confirmed it in a press release (having also sent out an official, much cleaner-looking version of the logo).

Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games is skipping DS and going only to Wii and 3DS. New Olympic events for the Wii version include soccer and equestrian challenges, along with a new slate of less realistic "Dream Events." The 3DS version has "over 50" events, none of which were named.

In addition to those, the title is a marathon on its own.

Continue reading Mario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games headed to Wii and 3DS

JoystiqMario and Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games headed to Wii and 3DS originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 21 Apr 2011 10:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3dsdsmario-and-sonicmario-and-sonic-at-the-london-2012-olympic-gamesnintendosegawiiThu, 21 Apr 2011 10:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Mario and Sonic in a new trailer, at the Olympic Winter Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/mario-and-sonic-in-a-new-trailer-at-the-olympic-winter-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/mario-and-sonic-in-a-new-trailer-at-the-olympic-winter-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/mario-and-sonic-in-a-new-trailer-at-the-olympic-winter-games/#commentsWe thought we had been cured of all vestiges of Sonic fandom -- the last several years having made caring about Sonic games unbearably painful. But then a speed-skating Metal Sonic showed up in this Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games trailer, and we were, however briefly, thrilled.

Other items of interest in this trailer: superfluous Sonic character Silver the Hedgehog getting really into curling, a Bowser/Bowser Jr. team (which confused us a lot when we initially thought it was a paradoxical Bowser/Baby Bowser team), and snowboarding! Which seems to be awfully close to the concept of Sonic Riders. And in the gallery, a few pictures of snowball fights! Is snowball fighting an Olympic sport now? If so, we'll actually pay attention to the TV broadcasts.

Gallery: Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympics (GamesCom 2009)

JoystiqMario and Sonic in a new trailer, at the Olympic Winter Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Aug 2009 11:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>marioMario-and-Sonicmario-and-sonic-at-the-olympic-winter-gamesminigamesolympicssegasilver-the-hedgehogsonicSportsThu, 20 Aug 2009 11:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Mario and Sonic's winter outing dated for October 16]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/mario-and-sonics-winter-outing-dated-for-october-16/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/mario-and-sonics-winter-outing-dated-for-october-16/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/13/mario-and-sonics-winter-outing-dated-for-october-16/#comments
We may have ragged on the first Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games a lot, but -- as horrible as we thought it was -- it managed to capture the interest (and money) of almost every man, woman, and child in all of the UK. So, Sega is working as fast as it can to get the latest version of its new money-printing machine, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games, out to retail, announcing that the game will release this October.

JoystiqMario and Sonic's winter outing dated for October 16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSmario-and-sonicmario-and-sonic-at-the-olympic-winter-gamesminigamesNintendoolympicssegaWiiMon, 13 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Exclusive Wii/rubber ducky bundles and more available at GameStop]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/exclusive-wii-rubber-ducky-bundles-and-more-available-at-gamesto/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/exclusive-wii-rubber-ducky-bundles-and-more-available-at-gamesto/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/02/exclusive-wii-rubber-ducky-bundles-and-more-available-at-gamesto/#commentsHere's a problem we're sure you're familiar with: you need a new video game console for your own kids right now, but you also need a guaranteed method of ruining that console, and you only have time to shop on one website. GameStop has solved that problem with its Summer Fun bundle, which consists of a Wii and a plastic water gun. Yes, really.

That's actually the least bizarre of GameStop's Wii/cheapo party favor bundles. The others include
We honestly can't tell what's going on here. Is this some form of retail trolling on GameStop's part?

[Via Destructoid]

JoystiqExclusive Wii/rubber ducky bundles and more available at GameStop originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bundlegamestopmario-and-sonicrubber-duckwater-gunThu, 02 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Godfather 2 whacks competition in UK, debuts at number 2]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/godfather-2-whacks-competition-in-uk-debuts-at-number-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/godfather-2-whacks-competition-in-uk-debuts-at-number-2/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/godfather-2-whacks-competition-in-uk-debuts-at-number-2/#comments
The UK likes its crime, apparently, as EA's Godfather II has managed to soar to the #2 spot on the region's sales charts. Sure, we've seen a few Guy Ritchie flicks in our life, but we're fairly surprised that you lot turned out in droves to check out the exploits of the Corleone family. The game even managed to topple Resident Evil 5 and Mario and Sonic at the Olympics, which we all know are like crack to the UK.

Godfather II was not able to keep Wii Fit from the top spot this week, however. But, hey, the sky is still blue and the grass is still green, so what did you expect?

JoystiqGodfather 2 whacks competition in UK, debuts at number 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseaelectronic-artsgodfather-2mario-and-sonicresident-evil-5salesukwii-fitWed, 15 Apr 2009 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Balance Board Bobsledding with Mario & Sonic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/balance-board-bobsledding-with-mario-and-sonic/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/balance-board-bobsledding-with-mario-and-sonic/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/03/balance-board-bobsledding-with-mario-and-sonic/#commentsEurogamer recently got a hands-on session with both the Wii and DS Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games, at an event in Vancouver during which Sega tried to soften up the journalists with free curling. The absolute best news gleaned from the session? Every game will have multiplayer unlocked from the start. Locking multiplayer is the worst possible design decision for a party game, and it's good to see that Sega picked up on that extremely obvious fact.

Also potentially fun: the new game supports the Balance Board for events like skiing and bobsledding. We haven't had a reason to sit down on the Balance Board since Raving Rabbids TV Party! Well, a reason other than exhaustion.
[Screenshot via ONM]

JoystiqBalance Board Bobsledding with Mario & Sonic originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 03 Apr 2009 14:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mario-and-sonicmario-and-sonic-at-the-olympic-winter-gamesminigamesolympicssegaFri, 03 Apr 2009 14:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Mario & Sonic head to the Winter Olympics later this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/mario-and-sonic-head-to-the-winter-olympics-later-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/mario-and-sonic-head-to-the-winter-olympics-later-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/12/mario-and-sonic-head-to-the-winter-olympics-later-this-year/#comments
Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games is finally "official." Sega announced this morning that Nintendo's mascot and Sega's cross to bear will compete on Wii and DS in virtual Vancouver, Canada, with all their friends (and "new faces").

As part of Sega's release, it stated that the original Mario & Sonic at the Olympics has sold over 10 million units globally. The latest casual cash-in will support the Wii Balance Board and feature Alpine Skiing, Speed Skating and many other events. That's all good, but will pairs figure skating deliver tension and romance between Sonic and Mario on par with the classic ice-skating movie, The Cutting Edge? We hope so ... not, we meant not.

Update: Teaser trailer embedded after the break.

Continue reading Mario & Sonic head to the Winter Olympics later this year

JoystiqMario & Sonic head to the Winter Olympics later this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSmario-and-sonicmario-and-sonic-2mario-and-sonic-at-the-olympic-winter-gamesNintendoolympicsolympics-2010segasportsWiiThu, 12 Feb 2009 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Olympics licensing director jumps the gun, reveals new Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/olympics-licensing-director-jumps-the-gun-reveals-new-mario-and-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/olympics-licensing-director-jumps-the-gun-reveals-new-mario-and-s/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/10/olympics-licensing-director-jumps-the-gun-reveals-new-mario-and-s/#comments The rumors (that we all knew were true) appear to be true: Sega's got a winter version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games on the way. Dennis Kim, director of licensing and merchandise for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, seemingly revealed Sega's plans to The Province.

"Last year, 2008, they had a very successful game using Mario and Sonic at the Beijing Games, as well as a multi-sport simulation type of game," Kim said. "That's what's being discussed and planned for Vancouver. We are feeling optimistic about sales because of the Beijing experience." Kim has reason to feel optimistic: the first Mario and Sonic game is one of the best-selling releases on the Wii.

Kim praised Sega's dedication to realism: "They want to get a real sense of accuracy, particularly with the landscape and the venues and the look of the Games." If the venue didn't look 100% accurate, people would be able to tell from the first moment a two-tailed cartoon fox stepped onto the track.

[Via CVG]

JoystiqOlympics licensing director jumps the gun, reveals new Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DSmario-and-sonicmario-and-sonic-at-the-olympic-gamesNintendoolympicssegavancouverWiiTue, 10 Feb 2009 13:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega acquires 2010 Winter Olympics license]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/sega-acquires-2010-winter-olympics-license/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/sega-acquires-2010-winter-olympics-license/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/05/sega-acquires-2010-winter-olympics-license/#comments
Sega has licensed the rights to produce games based on the 2010 Winter Olympics, taking place in sunny Vancouver, Canada. 1UP notes that more official information will soon be made available on the official website. Of the official games.

This licensing agreement brings credence to the rumor that a Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympics game will be revealed soonish. Expecting to compete in those Olympics? Start intense training for all that "A" pressing and waggling now.

JoystiqSega acquires 2010 Winter Olympics license originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mario-and-sonicmario-and-sonic-at-the-olympic-gamesolympicsolympics-2010segasonic-and-mariosonic-and-mario-at-the-olympicsThu, 05 Feb 2009 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: Mario & Sonic at the other Olympic Games?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/rumor-mario-and-sonic-at-the-other-olympic-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/rumor-mario-and-sonic-at-the-other-olympic-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/rumor-mario-and-sonic-at-the-other-olympic-games/#commentsFiled under:


For some reason, it never occurred to us that Sega would want to make a sequel to Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, but of course they would. Wouldn't you, if your game was one of the best-selling games on the best-selling console? Not even Sonic Team would botch that decision.

This purported scan from Nintendo Acción magazine teases a new Sonic and Mario title with the following text (as translated by Sega Nerds): "Who are these two and why do they come to see each other? Find out all the details on the mystery game in the next magazine. But before that, here are some clues: Games, Olympics, Cold, It's winter..."

Either this is a super obvious hint of a Winter Olympics-based sequel, or a fake magazine page, or intentional misdirection from the magazine.

Gallery: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games


[Via Joystiq]

JoystiqRumor: Mario & Sonic at the other Olympic Games? originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mariomario-and-sonicminigamesolympicssegasonicThu, 22 Jan 2009 09:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega Europe prez talks MadWorld, core games, and 2009]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/sega-europe-prez-talks-madworld-core-games-and-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/sega-europe-prez-talks-madworld-core-games-and-2009/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/sega-europe-prez-talks-madworld-core-games-and-2009/#commentsFiled under: ,


Click for more screenage

COO and Sega Europe president, Mike Hayes, is pumped for 2009. With the release of MadWorld quickly approaching, he's anxious for us to try the experience he's calling "so unique it aches." The Sega Europe president opened up on more than just Platinum Games' upcoming title, talking about the success of Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, as well as what the company expects going into 2009.

Click here to read the full interview.


[Via CVG]

JoystiqSega Europe prez talks MadWorld, core games, and 2009 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>europemadworldmario-and-sonicmike-hayesplatinum-gamessegaThu, 15 Jan 2009 19:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii's winners and losers in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/wiis-winners-and-losers-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/wiis-winners-and-losers-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/wiis-winners-and-losers-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: ,

We can't exactly trust the validity of the numbers used to create this list of best-selling games across the three home platforms, since it's just some guy on Geocities doing it (and he claims that he might alter numbers to deter copying) but they're close enough to our expectations for most games. These numbers are purportedly derived from Enterbrain and Famitsu sales data. Kotaku reproduced the top and bottom-selling games on each platform, and we think that's a nice way to organize it.

The top ten Wii games are not too surprising, including stuff like Wii Sports, Wii Play, Wii Fit, Brawl, and other big Nintendo franchises. The only third-party game on the list is Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, which, of course, is a Mario game!

But the bottom ten is a lot more entertaining, revealing, for example, that poor Opoona sold only 5,000 copies, as did Dewy's Adventure. D3's motivation for putting their Simple games on WiiWare is made clear by the fact that their disc-based releases totally bombed. Though not as badly as Hudson's Puzzle Series Vol. 1 Sudoku, which apparently sold 482 copies total.

It's hard to pick interesting tidbits out of the middle of the list (which we won't reproduce after the break in the interest of brevity) but apparently No More Heroes sold just 27,873 copies -- much less than the 84,224 copies of Mysterious Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer 3 that went out!

Continue reading Wii's winners and losers in Japan

JoystiqWii's winners and losers in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>enterbrainjapanmario-and-sonicopoonasimplesmash-bros-brawlwariowarewii-fitwii-sportsMon, 05 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mario & Sonic & An Unhealthy Obsession]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/mario-and-sonic-and-an-unhealthy-obsession/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/mario-and-sonic-and-an-unhealthy-obsession/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/30/mario-and-sonic-and-an-unhealthy-obsession/#commentsFiled under:

"I predict that it will sell 4 copies total."

"I feel that this game will bomb but only because of the olympic theme."

"Ha ha ha!"

Those are just a small number of your initial responses to Sega's prediction that Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games would sell four million copies worldwide. Not that we're bragging at our readers' expense, for we also pooh-poohed the notion. Over a year on from our mocking laughs, and Sega is now hoping to break two million by the end of this year -- in the UK alone. Yeesh.

"Our aim is to hit two million by the end of 2008," Sega UK sales director John Clark has told MCV (the most recent figures, which we assume are from before Christmas, have the title at around 1.75 million across the Wii and DS), adding that the game has more than a 30 per cent attach rate to British Wiis. We shall think twice before snickering into our Earl Gray and crumpets again.

Gallery: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

JoystiqMario & Sonic & An Unhealthy Obsession originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mariomario-and-sonicminigamessegasonicsportsukTue, 30 Dec 2008 21:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Olympic gold medalist trained with Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/olympic-gold-medalist-trained-with-wii/#commentsFiled under: ,


It may come as a surprise, but there are a few Olympic gold medals that Michael Phelps forgot to nab, magpie-like, for the gold medal throne we imagine he's begun constructing. One of those, the gold for the men's 100m breaststroke, was won by Japan's Kosuke Kitajima. How did he best longtime rival Brendan Hansen? Why, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, of course.

"See, Mario does the breaststroke," he recently told Yomiuri Sports. "And thus, it's perfect mental training for envisioning the actual Olympic hall."

... Let's, umm ... let's try to keep this from Jack Thompson, OK?

[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqOlympic gold medalist trained with Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mariomario-and-sonicmario-and-sonic-at-the-olympic-gamesolympicssegaWiiTue, 12 Aug 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mario pushes Olympic gold medalist to victory]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/mario-pushes-olympic-gold-medalist-to-victory/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/mario-pushes-olympic-gold-medalist-to-victory/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/12/mario-pushes-olympic-gold-medalist-to-victory/#commentsFiled under: ,


That up there is Kosuke Kitajima of Japan. He's just won a gold medal for swimming the breaststroke extremely quickly in that ongoing sporting event you may have heard about. Congratulations are in order then, but what's his secret? Strict 5am starts? Hours of training a day? A controlled diet? All three, we'd imagine, but also: Mario.

It turns out that Kitajima likes his Wii, specifically Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, which he cites as an influence. "See, Mario does the breaststroke," explained the swimmer to Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun. "And thus, it's perfect mental training for envisioning the actual Olympic hall." Riiight. Sega can spend all it wants on marketing its ubiquitous game, but that's as good as free publicity gets.

Gallery: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games


[Via Kotaku]

JoystiqMario pushes Olympic gold medalist to victory originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mario-and-sonicolympicssegasportTue, 12 Aug 2008 14:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Warm Up: Mario & Sonic at the thing that is happening right now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/wii-warm-up-mario-and-sonic-at-the-thing-that-is-happening-right/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/wii-warm-up-mario-and-sonic-at-the-thing-that-is-happening-right/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/11/wii-warm-up-mario-and-sonic-at-the-thing-that-is-happening-right/#commentsFiled under:


When Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games came out last year, there were no current Olympic Games for the pair to be at. The game was still branded with the Beijing Olympics logo, despite Beijing not yet having even a single Olympic. Even with the weird timing, the game did just fine; we expect that with the Olympics in full swing, sales will pick up even more.

Are you developing a sudden craving for mascot sports due to the rush of Olympic fever? Has the worldwide mania for athletic competition made you consider buying a game about big-headed animal-things and human caricatures taking part in simulated competition? If you already had Mario & Sonic, have you broken it out since the for-real Games started?

Gallery: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

JoystiqWii Warm Up: Mario & Sonic at the thing that is happening right now originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 11 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>mario-and-sonicminigamesolympicssegaMon, 11 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Birdo & Silver & Jet & Donkey Kong at the Olympic Games]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/birdo-and-silver-and-jet-and-donkey-kong-at-the-olympic-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/birdo-and-silver-and-jet-and-donkey-kong-at-the-olympic-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/11/birdo-and-silver-and-jet-and-donkey-kong-at-the-olympic-games/#commentsFiled under: ,


As if Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games wasn't already home to enough abysmal characters, a group of hackers have discovered a way to unlock numerous other unused playable characters in the title, including Silver the Hedgehog, Jet the -- ugh -- Hawk, and Donkey Kong (who would have been a welcome addition, actually). Birdo is also available, though comes with some sort of hideous facial deformity, as though the model never had its nose finished. It looks kind of wrong, truth be told. Not as wrong as this, mind.

There are plenty of other background characters that can be played with (some of which are fairly obscure), though only in certain events (such as trampolining). These include Shy Guy, Toad, the gut-churning Charmy, Espio, Cream, Boo, Bullet Bill (!), Goomba (!!), "Heroes Enemy 1," "Heroes Enemy 2," "SA1 Monkey," and -- nooo! -- Big the Cat. Sprint through the tape and into our gallery for a couple more screens.

Gallery: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

JoystiqBirdo & Silver & Jet & Donkey Kong at the Olympic Games originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>birdocasualdonkey-konggoombajetmario-and-sonicminigamesolympic-gamesolympicssegasilversportsportstoadWed, 11 Jun 2008 08:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Sega (and UK) still not sick of Mario & Sonic]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/sega-and-uk-still-not-sick-of-mario-and-sonic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/sega-and-uk-still-not-sick-of-mario-and-sonic/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/02/sega-and-uk-still-not-sick-of-mario-and-sonic/#commentsFiled under:

If Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games were a cow, it would have udders forged from diamond-encrusted, solid gold. This metaphor particularly applies in the UK, where the Nintendo/Sega crossover has sold over 1.2 million copies, and Sega (the distributor of the game throughout Europe) isn't yet ready to stop yanking furiously on those udders.

Over six months after it launched in Britain, the game is still being advertised in prime time spots, such as during Saturday's final of Britain's Got Talent, which was watched by one-fifth of the UK (and which that dog should have totally won). And, with the Olympics due to start soon, Sega UK head honcho Alan Pritchard has promised that the company will continue to advertise the title "heavily," right through until the end of 2008.

So there you go, Brits: if you weren't already sick to the molars of the plumber and the hedgehog, you ain't seen nothing yet. In fact, Mario & Sonic could turn out to be the Wii's answer to Brain Training.

Gallery: Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games

JoystiqSega (and UK) still not sick of Mario & Sonic originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscasualmariomario-and-sonicminigamesolympicssegasonicsportsMon, 02 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/another-week-in-europe/#commentsFiled under:

Grand Theft Auto IV continues to show up the competition across Europe this week, with either the PS3 or Xbox 360 edition claiming top spot everywhere. Wii pair Wii Fit and Game Night favorite Mario Kart Wii are close behind in most places (because we're optimists, we're now going to consider third as the new first), though yours truly would love to know where anybody is finding Mario Kart in the UK -- I hit the high street to find a copy for a friend a few days back, with zero success.

Further down the charts, Boom Blox made (what could almost be described as) an impact in its second week on sale, soaring from outside the Top 40 to 19th in the UK, while Super Mario Galaxy and Guitar Hero III rejoined the top ten in Holland and Sweden respectively. No Irish charts this week, we're afraid, but here's a hunch we had: Grand Theft Auto IV probably sold a lot.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 May 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>another-week-in-europedenmarkeuropegermanyguitar-heromario-and-sonicmario-kartnetherlandspalpro-evolution-soccerrabbidsraymanspainsuper-mario-galaxyswedenukwii-fitwii-playSat, 24 May 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/24/another-week-in-europe/#commentsFiled under:



Didja hear? Doctor Who is back from the future to save the DS in Europe! Hurray!

Haha. Not really. In fact, even though Top Trumps: Doctor Who is the only new Nintendo DS game to appear in a European chart this week, it still only managed a risible 33rd spot in the UK. Still, that should keep you David Tennant fans happy, and we even included a shot of Dave to aid your celebrations. Aren't we nice?

Aside from that, it's the usual tiresome faces, which means lots of Professor Kawashima and ... actually not so much of Mario and Sonic. Yep, there's no doubt about it: the pair's Olympics game is slowly dropping off the pace, appearing in only two top tens this week.

As usual, hit the break to peruse the charts, though please accept our profuse apologies for the lack of an Irish top ten.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 May 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Fit and Mario Kart Wii continue to fly the flag for the Wii in Europe, with the former appearing in every European top ten this week. Mario & Sonic also put in a characteristically strong performance, while Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 (ninth in the UK) and Mario Party 8 (tenth in Holland) seem to be enjoying a second burst of shelf life after their release last year.

But heck, you can tell all that simply by inspecting the charts after the post break. What you probably won't remember is that Boom Blox launched in Europe this week, yet never threatened any of Europe's top tens/twenties/forties; looks like this Spielbergian gem has been given the same frosty reception by consumers that it experienced in the U.S. Weaksauce (as my American colleagues might say)! It's sadly ironic, really -- EA's best game for donkey's years, and it's not even charted.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>another-week-in-europeboom-bloxdenmarkeuropegermanyirelandmario-and-sonicmario-kartnetherlandspalpro-evolution-soccerraymanspainsuper-mario-galaxyswedenukwii-fitwii-playSat, 17 May 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/17/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/17/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/17/another-week-in-europe/#commentsFiled under:


Hey, you! No, not the guy on the next screen along with the muffin -- you. That's right. You a European? You are? Great! So let's hear it: why have we just checked the latest European charts and found that Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney charted absolutely nowhere? If yours truly can summon up the the effort to scour the high street give his credit card details to an online retailer, you can do the same! No wonder Capcom seems to be thinking twice about releasing Trials and Tribulations here.

And now look what you've done! There are bits of Brain Training and Mario and Sonic everywhere! Eww.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 17 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's no new DS software in the top of the charts to report this week, but that doesn't mean Nintendo's little handheld didn't completely clean house. In fact, nineteen of the top thirty were DS games, showing how gluttonous the dual-screened portable can get when it comes to sales. Some old favorites also popped back up around the bottom, including Brain Age 2, Animal Crossing, and the original Taiko Drum Master DS.

Hardware continues to be a struggle, though. That doesn't mean the DS is doing poorly, because it's not; sales for the handheld even jumped up almost 10,000 units since last week. However, since the PSP and Wii have been doing so well lately, it's hard for Nintendo's handheld to compete:
  • PSP: 89,884
  • Wii: 67,308
  • Nintendo DS: 51,228
  • PlayStation 3: 8,054
  • PlayStation 2: 7,464
  • Xbox 360: 1,298
We have no doubt that the DS will be on top again soon enough, but until then, you can check out the satisfactory software numbers posted after the break.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 5/5-5/11

JoystiqAnother Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 5/5-5/11 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 May 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-islands-adventureanimal-crossinganother-week-in-japanbatonnagebeautiful-letter-trainingbimoji-trainingbrain-age-2calligraphy-trainingchartscrayon-shin-chanemblem-of-gundamgamesaleshitman-rebornjapankanji-brain-testmario-and-sonicmario-partymedia-createnarutonew-super-mario-brospokemonpokemon-rangerpokemon-ranger-batonnagesim-city-2taikotaiko-drum-mastertaiko-no-tatsujinwe-are-fossil-diggerswe-are-fossil-holdersyattermanyowikos-deserted-island-lifeFri, 16 May 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/03/another-week-in-europe/#commentsFiled under:

For a continent that gave the world tiramisu, Audrey Tautou, and the Renaissance, Europe sure does disappoint us at times. Yep, it's another week of gray, predictable drudgery when it comes to sales of DS software.

All you truly need to know is that More Mario & Dr. Kawashima's Olympics Training sold really, really well, and almost everything we care about didn't. Except for Animal Crossing: Wild World, which popped in to the German top ten, and Mario Kart DS, which secured eighth place in Ireland, and fifth in Germany. So maybe the world isn't all that rubbish, after all. And if you really believe that, we advise you go and rent Eurotrip.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Wii Fit is selling like gangbusters in Britain, where it accounts for half of all Wii software sold in the last week, and has given Nintendo its first one-two finish in the All Formats Chart since 2003. And guess what? It's more or less the same story throughout the rest of Europe.

The Irish are shedding the Guinness pounds, the Germans are working off those brätwurst, and Sweden ... well, we don't really have a lazy, go-to food stereotype for the Swedes. Anyhow, the point is: they're all loving it, and if Wii Fit doesn't appear in a chart (see: Spain, Denmark), it's probably because a country hasn't got it yet, or the charts have fallen behind.

Mind you, don't expect any of this Nintendo dominance to last: next week's charts are guaranteed to be all about one game (yet we suspect Wii Fit might give you have better legs than GTA IV in the long-term). Lean past the break for this week's European charts.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 03 May 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>another-week-in-europedenmarkeuropegame-partygermanyguitar-heroirelandmario-and-sonicmario-kartnetherlandspalpro-evolution-soccersega-superstars-tennisspainswedenwii-fitwii-playSat, 03 May 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/26/another-week-in-europe/#commentsFiled under:

Featuring charts from across the region, Another Week in Europe documents the buying habits and quirky tastes of a whole continent of DS lovers.

It's business as usual for the DS in Euroland, where Brain Training and Mario & Sonic have once again ruthlessly harvested the wallets of gullible (probably non-DS Fanboy-reading) consumers. We would love to suggest that this madness will end soon, but Brain Training has been around these parts for almost two years now, while the for-real Olympics will surely only boost people's interest in assaulting their DS's poor touch screen. In a word: gah.

More pleasingly, there's been a mini-renaissance for (of all games) Mario Kart DS. Sales of the game rose in the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, and Sweden, and we're pinning this sudden rebirth on the success of Mario Kart Wii, which continues to run down the opposition at an alarming pace. Then reverse back over it, just to make sure.

More charts await your attention past the break, though we're sorry to say that the Spanish top ten is taking a siesta this week (see what we did there?). With any luck, it'll be back next Saturday.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Featuring charts from across the region, Another Week in Europe documents the buying habits and quirky tastes of a whole continent of Wii lovers.

While yours truly had trouble tracking down a copy of Mario Kart Wii on the high street (for our review), it appears plenty of others around Europe had no such problem.

Bar Denmark (where it has now dropped to fifth), the title sits at the top of every European chart, and we suspect it might even be influencing the sales of other games. Surely the rise of Mario Kart DS to 8th in Ireland, 8th in France, and 7th in Germany can't all be a mere coincidence? By our reckoning, Mario Kart Wii has ramped up Europe's interest in Mario Kart generally. Fortunately, Mario Kart DS is the bee's knees!

Finally, this week's overachiever award goes to Sega Superstars Tennis -- despite the Wii version's lack of online play, Sega's tennis/blue skies extravaganza climbed to fourth in the UK. Head beyond the break for more European chartage, and please accept our humble apologies for the lack of a Spanish top ten -- that should be back next week.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>another-week-in-europecarnival-gamesdenmarkeuropegame-partygermanyguitar-hero-iiiirelandmario-and-sonicmario-kart-wiinetherlandspalpro-evolution-soccersega-superstars-tennisswedenukwii-playSat, 26 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/14-4/20]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-4-14-4-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-4-14-4-20/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/25/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-4-14-4-20/#commentsFiled under:

Something caused a Phoenix Wright sales revival, and we suspect it was the Gyakuten Meets Orchestra concert (which was also a Gyakuten Kenji hype event). Both the first and second Gyakuten Saiban games for the DS ended up in the top thirty this week.

Newcomer We're Fossil Diggers (a second-party effort by RED Entertainment that actually sounds really fun, at least to the dinosaur lovers in us) deserves all the glory, though. Debuting at third place, this unique piece of software did rather well for itself in its first week.

Besides the same old games that have been showing up in the charts for the past few weeks, the other notable is Square-Enix's dull-sounding bookkeeping game. It seems like a rather niche title to end up in the top thirty, but who knows -- maybe a lot of Japanese folks are getting ready to take the Level 3 Bookkeeping exam. Or, maybe they just can't resist a game by the beloved Squeenix.

To see all the placings and numbers for yourselves, just click on past the break.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/14-4/20

JoystiqAnother Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/14-4/20 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Featuring charts from across the region, Another Week in Europe documents the buying habits and quirky tastes of a whole continent of DS lovers.

The emergence of Mario Kart Wii this week caused tremors throughout the charts, something that didn't bode well for the DS. Apparently, training your brain has become a far less appealing pastime now that you can perform cartwheels on a bike as a giant ape, whereas Mario & Sonic could only hang on to third spot pretty much ... everywhere. As usual, the MIA titles are a greater source of interest, with Assassin's Creed failing to chart anywhere on its opening week.

Next week sees a sudden rush of shovelware (and we bet The Sun Crossword Challenge does really well, depressingly), and The World Ends With You.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 19 Apr 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In a strange turn of events, there's only one new DS game in Japan's top thirty this week, and that's Oshiri Kajiri Mushi's Rhythm Lesson DS. In case that title doesn't ring a bell, you may know it better as "that butt-biting bug game." If there's one thing we've learned from this bug, it's that biting is serious business. Despite Japan's love for DS software and quirky rhythm games, though, Oshiri Kajiri Mushi only debuted in the eighteenth spot. Perhaps butt biting is even too weird for Japan?

In hardware, the DS fell behind the PSP once again. Yet, there's already signs of the Monster Hunter hype beginning to dwindle, as the PSP sold 35,000 less units than the week before. Will the new brown model that comes out next week help the PSP keep a wide lead, or will the gap start to narrow again between the two handhelds? We're looking forward to finding out!

To see the Japanese placings and numbers, just check after the break.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/7-4/13

JoystiqAnother Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/7-4/13 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Featuring charts from across the region, Another Week in Europe documents the buying habits and quirky tastes of a whole continent of DS lovers.

Old Kawashima's not wrong, you know -- well, as far as the DS goes anyway. Y'see, Europe is all about Gran Turismo 5: Prologue this week, but when it comes to Nintendo's handheld, the not-for-profits Prof (along with Mario & Sonic) is making sure no other DS game gets a look-in. Oh sure, you have your Cooking Mama 2s and New Super Mario Bros.s sniffing around the fringes and occasionally racking up a top ten spot, but other than that, there's little resistance. So here's to next week, when hopefully Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles will make a dent in this tedium.

Oh, and if you're reading, Germany: Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Seriously?

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>another-week-in-europeassassins-creedbrain-trainingcooking-mamadenmarkeuropegermanyirelandmario-and-sonicnetherlandsnew-super-mario-brospalspainswedenukSat, 12 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/31-4/6]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-31-4-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-31-4-6/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-31-4-6/#commentsFiled under:

Sony dominated the first (and last) five in the top thirty software chart, but aside from that, everything else was Nintendo. The DS had fifteen games to represent it, but even if you added up the sales numbers for all those games, the total wouldn't come close to what Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G sold in its second week.

Pokemon Ranger: Batonnage was once again the best-selling DS game, but newcomer Tottado! Yowiko's Deserted Island Life (which is about famous Japanese comedians being stranded on an island) did well, also. In hardware, the DS was crushed for the second week in a row by the PSP, which had its sales boosted by Monster Hunter and Star Ocean 2.

Hardware:
  • PSP: 120,964
  • Nintendo DS: 55,190
  • Wii: 44,618
  • PlayStation 3: 11,303
  • PlayStation 2: 10,423
  • Xbox 360: 1,452
To see the software listings, just check after the break.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/31-4/6

JoystiqAnother Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/31-4/6 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganother-week-in-japanbeautiful-letter-trainingbimoji-trainingcalligraphy-trainingcase-closedchartscrayon-shin-changamesalesgundam-00harvest-moonmario-and-sonicmario-kartmario-partymedia-createmissing-professor-and-the-puzzling-towermobile-suit-gundam-00new-super-mario-brosnsmbpokemonpokemon-ranger-batonnagesalesseeking-the-lost-planetshining-sun-and-friendssim-city-2taikotaiko-drum-mastertaiko-no-tatsujintime-hollowtottadowild-worldyowikos-deserted-island-lifeFri, 11 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon's Wii Gold Box deals return!]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/amazons-wii-gold-box-deals-return/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/amazons-wii-gold-box-deals-return/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/11/amazons-wii-gold-box-deals-return/#commentsFiled under:



Out of nowhere, Amazon has kicked off another day devoted to Wii bargains! Similar to February's series of Gold Box deals, the online retailer has put up a bargain for the day -- Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games for $29.99.

Four additional "Lightning Deals" will also be posted at 6:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 6:00 PM PST, each sale limited to its four-hour block. Most of these games sell out within minutes, though, so you'll want to start refreshing the Gold Box page around those times.

Amazon has put up clues for the mystery Lightning Deals; we've accompanied them with our guesses!
  • 6:00 AM: "The hunt is on for big game." - Cabela's Big Game Hunter
  • 10:00 AM: "Wii will, Wii will rock you!" - Guitar Hero 3
  • 2:00 PM: "Muster your squad to fight the terrorist threat." - Ghost Squad
  • 6:00 PM: "Get your hardball fix without worrying about rainouts." - MLB Power Pros/MLB 2k8/The Bigs
[Via CAG]

JoystiqAmazon's Wii Gold Box deals return! originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazongold-boxmario-and-sonicFri, 11 Apr 2008 09:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/05/another-week-in-europe/#commentsFiled under:

Featuring charts from across the region, Another Week in Europe documents the buying habits and quirky tastes of a whole continent of Wii lovers.

Unlike reigning full beard freestyle world champion Elmar Weisser of Germany (who we admire fiercely), we have mixed feelings about this week's European sales charts.

For example, while we're heartened by the success of debutant Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (5th in the UK, and the Wii edition supplemented sales of other versions across Europe -- not bad for a game that appeared on every other console last October), we're irked by the flat performance of House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return (15th in Britain, and nowhere to be seen in the charts of mainland Europe).

Europe, if you're reading, stop buying Game Party (7th in UK), Smarty Pants (10th in Spain), and Mario & bleeding Sonic (high everywhere) and let's get something half-decent up there for a change. Sega Bass Fishing should make next week's chart, so that'd be a good place to start -- let's have that top ten somewhere, please. Sigh. At least Elmar will never fail to impress us. Click on for the charts.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Featuring charts from across the region, Another Week in Europe documents the buying habits and quirky tastes of a whole continent of DS lovers.

After a gray, unrelenting winter (for most of us in the unglamorous northern bits, anyway), the clocks went forward for Europe earlier this week, which we suppose means we're now fully immersed in spring (hence the daffodils, you see -- we really think long and hard about those pictures). Fittingly, the European sales charts are full of the joys of spring themselves!

Wait, no, hold on, we're lying again. Must stop lying. In reality, they're still pretty much unchanged from last week, with the one notable exception being Magic Made Fun (known as Master of Illusion in the U.S.) which debuted on the continent this week, where it reached 8th in Germany, and 7th in Spain -- we expected a little more from this sorcery sim, considering its catch-all appeal.

Anyhow, here's to April, when Assassin's Creed, Draglade, and The World Ends With You should arrive to help shake things up. Make the jump for this week's charts.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animal-crossinganother-week-in-europebrain-trainingdenmarkeuropegermanyirelandmagic-made-funmario-and-sonicmario-kart-dsmario-partymaster-of-illusionmaths-trainingmore-brain-trainingnetherlandsnew-super-mario-brospalspainswedenukSat, 05 Apr 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/24-3/30]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/04/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-24-3-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/04/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-24-3-30/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/04/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-24-3-30/#commentsFiled under:

The PSP might have dominated in Japan, selling as much hardware last week as every other system combined, but that doesn't mean the DS didn't do well for itself. In fact, Nintendo's handheld came in second place, selling around 60,000 units.

The story is similar in software, as DS titles came no where near to matching the sales of Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, yet there was still a lot of DS representation in the top thirty, as usual. New titles rleased last week that made the cut include Mobile Suit Gundam 00, which debuted in third, Vitamin X Evolution, Lux Pain, and Home Teacher Hitman Reborn!

Towards the bottom of the software chart, New Super Mario Bros. reappeared while Taiko Drum Master hung stubbornly onto the thirtieth spot. To see how other games were rearranged, just check after the break for the listings.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/24-3/30

JoystiqAnother Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/24-3/30 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>another-week-in-japanbatonnagebeautiful-letter-trainingbimoji-trainingcalligraphy-trainingchartscrayon-shin-changamesalesgundam-00harvest-moonhome-teacher-hitman-rebornjapanlux-painmario-and-sonicmario-kartmario-partymedia-createmobile-suit-gundam-00new-super-mario-brosnsmbpokemonpokemon-rangerpokemon-ranger-2pokemon-ranger-batonnagesalesseeking-the-lost-pastshining-sun-and-friendssim-city-2taikotaiko-drum-mastertaiko-no-tatsujintime-hollowvitamin-xvitamin-x-evolutionvongole-battle-diceFri, 04 Apr 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/29/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/29/another-week-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/29/another-week-in-europe/#commentsFiled under:

Featuring charts from across the region, Another Week in Europe documents the buying habits and quirky tastes of a whole continent of DS lovers.

The usual proliferation of training games and Mario & Sonic aside, there's been little in the way of interesting new DS releases in this week's charts. And by "little," we mean "nothing." Indeed, Ubisoft's Imagine: Babies is actually the highest new DS entrant in the UK (30th), Ireland (10th), and France (11th). Deflating, much?

Furthermore, with only Bunnyz, Dungeon Explorer: Warriors of Ancient Arts, George of the Jungle, Hurry Up Hedgehog, Neves, Teenage Zombies and Yu-Gi-Oh World Championship 2008 to come next week, we're not anticipating much change. People, we're hitting the mid-year drought -- for heaven's sake, give us a release date for Professor Layton already, Nintendo. Hit the break for the full chart lowdown.

Continue reading Another Week in Europe

JoystiqAnother Week in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 29 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>another-week-in-europedenmarkeuropegermanyimagine-babiesirelandmario-and-sonicnetherlandspalspainswedenukSat, 29 Mar 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii's third-party million-sellers revealed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/wiis-third-party-million-sellers-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/wiis-third-party-million-sellers-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/wiis-third-party-million-sellers-revealed/#comments

Ah, how we all knowingly chuckled when Sega predicted it would sell four million copies of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games across the Wii and DS. Like a drunken, rowdy friend boasting of sexual conquests that never actually occurred, Sega's strutting came across as the stuff of fantasy.

And then the news came through. They'd sold five million. D'oh!

We were reminded of our misplaced Mario & Sonic cynicism again today, after That Videogame Blog listed the third-party games that have shifted one million units on the Wii. Sure enough, the plumber and the hedgehog taunted us from the top of the pile (with 3.4 million sales), while Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (1.8 million), Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (1.6 million), Rayman Raving Rabbids, Sonic and the Secret Rings, Carnival Games (all 1.2 million), and Red Steel (1 million) sat beneath it.

Helpfully, author Ashutosh Chhibbar has also listed those titles that are nearing the magical seven-digit landmark, with Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, MySims, or LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga just needing one last push.

JoystiqWii's third-party million-sellers revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carnival-gamesguitar-hero-iiilego-star-warsmario-and-sonicmysimsone-millionrayman-raving-rabbidsred-steelresident-evilsonic-and-the-secret-ringsumbrella-chroniclesFri, 21 Mar 2008 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/10-3/16]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-10-3-16/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-10-3-16/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/21/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-10-3-16/#commentsFiled under:

"If you bundle a game with a special brush stylus, they will come," the heavens whispered to Nintendo.

While we expected Beautiful Letter Training (also known as Bimoji or Calligraphy Training) to do well, we didn't expect it to sell 66,000 copies in its first week. This first-party effort by Nintendo looks as polished and full of content as a calligraphy nongame could get, but we're still surprised by the high demand for this game in Japan. Nintendo has understood sales markets better than anyone else this generation, though, so we probably should have expected this.

Also appearing on the charts are both versions of Hayate the Combat Butler, as we predicted. The mansion edition was slightly more popular, as preference was given to the little girls in little black dresses. At the sixth spot was Shugo Chara!, which, in case you were wondering, is yet another manga/anime-based game about a school girl.

Harvest Moon: Shining Sun and Friends, meanwhile, jumped back into the top ten, while Soma Bringer dropped down a few notches. One other notable game on the chart is the infamous Duel Love, which debuted at spot twenty-seven. That's not a great start for the title, but perhaps nipple rubbing is more niche in Japan than we thought.

Despite making a killing in software and having fifteen games in the top thirty, the DS remained in third for hardware sales. Still, considering that everyone and their mother already owns a DS in Japan, we're somewhat surprised that it comes so close to the top, week after week.

Mosey on after the break to see the numbers in full, folks.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/10-3/16

JoystiqAnother Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/10-3/16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>another-week-in-japanbeautiful-letter-trainingbimoji-trainingcalligraphy-trainingchartsdoraemonduel-loveetrian-odyssey-2gamesalesharvest-moonhayate-the-combat-bu...japanjirou-akagawa-mysterymario-and-sonicmario-kartmario-partymedia-createmkdsnew-super-mario-brosnobita-and-the-green-giantnocturnensmbroyal-grailshining-sun-and-friendsshugo-charasoma-bringertaikotaiko-drum-masterthe-invited-killerthree-eggs-and-the-joker-in-loveFri, 21 Mar 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/3-3/9]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-3-3-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-3-3-9/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/03/14/another-week-in-japan-hardware-and-software-numbers-3-3-3-9/#commentsFiled under:

Japan loves Doraemon, and it shows. Not only did the manga-based robot cat have a successful DS baseball game, but now a game based on the manga itself debuted in the top ten.

Soma Bringer was still the top dog for the handheld, though, selling a total of 68,000 copies in two weeks. Are numbers like these high enough to motivate Monolith Soft to bring the game to English speaking markets? Well, we certainly hope so, but that remains to be seen.

As for hardware, the DS stayed in third place again last week, but wasn't too far behind the PSP:
  • Wii: 57,068
  • PSP: 53,924
  • Nintendo DS: 48,658
  • PlayStation 3: 21,008
  • PlayStation 2: 10,429
  • Xbox 360: 2,891
The numbers and placings for software are listed after the break, so if you're curious, just click away.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/3-3/9

JoystiqAnother Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 3/3-3/9 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adventure-in-the-skyanimal-crossinganother-week-in-japandoraemonetrian-odyssey-iigirls-sidegirls-side-2nd-seasonharvest-moonjapanjirou-akagawa-mysterykanji-brain-testkeroro-gunsou-3mario-and-sonicmario-kartmario-partymedia-createnew-super-mario-brosnobita-and-the-green-giantnocturnensmbroyal-grailsalesshining-sun-and-friendssoma-bringertaikotaiko-drum-masterthe-invited-killertokimeki-memorialwild-worldFri, 14 Mar 2008 18:00:00 EST