And it would have outsold all of the competition combined if it weren't for that pesky Xbox 360 contributing 1,547 units to the tally. The number the other systems had to defeat was 129,986, the number of PSPs sold in Japan last week according to the compulsive counters at Media Create. Nintendo's DS occupied the second place in the chart with 58,916 sold -- less than half of that managed by the PSP.
The system's monster success arrives hand-in-hand with Capcom's Monster Hunter Freedom 2 G, which sold 880,468 copies in its first week. Capcom revealed earlier this week that it had already shipped over a million units of the PSP expansion in an attempt to satiate the demand for "epic battles with giant monsters."
No doubt still harboring a grudge about that time Godzilla remorselessly flattened the beautiful city of Tokyo, the people of Japan have made it abundantly clear that they rather enjoy hunting monsters. Capcom has announced that the PSP's Monster Hunter Freedom 2 G -- the G highlighting the fact that it's an expansion to the pictured, G-less mega hit -- has shipped one million copies in the land of the rising hunt.
It has managed to do so in just six days, further enforcing the publisher's belief that "epic battles with giant monsters" can sustain a franchise that has now shifted over 6.3 million copies. The news certainly bodes well for the upcoming Wii iteration.
This week's Ask Joystiq: Monster Hunter 3, our tip line, our comment system and, most importantly, our soda preferences. If you have a question you want answered, drop us a line at ask AAT joystiq DAWT com. Let's get down to it:
Q: Joystiq! I need some new info about Monster Hunter 3!!! Seriously, there is nothing out there. I know it is coming to Wii, but please tell me it is coming to the US. -Mike
The Monster Hunter series in Japan is quite a sales phenomenon -- one in five PSP owners have a copy of the game, according to Capcom. The same can't be said for North America, whose enthusiasm for the title has been noticeably less.
Capcom gave us a rather lengthy statement on the issue (which we've printed after the break), but in a nutshell: the publisher is planning "a significant marketing program" for the Monster Hunter brand over the next two years in the west. "While we have not made specific announcements regarding Monster Hunter 3 in North America (or Europe, for that matter) to date," said the statement, "you can bet we'll be talking more about it in the future."
Hot on the heels of the mandatory installation controversy surrounding the PS3 version of Devil May Cry 4, comes word that the PSP title Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G will also feature an installation option. The installation will give players the chance to move the UMD's contents to the PSP's memory card, in order to decrease load times for the newest notch in the Japanese adventure series.
Along with this news comes obvious concerns that the pre-installation process may become a new standard in games, ending the good old feeling of buying a console or portable title and being able to just play it. We can't confirm yet whether the installation for 2nd G is mandatory, or whether it's presented as an alternative to load times. We're hoping for the latter. The game is due out in Japan in March 2008.
Capcom's official blog is reporting that the online components of PS2 games Resident Evil: Outbreak and Monster Hunterwill be ceasing after over three years of service.
As Capcom's blog explains, the online servers for both games were provided by an external company which is now exiting the PS2 online business, leaving Capcom in the lurch. The online services will not be picked up by Capcom or any other external company, and will cease entirely on December 31, 2007.
It's disappointing that both of these games are having their online components axed so prematurely, but we feel that Capcom has handled the controversial matter with a lot of class. For those in possession of these titles, we recommend getting your fill of online zombie-killing and monster-hunting before the end of the year.
Though they'll probably never replace a man's arm with a cannon or create a half-dude/half-demon, Capcom is breathing real-world life into their Monster Hunter franchise by sponsoring an actual "monster hunt" in the rainforests of Guyana for giant anacondas (we all know how that one turns out) and the South Americanized Bigfoot: The "didi."
Taking a break from wasting their lives puttering around Loch Ness, members of The Centre for Fortean Zoology will be conducting the expedition, and Capcom is picking up the tab. Our tip to mythological creatures: Unless you want to be turned into so many sequels that Jason Voorhees won't return your calls, we'd suggest you keep your head down this November.
Media Create's Japanese sales data for the past week has just been released, revealing a PS3-free Top 30 that is headed by a monster hit (yes) for the PSP at Number One. For more mixed signals, set your dials to receive this week's Top Ten:
Monster Hunter Portable 2nd - 705,281 units sold last week (new entry / Capcom, PSP)
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni - 80,002 (new entry / Alchemist, PS2)
Fire Emblem: Dawn Goddess - 75,359 (new entry / Nintendo, Wii)
Sim City DS - 50,826 (new entry / EA, DS)
Professor Layton and the Mysterious Town - 49,979 (186,716 sales to date / Level-5, DS)
Wii Sports - 47,503 (1,090,736 / Nintendo, Wii)
Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen EX - 45,792 (new entry / Tomy, Wii)
1UP has again braved the bands of manga-fiending young'ns to investigate the happenings at this year's Jump Festa jumpoff. While all major Japanese publishers (and Microsoft) were present, Square Enix was reppin' in full force, offering playable versions of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP), and Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (both for DS). Trailers for additional titles were also on display (see embedded videos below).
In a private theater, Square Enix previewed more new footage from its upcoming 2007 lineup, including a glimpse at Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PS3). The montage concluded with a brief flash of an armored man, grimacing as he stood on what appeared to be a battlefield. The teaser shot was followed by the words: "And something new coming in 2007."
Capcom announced its lineup of titles that will be
playable at E3:
GBA
Mega Man Battle Network 6 Cybeast Gregar, Cybeast
Falzar
Nintendo DS
Mega Man ZX
PS2
God Hand
Okami
Street Fighter Alpha
Anthology
PSP
Ultimate Ghosts 'n Goblins
Monster Hunter Freedom
Xbox 360
Dead Rising
Lost
Planet
In addition, Capcom will unmask several new games for as of yet announced platforms.
PlayStation 3? Nintendo Revolution? C'mon, Capcom has to have at least one ace up its sleeve...
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed: Hands-on Impressions Unleashed
Come to our E3 afterparty, we've got over 200lbs. of swag to give you (and only you)
Podcast Rodeo is back, and now with thrice the fidelity!
Hands-on with Spore. All of it. With Will Wright feeding us commentary.
Highlights from Blizzard's Worldwide Invitational 2008!
Listen to the Joystiq Podcast (because your ears can't read)
Posts with tag monsterhunter
No doubt still harboring a grudge about that time Godzilla remorselessly flattened the beautiful city of Tokyo, the people of Japan have made it abundantly clear that they rather enjoy hunting monsters. Capcom has announced that the PSP's Monster Hunter Freedom 2 G -- the G highlighting the fact that it's an expansion to the pictured, G-less mega hit -- has shipped one million copies in the land of the rising hunt. 
This week's Ask Joystiq: Monster Hunter 3, our tip line, our comment system and, most importantly, our soda preferences. If you have a question you want answered, drop us a line at ask AAT joystiq DAWT com. Let's get down to it:
Media Create's Japanese sales data for the past week has just been released, revealing a PS3-free Top 30 that is headed by a monster hit (yes) for the PSP at Number One. For more mixed signals, set your dials to receive this week's Top Ten:
1UP has again braved the bands of manga-fiending young'ns to investigate the happenings at this year's Jump Festa jumpoff. While all major Japanese publishers (and Microsoft) were present, Square Enix was reppin' in full force, offering playable versions of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP), and Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (both for DS). Trailers for additional titles were also on display (see embedded videos below).
Capcom announced its lineup of titles that will be
playable at E3:
