Big in Japan Jan. 10-16: Another Century's Episode Portable

It has been more than a month since Capcom's Monster Hunter Portable 3 was released in Japan, and not a single title has been able to challenge its reign atop Media Create's software sales charts. However, that reign ended during the week of January 10-16, if only just barely, as Namco Bandai's mech action game Another Century's Episode Portable for the PSP just edged out Capcom's perennially popular action game, selling 70,217 units to 68,274 units.

Aside from a change at the top, Media Create's mid-January week did not yield much by way of moving and shaking. Donkey Kong Country Returns for the Wii finished third with 29,412 units sold, followed remotely by Ninokuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi, which sold 19,020 copies. AKB1/48: Idol to Koishitara… returned to the chart after a brief fall-off last week to round out the top five, selling 18,616 units.

Aside from Another Century's Episode Portable, the week's only other debut was Arc System Works' Arcana Heart 3, the PlayStation 3 version of which managed a sixth-place finish with sales of 17,219 units. The only other PS3 title to crack the top 10 was Gundam Musou 3, which has been available in Japan since mid-December.

Sony hardware ruled the day during the week, with the PlayStation 3 and PSP selling 33,190 units and 29,806 units, respectively. Nintendo's console also outsold its portable, with Wii unit sales coming in at 21,291, the DSi LL selling 17,452, and the DSi shifting 13,416 units.

JAPAN GAME SALES WEEK OF JANUARY 10-16, 2011
Software:
Rank / Title / Publisher / Platform / Unit sales
1. Another Century's Episode Portable / Namco Bandai / PSP / 70,217
2. Monster Hunter Portable 3 / Capcom / PSP / 68,274
3. Donkey Kong Country Returns / Nintendo / Wii / 29,412
4. Ninokuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi / Level 5 / DS / 19,020
5. AKB1/48: Idol to Koishitara… / Namco Bandai / PSP / 18,616
6. Arcana Heart 3 / Arc System Works / PS3 / 17,219
7. Wii Party / Nintendo / Wii / 15,986
8. Pokemon Black and White / The Pokemon Company / DS / 15,542
9. Gundam Musou 3 / Namco Bandai / PS3 / 12,804
10. Mario Sports Mix / Nintendo / Wii / 12,173

Hardware:
PS3 - 33,190
PSP - 29,806
Wii - 21,291
DSi LL - 17,452
DSi - 13,416
Xbox 360 - 2,636
DS Lite - 1,956
PS2 - 1,629
PSP Go - 1,208