Big in Japan: August 17-23: DS Mii game tops charts

After weeks in the runner-up spots, Nintendo's Tomodachi Collection pulls ahead of the pack; hardware sales down across the board.

For two months, Nintendo's Tomodachi Collection on the DS has been among the five best-selling games on Media Create's Japanese software sales charts but always came up short to titles like Dragon Quest IX, Monster Hunter Tri, and Wii Sports Resort. That streak is over, because the industry tracking firm's figures for the week of August 17-23 put Tomodachi Collection on top with 82,504 sold.

Miis are big on the DS as well as the Wii.

Published by Nintendo, Tomodachi Collection lets players explore a remote island city with Miis imported from their Wiis or with original Miis created in the DS game. The game was originally released in mid-June.

The previous weeks' top titles didn't fall too far, as Dragon Quest IX and Monster Hunter Tri took the second and third spots, respectively. Other recent best-sellers on the chart included Wii Sports Resort at five and SD Gundam G Generation Wars for the PlayStation 2 at six. In the midst of that row of chart-toppers at the four spot was the new PS2 installment of the Melty Blood fighting franchise, Actress Again.

On the hardware front, sales sagged across the board. The DSi's 59,579 systems sold was enough to best all comers once again but was down significantly from nearly 88,000 for the week prior. On the other end of the spectrum was the PlayStation 3, which posted a meager 2,052 system sales for the week, less than half the 4,907 it had sold the week before.

There are some extenuating circumstances that add context to that figure. Just one day into the reporting week, Sony officially revealed the PS3 Slim but announced it wouldn't see release in Japan until September 3. Supplies of legacy PS3 models may have also been in short supply; Wedbush Morgan Securities analyst Michael Pachter told VG24/7 earlier this month that Japanese retailers had stopped receiving shipments of the system in anticipation of the new hardware.

Week of August 17-August 23, 2009
Software:
1) Tomodachi Collection (DS) - 82,504
2) Dragon Quest IX (DS) - 79,103
3) Monster Hunter Tri (Wii) - 51,101
4) Melty Blood: Actress Again (PS2) - 44,292
5) Wii Sports Resort (Wii) - 32,380
6) SD Gundam G Generation Wars (PS2) - 25,740
7) Ookami Kakushi (PSP) - 22,655
8) Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (PSP) - 17,933
9) PuyoPuyo 7 (DS) - 17,920
10) Kiniro no Corda 2 f Encore (PSP) - 13,958

Hardware:
DSi - 59,578
PSP - 27,187
Wii - 26,972
Xbox 360 - 8,979
DS Lite - 5,735
PS2 - 3,295
PS3 - 2,052

101 Comments

  • Drower

    Posted Sep 2, 2009 6:42 am PT

    majahet, are you talking about media? Because media compression and decompression with formats such as mpeg, jpeg etc leads to data loss. However, since you have the originals, you won't decompress something that you always compressed for use on another system.

    But you mention "code", and I can only interpret that as source code (which of course never is installed on the actual console) or machine code, which we shall can binaries. In any case, when you compress code or binaries, you use formats such as zip, etc, where you don't get any data loss, because the code wouldn't work if you got any data loss. When you port software from one system to another, you change parts of the original source code, so compression never comes into play.

    When porting, logic dictates that it is easier to port from the weaker system to the stronger, because you tend to create overhead when you port code.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Sep 1, 2009 5:32 pm PT

    they're still waiting for the PS3 Slim

  • Quezakolt

    Posted Sep 1, 2009 9:41 am PT

    i think the PS3 is lacking in software which with recent price-cute is its biggest hurdle. I bought a PS3 Slim a few days ago but there's no game I absolutly have to play, that i crave for, like it used to be when generations switched... for japan.. needs more RPG's. I think there's more of them on the 360, if i'm not wrong.

  • majahret

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 1:25 pm PT

    @monson21502
    you would be right if you weren't very wrong. im talking about code, not the systems themselves. what im was trying to say that you misinterpreted was that when you use coding for the ps3 it all stays uncompressed therefore when you go and port it over to the 360 and then compress it, it has minimal data loss. but when you go from a code that has already been compressed (code used for 360) and you port it over to the ps3, its as if it gets a double negative in terms of loss of data. so coding for the ps3 is a more effective way to do multiplatform games. the ps3 on a technical stand point is better than the 360 for the reason i have stated in my previous comments. im not a sony fan boy or anything im just a fanboy of technology, and the ps3 is much better in that respect. sony overall is much better then MS in that respect. i own all the systems starting from the atari (which i still have and still works perfectly =D) in terms of exclusives for each console its all opinion based. my opinion may differ from yours and yours will from mine, its just how it is, so preference is really the only deciding factor for a system.

  • IXIWhistIXI

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 11:56 am PT

    Why would xbox fans cry about ps3 doing well?

    Are so many gamers still so ignorant that they can't accept other consoles being successful?

    People buy consoles like they're pledging loyalty to a kingdom and anybody not part of their console kingdom should be burned. I don't get it, if you dislike the cost of the ps3 or the fact that the online aspects of it aren't as well tuned as xbox (because no monthly fee) don't buy the ps3.

    Again the opposite for 360.

    I don't get why it would ever be an issue that a console you don't have is selling better than the ones you do have. You obviously like the console(s) you have so who cares if more kids in japan are getting ps3s now. I don't see how it should provoke tears of any kind.

  • TzarStefan

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 11:27 am PT

    Can't wait for the ps3 slim to hit japan xbots will cry there little eyes out when they see ps3 sales go through the roof

  • UnknownForm

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 11:22 am PT

    Right now in Japan:Still waiting for PS3 Slim...

  • leeko_link

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 10:21 am PT

    Still no HD games on the top ten yet, guess everyone in Japan got tired of Gears of War 2 now though it's surprising to see the Xbox 360 still outselling PS3 the second time of the month.

  • rulo_rezn0r

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 10:15 am PT

    360 doing good in Japan

  • xXl_IMoRTaL_lXx

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 9:06 am PT

    wow. 360 sales over PS2 and PS3? jeeze. didn't see that coming

  • atopp399

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 6:42 am PT

    Lots of people overpaying for a DSi it looks like. They should just stick with the Lite. I will be interested in seeing the numbers for the week that has the Xbox and PS3 price drops.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 6:11 am PT

    I like posters like majahret...it's kind of like reading the morning funnies without the cartoons.

    On a serious note though... 360 outsold the PS3 by 4.5 : 1 in Japan?!...and the PS2 outsold the PS3 by 60%...forget rubbing salt in a wound that has got to hurt Sony.

  • benashley

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 5:53 am PT

    @majahret before you start calling all Xboxers little kids, may be you should work on your spelling and grammar. There are kids out there under the age of ten with a better grasp of the English language than you. I doubt you've even realised there's a spell check function.

  • GSgirl

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 5:23 am PT

    Im getting tired of this....maybe I will sale all my consoles except for my DS and and save some money in games that after a month only recolect dust

  • badtaker

    Posted Aug 31, 2009 4:50 am PT

    This Sales proves casual gamers are more than Hardcore gamers.I can't wait for GOW3

  • monson21502

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 11:56 pm PT

    @majahret, let me eat some that food for sec.....

    so games from 360 ported to ps3 makes the 360 games look better. and ps3 games ported to 360 look the same. my thought is the 360 is the better game system.

  • majahret

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 11:41 pm PT

    as for multiplatform titles, that may look better on the 360 than the ps3 is due to the fact that when you port over the compressed code for the 360 to the ps3 your gonna get a little bit of crap, but what most smart developers have been doing is making the code on the ps3 then porting it over to the 360 (ex:ff13). its hardly causes any lost of information during the port, therefore the games look semi identical with the pure uncompressed code of the ps3 being cleaner than that of the 360. 1 bluray of ff13 on ps3 and 3-4 dvds of ff13 on 360. food for thought.

  • majahret posted Aug 30, 2009 11:41 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    majahret

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 11:41 pm PT (hide)

    its funny how many MS fanboys there are, and im gonna put and emphasis on BOYS. your all just a bunch of little kids being so easily swayed by MS and their deep pockets to get your attention. a lot of you dont realize that one of the main features with online that the 360 has over the ps3 is the whole chatting while playing on live, the only and main reason why the ps3 doesnt have it isnt because sony cant integrated but because MS put a patent on that and therefore no one else can use it on their console, same thing with having your personal music playing in the background while you play other games. the only way sony can get away with it is by having be an ingame thing with particular titles, if MS didnt patent it then ps3 would have had it from the start. so for you MS fanBOYS out there, read up on who has a patent on what before you just say one system is better than the other. besides if you really look at the technology running in the consoles, sony has MS beat by a long shot. do you even really know what an innovation teh cell processor inside of the ps3 is. its magnificent. and allows for many great graphical improvements. besides there isnt a game out there right now or even in the near future that will be utilizing all of the ps3s power, unlike the 360.

  • Tenjikuronin

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 11:34 pm PT

    The DS is awesome.

  • xblane

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 6:54 pm PT

    wow, another fanboy war

  • Fed__X

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 4:37 pm PT

    ummmm at noob comments.... they're trying to phase out the old models.. gah

  • Tauu

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 1:49 pm PT

    Sonyspot? Nah, WoWspot is a more accurate name for this site.

  • diabloakaSAHA

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 12:49 pm PT

    WOW pity , the ps3 cant even keep up in its home turf .

  • CoolKidX

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 12:12 pm PT

    @mamad_raiss

    Totally true, GS is turning into something diffrent.
    A year ago Ps3 fanboys said that Gamespot was MSspot or wahteever, it turning into SonySpot now.

  • Realacide

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 11:04 am PT

    congratulations on another successful game.

  • plasticbox1990

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 10:31 am PT

    i can't wait for Monster Hunter Tri!

  • Chronic_Boom420

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 10:27 am PT

    Damn, PS3 can't even catch a break in Japan lately...ouch!

  • mutual-assassin

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 10:22 am PT

    God I wished I lived in Japan...

  • Doolum

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 9:33 am PT

    MH tri making good out there.i wonder though y they list MHFU under Japan Sales chart when it should be MHP2ndG.anyways,nice surprise to see that the game is still selling.And man, its darn good.

  • MaxPower15

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 8:58 am PT

    People stopped buying regular ps3s once they found out there`s a new slim one releasing. I wonder if xbox sales will remain at 8000/9000 after that happens.

  • TevoxZi

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 8:32 am PT

    @1toolkleikthese

    Well said!

  • egilskal

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 7:56 am PT

    @1toolkleikthese

    Well said old chap!:-)

  • mamad_raiss

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 5:39 am PT

    Its good to see gamespot is finally going to be sonyspot , I just read news from ign and other sources because gamespot lost its steam when greg left this site . and its a place for ps3 fanboys to waste their time writing nonesense comments and giving thumbs up for sony interest. however its now or never for ps3 and sony . because it may be the last holiday for them to sell more than MS, when MS didn't drop xbox 360 price and xbox360 doesn't have enough exclusive games this year then with uncharted 2 and price cut ,sony may sell more consoles . But next year is the natal year and there are a lot of exclusive games on 360 like Halo:reach,Alan wake, SC:conviction, Fable3 ,ME2 and at least one major rare sequel and maybe GeoW3 and also there would be another price cut for xbox360 , sony's chance is very slim. In fact 2010 is the relaunch year of xbox360.

  • businessfox

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 3:46 am PT

    I can see that the ps 2 still going stronge on sales in jap huh? that's great.

  • speedy5212

    Posted Aug 30, 2009 3:44 am PT

    @T-razor1
    Good question , it could be piracy , I guess

  • CoolKidX

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 8:27 pm PT

    @T-razor1
    Dude.. that is the best argument I have read in this comment box.

  • CoolKidX

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 8:26 pm PT

    I'm gonna laugh so hard when sells next week with the ps3 slim in Japan, are still low for the ps3. When it surpasses 360, doesnt matter, but Il bet it will not suprass the wii neither the PSP. But if 360 is still highers or ps2, Im gonna laugh at everyone here saying that the gamers of japan "wait", c'mon man, kinda lame excuse, but yeah maybe some but sure not all of them, plus out of supply thing maybe did something. Oh well.

  • Beltsu

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 7:53 pm PT

    I'm a bit surprised that the Xbox360 sold so much this month, and that there are no PS3 titles on top 10. Concerning PS3 console low sales, it is normal, considering that the japanese are expecting the slim model release.

  • Oozyrat

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 6:54 pm PT

    Cool, glad to see that the DS is still on top, , plus the DSi is selling very well. (and it's not even the holidays yet!)
    (I am surprised to see how many PS2 games are on the list)
    (Is it me, or is the PS3 slim not look as cool as the original. No offence, but it looks kinda bland. The first one, I would say, was the coolest looking system this gen, but this new one looks ugly )

  • CamiKitten

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 6:54 pm PT

    I don't even mess with my Mii on the Wii lol. It's covered in dust now I bet.

  • GaRdYbOy

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 4:29 pm PT

    wow I guess u have a sixth sence for others like you

  • D3A7HJ0K3R posted Aug 29, 2009 3:44 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    D3A7HJ0K3R

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 3:44 pm PT (hide)

    wow i sense 360 fanboys here.

  • D3A7HJ0K3R

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 3:41 pm PT

    do all japanese people play rpg's?

  • scarface_dm

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 3:22 pm PT

    20-30k sales lol..... Keep dreaming there buddy

  • Ovirew

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 3:07 pm PT

    I'm kinda disappointed in the overall Japanese gamer these days, it's like they kinda...vanished lol. Maybe a lot of their younger people are in universities these days and aren't able to spend as much time gaming.

  • Tauu

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 2:16 pm PT

    August 17-23... news of the PS3 slim hit on the 19th. PS3 sales were low this week because people were waiting for the slim. Next week I predict 20-30k sales for PS3.

  • monson21502

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 1:49 pm PT

    i cant wait to see how the japanese react to project natal. it seems like there kind of thing. it might give them a shot for the next box over there.

  • monson21502

    Posted Aug 29, 2009 1:43 pm PT

    ps3.5 confirmed for next gen. if you cant beat nintendo join em * poor gamers*

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