Big in Japan Jan. 25-31: Dragon Quest VI DS

Square Enix's portable RPG dominates the week's sales as Tri-Ace's Resonance of Fate charts on both PS3 and Xbox 360.

The latest stint atop the charts for New Super Mario Bros. Wii was a brief one. After dethroning Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, the Nintendo platformer lasted just a week in the top spot before being supplanted by another handheld Square Enix hit.

"Just a few more experience points and I can level up my trigger finger!"

According to Japanese tracking firm Media Create, Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie was the country's best-selling game for the week of January 25-31. The DS remake of the series' Super Nintendo swan song sold a whopping 906,458 copies for the week, coming just shy of doubling the rest of the top 10 combined. Square Enix has confirmed a North American release for the final installment in the role-playing game franchise's Zenithia trilogy (which has never received an international release) but has yet to specify a launch window.

The only other game to break the six-digit mark for the week was another RPG, Sega's Resonance of Fate (pictured), called End of Eternity in Japan. The latest effort from Star Ocean studio Tri-Ace racked up sales of 118,088 on the PlayStation 3 for the week, good enough for second place on the charts. The Xbox 360 version of the game also cracked the top 10, landing in eighth place with 27,048 units sold.

Those weren't the only new arrivals on the software charts. Namco's latest entry in the Ar tonelico RPG series sold the fourth most copies of the week, finishing just behind New Super Mario Bros. Wii with 81,633 units sold. Sony's 256-player online shooter MAG also established itself with a top 10 performance in its debut week, selling 19,139 copies.

The hardware numbers were similar to those of previous weeks, with the standard PSP being the best-selling system of all (47,875 units sold) and the PSP Go bringing up the bottom of the chart (1,645 units sold). The Wii was the best-selling console of the week (42,309 units sold), while sales of Nintendo's various DS models were all up week-over-week, thanks in part to the big Dragon Quest VI debut. The finishing order of the systems was identical to the previous week, except for the DSi XL (34,863 units sold) barely pulling ahead of the PS3 (34,431 units sold) to swap third and fourth place with the Sony console.

JAPAN GAME SALES WEEK OF JANUARY 25-31, 2010
Software:
Rank / Title / Publisher / Platform / Unit sales
1) Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie / Square Enix / DS / 906,458
2) End of Eternity / Sega / PS3 / 118,088
3) New Super Mario Bros. Wii / Nintendo / Wii / 83,930
4) Ar tonelico III: Sekai Shuuen no Hikigane wa Shoujo no Uta ga Hiku / Namco / PS3 / 81,633
5) Tomodachi Collection / Nintendo / DS / 45,474
6) Wii Fit Plus / Nintendo / Wii / 32,888
7) Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep / Square Enix / PSP / 30,225
8) End of Eternity / Sega / Xbox 360 / 27,048
9) Valkyria Chronicles 2 / Sega / PSP / 24,048
10) MAG / Sony / PS3 / 19,139

Hardware:
PSP - 47,875
Wii - 42,309
DSi XL - 34,863
PS3 - 34,431
DSi - 24,783
DS Lite - 6,811
Xbox 360 - 4,089
PS2 - 2,182
PSP Go - 1,645

53 Comments

  • Alekxander

    Posted Feb 27, 2010 1:27 pm PT

    Looking forward to Resonance of Fate and Ar tonelico 3.

  • syztem

    Posted Feb 18, 2010 9:34 pm PT

    Is there any news of a North American release for Ar Tonelico 3?

    Hopefully with a competent localization this time.

  • Pink_Troglodyte

    Posted Feb 10, 2010 11:51 pm PT

    Resonance of Fate looks sweet. That's a very dark atmosphere for a JRPG

  • Kou-Nurasaka

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 8:21 pm PT

    For the record, there is no equal to Dragon Quest. That thing outsold everything on the list, even the console included by 250,000. Unreal.

  • Hanzoadam

    Posted Feb 8, 2010 3:18 pm PT

    Can't wait for End of Eternity

  • envybianchi

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 2:46 pm PT

    Iamprey236, thanks for the clarification. Makes sense now. I appreciate it!

  • terafumos

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 2:07 pm PT

    Well, FFXIII did sell colossally well in its first week. Maybe the majority of Japanese gamers interested in the title grabbed a copy then, lol. I didn't notice the game's absence until you guys mentioned it.

  • keebthesquee

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 11:11 am PT

    I want End of Eternity ^___^

  • wiidsduelpack

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 10:17 am PT

    Many want to live in Japan for the great library of games, but DS and PSP games are $60 in Japan.
    /
    In the West, handheld games are like $35. Just shows how popular handheld games are in Japan.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 7:01 am PT

    Final Fantasy isn't on this list because this is a Japanese list and the Japanese got FFXIII in December, according to VG Chartz it's sold 1.88 million copies there on the PS3 alone, by week 6 after release they were down to around 7,500 copies for the week, and around 5,400 copies the week after, being how MAG is #10 with just over 19K copies it's pretty obvious why FFXIII isn't on the list right now.

  • dad100 posted Feb 7, 2010 5:56 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    dad100

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 5:56 am PT (hide)

    FFXIII ISN'N IN THAT LIST BECAUSE IT WILL NOT SELL NOW BUT IN MARCH

  • envybianchi

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 3:25 am PT

    I normally don't care for industry sales but I was curious to see how Final Fantasy XIII was doing but to my surprise it's not in the top 10 list. What happen? Is it not selling well or did something happen to it? If anyone has a straight forward answer, let me know. No big deal really if no one answers but just curious.

  • BLuFAlc0n

    Posted Feb 7, 2010 3:04 am PT

    ...strange that FFXIII isn't on the list...

  • AnonYC

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 7:28 pm PT

    @madSomnambulist True, JRPG rarely makes it to the top ten list, especially games like Ar Tonelico. JRPG games really don't get the attention they deserves.

  • madSomnambulist

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 6:50 pm PT

    A 360 title on the list is indeed rare and will probably only be this 1 week. MW2 did the same thing and promptly disappeared. This was still 4:1 PS3 sales though.

    6 of10 entries are RPGs... All 5 games of them are notable releases too with either announced or desired English releases.

    @AnonYC -- No silly! JRPGs wouldn't make ANY of the top 10 here. Never do, lol. Great releases in the next month though that might start to turn that and continue strategy-based as "the thing".

  • highwindxix

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 4:14 pm PT

    I should live in Japan seeing as how my views on gaming align so much more with their tastes. The top 2 selling games (with tons and tons upon more games sold than the rest) are RPGs and the PS3 sold 8x as many units of hardware as the 360. Plus the Japanese always have WAY better cover art. If I could time travel, I'd go back to when I was 10 and my friend was learning Japanese and I'd learn with him so by now I could be fluent and just import all my games.

  • AnonYC

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 3:58 pm PT

    I like this chart, shows the difference in culture between the east and the west. I mean if this was the US sales I could see MAG being in the top 5 and JRPGs would be in the bottom five, not that I hate JRPGs.

  • Legend002

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 1:59 pm PT

    I'm shocked that there's a 360 title on the chart.

  • sartnd

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 1:11 pm PT

    MAG haha !!!

  • X-RS

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 12:23 pm PT

    WHAT? already ar tonelico 3! that was fast.
    finally get to read up on eoe aswell.

  • BaLLz_ON_FiRE

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 11:58 am PT

    PS3 FTW!!!

    TREY 4LAIFE

  • AnelZukic

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 11:35 am PT

    well, nice to see MAG up there but even better, Dragon Quest and Square Enix scoring such big sales and woohoo for PSP leading the chart and one yeah for PSP Go! also leading the chart...but from the bottom (even PS2 sold better but then again that's one amazing console)

  • ceribro

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 8:46 am PT

    i like the way action is develop resonanance even though is turn based looks really cool and fresh cant w8

  • eldin4444

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 8:22 am PT

    @ REVOLUTIONfreak

    Well u are right there but PSP is leading the way right now, weird to me because I consider the psp a very disappointing portable even tough I have one myself.

  • REVOLUTIONfreak

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 8:11 am PT

    Hm, technically the PSP isn't even close to being the best-selling platform of the week, if you count all of the various models of the DS' sales.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 6:11 am PT

    Good job for SEGA for getting Tri-Ace to work with so they can publish Resonance of Fate, but does this also mean Tri-Ace isn't doing business with Square Enix anymore? I kind of would really like to see Tri-Ace working with SEGA now, as Platinum Games is now getting their games published through SEGA, or also developing for SEGA, whichever, but SEGA is making a strong comeback and making a name out for themselves once again.

    As stoked as people are for Final Fantasy XIII, I'm actually considering picking up Resonance of Fate instead, then maybe get on to Final Fantasy XIII when I have time. They both release March 9th in North America. Kind of ballsy if you ask me, any other publisher probably would have delayed it by a month or so.

  • GearsofRage9

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 5:49 am PT

    Nintendo you smart B@stereds good idea making 4 different types of ds's so you guys can get money any way you want to

  • steelmouth

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 3:17 am PT

    i never know most of the games on Japanese charts but am always clad to see an x360 tittle making the top ten

  • LOVERPS3

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 2:51 am PT

    this will be amazing i like it

  • Chico_Azteca

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 1:40 am PT

    ..... MAG? wow that actually surprised me... not really Japs are getting into FPS in recent years, but still keep their RPG tastes, that's great


    and... wow not even JAPAN a leader in technology wants a PSP GO, great I'm against this kind of services, it's always nice to have the disk with box and everything (or cartridges etc) and not only an archive you can't touch.

  • Midnightshade29

    Posted Feb 6, 2010 1:14 am PT

    no only some attention deficit twitch based gamers in the USA dont like turn based games but most of them would rather play a modern rahash 2 over a jrpg anyway. I love my turnbased games and I am from USA , fool! Still going to get this though. I just wish JP devs stop trying to focus on western audience and just make the games like they used to , keep your style jp devs, please don't try to be like western devs..we have enough shooters and "gun" games. This game does look cool though, will be picking it up along with FF13, Last rebellion, star ocean 4 international, already got WKC, and 3d dot heroes for my rpg fix

  • kamizuka

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 10:52 pm PT

    MAG is up there. nice!

  • mayankahuja

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:59 pm PT

    psp go looks like a failure in japan......even the ps2 beat it by a margin

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:56 pm PT

    atually psp is not on top , lol , combine the dsi dsi xl and ds easily tops, then you got dslite still doing pretty decent

  • soulless4now

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:54 pm PT

    It's no surprise DQ is on top since they love that game over there in Japan.

  • Just-Adam

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 9:00 pm PT

    Japanese gamers recognize good games when they see them .. unlike others >.>

  • Bangerman15

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 8:37 pm PT

    i bet the only reason psp is on top is because of Valkyria Chronicles.. gosh that game is freakn amazing, why is the sequel on the psp

    and look at NSMB still top 3! XD

    resonance of fate is surprising to see up there with MAG.. i didn;t even know japanese play FPS's really, good to see the 360 selling some games there at least... even if it is a JRPG game instead of one of it's exclusives

  • felipebo

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 8:03 pm PT

    Good for EOE, nice to see it's doing well

  • kejigoto

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 6:12 pm PT

    Two surprises on this one. First off seeing the 360 version of Resonance of Fate not only break the top 10 but actually get above something else is rather surprisingly.

    The second surprise is seeing MAG on this list as well. Hopefully we'll see more surprises like this as the year goes on.

  • Kou-Nurasaka

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 5:56 pm PT

    I loved Dragon Quest III,IV (DS), and VIII, so DQ:VI just might be for me! I can't wait for Birth by Sleep or FFXIII. Luckily, my JRPG obsession can be filled by Star Ocean IV next week.

  • Ramiro00

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 5:34 pm PT

    LOL nobody wants the psp GO

  • ColonelX24

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 4:57 pm PT

    Man I want BBS in the US soon.

  • guichan

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 4:46 pm PT

    SEGA is very owning the top ten , Im happy that they are doing good I really liked they re consoles and even without new games the wii are beating the others and psp only selling because sega and square enix

  • HollowNinja

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 4:14 pm PT

    Resonance of Fate seems pretty interesting.

  • mflame38

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 3:24 pm PT

    japan know good stuff, but the 360 only out ranked the ps2(NEEDS 2 DIE W/ HONOR) and Sonys epic fail the PSPgo

  • wiidsduelpack

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 3:22 pm PT

    One can't deny that hardware sales are really a lot. Nintendo and Sony really have a console war. However, Nintendo still manages to beat Sony on hardware and software.
    /
    Seems Square Enix is for DS; Sega is for PSP

  • elbert_b_23

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 3:10 pm PT

    good for japan they have good taste in games

  • RadecSupreme

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 2:54 pm PT

    @ BioWarsProduct I am surprised by that. Anyways, BioWarsProduct, when mentioning Japanese people just type out the whole word Japanase because the word you are using for them is inappropiate.

  • daabulls23

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 2:38 pm PT

    That's A LOT of sales for DQ. They pwned everyone else.

  • nintendo-wins

    Posted Feb 5, 2010 2:23 pm PT

    I would not be surprised that most of the new releases will drop more than 50% next week, but it would be interesting whether Dragon Quest VI will manage to keep its #1 spot or will New Super Mario Bros. Wii (which has yet to fall below #3) regain the crown as it did twice since its December 3rd release in Japan. If it manages to receive solid sales and stay in the Top 10 for months to come, it will eventually reach four million copies sold and beyond, passing Super Mario Land and within reach of New Super Mario Bros.

    The fact that a 2.5D is selling more than almost every 3D game shows that 2D-based gaming is not dead, but still alive and well.

    In speaking of hardware sales, while the normal PSP model is the top system selling, but adding the DS models together, it will outsell the PSP and PSP Go models combined. Unlike the West, Japan is a stronghold for the handheld market and where the "system wars" are not between consoles but between the DS versus the PSP.

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