Big in Japan July 4-10: L.A. Noire

Japanese gamers may have seen role-playing games debuting, and sometimes staying, on the top spot of the Media Create sales charts, but the week of July 4 marks the first time in months that two well-known titles outside of Japan finally made their mark. The aforementioned titles are L.A. Noire (Rockstar Games and Team Bondi) and Infamous 2 (Sony and Sucker Punch).

The exploits of Cole Phelps are a hit in Japan.

According to the charts, the PS3 version of L.A. Noire sits on the top spot with 58,436 units sold. The Xbox 360 version of the adventure game just missed the top 10, placing at 11th place with 12,621 copies sold. Sucker Punch's sandbox-style action game Infamous 2 debuted in second place with 33,474 units sold. On the flip side, the 3DS version of Tales of the Abyss, the former number one game, is now at 14th place with 10,034 units sold.

The recent release of the bug-killing action title Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon also enticed Japanese gamers, so much so that both versions of the game wound up in the top spots too. The PS3 version placed third with 30,189 units sold, and the Xbox 360 version resides at fourth place with 17,817 sold.

Nintendo's presence is still apparent in the top 10. The Wii Remote Plus Variety Pack makes its debut at fifth place with 17,008 units sold, while the 3DS version of Ocarina of Time still clings on at seventh place with 14,985 units sold. Additionally, the Wii version of 007 Goldeneye is at ninth place with 13,216 units sold, followed by Wii Sports Resort with 12,877 units sold. The Wii Remote Plus Variety Pack is a collection of 12 minigames bundled together with a red Wii Remote Plus controller. The bundle came out on July 7, and it's currently priced at 4,800 yen ($60.72).

On the hardware side of things, the 3DS has dropped to second place since its initial boost last week, selling 22,943 units during that particular week. The PSP reclaims its top spot, securing 26,373 units. The PS3 is somehow in third place with 22,900 units sold, even though the top three titles on Media Create's chart are PS3 titles.

JAPAN GAME SALES WEEK OF JULY 4-10

Software
Rank/Title/Publisher/Platform/Unit Sales

1. L.A. Noire / Rockstar Games / PS3 / 58,436
2. Infamous 2 / Sony / PS3 / 33,474
3. Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon / D3 Publisher / PS3 / 30,189
4. Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon / D3 Publisher / Xbox 360 / 17,817
5. Wii Remote Plus Variety Pack / Nintendo / Wii / 17,008
6. Danball Senki / Level-5 / PSP / 15,807
7. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D / Nintendo / 3DS / 14,985
8. Steins; Gate / 5pb / PSP / 13,700
9. 007 Goldeneye / Nintendo / Wii / 13,216
10. Wii Sports Resort / Nintendo / Wii / 12,877

Hardware

PSP - 26,373
3DS - 22,943
PS3 - 22,900
Wii - 13,068
DSi XL - 4,725
DSi - 4,725
Xbox 360 - 2,016
PS2 - 1,309
DS Lite - 56
PSP Go - 34