The data, just released today, was collected between December 29, 2008 and December 27, 2009.

5. Final Fantasy XIII
Launch: December 17, 2009
Estimated Sales Tally: 1,698,256 copies

4. Tomodachi Collection
Launch: June 18, 2009
Estimated Sales Tally: 2,311,948 copies

3. New Super Mario Bros. Wii
Launch: December 3, 2009
Estimated Sales Tally: 2,485,150 copies

2. Pocket Monsters HeartGold/SoulSilver
Launch: September 12, 2009
Estimated Sales Tally: 3,382,597 copies

1. Dragon Quest IX
Launch: July 11, 2009
Estimated Sales Tally: 4,100,968 copies

When you think of Japan, think Nintendo and Square Enix. Think of me as well.

In a statement issued yesterday by the company, it was revealed that sales of Dragon Quest IX on the DS have just pushed past the 4.15 million barrier, allowing the game to pass the lifetime sales of Dragon Quest VIII and become the biggest-selling game in the series.

And that's before it's even out in the West, where DQVIII sold half a million copies. So, yeah, that 4.15 million figure should be a lot healthier by the end of 2010.

The previous title shipped over six million copies worldwide, reports Reuters. The target Square Enix is setting for upcoming role-playing-game FFXIII is over six million.

The company has shipped 4 million copies of DQIX and has targeted 5 million copies sold domestically of the game. "I think we will be able to do that this year," says Square Enix honcho Yoichi Wada.

スクエニが中国市場へ本格進出：現地パブリッシャーと提携を協議 [Kotaku Japan]

The businessman claims to have spent 30 hours over the course of four days after Dragon Quest IX was released this past July. But for Wada, it's not simply a matter of "I like videos games". The exec wants to see how gaming and game play has changed, what makes a hit and to think about how titles are made.

That means besides willingly taking a pay cut, Yoichi Wada claims to actually play the games. So imperial. So hot.

スクエニ和田洋一社長「ドラゴンクエスト９、発売日から4日間で約30時間を費やした。」 [オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃]

The game moved 79,000 copies — making it the first time it fell under 100,000. The game has already sold 3.7 million copies, so who cares, right? 3.7 million is plenty!

Square Enix is apparently hoping to sell 5 million, that's why. Always put your goals high, that's what I say. That way you'll never been disappointed. You know another thing I always say? Brush your teeth.

Gamasutra - News - Japanese Charts: Dragon Quest IX Sales Drop Off

You ready for the what the Japanese internet is called an "unbelievable" question?

G-Tech asked Horii, "Do you know what the bald-headed dance is?"

To which the game designer replied, "I don't know what that is." The so called bald-headed dance is a gag that is reminiscent of summer festival dancing, but the joke is that you flip up you hand like a comb-over that's been flipped over by a gust of wind.

Hey, Dragon Quest IX producer Ryutaro Ichimura (in checkered shirt) seems to think it was funny!

テレビ朝日の番組が堀井雄二さんに信じられない質問をした様です [オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃]

When asked how the game's creators felt about that, Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada offered this, "Because it's the internet, well, that's the internet for ya. We were telling the game creators 'Don't worry about that.'" Take that, internet!

"Regarding likes and dislikes, there are good opinions and bad opinions," Wada continued. There's no choice but to separate them. It's not so simple as getting horrible reviews means horrible sales or getting great reviews means great sales. Customers are calmly looking at this from above and making their decision."

売れ続ける「ドラクエIX」　Amazonの不評は「そういうもんでしょう」と和田社長 [IT Media] [Pic]

Going on sale July 14th, the game is the latest entry in the Dragon Quest series and was developed by Fukuoka-based studio Level-5.

As of August 2nd, 3.39 million copies of the game have been sold in The Land of the Rising Sun. A Western release date for the title has not yet been announced.

『ドラゴンクエストIX』の出荷本数が350万本を突破 [ファミ通.com]

Japanese website Gpara surveyed 99 gamers in Tokyo's Akihabara, Yurakucho, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro with these three questions:

1. What are your feelings about purchasing DQIX?
2. Out of DQs I-VIII, which is your favourite?
3. What other games are you playing at present?

And here's a diverse sample of answers:

Male, 26 years (Model):
A1. I've been playing DQIX whenever I go to my friend's house, so I've seen it as an example, and so I just kind of lined up to buy it. As such, I think my anticipation level's a bit different from the people around me (laughs).
A2. I haven't played any other ones before.
A3. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G on PSP

Female, 63 years (Author):
A1. I've been playing the DQ series since the first installment, so i'm looking forward to this release, too.
A2. I like Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen.
A3. Ace Attorney Investigations, 3D Picross and Shin Sangoku Musou.

Male, 18 years (High school student):
A1. I'm happy to have bought it. I look forward to battling with monsters.
A2. Dragon Quest III and Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride.
A3. I'm not playing anything else at the moment.

Female, 25 years (Apparel store employee)
A1. I want to enjoy it during break with everyone at work. As a side note, my coworkers are all getting DQIX, too.
A2. I like Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King.
A3. I'm in the middle of playing Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G on the PSP.

Male, 51 years (Office worker)
A1. I didn't think I'd be able to buy it, so I'm happy I was able to.
A2. I love Dragon Quest III.
3. Currently, nothing.

Old and young, male and female, everybody in Japan loves Dragon Quest. (Well, not everybody, but still!) Feel free to answer the survey yourself.

どの作品が好き?「ドラクエ アンケート」『IX』購入者99人に聞きました [Gpara via Siliconera]

But Square Enix isn't stopping there.

Square Enix president Yoichi Wada told the Japanese press, "We're look at reaching over 5 million copies of Dragon Quest IX shipped." Wada went on to say that he hopes this will correspond to breathing life into the entire Japanese game industry.

In spring 2008, the exec hinted that it was possible to ship ten million copies of DQIX.

オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃:スクウェア・エニックス和田社長 『ドラゴンクエスト９』 の出荷は５００万本以上に達する見通し [オレ的ゲーム情報]

Since Famitsu has been doing its 40 out of 40 reviews, the DQ titles have been rated:

Dragon Quest II 38/40
Dragon Quest III 38/40
Dragon Quest IV 38/40
Dragon Quest V 36/40
Dragon Quest VI 34/40
Dragon Quest VII 38/40
Dragon Quest VIII 39/40
Dragon Quest IX 40/40

So by this number logic, Famitsu thinks the newest Dragon Quest IX is the best one ever made — better than all the others. It's the pinnacle. Aren't reviews with numbers just great?

読みゲー ドラクエのファミ通クロスレビュー歴代得点一覧 （新記録追加） [読みゲー]

Nagoshi purchased Dragon Quest IX. What does he think? He says it's easy to get into and the interface is good. "It's a much better match for handhelds than home consoles," he blogs.

In short, he adds, it's a "feel good" title, and a game he can learn from. How could you not believe a man that glows golden brown?

ドラクエ9 [名越稔洋オフィシャルブログ「とりあえず乾杯デショ。」]

Yep.

At upcoming event Level-5 Vision 2009 in late August, the developer will reveal a trio of new titles. Current games that Level-5 is developing include Studio Ghibli title The Another World, a new Professor Layton game to go with the upcoming Layton anime, soccer RPG Inazuma Eleven 2, build-your-own-robot PSP role-playing-game Cardboard Senki and the company's digital distribution platform ROID.

Oh! And Level-5 just developed Dragon Quest IX for Square Enix. You could say Level-5 is busy. You could say a lot of things.

Level-5 Vision 2009 [Official Site via Game|Life]

Dragon Quest IX's 2.3 million in sales over the course of three days bested its nearest competitor, Wii Sports Resort, by a factor of roughly 23:1. Sure, Wii Sports Resort is still selling at a healthy rate—another 100,000-plus this week—but it's no Dragon Quest.

Square Enix's decision to move the series away from the PlayStation family and toward the DS was clearly a wise financial move. By next week, we won't be surprised if Dragon Quest IX sales outnumber the PlayStation 3's hardware install base in Japan. Wonder how well it would've helped Sony's platform find a larger audience...

Anyway. Like I said, there was really no competition. DQ IX is the only new title to make an appearance on this week's Japanese software chart.

01. Dragon Quest IX (DS) - 2,319,000 / NEW
02. Wii Sports Resort (Wii) - 103,000 / 617,000
03. Tomodatchi Collection (DS) - 57,000 / 294,000
04. Boku no Natsuyasumi 4: Seitouchi Shounen Tanteidan, Boku to Himitsu no Chizu (PSP) - 24,000 / 73,000
05. Miku Hatsune Project Diva (PSP) - 14,000 / 116,000
06. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (the Best) (PSP) - 13,000 / 789,000
07. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days (DS) - 9,000 / 501,000
08. Wii Fit (Wii) - 8,000 / 2,472,000
09. Pokémon Platinum (DS) - 8,000 / 2,472,000
10. Sloane to MacHale: Nazo no Monogatari (DS) - 7,000 / 176,000

11. Ken to Mahou to Gakuen Mono 2 (PSP)
12. Rorona no Atelier: Arland no Renkinjutsushi (PS3)
13. Mario Kart Wii (Wii)
14. Gyakuten Kenji (DS)
15. Infinite Space (DS)
16. Taiko no Tatsujin Wii (Wii)
17. Mario & Luigi RPG3!!! (DS)
18. BlazBlue (PS3)
19. Valhalla Knights 2: Battle Stance (PSP)
20. Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon: Sora no Tankenta (DS)
21. EA Sports Grand Slam Tennis (Wii)
22. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
23. Rhythm Heaven (DS)
24. Tago Akira no Atama no Taisou Dai-1-Shuu: Nazotoki Sekai Isshuu Ryokou (DS)
25. Evangelion: Jo (PSP)
26. Metal Fight Beyblade (DS)
27. Mario Kart DS (DS)
28. Inazuma Eleven (DS)
29. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 Empires (PS3)
30. Wii de Asobe Pikmin 2 (Wii)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

The market research firm says that in the week before the game went on sale, Nintendo shifted 51,601 DS handhelds. But last week, after the game went on sale? It sold 126,786 of them, making it the first time in around six months that more than 100,000 DS handhelds have been sold in a week.

Nintendo DS Japan sales jump on Dragon Quest [Reuters]

Great.

Walk-thru book Dragon Quest IX: Defenders of the Starry Sky NDS Version Big Adventure Player Guide is the number one selling book on the Japanese Oricon charts. In its first two days on sale, the book moved 198,127 copies, making it the first game book to hit number one since Pocket Monster Platinum Official Complete Clear Guide dropped last October.

『ドラゴンクエストIX 星空の守り人』、攻略本もオリコン首位を獲得 [INSIDE]

Famitsu has given DQIX a perfect 40/40 score. "This adventure is amazing!" Famitsu writes. "It's so much fun." The reviewers also praised the music and the multi-player, which Famitsu called "ground breaking". The publication calls the single player "fun" and states that "the story is easy to follow and straightforward, but also with moving scenes as well."

According to Famitsu, the game can be recommended to male and female players of all ages.

This is only the tenth game to get a perfect score from Famitsu, five of of which are in the last three years and four of which were in the last two years: Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Metal Gear Solid 4, 428: Fusasareta Shibuya de and now DQIX. Hrm........

[Pic]

Rumors that 3 million copies of DQIX would be available at launch in Japan are corrected. Three million copies of the game were shipped. Always nice to have game launches free of "shortages". Everyone who wants a copy should be able to get one at launch — all 2.3 million of them.

7月11日発売のDS「ドラクエIX」の国内出荷本数が、300万本を突破した。 [IT Media] [Pic]

PS2 title Dragon Quest VIII sold 2.23 million in its first week. Think about it.

『ドラクエIX』発売2日間で、販売本数234万3440本−−エンターブレイン調べ [Famitsu] [Pic]

These are Amazon reviews, so please, take them just as that: Amazon reviews. At the time of writing, the game has 503 reviews, averaging 2.5 stars. Here is the breakdown:

• 5 stars (67 stars)
• 4 stars (57)
• 3 stars (70)
• 2 stars (86)
• 1 star (223)

The positive reviews gush over the customization options and combat. Negative reviews are largely honing in on "irritating" gal character Sandy, though some are ripping on the game's DS graphics, cut scenes and even costume changing. "It's rubbish," says one reviewer, "Change clothes quest."

More scathing criticism from players who claim to be long time fans covers things like lousy post-combat cut scenes, the game system, the tempo and most especially the single data save slot. "Putting this on the DS was a big mistake!" complained one player. "Six thousand yen (US$65) is too much for it!"

The whole experience seems bitter for some players. "I bought the game at launch! I played it for three hours... What a let down. I'm going to go sell it today."

Reality check? Regardless of any issues with the game (like not being able to change text speed!), this could very well be an organized effort by the Japanese internet to slam DQIX and spam Amazon Japan with one star reviews.

ドラゴンクエストIX 星空の守り人 [Amazon Japan Thanks, Witz!]