Kotaku: Sales

Gundam Doubles Xbox 360 Sales In Japan As PSP Holds Strong In First

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:40:36 MDT

Just because Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G sales are waning (finally) doesn't mean that the urge to buy PSP hardware is becoming any less intense. And even though the PSP doesn't have any software showing in the top ten for the week doesn't mean that it can't continue to rule the roost on the Media Create weekly sales charts. Nintendo hardware continues to nip at its lead and we imagine fortunes will change soon.

Somewhat more surprising is the big boost that the Xbox 360 got during the week of June 23 to 29. The release of Mobile Suit Gundam: Operation: Troy certainly seems to have helped Microsoft move some hardware. They really should just rebrand the thing the Xbox RX-78-2 locally. Can't hurt.

PSP - 58,861
Nintendo DS - 48,884
Wii - 48,480
PlayStation 3 - 17,973
PlayStation 2 - 7,673

Media Create Weekly Sales

Portable Horse Training Fever Sweeps Japan

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:40:11 MDT

Out with the old, in with the NEW. The weekly Media Create sales chart is packed with new Japanese releases, with Derby Stallion DS snatching first place from Tales of Symphonia. It's a big week for the Wii and Nintendo DS overseas, as a ton of new titles for Nintendo's hardware platforms sell and sell big.

This week's chart is potentially less good news for the PSP, as two of its big sellers — Super Robot Taisen A Portable and Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G — fall out of the top ten. Will this spell the end to PSP hardware dominance in Japan?

01. Derby Stallion DS (DS) - 148,000 / NEW
02. Tales of Symphonia: Knight of Ratatosk (Wii) - 137,000 / NEW
03. Daigasso! Band Brothers DX (DS) - 120,000 / NEW
04. Hisshou Pachinko * Pachi-Slot Kouryaku Series DS Vol. 12: CR Neon Genesis Evangelion - Shito, Futatabi (PS2) - 55,000 / NEW
05. Higurashi no Nakukoru ni Kizuna: Dai-Ichi-Kan - Tatari (DS) - 42,000 / NEW
06. Wii Fit (Wii) - 34,000 / 2,292,000
07. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) - 34,000 / 566,000
08. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 31,000 / 1,508,000
09. Mario Super Sluggers (Wii) - 31,000 / 89,000
10. Mobile Suit Gundam: Operation: Troy (Xbox 360) - 28,000 / NEW

11. Ken to Mahou to Gakuen Mono (PSP)
12. Sengoku Basara X (PS2)
13. Super Robot Taisen A Portable (PSP)
14. Bleach: The 3rd Phantom (DS)
15. The King of Fighters '98 Ultimate Match (PS2)
16. DS Bimoji Training (DS)
17. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP)
18. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3 (PSP)
19. Battlefield: Bad Company (Xbox 360)
20. Disgaea: Hour of Darkness (DS)
21. Ookami to Koushinryou: Boku to Horo no Ichinen (DS)
22. Bokura no Telebi Game Kentei (DS)
23. Wii Sports (Wii)
24. Aria the Origination: Aoi Wakusei no El Cielo (PS2)
25. World Neverland Olerud Okoku Monogatari & Pluto Kyouwakoku Monogatari 2 in 1 Portable (PSP)
26. The Tower DS (DS)
27. Taiko Drum Master DS: Seven Island Adventure (DS)
28. Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! (DS)
29. Wii Play (Wii)
30. DS Yamamura Misa Suspense: Maiko Kogiku - Kisha Katherine - Sougiya Isa Akashi - Koto ni Maru Hana Sanrin: Kyoto Satujin Jinken File (DS)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

GH: On Tour Activision's Largest DS Launch Ever

Mike Fahey — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:20:00 MDT

A whole slew of gamers are awkwardly strumming their Nintendo DS systems this week as Activision announces the tremendous success of Guitar Hero: On Tour. According to the publisher the title has sold over 300,000 copies since its release, making it Activision's largest North American DS launch eight times over. CEO of Activision Publishing Mike Griffith took the opportunity to try and sell a couple more.

“Guitar Hero is one of the most successful entertainment properties and continues to push the boundaries of innovation with Guitar Hero: On Tour,” said Mike Griffith, President and Chief Executive Officer, Activision Publishing, Inc. “The game’s breakthrough peripheral brings the Guitar Hero experience to the 41 million DS users in North America and Europe, where they can play anywhere, anytime.”

I almost bought the game myself, but $50 for a limited set of songs and a chance to look ridiculous on public transportation didn't quite add up for me. For me, Guitar Hero: On Tour will always be the game that made me feel much better about strumming a full-sized plastic guitar.

Guitar Hero®: On Tour Sets Activision North American Retail Sales Record
Activision’s Largest Nintendo DS™ Launch

SANTA MONICA, Calif.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Activision, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI) today announced Guitar Hero®: On Tour has sold in excess of 300,000 units in North America in the first seven days since its launch, making it the largest North American launch for the Nintendo DS™ in the company’s history by more than a factor of eight. In addition, Guitar Hero: On Tour’s performance ranks it as one of Activision’s top 5 best-selling launches of any title on any platform in the company’s history.

Guitar Hero: On Tour brings the popular Guitar Hero franchise to the handheld platforms for the first time delivering a unique gaming experience and challenging handheld gamers to prove their skills on the most diverse set list of master tracks ever offered in a Guitar Hero game.

“Guitar Hero is one of the most successful entertainment properties and continues to push the boundaries of innovation with Guitar Hero: On Tour,” said Mike Griffith, President and Chief Executive Officer, Activision Publishing, Inc. “The game’s breakthrough peripheral brings the Guitar Hero experience to the 41 million DS users in North America and Europe, where they can play anywhere, anytime.”

Headquartered in Santa Monica, California, Activision, Inc. is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment and leisure products. Founded in 1979, Activision posted net revenues of $2.9 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.

Activision maintains operations in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Sweden, Spain, the Netherlands, Australia, Japan and South Korea. More information about Activision and its products can be found on the company's website, www.activision.com.

Do We Suffer From Too Many Games?

Maggie Greene — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:30:00 MDT

Is the problem with gaming today that there's just too much out there — and not enough time? So posits Michael Zenke, who discusses why too many games could be a bad thing, and one reason it's increasingly hard to be a gamer. Too many AAA titles? Is such a thing possible? Well, when it means that a lot of people will never finish those AAA titles, maybe:

You couldn’t go into a store and buy Call of Duty 4 without *having* to pick up Super Mario Galaxy. Can’t snag Rock Band without that Burning Crusade box. And - seriously - can you even still be called a gamer if you didn’t play at least one of the offerings from The Orange Box?

The happy shopping sprees and smiling faces at GameStop, more than likely, eventually turned into sour grimaces and furrowed brows at home. Like it or not, the gaming public is an aging public. We’ve got kids, jobs, and responsibilities. Ironically, at a time when more gamers are able to afford these games than ever before, the Western lifestyle precludes the time to play more than a handful.

So I’m willing to bet that, across the country, gamers brought home games they didn’t play. They downloaded titles they never loaded up, purchased handheld games that stayed in the packaging.

Interesting concept, and probably has a lot of truth to it for some of us — my days of blitzing through long games in a couple of marathon sessions are (for the most part) long gone, and it's hard to justify spending more money on games that are going to languish for months until I have the time to devote to them. Zenke doesn't offer a solution, other than to say 'It's OK to slow down.' And really, it is.

The Z-Axis: 'Lust for the New' [GameSetWatch]

PlayStation 3 Falls Out Of First In Japanese Charts

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 19:30:09 MDT

Well, the PlayStation 3 had a good run. Err... week. After a big boost from fourth to first on the wings of Metal Gear Solid 4's release in Japan, things have largely returned to normal. The PS3 resumes its position behind the Nintendo DS this week, selling about double what it had been for a good part of the year, but not enough to get out of the chart's bottom half. The PSP returns to the number one spot, probably helped by the release of Super Robot Taisen A Portable. You have to take the good with the bad, Sony. Then you get the facts of life.

PSP - 59,351
Wii - 41,037
Nintendo DS - 36,599
PlayStation 3 - 20,336
PlayStation 2 - 6,346
Xbox 360 - 2,555

Japanese Gamers Drop Old Snake For Robot Wars

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:20:39 MDT

You might've heard that Old Snake is no longer the king of the mountain in Japan. He's been toppled by a buncha robot scum, as Super Robot Taisen A Portable snatches the number one spot from Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots on this week's Media Create software charts. Old Snake did, however, manage to keep his footing under pressure from Mario and his team of baseballers as Mario Super Sluggers debuts in the number three spot.

The top ten for the week of June 16 to 22 is before the jump, the rest of the top thirty after.

01. Super Robot Taisen A Portable (PSP) - 102,000 / NEW
02. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (PS3) - 68,000 / 533,000
03. Mario Super Sluggers (Wii) - 58,000 / NEW
04. Harukanaru Jikuu no Kade 4 (PS2) - 55,000 / NEW
05. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 33,000 / 1,477,000
06. Wii Fit (Wii) - 32,000 / 2,258,000
07. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 21,000 / 2,224,000
08. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 3 (PSP) - 19,000 / 206,000
09. DS Bimoji Training (DS) - 18,000 / 302,000
10. Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! (DS) - 11,000 / 96,000

11. Wii Sports (Wii)
12. DS Yamamura Misa Suspense: Maiko Kogiku - Kisha Katherine - Sougiya Isa Akashi - Koto ni Maru Hana Sanrin: Kyoto Satujin Jinken File (DS)
13. Taiko Drum Master DS: Seven Island Adventure (DS)
14. Hisshou Pachinko*Pachi-Slot Kouryaku Series DS Vol. 2: CR Neon Genesis Evangelion - Shito, Futatabi (DS)
15. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (PS3)
16. Family Trainer: Athletic World (Wii)
17. Wii Play (Wii)
18. Fushigi no Dungeon - Furai no Shiren 3: Karakuri Yashiki no Nemuri Hime (Wii)
19. Mario Kart DS (DS)
20. Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP)
21. Boura wa Kaseki Holder (DS)
22. Kuukan * Zukei: Hirameki Training - KuuTore (DS)
23. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS)
24. Endless Frontier: Super Robot Wars OG Saga (DS)
25. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
26. Puyo Puyo Special Price (DS)
27. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
28. Pokémon Diamond (DS)
29. Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)
30. Motto TOEIC Test DS Training (DS)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

Metal Gear Solid 4 Ships Out 3 Million

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:40:33 MDT

During Sony's corporate strategy meeting, at which the company announced Life with PlayStation and showed off its video download service for the first time, PlayStation bossman Kaz Hirai provided some new numbers. Most relevant to this post's interests are the shipment figures for Metal Gear Solid 4, which has been deployed to worldwide retailers three million times over. Not bad for a couple weeks work.

Yes, hairsplitters, that's shipped to retailers, not sold through to customers. Still, we're fairly certain Hideo Kojima can flaunt that number to friends and probably secure a line of credit at his favorite silk shirt retailer because they know he's good for it.

Sony Corporate Strategy Meeting [Famitsu via IGN]

Analyzing The Accuracy Of VGChartz

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:00:13 MDT

We love sales data. We regularly cite NPD Group, Chart Track, Enterbrain and Media Create figures, but rarely, if ever put stock in amateur sales estimation outlet VGChartz. It's not just our aversion to plurals that end with Z, it's that the methodology, the educated guesses that lead the site to conclude that, say, Metal Gear Solid 4 sold 1.3 million copies on day one, don't instill much confidence.

Gamasutra's Simon Carless peeks into the VGChartz methodology and the validity of its weekly published video game sales estimates. In short, his findings point to some noticeably large variations between VGC's guesstimates and more trusted outlets like NPD, to which many publishers subscribe.

We agree with Carless that a community driven resource for estimations is a good idea, but we're not particularly fond of the accuracy that VGC offers. For those passionate about sales data, it's a good read.

Analysis: What VGChartz Does (And Doesn't) Do For The Game Biz [Gamasutra]

Japanese Hardware Sales Belong To Sony (For Now)

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 19:20:39 MDT

Well, here's something you don't see every Thursday. That giant red slice of the Japanese hardware pie is the Metal Gear Solid 4-inspired spike of PlayStation 3 sales, with some 75,000 consoles sold over the past week—that's including the MGS4 bundle—according to Media Create. With the PSP continuing to sell well, thanks to Monster Hunter, Sony is enjoying rare sales chart dominance in the nation.

We don't expect to see the PS3 kicking this much tail next week, but with a handful of appealing releases—Initial D Extreme, Soul Calibur IV, Siren— and this shot in the arm for sales of Sony's big box, it should at least help keep the console out of the ghetto for the Summer.

PlayStation 3 - 75,311
PSP - 64,675
Wii - 45,564
Nintendo DS - 39,201
PlayStation 2 - 7,297
Xbox 360 - 2,163

MGS 4: The Big Boss Of Japanese Sales

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:40:38 MDT

It should come as no surprise that Metal Gear Solid 4 was Japan's best-selling game last week, as publisher Enterbrain already chimed in with the PlayStation 3 game's first four-day sales. Media Create's figures are slighter lower—lower by about 11,000—but that doesn't take anything of substance away from MGS4's solid debut. Fortunately for Konami and Kojima Productions, Old Snake didn't have much competition, as the only new title to crack the top ten was an Evangelion pachinko game for the Nintendo DS.

Tecmo will be less happy to see that Ninja Gaiden II has already dropped off the charts after an unimpressive showing last week.

01. Metal Gear Solid 4 (PS3) - 465,000 / NEW
02. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 38,000 / 1,444,000
03. Wii Fit (Wii) - 37,000 / 2,227,000
04. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3 (PSP) - 27,000 / 187,000
05. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 26,000 / 2,203,000
06. Hisshou Pachinko*Pachi-Slot Kouryaku Series DS Vol. 2: CR Neon Genesis Evangelion - Shito, Futatabi (DS) - 22,000 / NEW
07. Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit (PS3) - 18,000 / 111,000
08. DS Bimoji Training (DS) - 17,000 / 285,000
09. DS Yamamura Misa Suspense: Maiko Kogiku - Kisha Katherine - Sougiya Isa Akashi - Koto ni Maru Hana Sanrin: Kyoto Satujin Jinken File (DS) - 17,000 / 56,000
10. Fushigi no Dungeon - Furai no Shiren 3: Karakuri Yashiki no Nemuri Hime (Wii) - 14,000 / 73,000

11. Wii Sports (Wii)
12. Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (DS)
13. Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! (DS)
14. Family Trainer: Athletic World (Wii)
15. Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP)
16. Wii Play (Wii)
17. Mario Kart (DS)
18. Boura wa Kaseki Holder (DS)
19. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS)
20. Kuukan * Zukei: Hirameki Training - KuuTore (DS)
21. Majin Tantei Nougame Neuro: Neuro to Miko no Bishoku Sanmai (DS)
22. Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)
23. Motto TOEIC Test DS Training (DS)
24. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
25. Endless Frontier: Super Robot Wars OG Saga (DS)
26. Tottado! Yowiko no Mujintou Seikatsu (DS)
27. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
28. More Brain Training (DS)
29. Battalion Wars 2 (Wii)
30. Pokémon Diamond (DS)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

Dragon Ball Gives Hardware Sales A Boost In Japan

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:30:28 MDT

Hardware sales in Japan were down a bit for every console that didn't get its own version of Namco Bandai's Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit. PSP sales continue to cool as Monster Hunter drops further down the software charts. We'll know next week how much of a helping hand Metal Gear Solid 4 gives the PlayStation 3. For now, Media Create sales charts for the week of June 2 to June 8.

PSP - 62,016
Wii - 44,639
Nintendo DS - 35,020
PlayStation 3 - 10,856
PlayStation 2 - 6,279
Xbox 360 - 2,280

Wii Nearly Overtakes Xbox 360 U.S. Install Base After Strong May Sales

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:00:58 MDT

The NPD Group has released hardware sales figures for the month of May, a month that saw Nintendo continue to dominate the competition with over 675,000 Wiis sold in the United States. That may be a drop from the previous month, but Nintendo DS sales more than made up for it.

While Grand Theft Auto IV continued to sell well, it didn't do anything to help hardware sales, as the Xbox 360 was down month to month and placed behind the PlayStation 3, which saw a small bump. PlayStation 2 data was not provided.

Wii - 675,100
Nintendo DS - 452,600
PlayStation 3 - 208,700
Xbox 360 - 186,600
PSP - 182,300

According to NPD data, the Wii install base in the U.S. is at about 10.2 million, nearly tying the Xbox 360's 10.27 million install base. Microsoft's looks like it'll be enjoying second place in the U.S. of A. when June's hardware numbers come in.

Total hardware sales amounted to $428.6 million USD, a 34% increase over May of 2007. That monthly figure makes the total hardware take for the year an impressive $2.27 billion USD.

The Wii and Nintendo DS enjoy their fourth month in a row in the top two spots, as NPD analyst Anita Frazier points out. She adds that "The continued success of GTA IV is not translating into big hardware sales for either the PS3 or the 360 but there may yet to be a lift in June due to gift-giving for Father's Day and Graduations."

I know one thing I'm certainly not getting my dad for Father's Day and it's GTA IV!

Thanks to the NPD Group for providing us with monthly sales.

Dragon Ball Z Japanese Sales Are Over 90,000!!

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:40:00 MDT

It's been almost three months, but a PlayStation 3 game shoots to the top of the weekly Japanese sales charts with Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit which debuted overseas on June 5. It joins Sega's Yakuza 3 KENZAN! as one of the rare PS3 best selling debuts, handily defeating Sega's other new title, Shiren 3 for the Wii.

Unfortunately for Tecmo, it didn't have a strong showing with the Japanese launch of Ninja Gaiden II, which moved only 25,000 copies in the region last week. Itagaki can't be pleased, as the PS3 remake Ninja Gaiden Sigma moved close to twice that in its debut week in Japan.

01. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (PS3) - 92,000 / NEW
02. Fushigi no Dungeon - Furai no Shiren 3: Karakuri Yashiki no Nemuri Hime (Wii) - 59,000 / NEW
03. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3 (PSP) - 43,000 / 159,000
04. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 39,000 / 1,406,000
05. DS Yamamura Misa Suspense: Maiko Kogiku - Kisha Katherine - Sougiya Isa Akashi - Koto ni Maru Hana Sanrin: Kyoto Satujin Jinken File (DS) - 38,000 / NEW
06. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 35,000 / 2,177,000
07. Wii Fit (Wii) - 34,000 / 2,190,000
08. Ninja Gaiden II (Xbox 360) - 25,000 / NEW
09. Family Trainer: Athletic World (Wii) - 15,000 / 59,000
10. DS Bimoji Training (DS) - 15,000 / 267,000

11. Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP)
12. Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit (Xbox 360)
13. Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (DS)
14. Kuukan * Zukei: Hirameki Training - KuuTore (DS)
15. Endless Frontier: Super Robot Wars OG Saga (DS)
16. Wii Sports (Wii)
17. Boura wa Kaseki Holder (DS)
18. Wii Play (Wii)
19. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS)
20. Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)
21. Mario Kart DS (DS)
22. Fushigi? Kagaku: Nazotoki Quiz Training - NazoTore (DS)
23. 99 Tears (DS)
24. Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness (DS)
25. Battalion Wars 2 (Wii)
26. Mana Khemia 2: Ochita Gakuen to Renkinjutsushi Tachi (PS2)
27. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
28. Tottado! Yowiko no Mujintou Seikatsu (DS)
29. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (PS3)
30. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

Analyst: GTA IV To Hit 15 Million This Year

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 15:40:00 MDT

Earlier this year, Hudson Square Research analyst Daniel Ernst issued estimates for Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto IV, pegging 2008 sales for the title at 13 million copies. Not a bad take. Analyst analyzers populating the post's comments called that figure into question, with insight ranging from "Durrrr" and "dude is captain obvious" to "unbelievable" and "unrealistic."

Today, Ernst upped his estimate to 15 million on word from Take-Two that the publisher had already sold through 8.5 million copies of GTA IV, with 11 million shipped to retailers. Ernst noted that "We expect GTA IV sales to re-accelerate in the latter part of year in conjunction with the seasonal holiday period."

As for Final Fantasy XIII shipping 7 million in 2008?

Ernst said that "Initially we had hoped it would make it in for the end of the year" but that FFXIII "definitely appears off the table" according to Square Enix guidance. Frankly, we'll be thrilled (and maybe even a bit flabbergasted) if it hits North America before 2010.

The Hudson Square Research analyst updated us on a handful of other key figures, noting that Gran Turismo 5 is also expected to be a "no show" this year and that next week's release of Metal Gear Solid 4 "won't be enough to materially accelerate the PS3 this year."

"For the PS3, that’s definitely a set back," Ernst told us about titles that the firm expects to hit next year, "And I think is why their 10M unit guidance for the [fiscal year] was lower than most had expected."

Age Of Conan Biggest MMO Launch Since WoW

Mike Fahey — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 08:40:00 MDT

Funcom proudly announces that Age of Conan is now passing the one million copies shipped milestone, and with the game still selling out across the western world the number of subscribers should continue to grow at a steady pace. They're calling it the biggest simultaneous Europe/US game launch in history. Of course all of this success leads directly to the inevitable WoW-based marketing blurb.

“Sales data shows that Age of Conan is the biggest MMO launch since World of Warcraft,” says Funcom Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Morten Larssen. “The numbers are very promising, and we are very proud to be one of the fastest selling PC games ever in a launch month and the biggest simultaneous Europe/US MMO launch in history.”

I honestly never thought Age of Conan would do this well. Before I actually got my hands on the game all I had seen was some rather under impressive videos and a few lovely screenshots, but now here we are. Now let's see if they can get the promised features like PVP leveling turned on and get the bugs ironed out before they lose a good chunk of that million.

Age of Conan reaches one million milestone

- Standard edition sold out in numerous territories, hundreds of thousands additional copies now shipping - - Officially number one on the charts in all major markets -

Durham, USA – June 6th, 2008 – Funcom is proud to announce that Age of Conan will pass the astounding “One Million Copies Shipped” milestone, in less than three weeks after the launch of the game. Due to overwhelming demand Funcom’s retail partner is now re-supplying retail boxes rapidly while also including new markets to the mix. As a result of the tremendous interest from gamers, Age of Conan has for the past few weeks been claiming number one spots on the sales charts across the western world – including the US, Germany, France and the UK – while receiving glowing review scores from gaming media.

“Sales data shows that Age of Conan is the biggest MMO launch since World of Warcraft,” says Funcom Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Morten Larssen. “The numbers are very promising, and we are very proud to be one of the fastest selling PC games ever in a launch month and the biggest simultaneous Europe/US MMO launch in history.”

In the US, Age of Conan has a strong # 1 chart position and is now moving past the 500.000 shipped mark. Meanwhile the attention for the game is growing across the globe, with over 8 million unique visitors from over 200 countries to the Age of Conan websites so far in 2008. The community surrounding the game is also growing fast, with over 800,000 signing up as members of the Clan of Conan fan club.

Age of Conan was launched May 20th in the US and May 23rd in Europe, receiving critical acclaim from media across the globe. “Age of Conan has raised the bar,” wrote US gaming website Gamezone, giving the game a score of 94 out of 100. Gamespot, one of the world’s leading gaming websites, rewarded Age of Conan a 8,5 score calling it “one of the finest online RPGs available”. The game is also receiving acclaim in Europe, where a broad range of early reviews gave an average score of over 90 percent. Funcom is committed to continue to expand and improve on the game by adding more content, features and fixes in order to make Hyboria a favorite place for gamers across the globe, and players can expect some exciting news in the weeks and months ahead.

More information about the game can be found on www.ageofconan.com

Power Pro Portable Propels PSP To Phirst Place

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 19:30:33 MDT

What? We like to be alliterative now and then and the release of Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3felt like it was an opportunity to do so, especially since it appears to have given the PSP a little kick in the pants sales-wise. It's hardware competition and brethren didn't move much in either direction, with numbers pretty static week-to-week. While there were plenty of new software releases, there was little in the way of big names. Perhaps the release of Ninja Gaiden II in Japan next week will get the Xbox 360 out of the sales ghetto for a spell.

PSP - 71,986
Wii - 50,851
Nintendo DS - 38,355
PlayStation 3 - 9,169
PlayStation 2 - 7,203
Xbox 360 - 1,959

Japanese Gamers Still Love Baseball

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:00:00 MDT

This week, it's all about bobble-headed baseball, as Konami's Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3 replaces Sega's Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! as the best selling game in Japan. Sega's management sim take on the sport drops considerably, landing at #20 after just one week. Plenty of new titles round out the top thirty, including some new giant robot action from the Front Mission and Super Robot Wars series.

Unfortunately missing from the list is Sega's English of the Dead which should have shipped on the 27th. What the hell, Japan? What. The. Hell?

01. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball Portable 3 (PSP) - 117,000 / NEW
02. Mugen no Frontier: Super Robot Taisen OG Saga (DS) - 98,000 / NEW
03. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 50,000 / 1,367,000
04. Wii Fit (Wii) - 46,000 / 2,156,000
05. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 45,000 / 2,142,000
06. Family Trainer: Athletic World (Wii) - 44,000 / NEW
07. D.C. II P.S.: Da Capo II Plus Situation (PS2) - 40,000 / NEW
08. Valhalla Knights 2 (PSP) - 32,000 / NEW
09. Mana Khemia 2: Ochita Gakuen to Renkinjutsushi Tachi (PS2) - 26,000 / NEW
10. Kuukan * Zukei: Hirameki Training - KuuTore (DS) - 25,000 / NEW

11. Clannad (PSP)
12. DS Bimoji Training (DS)
13. Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness (DS)
14. Fushigi? Kagaku: Nazotoki Quiz Training - NazoTore (DS)
15. True Blood (PS2)
16. beatmania II DX 14 Gold (PS2)
17. Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (DS)
18. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (PS3)
19. Wii Sports (Wii)
20. Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! (DS)
21. Lost Planet: Colonies (Xbox 360)
22. Boura wa Kaseki Holder (DS)
23. Battalion Wars 2 (Wii)
24. Hercules no Eikou: Tamashii no Shoumei (DS)
25. Link's Crossbow Training (Wii)
26. Wii Play (Wii)
27. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS)
28. Mario Kart DS (DS)
29. Tottado! Yowiko no Mujintou Seikatsu (DS)
30. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

Wii Creeping Up On PSP's Sales Overseas

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 15:40:24 MDT

Don't throw yourself on your sword quite yet, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan middle manager, the PSP is still doing just fine in your country, according to Media Create. It's doing fairly spectacularly actually, pushing another 64K in a week. Plus, you've had an amazing run since the release of Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G. But the gap between the PSP and the Wii is becoming narrower, essentially halving from week-to-week. Hey, at least you're not suffering the shame that is the Japanese release of John Woo's Stranglehold, which debuted in 46th place. Ouch!

PSP - 64,449
Wii - 49,047
Nintendo DS - 37,404
PlayStation 3 - 9,071
PlayStation 2 - 7,189
Xbox 360 - 1,947

Monster Hunter Hits The Showers In Japan

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 29 May 2008 20:40:00 MDT

With over two million copies under its belt, Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G had a good run. It's sales chart domination was dealt a blow, as Sega's Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! claims first place for the week of May 19 to 25. "What's Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou!?" you say? You may know it as Let's Make A Pro Baseball Team, part of a popular sports management series in Japan. It beat out every other newcomer, including the overseas release of The Orange Box, with debuted all the way down at #15. Hey, at least it did better than Haze. That silver lining is courtesy of me, sales charts courtesy of Media Create.

01. Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! (DS) - 59,000 / NEW
02. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 51,000 / 2,096,000
03. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 48,000 / 1,317,000
04. Wii Fit (Wii) - 36,000 / 2,110,000
05. Hercules no Eikou: Tamashii no Shoumei (DS) - 23,000 / NEW
06. DS Bimoji Training (DS) - 15,000 / 233,000
07. Hiiro no Kakera DS (DS) - 15,000 / NEW
08. Battalion Wars 2 (Wii) - 15,000 / 39,000
09. Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (DS) - 14,000 / 161,000
10. Link's Crossbow Training (Wii) - 12,000 / 168,000

11. Bleach: Heat the Soul 5 (PSP)
12. Wii Sports (Wii)
13. Boura wa Kaseki Holder (DS)
14. Luminous Arc 2: Will (DS)
15. The Orange Box (Xbox 360)
16. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS)
17. Ochaken no Heya DS 3 (DS)
18. Mario Kart DS (DS)
19. Wii Play (Wii)
20. Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (PS2)
21. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
22. Deca Sports (Wii)
23. Haze (PS3)
24. Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
25. Tottado! Yowiko no Mujintou Seikatsu (DS)
26. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
27. SimCity DS 2: Kodaikara Mirai e Tsudzukumachi (DS)
28. Zaidan Houjin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai Koushiki Soft: 250-Mannin no KanKen (DS)
29. Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS)
30. Aoishiro (PS2)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

Amazon Gold Box Filled With 360 Games

Mike Fahey — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:20:00 MDT

Amazon once again maps out an entire day of gaming deals, this time around giving the Xbox 360 fans a little bit of of the love they've been reserving for Nintendo gamers lately. Today kicks off with the Deal of the Day, which is the Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Game of the Year Edition for only $39.99, a damn fine price for those couple of guys who don't already own it.

Meanwhile the Gold Box deals have kicked off with Rainbow Six Vegas 2 for $29.99, which is going pretty fast, to be followed up with Scene-It at 10 Pacific, possibly Madden at 2, and possibly Frontlines: Fuel of War at 6.

The fact that Amazon keeps cranking these video game day deals out means that the gamer response has been overwhelming, so as long as we keep buying they'll keep discounting until we form a giant, writhing, perpetual sale engine, which sounds terribly sticky.

Amazon Deals Of The Day [Amazon - Thanks Ben!]

Penny Arcade Game Busts Three-Day Records

Leigh Alexander — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:20:00 MDT

The first episode of Penny Arcade Adventures was the highest-grossing Xbox Live Arcade debut ever, earning $330,000 in its first three days, according to the stat-crunchers at VGChartz. The prior record-holder was Worms HD. In terms of units sold, On The Rain-Slick Precipice of Darkness was the third-highest performer of 2008 - even with its higher price point.

As VGChartz's Benjamin Schlichter says:

What does this mean for the future of XBLA? Penny Arcade proved that a high priced game can sell well, and doesn't require the gamebe $5, or $10 to get a high number of sales in the first week. It also shows that Episodic Content has a place on XBLA, as PAA is the first of a series. And finally, it also satisifed the XBLA Market's desire for another RPG. PAA is a hybrid turn based, and action RPG (from my understanding). So these factors, as well as it's name brand contributed to the strong sales.

Penny Arcade's Mike "Gabe" Krahulik had something to say about it on the pair's site:

Given that our price point was double the other games on that list I'm pretty f***ing happy. We fully expected some people to complain about the $20 price tag but we honestly felt like our game was worth it. Pricing something like this is tricky. Obviously you have to look at the length of time it will take someone to complete the game but you also need to factor in the quality of the experience.

Xbox Live Arcade Sales Top 100 [VGChartz via GameSetWatch]

PSP Still Dominating Japanese Charts As PS3 Slips

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:40:45 MDT

Hardware sales in Japan were down for the week of May 12 to 18, but there was no change in the ranking, one that's been fairly consistent since the release of Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G for the PSP. With only two PlayStation 3 games on the Media Create software charts—Valkyria Chronicles and Pro Yakyuu Baseball 5, its not too surprising to see PS3 sales languishing. If the console is taken over by its predecessor, we can't imagine Sony will be too pleased. With Metal Gear Solid 4 just a few weeks away, though, we expect some might be holding off on their purchase to take advantage of bundle offerings.

PSP - 70,536
Wii - 41,572
Nintendo DS - 34,905
PlayStation 3 - 7,701
PlayStation 2 - 7,022
Xbox 360 - 1,474

Monster Hunter Blue Shells Mario Kart In Japan

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:00:00 MDT

After over a month of Mario Kart Wii dominance, with Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G settling for sloppy seconds, the two swap spots, Capcom's PSP hit crossing the 2 million mark. With game releases off holiday, a few new additions make the Media Create software chart, including the Japanese release of both Battalion Wars 2 and The Darkness. Shooting things is still the universal language.

A few Wii mega-hits, like Wii Play and Super Smash Bros. Brawl, sank into the teens but the top thirty for the week of May 12 to 18 is still heavily saturated with Nintendo releases.

01. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 53,000 / 2,045,000
02. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 42,000 / 1,269,000
03. Luminous Arc 2: Will (DS) - 41,000 / NEW
04. Bleach: Heat The Soul 5 (PSP) - 39,000 / NEW
05. Wii Fit (Wii) - 35,000 / 2,074,000
06. Battalion Wars 2 (Wii) - 24,000 / NEW
07. DS Bimoji Training (DS) - 15,000 / 218,000
08. Link's Crossbow Training (Wii) - 14,000 / 156,000
09. Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (DS) - 14,000 / 147,000
10. Wii Sports (Wii) - 10,000 / 2,989,000

11. Pokémon Ranger Batonage! (DS)
12. Aoishiro (PS2)
13. Musou Orochi (PSP)
14. Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
15. Mario Kart DS (DS)
16. Boura wa Kaseki Holder (DS)
17. Wii Play (Wii)
18. Tottado! Yowiko no Mujintou Seikatsu (DS)
19. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
20. Deca Sports (Wii)
21. SimCity DS 2: Kodaikara Mirai e Tsudzukumachi (DS)
22. Zaidan Houjin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai Koushiki Soft: 250-Mannin no KanKen (DS)
23. The Darkness (Xbox 360)
24. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
25. Katekyoo Hitman Reborn! Fate of Heat (DS)
26. Pro Yakyuu Spirits 5 (PS2)
27. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney - New Best Price! (DS)
28. Emblem of Gundam (DS)
29. Professor Layton and the Curious Village (DS)
30. Crayon Shinchan Arashi wo Yobu Cinema Land (DS)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

Analysts Predict Big, Big May On Wii Fit U.S. Launch

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:00:31 MDT

Apparently, $1.23 billion in U.S. sales is a disappointment, from a Wall Street perspective, as Reuters reports that April's reported take sent video game stocks downward. Software sales only seeing 68% growth from the previous year? Unacceptable! Merely $654.7 million in software? Sell, sell, sell!

May, however, could bring much bigger numbers with the release of Wii Fit—and maybe some of that Grand Theft Auto IV run-off—projected to increase 160% on the software side says Kaufman Bros. analyst Todd Mitchell. If we're looking at May 2007 numbers, that means we may see software sales alone top $712 million. Still chump change, but at least we're making progress.

Hardware dollars are expected to double, which makes us wonder just how amazingly fit this country will be by bikini season.

Bears hunt video game stocks [Reuters]

Japanese Hardware Buyers Still Like That PSP

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:40:00 MDT

Super Sales Chart Thursday comes to a close with the weekly tally of Japanese hardware sales, courtesy of Media Create. The PSP continues to sit pretty atop the charts—it's a distant third in the United States—but the separation between it and the Wii continues to grow slimmer, week after week. Not much action for the week of May 5 to 11 over there, but based on the bottom half of the chart, we're betting Sony is glad it has the PSP on its side.

PSP - 89,884
Wii - 67,308
Nintendo DS - 51,228
PlayStation 3 - 8,054
PlayStation 2 - 7,464
Xbox 360 - 1,298

Nintendo Responds To April NPD Sales, Seems Pleased

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 15 May 2008 19:00:42 MDT

With such stellar Wii and Nintendo DS sales, Nintendo has a right to gloat. Even the almighty God would look the other way if Messrs. Fils-Aime and Iwata exhibited a bit of pride today. Nintendo was so pleased with its U.S. sales performance for April—in which it sold over 700,000 Wiis and 400,000 Nintendo DSs—that it distributed its statement before NPD figures were released. That's either confidence or a desire to leave the office by 5 PM at the latest.

Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America EVP of Sales & Marketing said in a statement “Our belief in appealing to a broad, diverse audience of players continues to resonate with consumers, and we look forward to continuing our outreach to an expanded audience with the launch of Wii Fit next week.” Representative mascot Duffman said, "Duffman!"

Nintendo also noted in its statement that Super Smash Bros. Brawl passed the 3 million units in sales in the U.S. last month. Gosh! People really like that Smash Bros.! Quoted statement follows.

Nintendo’s Wii Sits Atop April U.S. Sales

Wii™ emerged as the top-selling console in April, according to the independent NPD Group, which tracks U.S. video game sales. Wii sold more than 714,000 units in April alone, bringing its lifetime sales in the United States to more than 9.5 million.

“Wii sales were buoyed in part by the strong launch of Mario Kart Wii, which sold more than 1.1 million units,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “Our belief in appealing to a broad, diverse audience of players continues to resonate with consumers, and we look forward to continuing our outreach to an expanded audience with the launch of Wii Fit next week.”

Other Nintendo highlights from April’s NPD report include:

* Mario Kart® Wii finished as the No. 2 game of the month.
* Six of the top 10 games of the month are for Nintendo systems: Mario Kart Wii (No. 2), Wii Play™ (No. 4), Super Smash Bros.® Brawl (No. 5), Pokémon® Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness (No. 7), Pokémon® Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (No. 8) and Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (No. 9).
* Super Smash Bros. Brawl crossed the 3 million sales mark in the United States.
* Wii and Nintendo DS™ again finished as the two top-selling hardware systems.

For more information about Nintendo, please visit www.Nintendo.com

Video Game Industry Has $1.2 Billion April, Confirms It's Made Of Money

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:40:00 MDT

According to the latest NPD Group sales data, April 2008 was pretty darn good for the video game industry, with $1.23 billion dollars in sales in the United States. Yes, cigars are being lit with hundreds, champagne corks are being sabered and who knows what's being snorted off what based on the news. Oh, a refreshing Coors Light may even be knocked back. That billion-plus April is a big improvement—47% to be exact—over the previous April, which saw a paltry $839 million sum from American consumers. April's billion and change take contributes to a year-to-date $5.47 billion for the industry so far. In case you're wondering that's a lot of money.

Here's how it all breaks down. Brace yourself for more millions and more percentage growth talk.

Hardware - $426.2 million (+26%)
Software - $654.7 million (+68%)
Accessories - $154 million (+39%)

GTA IV Whacks The April Competition, Mario Kart Grabs Second

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 15 May 2008 17:00:57 MDT

It comes as little surprise to see Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto IV sitting atop the NPD Group's April software sales chart, with the Xbox 360 version scoring 1.8 million-plus sales alone. Mario Kart Wii, however, keeps GTA IV from total chart domination, as it outsold the PlayStation 3 version by an estimated 120,000 copies. Combined, however, both GTA IV's had a stronger debut month than March's chart topper, Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

Nintendo didn't just have a good month on the hardware side, as Wii games Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Wii Play and Guitar Hero III all landed in the top ten. New Pokemon action helped two DS titles grab pre-break billing.

Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360) - 1,850,000
Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 1,120,000
Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) - 1,000,000
Wii Play (Wii) - 360,000
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) - 326,000
Gran Turismo 5: Prologue (PS3) - 224,000
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness (DS) - 202,000
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time (DS) - 202,000
Guitar Hero III (Wii) - 152,000
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Xbox 360) - 141,000

Total software sales reached $654.7 million for April '08. That's a 68% boost over the previous year, which saw just $389.4 million in software spending. Yeah, just.

NPD analyst Anita Frazier notes that GTA IV saw an attach rate equal to 20% of the total Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 install base. She also reiterated that next month we may see far more impressive sales of Rockstar's crime epic, but that its April sales were nothing to sneeze at, writing "With only 5 days at retail during the reporting month, GTA IV is one of the fastest-selling titles in video games history."

Wii Dominates April, PS3 & Xbox 360 In Dead Heat On GTA IV Sales

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 15 May 2008 16:40:00 MDT

Nintendo had an amazing April, pushing over 700,000 Wiis in the United States. That's a massive difference from its "current gen high definition console" competition, as the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 were neck and neck, only a thousand units difference between the two. If you were expecting a big boost from Grand Theft Auto IV's release, you're going to leave disappointed. Maybe next month. Nintendo's other platform, the DS continued to impress, more than doubling sales of the PSP.

Wii - 714,200
Nintendo DS - 414,800
PSP - 192,000
Xbox 360 - 188,000
PlayStation 3 - 187,100
PlayStation 2 - 124,400

Totals were down across the board, with the Wii taking the least hit from March to April, each piece of hardware showing in the same position as the previous month. Despite that month to month drop, hardware was up 26% over April of last year.

Total hardware spending in April amounted to $426.2 million, compared to $339.2 million spent in April of 2007.

NPD analyst Anita Frazier pointed out that more Wiis at retail, obviously, means more Wiis sold. And while some Wii owners may bemoan a lack of new releases—Mario Kart Wii aside—Frazier writes that "With a couple of blockbuster games already in the market this year, and with Wii Fit and Rock Band still to come in the next two months, the pipeline of content to continue to drive hardware acquisition looks very good"

Frazier also points out that less than spectacular sales on PS3 and 360 hardware may not be indicative of underperformance, noting that "[S]ince the game was only in the market for 5 days during this reporting period, that sales lift could very well be evident in May data." To May, then!

Mario Kart Wii Has A Golden Week

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 15 May 2008 13:40:00 MDT

Surprise! For the fifth week in a row, Mario Kart Wii finishes first on Media Create's weekly software sales chart. Japanese gamers snapped up another 107K copies of the kart racer as new releases were put on hold for the week. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G continues to settle for second place, with Wii Fit officially passing the 2 million mark overseas. While we've seen a healthy mix of platforms on the charts over the past few months, for the week of May 5 to 11, it's simply saturated with Wii and Nintendo DS titles.

Bear down for even more sales fun throughout the day as the NPD Group releases U.S. sales data for the number starved masses. The list continues after the break.

1. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 107,000 / 1,227,000
2. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 82,000 / 1,992,000
3. Wii Fit (Wii) - 53,000 / 2,039,000
4. Link's Crossbow Training (Wii) - 49,000 / 141,000
5. Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (DS) - 34,000 / 133,000
6. Pokémon Ranger Batonage! (DS) - 27,000 / 535,000
7. Deca Sports (Wii) - 22,000 / 207,000
8. Wii Sports (Wii) - 21,000 / 2,979,000
9. Boura wa Kaseki Holder (DS) - 17,000 / 102,000
10. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) - 16,000 / 1,620,000

11. Wii Play (Wii)
12. Mario Kart DS (DS)
13. DS Bimoji Training (DS)
14. Tottado! Yowiko no Mujintou Seikatsu (DS)
15. Valkyria Chronicles (PS3)
16. Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (PS2)
17. Katekyoo Hitman Reborn! Fate of Heat (DS)
18. Mario Party DS (DS)
19. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
20. Naruto Shippuuden Shinobi Retsuden 2 (DS)
21. Yattaman DS: Bikkuridokkiri Daisakusen da Koron (DS)
22. Emblem of Gundam (DS)
23. Pro Yakyuu Spirits 5 (PS2)
24. Crayon Shinchan Arashi wo Yobu Cinema Land (DS)
25. Zaidan Houjin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai Koushiki Soft: 250-Mannin no KanKen (DS)
26. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS)
27. SimCity DS 2: Kodaikara Mirai e Tsudzukumachi (DS)
28. Brain Age 2 (DS)
29. Taiko Drum Master DS (DS)
30. Animal Crossing Wild World (DS)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Inside Games]

Microsoft: Oops, We Forgot About The Wii In Worldwide Sales

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 14 May 2008 18:00:53 MDT

Microsoft totally won the race to 10 million in the U.S. That's for damn sure. But worldwide? They're not exactly the leader in the "current-generation console" race, at least not if you include the Wii as a "current-generation console." They may have an impressive Xbox Live user base, but 19 million Xbox 360s sold does not a current gen leader make.

When contacted for clarification about the 360's numbers versus the Wii's—which stood at 24.5 million worldwide as of March 31, according to Nintendo financials—Microsoft reps told us that "Xbox 360 has the largest global install base of any current gen high definition gaming console." That emphasis? Mine. They also apologized for any confusion this may have caused.

Hey, it happens. Even I forget I have a Wii sometimes and it's right there, mere feet from my face.

MS Still Thinks It Can Win The Console War, Xbox 360 Pushes Past 10 Million In U.S.

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 14 May 2008 14:40:39 MDT

With a reported 9.9 million Xbox 360s sold through in the United States as of the end of March, something catastrophic would have had to happen to prevent Microsoft from reaching the 10 million mark first. Fortunately for the gang in Redmond, the company has avoided certain doom, announcing that it has reached the corporately coveted figure, beating NPD estimates by a day.

Don Mattrick, the *deep breath* Senior Vice President of the Interactive Entertainment Business, Entertainment and Devices Division, said in a statement that "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle." Microsoft also points out that it leads worldwide, with a 19 million strong install base and 12 million Xbox Live users.

Impressive numbers? Absolutely. Expect to hear "But we got there fastest, not first!" and/or "Not my problem!" any second now.

Xbox 360 First Gaming System to Reach 10 Million in U.S. Console Sales This Generation

Xbox LIVE tops 12 million members globally as Xbox 360 console sales hit more than 19 million worldwide.

REDMOND, Wash., May 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Microsoft Corp. today announced that the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system has sold over 10 million units in the U.S., making it the first current-generation gaming console to break the 10 million mark in the U.S. The U.S. install base contributes to global sales of over 19 million, more than any other current-generation console.

"This year will be the largest in the history of the video game industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad," said Don Mattrick, senior vice president of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. "History has shown us that the first company to reach 10 million in console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry."

This announcement comes on the heels of one of the biggest entertainment launches in history, "Grand Theft Auto IV," on April 29, 2008. Gamers eager to experience "Grand Theft Auto IV" online helped boost Xbox LIVE global membership to over 12 million this month. Fueled by an unparalleled combination of access to friends and family, the best online gaming features, and the best entertainment content, the Xbox LIVE service has doubled in membership in only one year's time.

"Reaching an installed base of 10 million consoles in the U.S. is a significant achievement and an essential milestone on the road to market leadership," said Billy Pidgeon, research manager at IDC. "Perhaps more important is the Xbox 360 worldwide online base — 12 million Xbox LIVE gamers is the largest community in the connected console games sector, which represents the greatest growth opportunity in the console market and where Microsoft has been the leader for two generations."

Xbox 360 leads with the industry's highest software attach rate, more than any other console this generation, and is home to the best-selling games. With the launch of "Grand Theft Auto IV" in April, Xbox 360 is now the home to more than 16 platinum titles that have sold through 1 million units or more, including hits such as "Halo 3," "Madden NFL 07" and "Madden NFL 08," "Gears of War," "Guitar Hero II" and "Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock," and "Call of Duty® 2," Call of Duty 3" and "Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare," giving Xbox 360 two times more platinum-selling titles than the Wii and a 16:2 lead over the PlayStation 3 in game titles topping one million in sales. Games not only sell better on the Xbox 360, they play better, too: Xbox 360 has 91 titles with a Metacritic review score of 80 or higher, compared with just 22 titles for Wii and 50 titles for PlayStation 3.

About Xbox 360

Xbox 360 is a superior video game and entertainment system delivering the best games, unique entertainment features and a unified online gaming network that revolve around gamers. Xbox 360 has a portfolio of nearly 400 games in 37 countries. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/xbox360.

About Xbox LIVE

Xbox LIVE is the first and most comprehensive unified online entertainment network seamlessly integrated throughout the entire console experience, making it easy for people to find the friends, games and entertainment they want from the moment they power on their Xbox 360 system. Xbox LIVE connects more than 12 million of members across 37 countries to enjoy hundreds of multiplayer games, downloadable games via Xbox LIVE Arcade, free and premium playable game demos, music videos, TV shows and movies in the United States as well as new game levels, characters and vehicles for all their favorite retail games. More information can be found online at http://www.xbox.com/en-us/live.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT - News) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

Wii Grabs A Slice Of PSP Japanese Hardware Sales

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 09 May 2008 15:20:00 MDT

Inasmuch as the Japanese software story stays largely the same, as does weekly hardware sales. The PSP continues to sit pretty atop the Media Create sales charts, but regular "Simple 2000: The Japanese Hardware Chart" watchers will notice that the big black slice is starting to thin. A big Wii sales boost has plenty to do with that, but Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G sales trending down—holiday boost notwithstanding—is likely accountable. Numbers were up across the board, but Nintendo benefited the most.

PSP - 100,870
Wii - 71,518
Nintendo DS - 52,542
PlayStation 3 - 10,177
PlayStation 2 - 8,802
Xbox 360 - 1,725

Media Create Weekly Sales

Ain't No Stopping Mario Kart Wii In Japan

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:40:00 MDT

Nintendo's mascot racin' funfest Mario Kart Wii cannot be toppled, even by the crossbow powers of Link. Zelda's constant savior aimed for third on the Japanese sales charts with Link's Crossbow Training, Mario Kart Wii and Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G still holding tight at numbers one and two for the fourth week in a row.

Wii Fit and Monster Hunter for PSP are on the cusp of hitting the 2 million mark, just as Wii Sports prepares to ship its 3 millionth copy in Japan. Impressive. For the rest of the best sellers for the week of April 28 to May 4, keep on kartin'.

01. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 173,000 / 1,120,000
02. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 102,000 / 1,909,000
03. Link's Crossbow Training (Wii) - 93,000 / NEW
04. Wii Fit (Wii) - 52,000 / 1,986,000
05. Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (DS) - 42,000 / 98,000
06. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS) - 31,000 / 508,000
07. Boura wa Kaseki Holder (DS) - 27,000 / 84,000
08. Valkyria Chronicles (PS3) - 24,000 / 102,000
09. Deca Sports (Wii) - 24,000 / 186,000
10. Wii Sports (Wii) - 22,000 / 2,959,000

11. DS Bimoji Training (DS)
12. Emblem of Gundam (DS)
13. Katekyoo Hitman Reborn! Fate of Heat (DS)
14. Wii Play (Wii)
15. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
16. Mario Kart DS (DS)
17. Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (PS2)
18. Tottado! Yowiko no Mujintou Seikatsu (DS)
19. Naruto: Shippuuden Shinobi Retsuden II (DS)
20. Pro Baseball Family Stadium (Wii)
21. Nippon no Asoko de (PSP)
22. Pro Yakyuu Spirits 5 (PS2)
23. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
24. Summon Night (DS)
25. Mario Party DS (DS)
26. SimCity DS 2: Kodaikara Mirai e Tsudzukumachi (DS)
27. Yattaman DS: Bikkuridokkiri Daisakusen da Koron (DS)
28. Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi o Yobu Cinema Land (DS)
29. Phoenix Wright: Gyakuten Revival (DS)
30. Zaidan Houjin Nippon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai Koushiki Soft: 250-Mannin no KanKen (DS)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Inside Games]

NYT: GTA IV's Sold 6 Million Copies, Made $500 Million

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 07 May 2008 04:40:00 MDT

The New York Times, who seem to have got hold of Take-Two's data a little earlier than the rest of us, are reporting that the publisher's going to announce some hard GTA IV sales figures later today. Those figures will reveal the game has already sold 6 million copies, with an astonishing 3.6 million of them going on the first day. This means the game's racked up sales of over $500 million in just one week. Hoo-boy. If the NYT are on the money, expect Take-Two to confirm this later today.
A $500 Million Week for Grand Theft Auto [New York Times]

UK Gamers Snap Up Nearly 1 Million Copies Of GTA IV First Week

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:40:31 MDT

Grand Theft Auto IV broke records in its debut week in the UK, with sales watchers Chart Track calling the "biggest All Formats" number one title ever, with 926,000 units solid in just five days on sale. On day one, Chart Track estimates over 630,000 copies sold. It replaces Wii Fit as the best-selling title in the UK.

According to further details from GamesIndustry.biz, 514,000 of those copies were of the Xbox 360 variety, 413,000 copies for the PlayStation 3, with hardware sales up for both consoles at about the same ratio. We should have Canadian and U.S. GTA IV sales data soon, courtesy of the NPD group, for maximum press release boasting material. We can't wait!

GTA IV Rewrites Record Books [Chart Track]

PlayStation 3 Outsells 360 In Europe

Mike Fahey — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:30:00 MDT

During his keynote speech at Sony PlayStation Day London '08, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe head David Reeves announced that the PS3 had officially overtaken the Xbox 360 in European sales.

I am delighted to be able announce today that we have sold more PlayStation 3s throughout Europe than Xbox 360 - even though they launched sixteen months before PS3.

More than 5 million PS3 systems have been sold across Europe, with PS2 and PSP numbers equally as impressive at 48 million and 12 million respectively.

These numbers are a testament to the strength of the PlayStation brand throughout our region, the ever-increasing number of titles being launched, the rich content on offer and its appeal to different demographics and cultures.

Different demographics and cultures that will likely viciously savage each other in the comments section following this news.

PS3 has outsold Xbox 360 in Europe [Eurogamer]

Mario Kart Wii Holds Fast On Japanese Charts

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 01 May 2008 14:40:00 MDT

Nintendo's justification for the Wii Wheel holds on to first place in the sales race this week, repeating the same Mario Kart Wii and Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G chart dominance we've seen two times previous. Sega's Valkyria Chronicles makes a strong debut in Japan for the PlayStation 3, but we'll see if it has any sales legs soon.

There were a baker's dozen of new software entries, including Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 and Frontlines: Fuel of War, for the week of April 21 to 27. See how the Western games charted after the jump!

01. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 152,000 / 947,000
02. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 93,000 / 1,807,000
03. Valkyria Chronicles (PS3) - 77,000 / NEW
04. Meccha! Taiko Drum Master DS: 7-tsu no Shima no Daibouken (DS) - 56,000 / NEW
05. Summon Night (DS) - 38,000 / NEW
06. Wii Fit (Wii) - 37,000 / 1,934,000
07. Boura wa Kaseki Holder (DS) - 22,000 / 58,000
08. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS) - 20,000 / 477,000
09. DS Bimoji Training (DS) - 18,000 / 167,000
10. Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (PS2) - 15,000 / 322,000

11. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas 2 (Xbox 360)
12. Naruto: Shinobi Retsuden II (DS)
13. Deca Sports (Wii)
14. Wii Sports (Wii)
15. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii)
16. Vantage Master Portable (PSP)
17. Wii Play (Wii)
18. Mario Kart DS (DS)
19. Tantei Jinguuji Saburo DS: Keinai Kokoro (DS)
20. Yattaman DS: Bikkuridokkiri Daisakusen da Koron (DS)
21. Pro Baseball Spirits 5 (PS2)
22. SimCity DS 2: Kodaikara Mirai e Tsudzukumachi (DS)
23. H2O: Portraits In The Sand (PS2)
24. Prism Ark: Awake (PS2)
25. Star Ocean 2: Second Evolution (PSP)
26. Frontlines: Fuel of War (Xbox 360)
27. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 4 (Best Price) (DS)
28. Tottado! Yowiko no Mujintou Seikatsu (DS)
29. Edel Blume (PS2)
30. Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi o Yobu Cinema Land (DS)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

Microsoft Slashes Xbox 360 Prices Through Asia

Mark Wilson — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 MDT

Microsoft, apparently having some difficulty infiltrating Asian markets, has reduced prices of the Xbox 360 in many areas. The biggest price reduction (20 percent to $366) happened in Singapore, though Taiwan's price drop wasn't far behind (17 percent to $340). Hong Kong and Korea both received smaller price reductions as well.

I'm not positive that increasing Xbox sales in Asia is as predictable as the rest of the world where the drop price, grow sales technique reigns supreme. But, you know, it probably won't hurt.

Microsoft Cuts Xbox 360 Prices in Four Asian Markets [Bloomberg via Gamasutra][image]

Blockbuster Video Gunning For GameStop?

Mike Fahey — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:20:00 MDT

As hinted at by a store manager back in the beginning of this month, Blockbuster Video is ramping up the video game side of their business big time, and they might just be gearing up to give GameStop a run for their money. Along with granting video games like Grand Theft Auto IV sacred space on the New Release wall, corporate-owned stores across the country should now be carrying retail games, consoles, and accessories for purchase, as well as kicking up their rental offerings with more titles and platforms, including DS games, which up til now my local store hadn't carried at all.

"We are committed to offering a full assortment of everything gamers want in our stores — hardware, accessories and retail and rental games across all platforms — including Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS," said Rod Murray, vice-president, games merchandising, Blockbuster Inc.

The company will also be offering a variety of exclusives, such as their exclusive Sony PS3 movie and game bundle, that features a 40GB PS3, Spiderman 3 on Blu-ray, Transformers the Movie the game, and a 12-week PS3/Blu-ray rental card entitling users to a free rental each week of for twelve weeks, all for $499.99.

Honestly I feel this can only be good for the game buying public. For one, the nearest Blockbuster Store to me is much closer than the nearest GameStop, and anyone who has traded in a game at a Blockbuster knows their trade-in values are tons better than the competition.

If any company has the established infrastructure to compete with GameStop in the retail video game space it's Blockbuster Video. Blockbuster currently has around 5,192 stores in the U.S., with GameStop maintaining apporximately 5,264. Depending on how serious BB is about this initiative, it would put them a stone's throw away from being the biggest video game retailer in the country. Sure they rent and sell movies as well, but GameStop has been known to peddle the odd previously viewed DVD themselves.

Say what you will about evil corporations, but face it, there isn't a mom & pop store out there with the resources to take on the big guys. The lesser of two evils perhaps, but any deal that puts a game store five minutes from my house can't be all that bad. Interesting times for video game retail await!

Stores Also to Carry More Rental Game Platforms, Titles and Copies
DALLAS, April 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Blockbuster Inc. , a leading global provider of in-home movies and game entertainment, today announced it has rolled out retail video games and game hardware to all U.S. corporate-owned BLOCKBUSTER(R) stores as part of a broader plan to significantly expand its game business.

Now, for the first time, customers can go into any U.S. corporate-owned BLOCKBUSTER store and purchase video game titles, hardware and accessories for the Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and Nintendo DS game systems. In addition to expanding its retail games offering, Blockbuster is adding more game titles for rental with more copies than before across all platforms.

Blockbuster is featuring its expanded game offerings — including hardware and accessories, along with rental and retail titles such as "Mario Kart" and the soon-to-be-released "Grand Theft Auto IV" — on the new release wall in a specially designated game section.

"We are committed to offering a full assortment of everything gamers want in our stores — hardware, accessories and retail and rental games across all platforms — including Nintendo Wii, Sony PS3, Microsoft Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS," said Rod Murray, vice-president, games merchandising, Blockbuster Inc.

To further support expansion of its game business, Blockbuster will also be implementing a variety of special consumer game offers, such as an exclusive Sony PS3 movie and game bundle. The bundle, available at corporate-owned stores while supplies last for $499.99, excluding tax, includes: a 40GB Sony PS3 game console that also plays Blu-ray DVDs, PS3/Blu-ray DVD remote, HDMI cable, "Spiderman 3" Blu-ray disc, "Transformers" PS3 game and a BLOCKBUSTER 12-week PS3/Blu-ray rental card that entitles users to one free PS3 or Blu-ray rental per week for 12 consecutive weeks.