Kotaku: simple 2000

Super Smash Bros. Brawl Sells 820K In Its Debut Week

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 09:40:00 MST

Nintendo released Super Smash Bros. Brawl in Japan on January 31 and, over the course of the next four days, gamers there snapped up over 800,000 copies of the Wii fighter. Long-running sales chart topper Wii Fit was finally dethroned this week, amid a stable of new releases that also included Disgaea 3, Assassin's Creed and Suzumiya Haruhi no Tomadoi. Also debuting, but not performing quite as well as the Nintendo mascot fighter was Capcom's Devil May Cry 4 which moved nearly a quarter million units combined on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, making it one of three PS3 titles to chart in the top ten.

The best selling software in Japan for the week of January 28 to February 4, courtesy of Media Create, continues after the jump.

01. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) - 820,000 / NEW
02. Devil May Cry 4 (PS3) - 205,000 / NEW
03. Tales of Destiny: Director's Cut (PS2) - 117,000 / NEW
04. Suzumiya Haruhi no Tomadoi (PS2) - 114,000 / NEW
05. Wii Fit (Wii) - 73,000 / 1,356,000
06. Disgaea 3 (PS3) - 55,000 / NEW
07. Devil May Cry 4 (Xbox 360) - 40,000 / NEW
08. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (DS) - 34,000 / 175,000
09. Assassin's Creed (PS3) - 28,000 / NEW
10. World Soccer Winning Eleven: Ubiquitous Evolution 2008 (PSP) - 26,000 / 102,000

11. Wii Sports (Wii)
12. Family Ski (Wii)
13. Mario Party DS (DS)
14. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (PSP)
15. Need for Speed ProStreet (PS3)
16. Need for Speed ProStreet (PS2)
17. Professor Layton and The Devil's Box (DS)
18. Taiko Drum Master DS (DS)
19. Dorabase: Doraemon Chou Yakyuu Gaiden (DS)
20. Mario Kart DS (DS)
21. Wii Play (Wii)
22. Final Fantasy IV (DS)
23. Lucky * Star (PS2)
24. Nep League DS (DS)
25. Houkago Shounen (DS)
26. Dragon Quest IV (DS)
27. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games (Wii)
28. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii)
29. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
30. Animal Crossing Wild World (DS)

Media Create Weekly Software Sales [Gpara]

Simple 2000: The Japanese Software Chart

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 MST

Mario tops the charts again this week, with Mario Party DS selling close to a quarter million copies in its debut week in Japan. It's followed by the game that is sure to push tens of thousands of PlayStation 3s, Shin Sangoku Musou 5, to be known as Dynasty Warriors 6 in North America. Its Xbox 360 counterpart cracked the top ten, as did Insomniac Games' Ratchet & Clank Future, all of which should make for an interesting week in hardware sales.

Oddly enough, only one PlayStation 2 title appears this week and it's NBA Live 08. What a world...

01. Mario Party DS (DS) - 235,000 / NEW
02. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (PS3) - 188,000 / NEW
03. Super Mario Galaxy (Wii) - 74,000 / 325,000
04. Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS) - 23,000 / 215,000
05. Shin Sangoku Musou 5 (Xbox 360) - 22,000 / NEW
06. Castlevania: Dracula X Chronicles (PSP) - 19,000 / NEW
07. Wii Sports (Wii) - 15,000 / 2,197,000
08. DS Nishimura Kyotaro Suspense Shin Tantei Series: Kyoto Atami Zekkai no Kotou - Satsui no Wana (DS) - 13,000 / 129,000
09. Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day (DS) - 13,000 / 690,000
10. Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction (PS3) - 12,000 / NEW

11. Wii Play (Wii)
12. Kanji Brain Test 2.5M (DS)
13. Mario Kart DS (DS)
14. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
15. DS Bungaku Zenshuu (DS)
16. Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon: Time Expedition Party (DS)
17. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
18. My Housekeeping Diary (DS)
19. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 (PS3)
20. Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon: Shadow Expedition Party (DS)
21. World Soccer Winning Eleven DS Goal x Goal! (DS)
22. Gundam Battle Chronicle (PSP)
23. Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation (Xbox 360)
24. NBA Live 08 (PS2)
25. Brain Age 2: More Training In Minutes A Day (DS)
26. More English Training (DS)

Tomorrow, hardware sales figures hit later in the evening. It promises to be... interesting.
27. Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omisecchi: Mina San Kyu (DS)
28. Animal Crossing Wild World (DS)
29. Dragon Tamer: Sound Spirits (DS)
30. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (PSP)

Simple 2000: The Japanese Hardware Chart

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:20:54 MST

What a difference a week can make. While sales of the Wii were bumped unimpressively by about 10,000 from last week on the release of Super Mario Galaxy in Japan, it's Ace Combat 6 that had the impact of a sonic boom on hardware. Last week's Xbox 360 sales were fairly high (in the upper 3,000s) but this week, sales of Microsoft's gaijin console are in the stratosphere. Relatively, that is. Ace Combat 6's debut, alongside a handful of new budget priced games, pushed Xbox 360 sales past the PlayStation 3's, selling 17,673 consoles from October 29 to November 4. That's a 475% increase! It looks like Microsoft Japan may have a winner.

Nintendo DS Lite - 78,552
PSP - 59,714
Wii - 37,617
Xbox 360 - 17,673
PlayStation 3 - 17,434
PlayStation 2 - 10,209
Game Boy Advance SP - 206

Media Create Weekly Sales

Simple 2000: The Japanese Hardware Chart

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 19:20:51 MDT

Good news for multi-billion dollar revenue making hardware manufacturers! This week's Japanese hardware sales chart, courtesy of Media Create, shows that everyone had a pretty decent week. Well, at least better than last. This week may signal the end of the Wii's low point, as Super Mario Galaxy is due to influence next week's sales.

The PlayStation 3 has narrowed the weekly sales gap between it and Nintendo's console by some 9,000, a marked improvement from the 90,000 unit disparity from the springtime. Even the old 360 is hangin' on to 3,000 territory. Is the playing field leveling somewhat in Japan?

Nintendo DS Lite - 76,243
PSP - 59,792
Wii - 27,502
PlayStation 3 - 18,785
PlayStation 2 - 11,698
Xbox 360 - 3,718

Weekly Sales [Media Create]

The Japanese Hardware Chart

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 19:40:42 MDT

I wish I could lead off this post with good news that Seaman 2 greased the way for a strong week of PlayStation 2 sales, but, unsurprisingly, it wasn't much of a hardware mover. Actually, the PlayStation 2 performed almost exactly as it had the week before, besting only the Xbox 360, sales of which dropped some 50% week-to-week. Wii sales continue to slump as Japanese gamers wait desperately for something new and worthwhile to play.

Sorry, it's really quite a dull week, hardware-wise. So here's a picture of a bunny with a crimson and black Nintendo DS Lite on its head.

Nintendo DS Lite - 70,608
PSP - 58,669
Wii - 24,932
PlayStation 3 - 17,130
PlayStation 2 - 10,281
Xbox 360 - 3,011

Media Create Weekly Sales

The Japanese Software Chart

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 03:00:00 MDT

Seaman! Buckets and buckets of Seaman! That's what Japanese gamers gobbled up this week, as Sega's sequel to the Dreamcast test of patience from Vivarium for the PlayStation 2 topped the Japanese sales charts. The voice activated, missing link-raising sim just barely beat out Nintendo's newest non-game for the Nintendo DS, DS Bungaku Zenshuu, a collection of Japanese literature readable on the dual screen sensation.

The only other exciting sales news was the debut of Beautiful Katamari for the Xbox 360 cracking the top ten and Lair for the PlayStation 3 hanging tough in the top 30. Also, I'm sure many of you were curious about the placement of DS Nishimura Kyotaro Suspense Shin Tantei Series: Kyoto Atami Zekkai no Kotou - Satsui no Wana. It held strong for another week and should best the 100,000 mark any day now. Sleep well, sales figure faithful.

01. Seaman 2 (PS2) - 33,000 / NEW
02. DS Bungaku Zenshuu (DS) - 32,000 / NEW
03. Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! Meteor (PS2) - 20,000 / 271,000
04. DS Nishimura Kyotaro Suspense Shin Tantei Series: Kyoto Atami Zekkai no Kotou - Satsui no Wana (DS) - 20,000 / 81,000
05. Gundam Battle Chronicle (PSP) - 19,000 / 133,000
06. Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon: Time Expedition Party (DS) - 19,000 / 521,000
07. Beautiful Katamari (360) - 19,000 / NEW
08. Pokémon Mysterious Dungeon: Shadow Expedition Party (DS) - 16,000 / 457,000
09. Flash Focus: Vision Training in Minutes a Day (DS) - 15,000 / 646,000
10. Banushi Life Game: Winners Circle (DS) - 15,000 / NEW

11. KanKen DS 2 + Jouyou Kanji Jiten (DS)
12. Wii Sports (Wii)
13. Tamagotchi no Puchi Puchi Omisecchi: Mina San Kyu (DS)
14. Galaxy Angel II: Mugen Kairou no Kagi (PS2)
15. Mario Party 8 (Wii)
16. Taiko Drum Master DS (DS)
17. Mario Kart DS (DS)
18. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (PSP)
19. Tashiten: Tashite 10 ni Suru Monogatari (DS)
20. New Super Mario Bros. (DS)
21. Lair (PS3)
22. Metal Gear Solid Portable Ops+ (PSP)
23. My Housekeeping Diary (DS)
24. Wii Play (Wii)
25. Jikkyou Powerful Major League 2 (PS2)
26. ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat (DS)
27. Brain Age 2: More Training In Minutes A Day (DS)
28. Animal Crossing Wild World (DS)
29. Dragon Ball Z: Sparking! Meteor (Wii)
30. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd (PSP)

Earth Defense Force All Englished Up

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 06:22:38 MST

Off-beat D3 Publisher is bringing Earth Defense Force X (now retitled Earth Defense Force 2017) to the States. The EDF series originally appeared on the PS2 under the Simple 2000 label, but has since moved to the Xbox 360. The campy third person shooter lets characters shoot up giant bugs and robots. And who doesn't like that? So the big question is what language the game will be in. Says D3P's Brian Etheridge:

We had considered it [subtitling the game] for a time. Since we know this game has a cult following here in the US, we wanted to keep that level of authenticity. However, after some discussions, we decided that the voice-over was too important to leave the player in the dark like that. Your squad members are constantly shouting out advice and pointing out incoming enemies. We felt that it might make the game too tough if you weren't given those clues, so we've now reverted to recording all of the VO in English. It really adds a lot to the game.

I like that the localization was done not to drag in B-grade Hollywood stars, but to make sure that players could follow game play. The hardcore most likely have already imported and played the Japanese version anyway. Good move. Brian Ashcraft

D3 Talks English Version of EDF [Siliconera]

The Giant Bug Japanese Schoolgirl Game

Brian Ashcraft — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 08:25:07 MST

There are some games that cannot be as good as you imagine them. Simple 2000 title Tairyou Jigoku ("The Overwhelming Hell") for the PS2 is precisely one of the those games. The plot is Alice in Wonderland gone bad. It's a "panic action" game and centers around a schoolgirl named Erika, her missing cell phone, giant bugs and a rabbit in a top hat. See, the rabbit in a top hat stole her cell phone (of course!) and as the girl goes searching for it, she's attacked by cockroaches, centipedes, crickets, spiders and snakes. When the creepy-crawlies start to attack, Erika shakes them off or smacks 'em with poles and sticks. Though, don't know which is worst for most schoolgirls: Giant insects or not having a cell phone.

Game drops next February in Japan. Brian Ashcraft

Overwhelming Preview [EG via namako team]

Mahjong... With Bikinis (Or Vice Versa)

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 09:21:03 MDT

In Japan, mahjong is largely a male preserve. Thus, explaining game publisher D3's bikini-wearing, tile flipping gambling-slash-floor sweeping bonanza. Dubbed THE Dokodemo Gal Mahjong, the game is a PSP version of the Simple 2000 title Love * Mahjong. The game offers a chance to chit-chat with your virtual competitor, an array of customizable costumes, and "Service Time" in which the female characters are given tasks that need completion. Call it a hunch, but no doubt the game's producer pitched this as "Dead or Alive meets mahjong." Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Game Watch Impress]

The Maid Uniform & Machine Gun, No Surprises

Michael McWhertor — Sun, 06 Aug 2006 11:37:11 MDT

You have to hand it to budget publisher D3. The Japanese powerhouse may not actually make good (read: not total garbage) games 99% of the time, but at least they're straightforward about what they do. There's little mystery about what to expect when you pick up a copy of Zombie vs. Ambulance or The Giant Woman. You're gonna get zombies, an ambulance, or a giant woman—and she's gonna be in a bikini. A giant bikini.

So when D3 announces a title like The Maid Uniform & Machine Gun, they're pretty blunt about the fact that they're going to get as many Japanese folks as possible to drop 2000 yen on a craptastic game with maids and machine guns. They know maid culture is hot, hot, hot and they want a piece of the action! Michael McWhertor