Kotaku: Simple 2000: The Japanese Hardware Chart

PSP Can't Stop, Won't Stop Sellin' In Japan

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 01:30:17 MDT

There is no cure for PSP fever in Japan, what with all those massive marquee releases happening overseas. Like... um God of War: Chains of Olympus maybe? Is this just Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G after shocks or are folks just falling in love all over again with the Sony handheld? Regardless of the reason, the PSP comes out on top on this week's Media Create sales chart. Nintendo DS and Wii hold strong, but certainly aren't selling as well as they are in the States.

Even the 360 is holding on to a larger slice of the pie than normal. It's all so confusing!

PSP - 56,998
Nintendo DS - 48,540
Wii - 41,768
PlayStation 3 - 12,458
PlayStation 2 - 10,405
Xbox 360 - 3,807

Your Weekly Update On Good PSP Sales, Lousy 360 Sales In Japan

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:30:39 MDT

Will nothing end the tedium of the PSP dominating Media Create hardware charts? We can't even take satisfaction in the continuing dismal fortunes of Microsoft overseas. Truth be told, the 360 has another relatively good week, as sales in the 1,000 to 2,000 range are more common. PlayStation 3 sales return to normal, as the Metal Gear Solid 4 bump continues to wane. Here are the results of the Japanese console war from June 30 to July 6.

PSP - 56,439
DS Lite - 47,455
Wii - 44,525
PlayStation 3 - 14,359
PlayStation 2 - 11,768
Xbox 360 - 4,776

Media Create Weekly 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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PSP Continues To Rule Japanese Hardware Sales

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 01 May 2008 19:20:00 MDT

It's the same old story. Boy meets Monster Hunter. Boy buys Monster Hunter. Boy buys PSP. We lose interest in the dreadfully boring and stable Japanese hardware market. Can't someone buy 60,000 Xbox 360s and mix it up over there? We're getting tired of seeing that giant black mass dominate the Media Create hardware charts! Oh well. Maybe we'll feel better pointing out a PS3 sales blip on the release of Valkyria Chronicles and dreadful Xbox 360 numbers. Nope. That didn't help.

PSP - 92,411
Wii - 48,796
Nintendo DS - 42,435
PlayStation 3 - 9,107
PlayStation 2 - 7,108
Xbox 360 - 1,283

Media Create Weekly Sales