Portable Horse Training Fever Sweeps Japan

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

Japanese Gamers Drop Old Snake For Robot Wars

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

Analyzing The Accuracy Of VGChartz

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]

MGS 4: The Big Boss Of Japanese Sales

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

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

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

Japanese Gamers Still Love Baseball

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

Monster Hunter Hits The Showers In Japan

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

Monster Hunter Blue Shells Mario Kart In Japan

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

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

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]

GTA IV Whacks The April Competition, Mario Kart Grabs Second

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.

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

Mario Kart Wii Has A Golden Week

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

Ain't No Stopping Mario Kart Wii In Japan

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

Mario Kart Wii Holds Fast On Japanese Charts

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

Simple 2000: The Japanese Software Chart

Mario Kart Wii holds on to the top spot of the Media Create sales charts for the week of April 14 to 20, as mascot karting and monster hunting continue to keep a tight grip on Japan. Not much in the way of new additions for the week, as Nintendo's fossil diggin', dinosaur battlin' Boura wa Kaseki Holder for the Nintendo DS is the only new debut in the top ten.

For the rest of the top thirty software stars, make the jump. If you don't, you'll never know how well Square Enix's DS bookkeeping software for level 3 LEC exam training charted and you'll look like an uninformed jackass at your next cocktail party. Your call, pal!

01. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 202,000 / 795,000
02. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 124,000 / 1,714,000
03. Boura wa Kaseki Holder (DS) - 35,000 / NEW
04. Wii Fit (Wii) - 32,000 / 1,897,000
05. Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (PS2) - 24,000 / 308,000
06. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS) - 21,000 / 457,000
07. DS Bimoji Training (DS) - 15,000 / 149,000
08. Deca Sports (Wii) - 14,000 / 148,000
09. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) - 13,000 / 1,575,000
10. Wii Sports (Wii) - 12,000 / 2,924,000

Simple 2000: The Japanese Software Chart

Japan has a fever. The only cure? More Mario. The plumber dependent masses helped push Mario Kart Wii to the top of the Media Create sales charts, with over a half-million Wii Wheels shippin' out in week one. That impressive debut helped unseat Monster Hunter, which scooted past Super Smash Bros. Brawl's sales in just three weeks.

Very little in the way of new sales contenders, as newbies Oshiri Kajiri Mushi no Rhythm Lesson DS and the Japanese release of Turok enter the top thirty for the week of April 7 to 13.

01. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 594,000 / NEW
02. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 222,000 / 1,590,000
03. Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (PS2) - 56,000 / 283,000
04. Wii Fit (Wii) - 31,000 / 1,865,000
05. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS) - 30,000 / 436,000
06. Tottado! Yowiko no Mujintou Seikatsu (DS) - 26,000 / 65,000
07. Pro Yakyuu Spirits 5 (PS2) - 22,000 / 102,000
08. Star Ocean 2: Second Evolution (PSP) - 18,000 / 108,000
09. Deca Sports (Wii) - 17,000 / 133,000
10. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) - 14,000 / 1,563,000

Simple 2000: The Japanese Software Chart

Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G continues to put a hurtin' on the competition, with the PSP expansion shipping close to another half million copies. Most impressive, Capcom. The week is surprisingly heavy in PlayStation family titles, with a quartet of Japanese franchise favorites securing the top half of the top ten chart, most likely helping Sony hardware. Wii Fit edges closer to the 2 million mark, which we expect it to hit mid-May, as Super Smash Bros. Brawl teeters near the end of the top ten. Hang in there, lil' guy!

For the rest of the best selling games in Japan for the week of March 31 to April 6, read on past the jump.

01. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 488,000 / 1,369,000
02. Musou Orochi: Maou Sairin (PS2) - 228,000 / NEW
03. Star Ocean 2: Second Evolution (PSP) - 91,000 / NEW
04. Pro Yakyuu Spirits 5 (PSP) - 80,000 / NEW
05. Pro Yakyuu Spirits 5 (PS3) - 60,000 / NEW
06. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS) - 58,000 / 406,000
07. Wii Fit (Wii) - 39,000 / 1,834,000
08. Tottado! Yowiko no Mujintou Seikatsu (DS) - 39,000 / NEW
09. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) - 24,000 / 1,548,000
10. Deca Sports (Wii) - 22,000 / 116,000

Simple 2000: The Japanese Software Chart

Pokémon? Huge in Japan. Monster Hunter? Gargantuan! Capcom's expansion to Monster Hunter Portable 2nd for PSP sold a staggering 880,000 copies in its debut week, besting even Super Smash Bros. Brawl's first week on the market. Should do wonders for PSP sales, especially since Sony pinched out another special edition version of the handheld just for the occasion. Last week's champ, Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage was no sophomore slouch, moving over a hundred thousand copies. We'll see if Monster Hunter has legs next week, which seems like a very safe bet.

For the full list of best sellers for the week of March 24 to March 30, make the jump.

01. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 880,000 / NEW
02. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS) - 106,000 / 348,000
03. Mobile Suit Gundam 00 (DS) - 49,000 / NEW
04. Wii Fit (Wii) - 42,000 / 1,794,000
05. Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch - Lost Colors (PSP) - 34,000 / NEW
06. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) - 34,000 / 1,524,000
07. Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch - Lost Colors (PS2) - 30,000 / NEW
08. Deca Sports (Wii) - 29,000 / 94,000
09. SimCity DS 2: Kodaikara Mirai e Tsudzukumachi (DS) - 25,000 / 74,000
10. Crayon Shin-Chan: Arashi o Yobu Cinema Land (DS) - 19,000 / 54,000

Simple 2000: The Japanese Software Chart

Pokémon fever ripped through Japan last week, pushing an impressive quarter-million copies of Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage in its debut week. It wasn't the only new release to make a splash as the combined efforts of Deca Sports, Armored Core and others pushed previous chart toppers like Wii Fit and Super Smash Bros. Brawl further down the charts. This week, fifteen newcomers crack the top thirty. See if you can catch 'em all in this week's Simple 2000 software chart, featuring sales from March 17 to 23.

See where Yakuza 3 Kenzan! landed this week and where Echochrome for the PSP debuted after the break.

01. Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (DS) - 242,000 / NEW
02. Deca Sports (Wii) - 65,000 / NEW
03. Armored Core: For Answer (PS3) - 54,000 / NEW
04. SimCity DS 2: Kodaikara Mirai e Tsudzukumachi (DS) - 49,000 / NEW
05. Wii Fit (Wii) - 48,000 / 1,752,000
06. Tales of Rebirth (PSP) - 47,000 / NEW
07. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) - 41,000 / 1,490,000
08. Crayon Shin-Chan: Arashi o Yobu Cinema Land (DS) - 35,000 / NEW
09. DS Bimoji Training (DS) - 35,000 / 101,000
10. Time Hollow: Uwareta Kako o Motome (DS) - 34,000 / NEW