Topic: Japanese Weekly Software and Hardware Charts for July 14 – 20

[famicomplicated]

Dragon Quest popular in Japan? Say it aint so!
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=16475

 The latest remake of the Dragon Quest series to hit the Nintendo DS went straight to the top spot this week, hardly surprising in a country which has a law against releasing "Dra-Que" games on a school day.  Wii Fit is showing no signs of slowing down during the hot summer months here in Japan and looks to be challenging Wii Sports for the biggest selling Wii game, not bad considering it costs almost twice as much.  Mario Kart Wii is also proving to have tremendous legs, already passing one and a half million sales.  The sequel to Band Bros. is selling strongly at No.7, a game not seen outside of these shores. Perhaps this will convince Nintendo of America to finally release it outside of Japan?  Bringing up the rear is the latest installment of the Stafi series, another title never released in the West, as well as the ever-present Monster Hunter Portable, of which sales seem to be slowing down after many weeks in the charts.    

 
1. DS – Dragon Quest V – 644,000 / New Entry
 
2. PSP – Gundam Battle Universe – 138,000 / New Entry
 
3. PS2 – Persona 4 – 41,000 / 233,000
 
4. PS3 – Tears to Tiara: Kakan no Daichi – 34,000 / New Entry
 
5. Wii – Wii Fit – 27,000 / 2,380,000
 
6. Wii – Mario Kart Wii – 24,000 / 1,584,000
 
7. DS – Grand Ensemble! Band Brothers DX – 21,000 / 212,000
 
8. DS – Derby Stallion DS - 6,000 / 223,000
 
9. PSP – Monster Hunter Portable 2 G – 16,000 / 2,293,000
 
10. DS – The Legend of Stafi : Pirate Gang Confrontation!– 16,000 / 44,000
 

   

Portables again seem to be the most popular hardware choice in Japan this week with the PSP leading the pack by almost 20,000 units.  If you compare total hardware units from Nintendo's two systems to Sony's three systems, there is only a 500-unit difference in favour of Nintendo. Some may call that a neck and neck race.   Who will come out on top during the summer vacation period of August? Only time will tell.    

 
1. PSP – 74,024
 
2. DS – 54,531
 
3. Wii – 40,803
 
4. PS3 – 11,253
 
5. PS2 – 9,535
 
6. 360 – 4,208
 

[Enner]

There's an official law that prohibits them from selling an installment from the franchise on school days? Jeez, it must get really bad at the shopping lines.

Hmm, Gundam Battle Universe, ought to check that out to see what it's about. Oh hey a PS3 game. Tears to Tiara... heh, it has visual novel-esque CGs.

Hmm, I wonder if any Stafi games will get localized. I'm curious as to how they are.

[Nick DiMola]

Hmm, I wonder if any Stafi games will get localized. I'm curious as to how they are.

They are really good. I have Stafi 2 and 4 and I loved them both. It is really a shame they haven't brought them to America because they are kind of like Kirby and they have a cutesy character that would easily sell to children.

They are bringing Rhythm Heaven out here, which makes no sense at all to me because it guaranteed to be a more niche title (not that I'm complaining) yet they are leaving the Stafi series in Japan when it is more likely to succeed here.

[Ceric]

Hello NWR,

I'm thinking about reviving Salesbot.  Where I normal get the Media Create Numbers is prone to change and I was wondering if Media Create offered an English top 50 somewhere that wouldn't need translation...

[vudu]

The latest remake of the Dragon Quest series to hit the Nintendo DS went straight to the top spot this week, hardly surprising in a country which has a law against releasing "Dra-Que" games on a school day.

It's amazing how an urban legend can endure for so many years.