Big in Japan Mar. 30-Apr. 5: PS3 continues strong sales run
Sony's system again bests market-leading Wii, despite no new software titles for any system enticing Japanese gamers.
Earlier this week, Japanese media tracker and Famitsu publisher Enterbrain reported that, for the first time since the two consoles launched in late 2006, one-month sales for Sony's PlayStation 3 had trumped those for Nintendo's Wii. For the five-week period ended March 29, the PS3 sold 146,948 units, according to Enterbrain, compared to the Wii's 99,335 units. Heading into April, the wind appears to still be at Sony's back.
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For the week of March 30-April 5, Media Create reports that the PS3 sold 20,400 units in Japan, nearly 5,000 more than the Wii's 15,500 total. Both systems built on their lead over Microsoft's Xbox 360, which turned in 7,800 units for the week. Handhelds once again perched atop Media Create's monthly accounting, with the DSi and DS Lite combining to sell 62,400 units and the PSP logging sales of 48,100.
Software turned in a lackluster performance during the week, due to no new releases tempting Japanese gamers. Reprising its performance at the top of the charts, Namco Bandai's Kidou Senshi Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable for the PSP led software with 34,000 units. That figure just outpaced Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!!, which sold an additional 33,000 units on the DS. Also for Nintendo's portable, Konami's Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 debuted at number three with 27,000 units sold.
Titles for Sony's systems took the next four slots, with Monster Hunter Freedom Unite on the PSP selling 24,000 units, followed by Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2009 for the PlayStation 2 shifting 16,000 copies. Musou Orochi Z on the PS3 and Disgaea 2 for the PSP both sold 15,000 units during the week. Rounding out the week's chart, Super Robot Taisen K for the DS and Winning Post World both sold 13,000 units, while Wii Fit returned to the top 10, selling 12,000 copies.
Week of March 30-April 5, 2009
Software:
1) Kidou Senshi Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable (PSP) - 34,000
2) Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!! (DS) - 33,000
3) Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 (DS) - 27,000
4) Monster Hunter Freedom Unite (PSP) - 24,000
5) Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2009 (PS2) - 16,000
6) Musou Orochi Z (PS3) - 15,000
7) Disgaea 2 (PSP) - 15,000
8) Super Robot Taisen K (DS) - 13,000
9) Winning Post World (PS3) - 13,000
10) Wii Fit (Wii) - 12,000
Hardware:
DSi - 53,700
PSP - 48,100
PS3 - 20,400
Wii - 15,500
DS Lite - 8,700
Xbox 360 - 7,800
PS2 - 5,400
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