Japan Charts: Dragon Quest still on top as PSP launch titles disappoint
The launch of the PlayStation Portable has had a surprisingly minor impact on the Japanese software charts, with only two PSP titles in the top ten as the small hardware shipment negatively impacted sales of games for the system.
The launch of the PlayStation Portable has had a surprisingly minor impact on the Japanese software charts, with only two PSP titles in the top ten as the small hardware shipment negatively impacted sales of games for the system.
The best-selling PSP title in launch week was Sony's own Hot Shots Golf Portable (Everybody's Golf Portable), which ranked at number four in the chart, while Namco's Ridge Racers came in at number six.
Sales of the two PSP titles trailed behind Square Enix' monster RPG franchise Dragon Quest VIII, which held on to the top spot for a third week (not a bad run considering that it has seen off challenges from not one but two major hardware launches) as well as several new PS2 and GBA titles.
Daito Giken's Official Pachinko Slot Simulator Yoshimune (PS2) came in at number two this week, followed by Bandai's latest Gundam title - Mobile Suit Gundam: Gundam Vs. Z Gundam (also PS2) at number three.
In at number five, nestled between the two PSP releases, was Capcom's Mega Man Battle Network 4: Team of Blues, the latest GBA title in the resurgent Rockman / Megaman franchise.
Two Nintendo DS titles continued to hold their own in the chart in the second week at retail for the console, with Wario Ware: Touched! at number seven, and Super Mario 64 DS at number eight.
The other title of interest in the chart is EA's FIFA Total Football 2, which came in at number nine on the PS2; Japan is one market where Konami's soccer games are far better received than EA's, although it still remains a significant achievement for any western-developed game to chart at all in the Far East.
In hardware terms, the Nintendo DS actually outsold the PlayStation Portable in the latter's launch week - the DS had over 37 per cent market share, compared to 30 per cent for the PSP, which represents about 160,000 units sold of the PSP, and almost 200,000 of the DS.
Those figures don't show the whole picture - Media Create, which compiles the charts, estimates that actually closer to 200,000 units of the PSP have been sold if reservations are counted along with completed sell-through.
The PlayStation 2 managed over 18 per cent market share despite the stiff competition from its handheld rivals, while the Game Boy Advance had just over nine per cent of the market and the GameCube had just shy of five per cent.