Hell Hath Frozen Over:: XBOX 360 Springs It's Way To Third Place In Japan

Media Create's numbers indicate that the 360 has pushed 25,334 units taking a third place spot just after the PSP and selling 10,000 more than the PS3 and Wii. I, honestly, never thought this would ever happen consdering the history of the 360. Obviously, Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope played a major factor in this recent turn of events. Any speculations as to whether or not it will continue?

I truly doubt it but it's nice to see a console that has had such a difficult time capturing a demographic finally having some success. Your thoughts?

• Nintendo DSi - 41,839
• PSP - 29,552
• Xbox 360 - 25,334
• Wii - 16,973
• PlayStation 3 - 16,149
• Nintendo DS Lite - 9,975
• PlayStation 2 - 5,029

System Wars is that way ---->xsubtownerx

System Wars is that way ---->xsubtownerx

Ok sir(s). Is the Wii finally slowing down in japan?xsubtownerx

360 was never popular in japan in the first placekemar7856

Thats because it lacks JRPGs and RPGs in general.

Quick. somebody assemble Sony Defense Force!!Nifty_Shark

EDIT: Moreoever, once Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 comes out I wouldn't be surprised to see a big leap in PS3 sales not unlike the one we are seeing here with the 360.

Here is the software to go with it.

01. [360] Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope (Square Enix) 162,000 / NEW
02. [NDS] Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (Nintendo) 62,000 / 255,000
03. [PSP] Idolmaster SP: Perfect Sun (Namco Bandai) 46,000 / NEW
04. [PSP] Idolmaster SP: Missing Moon (Namco Bandai) 39,000 / NEW
05. [PSP] Idolmaster SP: Wandering Star (Namco Bandai) 35,000 / NEW
06. [NDS] Shining Force Feather (SEGA) 30,000 / NEW
07. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP the Best) (Capcom) 18,000 / 435,000 *
08. [PS2] Sacred Blaze (Flight Plan) 17,000 / NEW
09. [PS3] Street Fighter IV (Capcom) 17,000 / 103,000
10. [PS3] Demon's Souls (SCE) 15,000 / 78,000

11. [PSP] Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (Konami)
12. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo)
13. [PS2] Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 (Konami)
14. [PSP] Tales of the World: Radiant Mythology 2 (Namco Bandai)
15. [PSP] Kidou Senshi Gundam: Giren no Yabou - Axis no Kyoui V (Namco Bandai)
16. [WII] Taiko no Tatsujin Wii (Namco Bandai)
17. [NDS] Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (Square Enix)
18. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo)
19. [360] DoDonPachi Daioujou Black Label Extra (Genterprise)
20. [PS2] Kidou Senshi Gundam: Giren no Yabou - Axis no Kyoui V (Namco Bandai)
21. [WII] Dead Rising: Chop Til You Drop (Capcom)
22. [NDS] Chou Gekijouban Keroro Gunsou: Gekishin Dragon Warriors de Arimasu! (Namco Bandai)
23. [WII] Wii Play: Mario Tennis (Nintendo)
24. [NDS] Wagamama Fashion: Girl's Mode (Nintendo)
25. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
26. [WII] Wii Play: Metroid Prime (Nintendo)
27. [NDS] Pokémon Platinum (Pokémon)
28. [PSP] Tenchu 4 PSP (From Software)
29. [NDS] Inazuma Eleven (Level 5)
30. [NDS] Penguin no Mondai: Saikyou Penguin Densetsu! (Konami)

I'm really glad to see Demon's Souls has managed to stay in the top ten for three weeks... and the SF4 numbers ain't bad either.

[QUOTE="xsubtownerx"]Ok sir(s). Is the Wii finally slowing down in japan?juradai

Hey, at least the PS3's doing much better than the Gamecube.

Sprinkles awesomeness to this thread rragnaar

Sweet! Thanks, Rrags! I am surprised Demon's Souls has been hanging in there as well. Is there still a lack of supply of that game? I know they only distributed a limited amount so seeing the positive response they are receiving from the game I would think they would have replenished their stock.

Hey, at least the PS3's doing much better than the Gamecube.

BladesOfAthena

[QUOTE="rragnaar"]Sprinkles awesomeness to the this thread juradai

Sweet! Thanks, Rrags! I am surprised Demon's Souls has been hanging in there as well. Is there still a lack of supply of that game? I know they only distributed a limited amount so seeing the positive response they are receiving from the game I would think they would have replenished their stock.

I aim to please.:P I don't know how supply is going in Japan, but I know that they only managed to ship about 55% of what they promised retailers for the Asian release, which is making life hard on importers. My copy shipped today, but a lot of people like Phantom_Leo weren't as lucky.

[QUOTE="BladesOfAthena"]

Hey, at least the PS3's doing much better than the Gamecube.

juradai

Yeah, PS3 sales have been surprisingly steady for a while now. It isn't selling like hotcakes, but it is doing decent. I hope Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 sells really well. I'm starting to give up hope that we will ever see it in the states though.

[QUOTE="juradai"][QUOTE="BladesOfAthena"]

Hey, at least the PS3's doing much better than the Gamecube.

rragnaar

Yeah, PS3 sales have been surprisingly steady for a while now. It isn't selling like hotcakes, but it is doing decent. I hope Ryu Ga Gotoku 3 sells really well. I'm starting to give up hope that we will ever see it in the states though.

I really really want that game to come over. Worst comes to worst, I will import it even if it doesn't have a lick of English. I will rely on my extensive experience with the previous game's installments to help me understand what is going on. Knowing my luck, I would be fortunate to make it past the "Start" screen.juradai

You are a brave dude. I studied Japanese for a year and a half, but I can't bring myself to import stuff with no English. I wish SEGA would just translate the menus and throw in some subtitles. It worked for Yakuza 2.

[QUOTE="BladesOfAthena"]

Hey, at least the PS3's doing much better than the Gamecube.

juradai

At the rate its going though, I think it should be able to surpass the Gamecube's LTD in 5 years or perhaps even less, give or take. Right now its around almost 3 mil, and the GC's lifetime sales was about 4 mil, so its definitely getting there.

[QUOTE="juradai"]I really really want that game to come over. Worst comes to worst, I will import it even if it doesn't have a lick of English. I will rely on my extensive experience with the previous game's installments to help me understand what is going on. Knowing my luck, I would be fortunate to make it past the "Start" screen.rragnaar

You are a brave dude. I studied Japanese for a year and a half, but I can't bring myself to import stuff with no English. I wish SEGA would just translate the menus and throw in some subtitles. It worked for Yakuza 2.

[QUOTE="kemar7856"]360 was never popular in japan in the first placenVidiaGaMer

Thats because it lacks JRPGs and RPGs in general.

Actually it has the most of any console, though the PS3 might arguably have the very best, I'm not sure a WWII based srpg is very popular in Japan.

[QUOTE="kemar7856"]360 was never popular in japan in the first placenVidiaGaMer

Thats because it lacks JRPGs and RPGs in general.

[QUOTE="nVidiaGaMer"]

[QUOTE="kemar7856"]360 was never popular in japan in the first placeASK_Story

Thats because it lacks JRPGs and RPGs in general.

Yuppers... it is pretty much the only console other than the PS2 that is getting regular JRPG releases.

[QUOTE="ASK_Story"][QUOTE="nVidiaGaMer"]

Thats because it lacks JRPGs and RPGs in general.

rragnaar

Yuppers... it is pretty much the only console other than the PS2 that is getting regular JRPG releases.

Which is all the more strange the 360 doesn't sell at all in Japan. Even SFIV didn't sell on the 360 over there! :?

I think Japan has a obsession with anything Square-Enix. Looks like they're the only developer finding success, which is also strange that Square-Enix isn't releasing FFXIII on the 360 there.

I always say this but I'll say it again...sometimes, I just don't understand the Japanese game market.

[QUOTE="kemar7856"]360 was never popular in japan in the first placenVidiaGaMer

Thats because it lacks JRPGs and RPGs in general.

[QUOTE="rragnaar"][QUOTE="ASK_Story"] Um...actually the 360 has MORE JRPGs on the console than the PS3. ASK_Story

Yuppers... it is pretty much the only console other than the PS2 that is getting regular JRPG releases.

Which is all the more strange the 360 doesn't sell at all in Japan. Even SFIV didn't sell on the 360 over there! :?

I think Japan has a obsession with anything Square-Enix. Looks like they're the only developer finding success, which is also strange that Square-Enix isn't releasing FFXIII on the 360 there.

I always say this but I'll say it again...sometimes, I just don't understand the Japanese game market.

It is a total mystery to me too. Logic would dictate that the Wii would be the JRPG system this gen considering the install base in Japan.

Hey, at least the PS3's doing much better than the Gamecube.BladesOfAthena

It's funny you mention this, seeing as the Gamecube's first couple of years (holiday 2001 to holiday 2003) had a better library of games than the PS3 has had so far. And not just multiplatform games neither, the Gamecube was host to a larger number of exclusives when compared to the PS3.

Besides, I'm pretty sure the Gamecube sold better in Japan than in America... probably better than the PS3 too.

[QUOTE="ASK_Story"][QUOTE="rragnaar"]

Yuppers... it is pretty much the only console other than the PS2 that is getting regular JRPG releases.

rragnaar

Which is all the more strange the 360 doesn't sell at all in Japan. Even SFIV didn't sell on the 360 over there! :?

I think Japan has a obsession with anything Square-Enix. Looks like they're the only developer finding success, which is also strange that Square-Enix isn't releasing FFXIII on the 360 there.

I always say this but I'll say it again...sometimes, I just don't understand the Japanese game market.

It is a total mystery to me too. Logic would dictate that the Wii would be the JRPG system this gen considering the install base in Japan.

[QUOTE="BladesOfAthena"]Hey, at least the PS3's doing much better than the Gamecube.Insurrection4

It's funny you mention this, seeing as the Gamecube's first couple of years (holiday 2001 to holiday 2003) had a better library of games than the PS3 has had so far. And not just multiplatform games neither, the Gamecube was host to a larger number of exclusives when compared to the PS3.

Besides, I'm pretty sure the Gamecube sold better in Japan than in America... probably better than the PS3 too.

[QUOTE="xsubtownerx"]Ok sir(s). Is the Wii finally slowing down in japan?juradai

Meh, I'd say that with games like MGS4, LBP, Valkyria Chronicles, Uncharted, Resistance 1 and 2, and many others, the PS3 has the GC pretty much beat in that area.

Ratchet and Clank...

You mention the PS3 games but you failed to mention the Gamecube games:

Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, F-Zero GX, Mario Kart Double Dash, Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil, Resident Evil Zero, Viewtiful Joe, Metriod Prime, Legend of Zelda Windwaker, Pikmin, Animal Crossing, Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2, Star Fox Adventures, the 2 Super Monkey Ball games, PSO, Ikaruga. And those are just the exclusives...

[quote="BladesOfAthena"]And actually the PS3 is right on track to beat the GC probably by the end of this year, seeing how its at 20+ million WW right now, which is pretty damn amazing considering its price. BladesOfAthena

I have no doubt that the PS3 will improve in sales as the system gets older and will beat the Gamecube in total sales (both Domestic and Worldwide). And unlike the Gamecube, which started to crap out in terms of games after Resident Evil 4 was released, the PS3 will get better and better. Just as of right now, the Gamecube had the better start.

The 360 gets a boost in Japan whenever a JRPG comes out on it, happened with Blue Dragon, LO and TOV. It will settle back down to normal again just like every othertime. Even the PS3 got a big boost with White Knight Chronicles....AzelKosMos

You mention the PS3 games but you failed to mention the Gamecube games:

Super Smash Bros. Melee, Super Mario Sunshine, F-Zero GX, Mario Kart Double Dash, Eternal Darkness, Resident Evil, Resident Evil Zero, Viewtiful Joe, Metriod Prime, Legend of Zelda Windwaker, Pikmin, Animal Crossing, Star Wars Rogue Squadron 2, Star Fox Adventures, the 2 Super Monkey Ball games, PSO, Ikaruga. And those are just the exclusives...Insurrection4

Alright so then it just comes down to a matter of personal preference. You just happen to prefer those titles over the PS3's, therefore you think they are better.

I'm not sure about the GC, but in the case with the PS3, it does boasts a few titles that have received numerous nominations and awards (LBP, MGS4, so that speaks a lot for itself.

I have no doubt that the PS3 will improve in sales as the system gets older and will beat the Gamecube in total sales (both Domestic and Worldwide). And unlike the Gamecube, which started to crap out in terms of games after Resident Evil 4 was released, the PS3 will get better and better. Just as of right now, the Gamecube had the better start.

It makes no difference who had the better start when all it comes down to is the end result.

That's pretty great. I wonder if Star Ocean 4 will have the legs to keep the 360 out in front?