It somewhat flew under our radar due to its previous release in Western territories, but Mario Party: Island Tour arrived in Japan only last week — proof that it's not always North America and PAL regions kept waiting. With that release the 3DS enjoyed an increase in sales, while the Wii U has crept closer to five figures.
To start with the software top 20 (via Media Create), Mario's latest party has managed to get started in quite a few Japanese households, amassing 132,668 sales. In a break from convention, however, many of the ever-present 3DS titles — including other new releases — have been pushed out of the top 10 by a mix of J-Stars Victory VS iterations, as well as two entries apiece for fellow Sony system newcomers Samurai Warriors 4 and Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes. The top 20 is below — physical retail sales only — with lifetime sales in parenthesis.
1. [3DS] Mario Party: Island Tour – 132,668 (New)
2. [PS3] Samurai Warriors 4 – 120,452 (New)
3. [PS3] Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes – 119,615 (New)
4. [PS3] J-Stars Victory VS – 118,240 (New)
5. [PSV] J-Stars Victory VS – 97,821 (New)
6. [PS4] Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes – 91,903 (New)
7. [PS3] Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2014 – 63,898 (New)
8. [3DS] Yokai Watch – 44,659 (614,379)
9. [PSV] Samurai Warriors 4 – 39,597 (New)
10. [PS3] Dark Souls II – 37,285 (292,482)
11. [3DS] Game Center CX: 3-Choume no Arino – 33,618 (New)
12. [PSV] Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2014 – 30,261 (New)
13. [PSP] Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2014 – 27,823 (New)
14. [PSV] Hyperdimension Neptunia Re;Birth 2: Sisters Generation – 26,845 (New)
15. [PSV] Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode 2 Deluxe Package – 16,152 (New)
16. [3DS] Hero Bank – 15,060 (New)
17. [3DS] Kirby Triple Deluxe – 14,060 (515,895)
18. [3DS] Kaseki Horider: Mugen Gear – 13,512 (107,413)
19. [3DS] Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca’s Wonderful Mysterious Keys – 13,283 (750,876)
20. [3DS] Harvest Moon: Tsunagaru Shin Tenchi – 10,293 (186,473)
The hardware results for the week remain intriguing as, no doubt helped by those fresh releases in the software top ten, the Vita and PS4 remain on top, though the latter didn't enjoy a substantial bump through Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes — that's despite still being relatively fresh on the market. Both 3DS models also increased — combining the two still places the portable on top — with Mario Party's number one arrival assisting, while the Wii U enjoyed an increase to return closer to the modest 10,000 unit mark; results are below with last week's sales in parenthesis.
PlayStation Vita – 35,374 (28,270)
PlayStation 4 – 30,201 (29,677)
3DS LL – 28,291 (23,372)
PlayStation 3 – 15,455 (14,128)
3DS – 11,985 (10,772)
Wii U – 9,982 (7,654)
PSP – 3,563 (3,461)
PlayStation Vita TV – 1,754 (1,447)
Xbox 360 – 288 (278)
Nintendo will no doubt be pleased to see Mario Party fight off a number of competitors in the software chart, actually assisted by its exclusivity as opposed to sales being split between formats. The hardware trends remain as per last week, though we can at least point to a near-25% increase for Wii U.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 48
The Vita will end up outselling the Wii U once the generation is over, you hear it here first
@ferthepoet And your point? Handhelds always outsell home consoles in Japan.
Good for Vita, 3DS, and PS4. And good for MP: island Tour.
I would have gotten it if it had online multiplayer.
A week or two ago I asked if there were any new Wii U games coming out in Japan over the next few months that might prop up sales. This list reminds me that there probably aren't as there are at least 10 games on this Top 20 list that I have never even heard of and have no idea what genre some of them even are, yet not a singe game is on Wii U. I know most of them are 3DS (no 2DS in Japan) so that is good news for Nintendo, but there are also games for PS3, PS4, Vita and even PSP, I just don't see how that can be spun as not bad news for Wii U in Japan, even w/ the 25% increase in hardware sales.
Pretty weird that the Wii U got such a big bump last week (25%) w/o any games and this new bundle only goes on sale today. I thought that might have accounted for the sales increase, so maybe next week there'll be that bump to 5 figures. Unless the street date got pushed up?
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2014/02/nintendo_releasing_a_wii_sports_club_wii_u_hardware_bundle_in_japan
I hope to s hardware sales rise significantly with MK8
Nintendo is Dooooooooooing fine
@ferthepoet
Many people said that before your post
@TruenoGT conception 2
Try the demo its up
Okay I know im in the wrong camp but bear with me and it'll make sense: Im actually really pleased the ps vita is doing well. Its an awesome machine with amazing and STILL massively untapped potential. The vitas only problem is that the software for it is either watered down ports or retro experiences weve played and payed time and again for. Sound familiar? Exactly like the wiiu is. If the vita starts selling more,maybe some great exclusives will arrive,thus creating more sales and then MAYBE nintendo will take note and make some great exclusives for the wiiu
Yay for 200,000+ Metal Gear sales.
Vita gives hope to Wii U. Tons of consoles have turned around poor starts, but if something is still struggling after two years, that's usually the end of it, but Vita sales are way up compared to the last two years. Just a shame it's only in Japan and the market is too small to really matter much.
Mmmmm Samurai Warriors 4, cant wait for this to hit UK.
I'm suprised hero bank didnt do better but i guess releasing the same weekend as a Metal gear, mario and Warriors wasn't a good idea.
@Peach64 Not to mention that this still isn't good enough for it to compete against the 3DS cause whether people like it or not, the 3DS is dominating the handheld market.
Funny how Vita is on top of the PS4 despite it's not doing so well overseas. Yay for Mario Party: Island Tour and the rise in Wii U sales.
Did the PSN Japan version of Ground Zeroes also have the reduced price vs. physical that we enjoyed here in the west? If so then I bet this was a great week for Konami and everyone at Kojima Pro.
To think, that little game on an obscure PC platform has grown into what Metal Gear has become. Proud to say I've been playing it in some fashion since I was 7 years old. Saddened to say Nintendo has missed out on almost all of it.
@Artwark The handheld market is only 2 consoles and their variations and predecessors. Even the home console market is 4 consoles with a 5th on the way.
We have such small outlets for our hobby and yet people are always hating on the few brave companies trying to support it (not aimed at you btw). We should be supporting all home/handheld consoles and companies, I like having a choice of platforms and companies. I dread a world where there is a single home console or handheld with no competitors. This is coming from mainly a pc gamer with several consoles.
Question to those who have it - ignoring the ruined board mode, is the game still worth it at least for the mini games? Because even if the board aspect sucks as of late, (which it has done since 8) I can always at least get a kick out of the game's mini games. (except maybe 8) So are the mini games at least as good as 9's?
Why they do not count the 3DS and the 3DS LL as one?.
WiiU sales up without any new game releases is a positive sign me thinks. Mario Kart is going to be huge. And please release the first Bayonetta already! It could help the software "drought". But the eshop is shaping up well.
@Andy92 Probably because they are quite distinct SKUs.
The Wii U is just gonna keep plodding along slowly and eventually it will be a viable platform without the need to predict it's inevitable doom every week.
Nintendo had a tough road to travel with their latest home console, and between a botched release schedule it's first year, a gaming media hellbent on seeing their Nintendoom prophecy fulfilled, and a stable of timid western third party developers with no illusions of brand loyalty...we find out it was the games that would save it all along.
I think DK:TF was pretty telling. Here was a game that didn't generate a lot of buzz and even angered some in the gaming media who expected a new Metroid from Retro studios at E3 2013. It proved that like SM3DW...a quality game will move systems...and the more quality games you have the more systems will move.
Nintendo is doing better since their low point around this time last year, and they still have a long way to go in fixing their home console situation, but I think we might be able to move away from the immediate crisis mode for a little while...besides, the Nintendo haters and games media need some time to rest up and come up with new talking points.
@TruenoGT
Indeed, we have Professor Layton Vs Phoenix Wright! Although If your American you don't get that this week : /
In reality 3ds outsold vita and ps4
@ferthepoet we shall see, The vita will only surpass the wii u if there is not an increase in sales when games like mk8, smash and new zelda come out.
And the 3DS is still on top. Hooray! Oh, and good job Vita! Good sales there too! And the Wii U picked up some, that's good.
Almost 120,000 people bought Ground Zeroes? That's insane, I can't believe people are buying it at the price it's set.
@MuchoMochi
Actually more, those are the numbers of the PS3 version. The PS4 version is in 6th place.
@Action51 Not sure where you get that things were worse this time last year. Wii U sold 11,398 units in the same week last year. By this stage last year it had sold 204,000 units, while this year it's only 150,000. Things are quite a bit worse!
damn never knew mario party will sell this good, this news amazed.
@sinalefa totally forgot to add those. Either way I think those people are freakin' crazy.
@Emblem Yeah I agree. But I don't think Sony is Supporting the Vita in any way. Look at Vita's marketing, its just as worse as Wii U's.
@thesilverbrick Not always only fairly recently. PS2 did really well in Japan.
Nice to see the Vita doing so well.
Good steady number for the Wii U.
Underwhelming PS4 as expected.
Vita doing pretty well.
3DS still number one.
@TruenoGT For North America, we have Conception II and Disney Magical World in April. Mario Golf and Kirby come on May 2nd. Smash Bros, Sonic Boom, and Persona Q are coming in Fall. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate comes in Spring 2015. No NA release date for Professor Layton vs Phoenix Wright yet. Beyond that its a clean slate for retail games.
Looks like we will be due for 3DS retail game news during E3 or sometime this Summer, contrary to popular belief that the 3DS gets too much news.
There also appears to be a 3+ month drought for retail games on the 3DS in North America after Kirby and Mario Golf. It could end up being a 5 month drought on 3DS.
Good for Wii U, hope it maintains, but that's raising expectations. It is one weird sale increase.
@Peach64 wow...you literally went and researched sales numbers from last year to prove that the Wii U is still doomed?
I'm not gonna try and make an argument or pull out some talking point...why bother?
You honestly took all the wind out of my sails...not because of the actual data...but that you literally tossed out everything I wrote, and went right to the sales numbers...The numbers themselves aren't what depress me...but your response is extremely depressing. It makes me lose faith that there is hope for the future of gaming as a fun hobby.
I just hope this is the vocal minority on the internet...wow, that was a depressing response. How can we even discuss the quality of games when so many are more concerned with sales numbers and regional numbers and comparative market share data....
The I'm internet is way too black and white. HW and SW are either failing miserably or reigning supreme.
I wonder if MS ever bothers to release in Japan this generation
@Action51
To be fair, I don't think @Peach64 researched those numbers to prove the Wii-U was "doomed". He did it to prove you wrong, which he did handily.
"You honestly took all the wind out of my sails...not because of the actual data...but that you literally tossed out everything I wrote, and went right to the sales numbers..."
Umm...ya...why wouldn't he?? Everything else you wrote was based on your personal "feelings", with no demonstrable proof to support it. However, you left yourself open to a fact based reply when you lied about sales numbers to support your "feelings".
The comment section is for friendly discussion. It's not serious. There's no reason to get so emotional about things! Cheer up! Ya don't need to get depressed about Nintendo!
@JohnRedcorn being a person who is here for the purposes of creating negativity toward Nintendo, you obviously miss the point.
No my point was that the general feeling of doom is lifting...in the video game media and in the realm of public perception. If you read my original post, I never state that the sales numbers are better then at this exact week last year. It wasn't a yes or no situation...and it was mostly just my opinion based on perception and trends. It's the need to find any reason to predict doom and failure for Nintendo that depresses me...not the actual numbers.
Let me explain:
So...no...it's not about my "feelings". It's about how the Wii U is holding on and managing to sell modestly despite having so many things working against it.
You have to admit that people who wish for the failure of a company that brings joy and quality entertainment to others is VERY depressing.
@MuchoMochi
But it's a fun demo.
@Action51 I didn't have to research the numbers. Every week when these get revealed on gaf, it's in a nice table that displays this week's figures, last week's figures, last year's figure for the same week, the total for the year and the total for the same point in the previous year. Considering I see this every single week it's pretty obvious to me exactly how things are going compared to previous years without having to go hunting for figures.
I don't think the sales figures are the only thing that matters, but this is a chart thread so sales figures are pretty relevant. I understand some people don't care about sales figures, but I don't get why those people come in here and moan at those that want to discuss it.
People don't necessarily WANT Nintendo to fail, but their console is seeing unprecented low sales and people want to discuss why. A lot of people have convinced themselves Wii U might not he doing great, but that it's doing okay. It's not. These figures, the European figures and US figures are all terrible. Worse than anything in the last two generations, comparable with the Dreamcast.
@Action51
I just read the last part, but no one here wants Nintendo to do badly, I and many others want them to return to form and be the #1 company again. I don't think anyone posting critical comments about them hates or enjoys seeing them fail. It's the exact opposite.
If this was a forum to discuss your favorite sports team, and they were on a 15 game losing streak, many people who love the team would be posting critical things or questioning team decisions as well.
Same goes for Nintendo. When they do something a lot of fans don't like, many of them will speak out on it. When they do something great, it will be cheered.
@JohnRedcorn also, there are a lot of people that hope for failure.
" I don't think anyone posting critical comments about them hates or enjoys seeing them fail. It's the exact opposite."
I know this isn't your first day on the internet, or gaming websites
I guess my point is...I can find something positive, while others are dead set on always finding something negative. I'm pretty sure everyone who visits gaming websites is painfully aware of the Wii U's poor sales situation. We know...we hear the doom choir, and the haters, and the paid viral marketing posters constantly reminding us.
Do you most feel troubled by the idea that the releases of PS4 and XB1 weren't the final nail in the coffin and actually seem to have boosted sales across all platforms, or are you more upset that Nintendo's first party games do seem capable of keeping a modest stream of software and console sales based on their quality alone?
@Action51
"I guess my point is...I can find something positive"
Blissful ignorance of reality doesn't help anything.
"Do you most feel troubled by the idea that the releases of PS4 and XB1 weren't the final nail in the coffin and actually seem to have boosted sales across all platforms, or are you more upset that Nintendo's first party games do seem capable of keeping a modest stream of software and console sales based on their quality alone?"
I don't care about any of that and I want Nintendo to be the top dog and compete, but I'm not biased enough either to pretend that the PS4 and Xbox aren't doing remarkably well and that the Wii-U isn't in a post-Christmas funk.
@JohnRedcorn
For all your protests, you seem heavily invested in pushing negativity toward Nintendo...I'm pretty sure they know the Wii U isn't selling too well, so I doubt they'll be looking to you for insight. You can also take a deep breath, Nintendo has been made aware of the situation.
So we're doing the U MAD BRO thing now?
Well, carry on soldier!
edit: where did the .gif go? Awww....I love that one with the gorilla and the flying lawnmower! It's wacky.
@Action51
But you are mad though. I am obviously in your head, because you follow me everywhere on this site and accuse me of being a "paid viral poster", a "troll", etc. In fact, this whole dialogue started because I was having a back and forth debate with another member here and you decided to chime in because you can't get enough of me!
Most people on here like to have debates, you just like to name call and get whiny. It's sad.
Why don't you reply to @Peach64 's response to you instead?
Actually, what you do is ignore my points and make it about me.
I'm not accusing you of anything, just responding and stating my opinions. Not sure what you mean by "following'...unless you mean we're visiting the same threads and posting on them. You made the effort to "follow me" here and post in response to my reply to peach64...so not sure that attack works.
If it makes you feel better to believe I'm angry, go for it.
Anyway, have a wonderful weekend, cheers!
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