Tag: Japan - Page 50
News Yokai Watch 2 Sells a Whopping 1.3 Million Copies in Launch Week, Boosts 3DS Sales
Wii U sales drop again, but retains top home console spot
The latest Media Create chart results are in for Japan, and they bring an extraordinary début week for Yokai Watch 2, along with a boost in 3DS hardware sales and another dip in the equivalent Wii U figure. To begin with software, Level 5's Yokai Watch 2 — released as separate Ganso and...
News Golden Sun: The Lost Age Hitting Japanese Wii U Virtual Console Next Week
Western release should be on the cards
We've already seen the excellent Golden Sun on the Wii U Virtual Console, and next week Japanese players will be getting their hands on the equally brilliant sequel. Golden Sun: The Lost Age was originally released on the Game Boy Advance in Japan in 2002 (and a year later in North America and Europe) and...
News The NES Story Began On This Day 31 Years Ago
We are Family (Computer)
31 years ago today, Nintendo Co., Ltd. released the Famicom console in Japan, an event which would herald the beginning of the firm's wildly successful relationship with home video games. Hitting store shelves at 14,800 Yen (around $145 / £84 / 107 Euros), the system wasn't an instant hit with the Japanese public. Sales...
News Yo-Kai Watch 2 On Course For A Phenomenal Début Week of Sales in Japan
Set to be first million-seller in Japan this year
Earlier this week we brought you some comments from Level 5's head honcho, Akihiro Hino, outlining the formula for the success of Yo-Kai Watch on 3DS. The first title had a reasonable but modest start in Japan, before the accompanying anime series boosted its popularity and took it beyond one million...
News Final Fantasy Explorers Is Hitting Japan This Winter
Still no word on a western release, though
It has been confirmed in today's Japan-only Nintendo Direct that Square Enix's new 3DS RPG Final Fantasy Explorers will be hitting Japanese stores in the winter. The four player title is intended as a stepping-stone into the world of RPGs and will boast famous creatures from the history of the esteemed...
News Nintendo Direct Confirmed For Japan on 11th July
Focused on 3rd Party 3DS Games
Just days ago we outlined key areas and details that can still be revealed in upcoming Nintendo Direct broadcasts this year; there's plenty of ground that the big N can still cover post-E3. Of course, the Nintendo Direct fever is back up and running in Japan already — not only has there already been a Yokai Watch 2...
News 3DS On Top As Wii U Remains Highest Selling Home Console in Japan
Mario Kart 8 passes half a million physical retail sales
The latest Media Create chart results for Japan are in, and they continue the trends established over recent week in terms of hardware and software. There are certainly yet more positives for Nintendo, albeit against a backdrop of modest overall industry sales in the company's homeland. The...
News Japanese 3DS Owners Can Enter Sega's Fantasy Zone Again Next Week
Another Sega 3D Classic inbound
We may not have been blessed with 3D Fantasy Zone here in the west yet, but lucky Japanese players will be able to get their hands on the sequel when it launches on the 3DS eShop next week. 3D Fantasy Zone II will be released on July 16th for 762 yen, including tax. The package includes the arcade version, the Master...
News Stand-Alone Kirby Fighters And DeDeDe's Drum Dash Headed To The Japanese 3DS eShop
Both feature new content, both out this month
Those of you wise enough to have purchased the rather excellent Kirby: Triple Deluxe will be aware that the mini-games included with the title — Kirby Fighters and DeDeDe's Drum Dash — are jolly good fun, and stand-out releases in their own right. It would appear that Nintendo agrees, because the...
News EarthBound 20th Anniversary Figures Seeing Release in Japan
The third coolest set of figures you can buy
While the Famicom RPG Mother is celebrating its 25th anniversary (a fact Starmen.net is honoring throughout the month), its Super Famicom/SNES sibling Mother 2, known as EarthBound in the West, is turning the big 2-0 this year in Japan as well. To commemorate two decades of EarthBound, toy company Takara...
News Dragon Quest X Is Now Adventuring Onto 3DS
Still no word of an overseas release though
We've lamented before on Square Enix's baffling decision to keep Dragon Quest X a strictly Japan-only affair, and now it appears that fans outside Japan have another format to direct their frustrations at with the announcement that the game will hit Japanese 3DS' on the 4th of September this year. The...
News New Converse X Super Mario Bros. Shoes Are Stepping Into Japan
Yours for just over $200...
Gamers with a love for all things Nintendo often customise and create their own shoes and clothing to show off that dedication in public, but there are definitively fashionable and expensive options available. These Converse X Super Mario Bros. shoes are a prime example. These aren't the first special editions from...
Nintendo Direct Yokai Watch 2 Gets Its Own Broadcast in Japan
Play the 'figure out what's happening' game
Although it's said to be on the way to the West, we're yet to receive firm release details on Yokai Watch, the 3DS title from Level-5 that's enjoying continued success in Japan. That success has certainly been assisted by the accompanying anime series, with the brand as a whole capturing the imagination in...
Wearing shades indoors, naturally
Unless you're really keen on Japanese rock music, the name Gackt might not mean that much to you, but take it from us — he's a big name in his own country. Gackt — real name Kamui Gakuto — found fame as a member of the band Malice Mizer, and since going it alone has gained the male soloist record for most top...
News The Denpa Men Are Going Free-To-Play In Japan
A reaction to low sales in the west?
The next entry in the popular RPG series The Denpa Men will be a free-to-play title. Denpa Ningen no RPG Free! will launch in Japan on July 23rd, and will feature items which can only be obtained by spending real-world cash. Aside from the teaser trailer below and the rather spare website, we don't have any more...
Matters of Import Genso Suikoden Card Stories - Konami's Other Trading Card Game
Suikoden 2 on GBA? Sort of
Konami is certainly comfortable with the popular and profitable Trading Card Game genre, their Yu-Gi-Oh series reportedly selling in excess of twenty-two billion cards all over the world since it was first launched. The digital equivalents have always been warmly welcomed on Nintendo hardware too, stretching all the way...
First Impressions The Thieves And The 1000 Pokémon Steals Its Way Onto 3DS In Japan
But is it Robin Hood or Dick Turpin?
We've taken a look at The Thieves and the 1000 Pokémon before, but now the free eShop title has been released in Japan we can share some more info and screenshots of this delightfully bonkers little game. You start out by picking one of the three initial Pokémon from Pokémon X and Y, and then you basically...
News Iwata's Approval Rating Rises While Miyamoto's Drops Slightly
Small shifts across the board
The results from Nintendo's AGM are in, and as we already know, Nintendo president Satoru Iwata isn't going anywhere — his approval rating has actually risen over the past year by 3 percent. Last year, his rating was 77.26 percent, but this year's figure is a slightly better 80.64 percent. However, this rise was...
News Miyamoto Thinks That Nintendo Are in a Genre of Their Own
“I really think there needs to be a Nintendo genre"
Legendary game designer Shigeru Miyamoto recently did an interview with the LA Times where he discussed Nintendo's focus on creating games which entertain, as opposed to simply trying to be "cool". He even went on to say that Nintendo should have a genre of their own. Nintendo isn’t one...
News Satoru Iwata Reigns Supreme in Annual Shareholders Meeting
Business as usual
Nintendo's 74th annual general meeting (AGM) for shareholders took place today in Japan and we can confirm that Satoru Iwata has retained his position as Nintendo's president. Iwata of course was not present at today's meeting due to his recovery from recent surgery. We are yet to learn what this year's investor approval rating...
News Pokémon Art Academy Sneaks Top Spot in Japanese Charts as Console Sales Dip
3DS still top, Wii U remains as number one console
It's time once again for the Media Create Japanese chart results, and this week tells a tale of modest sales across the board. Though the numbers are low Nintendo still has plenty to cheer. Pokémon Art Academy makes its début this week and sneaks into top spot, narrowly out-selling more...
News The Nintendo 64 is Now 18 Years Old in Japan
Finally old enough to run Conker's Bad Fur Day
Time flies when you're having fun, especially for those of us who grew up spending excessive amounts of time playing GoldenEye 007 and Mario Kart 64. That's because the Nintendo 64 was released a whopping 18 years ago today in its native territory of Japan. Released on 23 June 1996, the N64 served as a...
News Food-Focused RPG Adventure Bar Story Is Munching Its Way To The 3DS
Smartphone hit crosses over to Nintendo's handheld
Adventure Bar Story is one of the most unique smartphone RPGs we've seen in quite some time, and developer RideOn Games has confirmed that it is bringing the game to the 3DS — in Japan, at least. The game places you in the shoes of a tavern owner who is resisting a hostile takeover from a rival...
News Capcom and Treasure Team Up Again for Gaist Crusher Sequel
Don't hold your breath for a Western release
Back in January, we took a look at Capcom's Gaist Crusher. Developed by renowned Japanese game studio Treasure, the title — perhaps most accurately described as Diet Monster Hunter — is part of a multimedia franchise spanning manga, anime, and a line of collectible toys. Gaist Crusher met with a...
Fines and prison terms introduced for the former
One challenging reality that faces gamers, and the press, is the sexualised portrayal of children in some games and anime from Japan. Though some examples can occasionally be seen in Western products, it's an issue prevalent in Japan due to different laws and attitudes in the country. Recent examples...
News Mario Kart 8 Claims Top Spot in Japanese Charts, Wii U Remains as Number One Home Console
3DS top overall, Yo-kai Watch keeps on going
Nintendo's enjoying a run of pleasing sales-related headlines right now, with the recent NPD results for May showing strong performance for Mario Kart 8 and a related bump in Wii U sales, in particular. The latest weekly Media Create charts for Japan are out, and they continue the positive trend, albeit...
News The New Taiko Drum Master RPG Has Some Interesting Crossovers
Monster Hunter, Yo-kai Watch, The Idolmaster, and a peary strange mascot
Banking on the huge popularity of crossovers in Japan, Bandai Namco's Taiko Drum Master: Don and Katsu's Great Space-Time Adventure features a number of interesting tie-ins. The gameplay itself features a crossover as well, blending the tried and true rhythm genre with classic...
Video Robot Battle Action Is On The Cards In This Gundam Try Age SP Trailer
Almost five minutes of footage for this forthcoming 3DS title
We reported a while back on the 3DS port of Gundam Try Age, an arcade title which mixes massive robots with strategic card battling. An impressively-proportioned trailer has now been issued for the game which not only includes a rather overenthusiastic voice-over, but also details the...
News Final Fantasy Explorers Official Website Opens
Another beautiful 3DS RPG to preorder
It may be plastered with "coming soon" placeholder boxes and "to be confirmed" text where we were hoping for release dates, but what little there is on the freshly-opened Final Fantasy Explorers Japanese website offers a tantalising glimpse into what could be another great 3DS RPG, and hopefully a fun...
News Persona Q Gives 3DS a Boost in Japan, Wii U Takes Second Spot
Mario Kart 8 approaches 400,000 physical retail sales
After a chart topping performance from Mario Kart 8 and Wii U in Japan last week, the latest Media Create results bring the 3DS back to the fore with a major new release. Kicking off with software, Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth has arrived at number one in Nintendo's homeland, which...
News Japanese Airline Offering Limited Time Pokémon-Themed Travel Deals
Fly with Pikachu and friends this summer!
All Nippon Airway’s 2014 summer travel campaign is currently inviting Pokémon fanatics and their families to join Pikachu and company on a “one-of-a-kind” journey. Trainers who fly from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport between July 17th and August 3rd — or Okinawa’s...
News Mario Kart 8 and the Wii U Take Top Spots in Japanese Charts
Yo-kai Watch passes one million retail sales
As was the case in Western markets, Mario Kart 8 has arrived in Japan to give the Wii U a lift in performance — it's had a notable impact in the software and hardware Media Create charts. Elsewhere popular Level-5 title Yo-kai Watch has finally gone past one million physical retail sales in these...
News Brain Training / Brain Age Makes DS Début on Wii U Virtual Console in Japan
Suddenly released for free
Nintendo caused a minor stir earlier this year when it announced DS titles for the Wii U Virtual Console, with the accompanying concept image showing both screens side-by-side on the GamePad; it's an idea that may not suit all games released on the portable, at least not without some alternative formatting. In any case it...
News Treasure Your 3DS Game Saves Forever With This Handy Accessory
Elves not included
Save data doesn't last forever — for example, every time you write to a 3DS cart, you're shortening the lifespan of the cart's save memory. Of course, it's possible to write to a 3DS cart thousands of times over, but for some, the worrying prospect of losing months of progress in Pokémon X & Y is the kind of thing that will...
News Older Wii U Bundles, Including All Black Systems, Discontinued in Japan
White models, 8GB and 32GB, now the main draw
While Nintendo sets off a major Wii U push with the arrival of Mario Kart 8 and with the system likely to enjoy a prominent role at E3 2014, it seems the company is nevertheless making logistical cost-saving decisions to ensure that the systems it does sell are produced as cheaply as possible. Part of...
News 3DS Tops Japanese Hardware Chart as Wii U Secures Home Console Crown
Put away the champagne, the numbers are still low
It's time for the weekly Japanese Media Create results, and they bring a couple of notable headlines this week. We see a boost for Wii U ahead of the 29th May launch — it's a day earlier in Japan — of Mario Kart 8, while Level-5's latest success story keeps on going. The software charts see...
News Japanese Retail Sales Struggle as Just 76 Units Separate PS4 and Wii U
Yo-kai Watch approaches one million retail sales
The Japanese chart results are in from Media Create, and unfortunately they continue the recent trends of poor sales across software and hardware. There are some bright-spots from a Nintendo perspective, though not necessarily radiant enough to lighten up the overall picture. To start with software,...
News Gargoyle's Quest II Swoops Onto the Wii U Virtual Console in Japan
3DS or Wii U is fine in the West, really...
So, Gargoyle's Quest II may be on its way to the Virtual Console in the West, perhaps. Up to now we've seen the NES version arrive on the 3DS Virtual Console in Japan, while it's been rated by the Australian Classification Board — it's on the cards, then. This sequel — a prequel in terms of the plot...
Matters of Import Tomodachi Collection
The best of friends?
Tomodachi Collection is more a toy than a game in that very special Nintendo way: your own mad little island full of Miis that you never knew you wanted but you suddenly find yourself unable to live without, and while it may be the five-year-old prequel to the upcoming English language Tomodachi Life, that doesn't mean the...
News Yo-kai Watch and 3DS Continue to Lead the Way in Japan
Sales remain low overall, however
While Nintendo can take heart from its continued lead in the Japanese charts, overall trends in the market remain a concern. The latest Media Create figures are in, and continue recent form of low sales in software and flat levels in hardware. To begin with software, Level-5's Yo-kai Watch continues to impress,...
News Nintendo Confirms Five New Titles for 3DS LL "Recommended Software" Promotion in June
Three Pokémon games, New Leaf again and puzzling dragons...
Not so long ago we told you about the rather neat 3DS LL (XL) "Recommended Software" promotion in Japan, which rewards those that pick up the model with a voucher for a free retail game. This runs until 30th September, but the twist is that the available free games will change every month...
News Square Enix Considering "Overseas" Release of Dragon Quest X
But over which seas?
Locked in Japan since its release in 2012, Square Enix revealed its massively multi-player online RPG Dragon Quest X is under consideration for hitting new shores. A slide from the company's most recent financial report states that "expansion to overseas market is under consideration" for the successful title. It should be...
News The 2014 My Famicase Exhibition Is Packed With Fascinating Flights Of Fictional Famicom Fancy
Too bad none of them are real games
Japanese game store Meteor has been running its "My Famicase" art exhibition for the past few years, and each year the entries go above and beyond our expectations. The idea is that artists create "fake" Famicom cartridge labels which are in keeping with the designs of the '80s and ''90s, but have a modern vibe as...
Weirdness Monster Hunter 10th Anniversary Merchandise Includes Electric Guitars and Golf Gear
Turn the nerdy up to 11
The Monster Hunter franchise turns ten this year, and to celebrate Capcom has licensed all sorts of fun (and expensive) MH-themed merchandise in Japan; everything from jewellery to golfing goods to electric guitars. A few highlights: Japanese heavy metal guitar manufacturer ESP has created this gorgeous monster-hunting...
Square Enix's new game shifts 80,523 copies, with 27,914 3DS XL units sold
The Japanese launch of Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call allowed the Nintendo 3DS XL to double its weekly sales total, but on the whole the Japanese games market remains stuck in something of a rut, with hardware sales at a five year low in the period between April 14th...
News Get Artistic With Pikachu In 3DS Title Pokémon Art Academy
Brushes at the ready for a June release in Japan
Nintendo has confirmed that Pokémon Art Academy will be hitting Japan on June 19th. 40 lessons will be included, all of which will focus around a famous Pokémon. It will be released as both a retail and digital product and will retail for 3,619 Yen. The 3DS console's 3D screen will not be supported...
News Satoru Iwata Speaks Of The Need To "Redefine" Nintendo's Position In The Entertainment Industry
"Nintendo is a company that can do whatever they want"
Nintendo president Satoru Iwata may be under the cosh at the moment thanks to the growing discontent of the company's shareholders, but he has revealed to Japanese site Diamond Online that he feels he is carrying on the will of the late Hiroshi Yamauchi by ensuring that the firm is always...
Weirdness This Monster Hunter Fan Will Keep You Cool On Those Epic Quests
Something for true "fans" of the series
Monster Hunter is pretty big in Japan, in case you hadn't noticed. This is made abundantly clear by the sheer volume of merchandise that is available, and we think we may have found the "coolest" item yet. Ahem. The official Monster Hunter USB fan features a rather burly-looking knight carrying an impressive...
News Shu Takumi and Shintaro Kojima Shed Some Light On The Great Ace Attorney
Meiji-era setting helped developers focus on mystery
Earlier this week, Phoenix Wright fans got a sneak peek at the newest entry to the fan-favourite Ace Attorney franchise. In an interview with Famitsu, series creator Shu Takumi and producer Shintaro Kojima shed some light on the upcoming 3DS title The Great Ace Attorney, and why the development...
News Capcom Unsheathes An Announcement Trailer For The New Ace Attorney Title
A new dawn for the law has arrived
Earlier in the week Famitsu teased the latest instalment in the Ace Attorney series, and the return of creator Shu Takumi as Director. Now Capcom has stepped up with an official announcement trailer to give further testimony on the intriguing Meiji era setting. Confirming suspicions, Dai Gyakuten Saiban -...
