Beaten by a game with "8" in the title, how puzzling

It's Media Create Japanese chart time again, and some things remain ever-present: Animal Crossing: New Leaf is still hanging around near the top, 3DS is still the best selling platform (only just, for once) and Wii U is still awaiting games before it can enjoy a sales bump. That said, this week's results do have a couple of interesting points.

For one, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies has made its debut, but has only managed to join the chart in second place, out-hustled by another popular franchise making yet another return on PS3; that number one spot may be a puzzle too far for the Professor in his last full adventure. Lifetime sales for each title are in parenthesis.

1. [PS3] Dynasty Warriors 8 – 203,224 (New)
2. [3DS] Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies – 130,686 (New)
3. [PSV] Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus – 94,324 (New)
4. [3DS] Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission – 88,386 (New)
5. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf – 73,615 (2,739,654)
6. [PS3] Macross 30: Ginga o Tsunagu Utagoe – 63,089 (New)
7. [PSV] Phantasy Star Online 2 – 61,227 (New)
8. [PS3] Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – 60,394 (369,075)
9. [PSP] Shining Ark – 54,837 (New)
10. [3DS] Dragon Quest VII: Warriors of Eden – 46,878 (1,135,220)
11. [3DS] Touch Detective: Nameko Big Breeding – 28,367 (New)
12. [PSP] D.C. III Plus – 12,444 (New)
13. [3DS] New Super Mario Bros. 2 – 10,208 (1,942,364)
14. [3DS] Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Best Price!) – 9,177 (244,642)
15. [Wii] Taiko Drum Master Wii Super Wonderful Edition – 7,737 (413,787)
16. [PSV] Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational – 7,616 (184,192)
17. [3DS] Taiko Drum Master: Chibi Dragon and the Mysterious Orb – 5,983 (435,146)
18. [3DS] Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic – 5,815 (35,217)
19. [3DS] Mario Kart 7 – 5,307 (1,988,455)
20. [3DS] Fantasy Life – 5,236 (241,576)

The hardware chart has been shaken up a little this week, as this is the first set of results since Sony applied a price cut to the PS Vita handheld in its homeland. The chart shows Vita's sales boost taking it top, but that's due to the standard and XL 3DS models being counted separately — for a positive Nintendo spin, it's still holding off the Vita (when units are combined) despite the fresh price reduction of its rival. Wii U had a modest increase, but its sales are likely to remain static until games such as Dragon Quest X and Game & Wario land in the region in the coming weeks. Last week's sales are in parenthesis.

1. PlayStation Vita – 62,543 (11,456)
2. 3DS LL – 50,265 (49,317)
3. 3DS – 27,174 (25,412)
4. PlayStation 3 – 25,725 (18,529)
5. PSP – 11,171 (8,981)
6. Wii U – 10,021 (9,633)
7. Wii – 1,383 (1,317)
8. Xbox 360 – 486 (473)

So, a few shifts and signs of reinvigorated competition for Nintendo in Japan this week. Surprisingly, Sony has so far said that the Vita price-cut isn't planned for the West; Nintendo may be pleased that, regardless, 3DS sales are still particularly healthy and consistent in the Land of the Rising Sun.

[source gematsu.com]