Mario Party Screen

It's time for the Media Create Japanese chart results once again, as we see how the retail sector has held up following a 3% increase in sales tax in the country, from 5% to 8%. That may sound trivial, but as has been proven in multiple marketplaces a small percentage change in sales tax can prompt consumers to rush ahead with pricier purchases — which can include gaming hardware — in order to enjoy a lower price before a universal leap.

Perhaps a combination of the tax increase and an absence of big hitting new releases are to blame for disappointing figures this week. To start with software, Nintendo will be pleased that Mario Party: Island Tour is on top, going past a quarter of a million physical retail sales in the process, while Level-5's Yo-kai Watch maintains its momentum. It was a quiet week, overall, however, with Just Dance Wii U making a modest début appearance.

1. [3DS] Mario Party: Island Tour – 47,106 (257,873)
2. [PS3] Samurai Warriors 4 – 25,572 (192,514)
3. [3DS] Yo-kai Watch – 23,663 (686,387)
4. [PS3] Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes – 20,799 (179,031)
5. [Wii U] Just Dance Wii U – 18,403 (New)
6. [PSV] Hatsune Miku Project Diva F 2nd – 16,111 (114,738)
7. [PS3] J-Stars Victory VS – 13,417 (114,738)
8. [PSV] J-Stars Victory VS – 11,876 (134,522)
9. [PS3] Hatsune Miku Project Diva F 2nd – 10,278 (70,243)
10. [PS3] Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2014 – 10,081 (90,876)
11. [PS3] Dark Souls II – 9,924 (320,177)
12. [3DS] Kirby: Triple Deluxe – 9,914 (540,373)
13. [3DS] Kaseki Horider: Mugen Gear – 9,704 (130,083)
14. [PSV] Samurai Warriors 4 – 9,603 (68,796)
15. [3DS] Pokemon X and Y – 8,328 (4,023,294)
16. [PS4] Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes – 7,859 (112,137)
17. [PSP] Pro Yakyuu Spirits 2014 – 7,576 (50,277)
18. [3DS] Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca’s Wonderful Mysterious Keys – 6,881 (768,483)
19. [3DS] Puzzle & Dragons Z – 6,787 (1,430,720)
20. [PSV] Natural Doctrine – 6,046 (New)

It's in the hardware results that the most significant decreases can be found. Every single system's sales dropped, with the 3DS LL (XL) enduring the sharpest fall after excellent results last week; Vita is on top, but still behind the 3DS when both models are combined. It's grim reading for home consoles, meanwhile, as Sony's still-young PS4 falls further and the Wii U drops back into four figures.

PlayStation Vita – 25,017 (39,752)
3DS LL – 22,947 (52,124)
PlayStation 4 – 13,401 (23,327)
PlayStation 3 – 10,871 (17,154)
3DS – 9,091 (12,508)
Wii U – 7,962 (13,026)
PSP – 2,892 (4,206)
PlayStation Vita TV – 1,371 (2,115)
Xbox 360 – 276 (304)

A tough week in the Japanese market, then, with very few winners aside from, perhaps, Mario's latest mini-game collection on 3DS.

[source gematsu.com]