MC 2009-05-18 and Famitsu 2009-05-11: Things of Note

Based on the latest Famitsu hardware numbers...
PSP comparisons: After 232 weeks, PSP is where PS2 was at 185.9 weeks (September 21, 2003), where DS was at 101.1 weeks (November 6, 2006), and where GBA was at 157.3 weeks (March 23, 2004).

X360 comparisons: After 180 weeks, X360 is where GCN was at 16.9 weeks (January 5, 2002), where PS3 was at 37.6 weeks (July 26, 2007), and where Wii was at 5.4 weeks (January 3, 2007).

PS3 comparisons: After 132 weeks, PS3 is where PS2 was at 44.8 weeks (January 5, 2001), where PSP was at 67.7 weeks (March 24, 2006), where GCN was at 122.7 weeks (January 16, 2004), and where Wii was at 35.0 weeks (July 29, 2007).

Wii comparisons: After 129 weeks, Wii is where GBA was at 97.1 weeks (January 26, 2003), where DS was at 76.9 weeks (May 20, 2006), where PS2 was at 115.5 weeks (May 15, 2002), and where PSP was at 166.3 weeks (February 12, 2008).

DSi comparisons: After 29 weeks, DSi is where GBASP was at 45.7 weeks (December 26, 2003) and where DSL was at 15.6 weeks (June 15, 2006).

Based on the latest Media Create hardware numbers...
DS vs PSP: Weekly shares of 58.9 / 41.1 bring total shares to 68.3 / 31.7. If DS stopped selling and PSP continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 516.1 weeks (April 15, 2019).

X360 vs PS3: Weekly shares of 26.1 / 73.9 bring total shares to 24.5 / 75.5. If PS3 stopped selling and X360 continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 553.0 weeks (December 29, 2019).

PS3 vs Wii: Weekly shares of 40.2 / 59.8 bring total shares to 28.3 / 71.7. If Wii stopped selling and PS3 continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 443.5 weeks (November 23, 2017).

Week over week, things are pretty flat.

Through the first twenty-one weeks of the year, almost everything is down by some degree. Here's how the year-to-date year-over-year percents stand as of now.

Wii: -64.1%
DSL+DSi: -0.8%
PS2: -50.4%
PS3: +28.3%
PSP: -44.0%
X360: +238.1%

Home hardware: -36.8%
Portable hardware: -25.1%
Sum of all hardware: -29.8%


Wii passes 8 million after 130 weeks.



Famitsu Software Stuff

RETURN OF THE EVERGREENS. New software isn't exactly lighting up the charts, so this chart is full of oldies. Some of them are always on the list, some come and go, but a few of these haven't been seen in a Top 30 for months. This week's list includes:

2005's Animal Crossing: Wild World (at 4,998,531)
2005's Mario Kart DS (first time since January)

2006's New Super Mario Bros.
2006's Wii Sports (first time since February)

2007's Wii Fit

2008's Monster Hunter Portable 2 G
2008's Mario Kart Wii
2008's Rhythm Tengoku Gold
2008's Pokémon Platinum
2008's Little Magician's Magic Adventure
2008's Animal Crossing: City Folk
2008's Taiko no Tatsujin Wii

The Bleach: Heat the Soul series has never been one of PSP's top sellers, but it has been prolific and pretty steady. Heat the Soul 6 (3521) looks to have the best first week in the series at 41K, but they've almost all started in the 35-40K range so it's not by much.

Media Create Sales: 05/18 - 05/24

Kinda cool cover, huh?

01. [NDS] Sloan to Michael: Nazo no Monogatari (Level 5) 43,000 / NEW
02. [NDS] Pro Yakyuu Team o Tsukurou! 2 (SEGA) 39,000 / NEW
03. [360] Mass Effect (Microsoft) 17,000 / NEW
04. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2 G (PSP the Best) (Capcom) 14,000 / 692,000
05. [PSP] Bleach: Heat the Soul 6 (SCEI) 13,000 / 54,000
06. [NDS] Dragon Ball Kai: Saiyajin Raishuu (Namco Bandai) 12,000 / 148,000
07. [NDS] Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky (Nintendo) 12,000 / 311,000
08. [NDS] Made in Ore (Wario Ware) (Nintendo) 11,000 / 123,000
09. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) 10,000 / 3,424,000
10. [NDS] Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (Nintendo) 9,000 / 624,000

11. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
12. [WII] Taiko no Tatsujin Wii (Namco Bandai)
13. [WII] Monster Hunter G (Capcom)
14. [PSP] Grow Lancer (Atlus)
15. [PSP] Sengoku Basara: Battle Heroes (Capcom)
16. [WII] Winning Eleven Playmaker 2009 (Konami)
17. [NDS] Pokémon Platinum (Pokémon)
18. [NDS] Yuuzai x Muzai (Namco Bandai)
19. [WII] Wii Sports (Nintendo)
20. [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
21. [PS2] Jikkyou Power Pro Major League 2009 (Konami)
22. [PSP] SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 (SNK Playmore)
23. [NDS] Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 (Konami)
24. [NDS] Rittai Picross 3D (Nintendo)
25. [WII] Tact of Magic (Nintendo)
26. [PS2] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2009 (Konami)
27. [PSP] Persona (Atlus)
28. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo)
29. [WII] Deca Sports 2 (Hudson)
30. [PSP] ToraDora Portable! (Namco Bandai)

Media Create Sales: 05/11 - 05/17

01. [PSP] Bleach: Heat the Soul 6 (SCEI) 41,000 / NEW
02. [PSP] Grow Lancer (Atlus) 23,000 / NEW
03. [NDS] Dragon Ball Kai: Saiyajin Raishuu (Namco Bandai) 20,000 / 136,000
04. [NDS] Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky (Nintendo) 15,000 / 299,000
05. [NDS] Made in Ore (Wario Ware) (Nintendo) 15,000 / 112,000
06. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2 G (PSP the Best) (Capcom) 15,000 / 678,000
07. [WII] Winning Eleven Playmaker 2009 (Konami) 14,000 / NEW
08. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) 11,000 / 3,414,000
09. [NDS] Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (Nintendo) 10,000 / 616,000
10. [PS2] Rack Pachi 6 (Tecmo) 9,000 / NEW

11. [WII] Monster Hunter G (Capcom)
12. [PSP] ToraDora Portable! (Namco Bandai)
13. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
14. [WII] Taiko no Tatsujin Wii (Namco Bandai)
15. [PSP] Persona (Atlus)
16. [PS2] Jikkyou Power Pro Major League 2009 (Konami)
17. [PSP] Sengoku Basara: Battle Heroes (Capcom)
18. [NDS] Pokémon Platinum (Pokémon)
19. [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
20. [NDS] Rittai Picross 3D (Nintendo)
21. [PS3] Killzone 2 (SCEI)
22. [WII] Wii Sports (Nintendo)
23. [PS2] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2009 (Konami)
24. [NDS] A Ressha de Gyoukou DS (Artdink)
25. [NDS] Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 (Konami)
26. [PS3] Valkyria Chronicles (BEST) (SEGA)
27. [WII] Jikkyou Power Pro Major League 2009 (Konami)
28. [WII] Animal Crossing: City Folk (Nintendo)
29. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo)
30. [NDS] Inazuma Eleven (Level 5)

UK - 16 Top Weeks for Wii Fit; Battlestations: Pacific Debuts at 10

With 16 total weeks at number 1, Wii Fit is helping Nintendo dominate the UK software charts, with Mario Kart Wii, Professor Layton and the Curious Village, and Wii Play rounding out the top 10.

Sales of X-Men Origins: Wolverine dropped 42%, placing the title at third behind EA’s FIFA 09.

Battlestations: Pacific makes a debut at number 10 this past week, the latest offering from Eidos Studios Hungary.

Halo 3 has reappeared in the top 40 at number 33.

Rank – Title – Publisher
1. Wii Fit – Nintendo
2. FIFA 09 – EA
3. X-Men Origins: Wolverine – Activision Blizzard
4. Call of Duty: World at War – Activision Blizzard
5. Mario Kart Wii – Nintendo
6. Resident Evil 5 – Capcom
7. Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games – Sega
8. Professor Layton and the Curious Village – Nintendo
9. Wii Play – Nintendo
10. Battlestations: Pacific – Eidos

11. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training – Nintendo
12. Rhythm Paradise – Nintendo
13. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – Activision Blizzard
14. My Fitness Coach – Ubisoft
15. Sonic Unleashed – Sega
16. Carnival: Funfair Games – Take 2
17. Ben 10: Alien Force – D3P
18. Hannah Montana: The Movie – Disney
19. Street Fighter IV – Capcom
20. Grand Theft Auto IV – Take 2

21. The Godfather II – EA
22. Football Manager 2009 – Sega
23. Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 – Konami
24. Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection – Sega
25. WWE Legends of Wrestlemania – THQ
26. Wheelman – Ubisoft
27. Killzone 2 – Sony
28. Guitar Hero: World Tour – Activision Blizzard
29. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 09 – EA
30. Monsters vs. Aliens – Activision Blizzard

31. Gears of War 2 – Microsoft
32. Mario Kart DS – Nintendo
33. Halo 3 – Microsoft
34. WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2009 – THQ
35. Lego Indiana Jones: Original Adventures – LucasArts
36. Halo Wars – Microsoft
37. Mystery Case Files: Millionheir – Nintendo
38. Tomb Raider: Underworld – Eidos
39. The Chronicles of Riddick: Dark Athena – Atari
40. WSC Real 09: World Snooker Championship – Blade Interactive

US: Has the Wii Onslaught Against HD Market Share Stalled?

US - Has the Wii reached its zenith of potential against the combined forces of Microsoft's 360 and Sony's PS3? Or is this just another lull in the cycle similar to the summer of 2007?

Will the Wii eventually pass both of them combined in the US or has it run out of time? As always, we'll know just a little more next month. Leave your thoughts in the comments section if you think you know the answers to any of these profound questions.

Click to Enlarge:

NPD Results & Charts April 2009; Wii Approaches 20 Million Sold

Japan: Wii Slides to Lowest Console Market Share in Two Years

The last time the Wii had a lower lifetime console market share was April 2007.

Media Create Sales: 05/04 - 05/10 (Hardware)

DSi - 55,382
PSP - 43,009
Wii - 24,397
PS3 - 18,483
DS Lite - 7,821
PS2 - 5,137
Xbox 360 - 5,068

Media Create Sales: 05/04 - 05/10

01. [NDS] Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky (Nintendo) 44,000 / 283,000
02. [NDS] Dragon Ball Kai: Saiyajin Raishuu (Namco Bandai) 41,000 / 115,000
03. [NDS] Made in Ore (Wario Ware) (Nintendo) 41,000 / 97,000
04. [NDS] Mario & Luigi RPG 3 (Nintendo) 26,000 / 606,000
05. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2 G (PSP the Best) (Capcom) 23,000 / 663,000
06. [WII] Monster Hunter G (Capcom) 23,000 / 195,000
07. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) 20,000 / 3,403,000
08. [PS2] Jikkyou Power Pro Major League 2009 (Konami) 15,000 / 58,000
09. [PSP] Persona (Atlus) 14,000 / 93,000
10. [WII] Taiko no Tatsujin Wii (Namco Bandai) 14,000 / 498,000

11. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
12. [PSP] Sengoku Basara: Battle Heroes (Capcom)
13. [WII] Deca Sports 2 (Hudson)
14. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo)
15. [NDS] Rittai Picross 3D (Nintendo)
16. [WII] Jikkyou Power Pro Major League 2009 (Konami)
17. [PS3] Killzone 2 (SCEI)
18. [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
19. [PSP] ToraDora Portable! (Namco Bandai)
20. [NDS] Pokémon Platinum (Pokémon)
21. [NDS] Naruto Shippuden: Shinobi Retsuden 3 (Takara Tommy)
22. [PSP] Disaster Report 3 (Irem)
23. [WII] Wii Sports (Nintendo)
24. [NDS] Inazuma Eleven (Level 5)
25. [NDS] Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 (Konami)
26. [PS2] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 2009 (Konami)
27. [NDS] Wagamama Fashion: Girl's Mode (Nintendo)
28. [WII] Animal Crossing: City Folk (Nintendo)
29. [PS3] Valkyria Chronicles (BEST) (SEGA)
30. [NDS] Mario Kart DS (Nintendo)

Nintendo hardware shipments, calendar 2009 Q1 or fiscal 2009 Q4: Things of Note

This quarter Wii surpassed SNES and became the second Nintendo home console to pass 50 million units shipped. About 11.5 million remain until it passes NES.

Very little movement in Japan this quarter.


At the end of 2008, Wii shipments were just below N64's final total in North America. With a quarter of over 3 million shipped, it's surpassed not only N64, but also SNES.


Wii long ago become the most successful Nintendo home console ever in Europe. This quarter still marks an interesting milestone, though, in that Wii has shipped more than NES and SNES combined. The previous four systems combined only come to 28.66 million. Wii has less than 10 million to go to pass that.


Though we are increasingly not near launch, there are still more Wiis available than any near-launch home console ever.


DS becomes the fourth gaming device to pass 100 million units shipped, if you count Game Boy and Game Boy Color together as does Nintendo. Current DS shipment numbers place it just below PS1.


Though neither DS nor Wii set an absolute worldwide shipping record for a January-February-March quarter this year, they were both among the best. Looking at the history of the top game machines around, here are the times when the first quarter of a calendar year went over 4 million. If GB/GBC or GBA ever had such a quarter we can't tell due to lack of quarterly shipment reports at their peaks, but making guesstimates based on their yearly or half-yearly numbers I doubt either would make this list.

PS2 2005: 6.08 M
DS  2008: 5.81 M
DS  2009: 5.56 M
Wii 2009: 5.43 M
DS  2007: 4.68 M
PS1 1998: 4.62 M
Wii 2008: 4.32 M
PS2 2001: 4.21 M

How about over the full fiscal year, though? In that case, DS and Wii did set records. As far as I can see, DS just had the best year for a portable system and Wii had the best year for a home console. Here are all years I know of over 20 million. Note that here 2009 indicates the year of April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009.

DS  2009: 31.18 M
DS  2008: 30.31 M
Wii 2009: 25.94 M
DS  2007: 23.56 M
PS2 2003: 22.52 M
PS2 2004: 20.10 M
PS1 1999: 21.60 M

If you want to check out old shipment information for yourself, I recommend trying out the Garaph shipment line graph and shipment bar graph tools.

Media Create Sales: 04/27 - 05/03

01./00. [PSP] Persona (Atlus Co.) - 79,192 / NEW
02./00. [NDS] Dragon Ball Kai: Saiyajin Raishuu (Namco Bandai) - 74,263 / NEW
03./00. [NDS] Made in Ore (Wario Ware) (Nintendo) - 56,174 / NEW
04./00. [PS2] Jikkyou Power Pro Major League 2009 (Konami) - 42,957 / NEW
05./02. [NDS] Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky (Pokemon Co.) - 42,950 / 239,000 (-21%)
06./01. [WII] Monster Hunter G (Capcom) - 40,294 / 172,000 (-69%)
07./00. [PSP] ToraDora Portable! (Namco Bandai) - 38,365 / NEW
08./05. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2 G (BEST) (Capcom) - 26,226 / 640,000 (+16%)
09./08. [NDS] Mario & Luigi RPG 3!!! (Nintendo) - 21,978 / 580,000 (+32%)
10./00. [WII] Jikkyou Power Pro Major League 2009 (Konami) - 16,550 / NEW

11./03. [PS3] Killzone 2 (SCEI)
12./09. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo)
13./07. [PSP] Sengoku Basara: Battle Heroes (Capcom)
14./04. [PSP] Zettai Zetsumei Toshi 3: The Collapsing City and the Girl's Song (Disaster Report 3) (Irem)
15./00. [NDS] Naruto Shippuden: Shinobi Retsuden 3 (Takara Tomy)
16./14. [WII] Taiko Drum Master Wii (Namco Bandai)
17./00. [PS2] D.C.I.F.: Da Capo Innocent Finale (Sweets)
18./19. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo)
19./00. [PS3] X-Blades (Ubisoft)
20./13. [WII] Deca Sporta 2: Wii de Sports 10 Shumoku! (Hudson)
21./00. [360] X-Blades (Ubisoft)
22./11. [NDS] A Ressha de Gyoukou DS (Take the A-Train DS) (Artdink)
23./18. [NDS] Rittai Picross (3D) (Nintendo)
24./12. [NDS] Pro Baseball Famista DS 2009 (Namco Bandai)
25./17. [PS2] Jikkyou Powerful Pro Baseball 2009 (#15) (Konami)
26./15. [PSP] Kidou Senshi Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable (Namco Bandai)
27./20. [PS3] Valkyria Chronicles (BEST) (SEGA)
28./23. [NDS] Pokemon Platinum (Pokemon Co.)
29./21. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo)
30./16. [PS3] Musou Orochi Z (Koei)
31./33. [WII] Wii Sports (Nintendo)
32./30. [WII] Animal Crossing: City Folk (Nintendo)
33./28. [NDS] Wagamama Fashion: Girls Mode (Nintendo)
34./00. [PS3] Daikoukai Jidai Online: Cruz del Sur (Uncharted Waters Online) (Koei)
35./37. [PS3] Demon's Souls (SCEI)
36./31. [NDS] Inazuma Eleven (Level 5)
37./50. [NDS] New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo)
38./24. [PS3] Resident Evil 5 (Capcom)
39./00. [NDS] Jewel Pet: Cute Magic Fantasy (MTO)
40./25. [NDS] Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's: Stardust Accelerator World Championship 2009 (Konami)
41./34. [NDS] Tongari Boushi to Mahou no 365 Nichi (Little Magician's Magic Adventure) (Konami)
42./27. [PSP] Disgaea 2 Portable (Nippon Ichi Software)
43./40. [NDS] Metal Fight Beyblade (Hudson)
44./41. [NDS] Crayon Shin-chan: Arashi wo Yobu Nendororon Daihenshin! (Namco Bandai)
45./00. [PSP] Final Approach 2: 1st Priority Portable (Princess Soft)
46./45. [NDS] Mario Kart DS (Nintendo)
47./43. [NDS] Taiko Drum Master 2: The Seven Island Adventure (Namco Bandai)
48./26. [PSP] Fantasy Golf Pangya Portable (Takara Tomy)
49./39. [WII] Play on Wii: Pikmin 2 (Nintendo)
50./00. [NDS] Dun-Dam: Dungeons & Dam (Acquire)


Thanks to donny2112 of NeoGAF.

MC 2009-04-20: Things of Note

Famitsu didn't update at the regular time this week, so just a Media Create update this time.

Based on the latest Media Create hardware numbers...
DS vs PSP: Weekly shares of 51.6 / 48.4 bring total shares to 68.4 / 31.6. If DS stopped selling and PSP continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 343.8 weeks (November 28, 2015).

X360 vs PS3: Weekly shares of 23.1 / 76.9 bring total shares to 24.6 / 75.4. If PS3 stopped selling and X360 continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 297.3 weeks (January 7, 2015).

PS3 vs Wii: Weekly shares of 55.9 / 44.1 bring total shares to 28.1 / 71.9. This is the first time PS3 has outsold Wii nine weeks in a row. At this week's rates PS3 catches up to Wii in 984.5 weeks (March 9, 2028). If Wii stopped selling and PS3 continued at this week's rate, it would catch up in 207.1 weeks (April 15, 2013).

Week over week, PS3 comes back down to Earth, Wii has a mini monster bump, and everything else stays pretty flat.

Through the first seventeen weeks of the year, almost everything is down by some degree. Here's how the year-to-date year-over-year percents stand as of now.

Wii: -63.7%
DSL+DSi: -2.7%
PS2: -52.2%
PS3: +23.1%
PSP: -41.7%
X360: +242.6%

Home hardware: -36.2%
Portable hardware: -24.0%
Sum of all hardware: -29.0%