Nintendo DS Hardware Sales Creep Up On Sony In Japan

Strong sales of Phantasy Star Portable may have given PSP sales a boost, helping to keep Sony's handheld in first place in the weekly hardware race. Nintendo was very close behind, with Nintendo DS sales creeping up — and looking to possibly overtake the PlayStation Portable soon, looking at new releases on Nintendo's side.

The Xbox 360 base creeps up ever further as the Wii holds steady and PlayStation console sales take a slight drop. The Tales of Vesperia Japanese release is sure to given Microsoft a bigger boost the following week. Next week should be interesting, as we expect a few shake ups.

PSP - 61,181
Nintendo DS - 57,398
Wii - 41,109
PlayStation 3 - 9,508
PlayStation 2 - 9,045
Xbox 360 - 5,359

Homoerotic Shooting Rebirthed On PSP With Zero Cho Aniki

According to reports from the latest Famitsu, the Cho Aniki series will be revived on the PSP in early 2009 with Zero Cho Aniki. Known for its ripped abs, bulging biceps and bethonged stars Adon and Samson, the Cho Aniki games take bizarre to 11, with zombie Elvis ships, fish with ripped arms and sexy giant snowmen. The two bodybuilders have enjoyed many side-scrolling shooting outings together, but Zero Cho Aniki appears to be a remake of one of the PC Engine — Turbografx-16 over here — CD-based titles.

PSP Hyper writes that it's a remake of the very first Cho Aniki, which would make sense given the "zero" in the title, in which the musclemen took a backseat to the more clothed Idaten and Benten. Expect this UMD full of beefcake to stay Japan only.

Classic Shooter Chou Aniki Revived for PSP [PSPHyper via Game|Life]

Sega Hits It Big In Japan With Phantasy Star Portable

Looking at this week's Media Create software sales chart, Sega's attempt to target the Monster Hunter crowd with a new Phantasy Star seems to have worked. Phantasy Star Portable topped the charts this week, fending off a number of new debuts — Rhythm Heaven Gold, Soulcalibur IV, Fatal Frame IV — selling a third of a million copies to Japanese PSP owners.

The news for Fatal Frame wasn't as good, as the hardcore focused horror title, developed by Tecmo and Grasshopper and published by Nintendo, didn't scare up much in the way of big numbers.

01. Phantasy Star Portable (PSP) - 342,000 / NEW
02. Rhythm Heaven Gold (DS) - 213,000 / NEW
03. Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu No Hanayome (DS) 112,000 / 946,000
04. Soulcalibur IV (PS3) - 75,000 / NEW
05. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 15 (PS2) - 37,000 / 121,000
06. Soulcalibur IV (360) - 35,000 / NEW
07. Fatal Frame IV (Wii) - 33,000 / NEW
08. Wii Fit (Wii) - 32,000 / 2,442,000
09. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 23,000 / 1,633,000
10. Gundam Battle Universe (PSP) - 21,000 / 201,000

Metal Gear Solid 4 Thrown In FOR FREE!!

Previously, we brought word that Metal Gear Solid 4 appeared to be hitting the bargain bin — a mere month and a half after the game was released. (A shame, because it is a great game, even if it hasn't sold close to million copies in Japan!) Now it seems the Metal Gear Solid 4 40GB PS3 bundle's price is getting slashed at Akihabara retailer Gamers. (No clue about the gajillion other shops in Japan!) The price has been lowered from ¥49,800 (US$454) to ¥39,800 ($363) for a store sale — meaning that it's going for about what regular 40GB PS3s fetch without the game. That's right, Metal Gear Solid 4 for free. No need to be sad! That's what us shopper people can a good deal.

Hit the jump for the price comparison.

Is This The First Transvestite Game Protagonist?

DS visual novel Ikamono no Jiken: IKATAN ("The Squid Events") features a main character who cross-dresses in order to collection information and new evidence as well as gain new personalities. As game site Insert Credit explains: The hero becomes a member of scenario group "Prawn Productions". As a number of mysterious event unfold, the protagonist must dress as a woman to unravel the story in a series of timed investigations. Breaking new ground — that's what the DS does, you know.

『いかもの探偵-IKATAN-』凶悪犯罪が一切起こらない推理アドベンチャーゲーム [Famitsu via Insert Credit]

The new SEGA arcade "image character" has begun his SEGA arcade image character duties! Aren't you excited? I'm excited. (You should be excited.) To review, previous image characters include MEGUMI, Yuko Ogura (twice!) and Satomi Ishihara. The new SEGA arcade image character is Jpop boy band singer Haruma Miura (pictured), breaking the string of females before him. As SEGA's image character, his face will be plastered all over SEGA's domestic arcades, perhaps enticing more females to venture inside. Says Miura:

Being photographed while gaming is a first for me. Initially, I was nervous, but gradually I relaxed and forgot all about that and just enjoyed the game. This isn't just work, it's also play... I don't really know what's best for me to do, but personally, I want everyone to know how much I enjoy game centers so they can see the appeal — especially now [in this heat], game centers are refreshingly cool.

Seems like a nice enough kid, even if he's misguided in his choice of coats. Hit the jump for another shot of Miura.

Final Fantasy XIII Comes To Men's Formal Wear

While the surprise announcements that did come out of the Square Enix DKΣ3713 Private Party were definitely post-worthy, Final Fantasy Agito XIII coming to the PSP is a big deal doesn't hold a candle to oddball product cross-collaborations. The biggest news to come out of the weekend event was that Square Enix and Roen would be releasing Final Fantasy Versus XIII formal wear, real world items worn by in-game characters — perfect for the prom!

It looks like the collaboration works both ways, as this is more than just cheap cosplay stuff. Roen looks to have worked with Square Enix on character designs for Versus XIII.

Before you excitedly whip out the credit card, be warned that Roen is obscenely expensive. Sure, their tank tops are just dazzling, but even we balk at $240 price tags.

Square Enix Party Wrap Up [Game Watch]

Devil May Cry Guns In Airsoft Replica Form!

Look! Check out what Hobby Media discovered at this year's Wonder Festival: Airsoft pistol versions of the guns from Devil May Cry carries! That's right, here are pellet-shooting replicas of Dante's swish Ebony & Ivory firearms. Unlike those guns, these don't have unlimited ammo. Still pretty neat.

Hit the jump for ebony:

Lolita Metal Gear Solid 4 Figurines

Metal Gear Solid 4 may been released earlier this summer, but that doesn't mean the merchandizing is gonna stop! This December, Konami is releasing a set of 7cm "Fugimate" MGS4 figurines. Priced at ¥2,940 (US$27), the set includes Snake, Raiden, Ocelot and Otacon — all as shoeless little girls with giant heads.

MGS4 Figures [Konami Style Thanks, Randy!]

Square Enix's New Brand, Pure Dreams

While Square Enix is best know for hair-gel covered RPGs, the company, god bless 'em, is doing its best to expand out. It has a very casual DS line — Why, late last year the company released a wine DS "game" and even created a special bundle with actual wine.

The company announced today that it was launching the "Pure Dreams" brand in Japan. "Pure Dreams" will focus on character branded games and the brand's first two titles are a good indication of things to come: Snoopy DS: Let's Go Meet Snoopy and His Friends and Pingu Waku Waku Carnival, both for the Nintendo DS. The games will be out this fall in Japan.

Now if we could only get Snoopy, Pingu, Mickey Mouse and Sephiroth in the same game. Make it happen, Square!

スクエニ、新ブランド「Pure Dreams」を発表 [Game Watch]

Bwah? There's An Xbox 360 Shortage In Japan?!

Tales of Vesperia is launching in Japan soon. August 7th, actually. And some people seem pretty excited. It's the tenth entry in the Tales series. The Namco Bandai title is an Xbox 360 exclusive, so that just might mean that Microsoft will move more than it's standard 3,000 Xbox 360s a week in Japan. Or not.

As of posting, Amazon Japan is sold out of new HDMI Xbox 360s (but does have Elites). HAPPINET, one of the major Xbox 360 distributors in Japan, are sold out of everything but the Elite. According to game store clerk threads on 2ch, the Xbox 360 will be restocked after Tales of Vesperia is released. What's more, the Tales of Versperia bundle is apparently limited to something like 7,000.

The reason for the shortages?

Not only is Nintendo's legal action against R4 cart spiking the sales, it's also spiking the prices. Check out this Akihabara retailer on July 29th when the news was first announced. R4s were going for ¥2,980 (US$28). The following day, the price jumped to ¥4,980 at the same retailer. And today? This shop's price hit ¥5,980 ($55). Pics of that after jump.

Dragon Quest V Sales Still Hotcakesesque In Japan

Square Enix's Dragon Quest V remake for the Nintendo DS enjoys another week atop the Media Create software sales charts, further proving my theory that Japanese people like Dragon Quest. A few new name make top ten appearances, including the excellently titled Katekyoo Hitman Reborn! DS Flame Rumble Hyper - Moeyo Mirai.

Wario Land: Shake It!'s debut, as well as that of the overseas release of Bully, is far less impressive. Nintendo-based titles continue to dominate the charts, with 19 of the top 30 games released on the DS and Wii.

01. Dragon Quest V: Tenkuu No Hanayome (DS) - 190,000 / 834,000
02. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 15 (PS2) - 84,000 / NEW
03. Gundam Battle Universe (PSP) - 43,000 / 180,000
04. Eiyuu Densetsu: Sora no Kiseki the 3rd (PSP) - 39,000 / NEW
05. SIREN: New Translation (PS3) - 35,000 / NEW
06. Katekyoo Hitman Reborn! DS Flame Rumble Hyper - Moeyo Mirai (DS) - 32,000 / NEW
07. Wii Fit (Wii) - 30,000 / 2,410,000
08. Wario Land: Shake It! (Wii) - 25,000 / NEW
09. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) - 25,000 / 1,610,000
10. Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 15 (Wii) - 22,000 / NEW

Sony Is Looking For Some Good Beta Home Recruits

Sony Computer Entertainment just announced that it was taking applicants for the Japanese PlayStation Home Closed Beta. Prospective applicants must be over 18 and need to apply between July 31st (today!) and August 11th. The closed beta is slated to start at the end of August. Winners will apparently be selected by lottery, and the Home account must be used with the winner's account. It's non-transferable.

The link below has a good picture walk through.

PlayStation®Home クローズドベータテストの参加者を募集します。 [Sony]

Do BLANK With Me?

Above we have two backcover magazine ads. One is for Soulcalibur IV, and the other one is for Moe Sta. You remember Moe Sta, it's that English training game that features cutesy girls and features 5,000 English questions that cover the spectrum from junior high school school tests to the Tokyo University entrance examination to help players "level up" their English.

While SCIV is rated CERO C (15 and up) for violence most likely, Moe Sta is CERO B (12 and up). Just check out that Moe Sta ad! It reads: "Do BLANK with me?" Hit the jump for a bigger version.

Raidou Kuzunoha Vs Avadon King Announced

As hinted at last week, this week's Famitsu announces a new Atlus RPG. The guesses were right! It is Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Summoner: Raidou Kuzunoha Vs Avadon King. The PS2 game is currently 80 percent done and slated for October 23rd. The first screens look quite nice.

New Atlus RPG [Gamekyo]

Dragon Quest V DS Ships A Million

Dragon Quest is popular stuff! Take the DS Dragon Quest V remake , which went on sale July 17th in Japan. Square Enix announced that the game has shipped over a million copies in Japan. It's interesting to note that Dragon Quest IV also moved a million copies (rather quickly, apparently!) when it went on sale last November. So pencil in all future DQ remakes at a million copies shipped, then!

「ドラゴンクエストV 天空の花嫁」国内出荷本数100万本突破 [IT Media]

Sega Whips Up A Complete Fantasy Zone Collection

Sega is giving shmup fans one more reason to import a Japanese PlayStation 2 this fall with the release of the Sega Ages 2500: Fantasy Zone Complete Collection. Like the recently announced Thunderforce VI, classic side scrolling action will be hitting PS2's on the other side of the Pacific courtesy of Sega in September. Unlike Thunderforce, however, the Fantasy Zone Collection will be packed with primaries and pastels, as it's more cute 'em up than not.

Hit the jump for everything that's included.