It’s the first week in ages that we’ve not had a Wii game in the top ten, and if this week’s charts are anything to go by, it seems that Japan is getting into western titles in a much bigger way these days. Naturally Capcom’s involvement has a lot to do with GTA IV reaching top spot, and certainly its glowing review from Famitsu would have helped. But the fact that its 360 iteration makes an appearance as well proves that western-centric games can sell in the east. LittleBIGPlanet at number three essentially confirms that it’s not just big Japanese developers that can have chart success.

Square-Enix’s Valkyrie Profile would ordinarily have been expected to top the charts in an average week, but has to settle for the runner-up slot - it’s not one of the developer’s biggest franchises, so it’s not clear whether that’s deemed to be a success or a failure. Meanwhile, Nintendo’s pedometer-packing DS accompaniment to Wii Fit enters into the lower reaches of the top ten - presumably this will sell steadily over time, or perhaps Japanese gamers are getting fed up of being told how overweight and unhealthy they are.

01. [PS3] Grand Theft Auto IV (Capcom) 133,000 / NEW
02. [NDS] Valkyrie Profile: Toga o Seoumono (Square Enix) 80,000 / NEW
03. [PS3] LittleBigPlanet (SCE) 52,000 / NEW
04. [NDS] Pokémon Platinum (Pokémon) 47,000 / 1,853,400
05. [NDS] Wagamama Fashion Girls Mode (Nintendo) 40,000 / 117,000
06. [NDS] Rhythm Tengoku Gold (Nintendo) 39,000 / 1,089,000
07. [360] Grand Theft Auto IV (Capcom) 34,000 / NEW
08. [NDS] Personal Trainer: Walking (Nintendo) 26,000 / NEW
09. [NDS] Cid to Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon: Toki Wasure no Meikyuu + (Square Enix) 26,000 / NEW
10. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP the Best) (Capcom) 26,000 / NEW

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This entry was posted on Thursday, November 6th, 2008 at 4:18 pm by Chris Schilling
Japan, Surprises, charts.