Posts tagged Japan at Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Posts with tag Japan

Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 5/5-5/11

Posted May 16th 2008 5:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Another Week in ...

The gap between Wii and PSP sales is slowly but surely decreasing, making us wonder if the Wii might be able to overtake Sony's handheld once the Monster Hunter hype dies down:

PSP: 89,884
Wii: 67,308
Nintendo DS: 51,228
PlayStation 2: 7,464
Xbox 360: 1,298

Yet, the true triumph for the Wii last week was in software. Nintendo scored big all-around, but the Wii claimed six of the top ten spots in the chart. Keep in mind, though, that all the Wii games that made it to the top thirty are first-party titles, with the exception of Deca Sports.

In other news, Smash Bros. Brawl managed to hop up five spots, showing us that it won't be disappearing any time soon. Meanwhile, Mario Kart is inching nearer to Brawl's total sales, making it a close race between the two games. To see how they're currently fairing against each other, just click past the break.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 5/5-5/11

One third of Japanese Wii owners have Wii Fit

Posted May 14th 2008 3:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: News

Every week, sales charts show us that Wii Fit is popular among Japanese gamers. To give you a sense of just how well it's doing, though, Enterbrain recently reported that two million copies of the fitness title have been sold in Japan. Matched with recent reports of six million Wii consoles being sold in the region, that means every one in three Japanese Wii owners bought a copy of Wii Fit.

It hasn't yet caught up to its Nintendo cousin, Wii Sports, which has almost reached the three million mark. Yet, keep in mind that 1) Wii Fit was released a year after Wii Sports and 2) Wii Fit is a lot more expensive; it costs more than a usual Wii game, while Wii Sports costs less than the standard. To throw in another interesting comparison, Media Create sales indicate that there are almost as many Wii Fit owners in Japan as PS3 owners (with the PS3 currently having a 50,000 unit edge).

While we find it unlikely that Wii Fit will hit the same one-in-three ownership ratio in Europe and North America, we have little doubt that the exercise software will do well in those regions, too. Let it be said that Nintendo definitely understands the casual market.

Gallery: Wii Fit

[Via NeoGAF]

Wii surpasses six million in Japan

Posted May 13th 2008 3:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News

Japan just loves that Wii, as news breaks today of the console enjoying a very successful life in the country. Over 6 million units have been sold, which breaks down to 4.68% of the Japanese population owning a Wii. With over 128 million people living in the country, it's easy to see how incredibly impressive such a figure is.

The inevitable comparisons between the Wii and the PS2 are also something to consider. The PS2 has sold 20 million units in the region, but has been on the market since 2000. The Wii is gaining ground on it and has only been on shelves for about a tenth of the PS2's lifespan. Can the Wii keep up this level of success? Only time will tell.

Miyamoto talks WiiWare launch, American devs

Posted May 12th 2008 8:00PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News, WiiWare

Now that the WiiWare service is up and running (and we got to play at least one game so far), you're probably as curious as we are concerning the lack of Nintendo games available for download. With an entire catalog featuring nothing but third-party titles, it might seem like a silly idea to launch a Nintendo service with no Nintendo games on offer. It's something that we thought was very much against what Nintendo's usual operational procedures are.

Then, like a knight in shining armor, Shigeru Miyamoto charges in and tells us why we need not be concerned. "I think America has always been better at creating unique products," he says. Wow, we're flattered! Miyamoto is a big fan of the North American indie game scene, commenting they are "able to let their own personality and their own kind of unique interests really flourish in the games that they're creating." This is one of the reasons why Nintendo felt safe with the WiiWare line-up unleashed on us today.

[Via Joystiq]

Sakurai to spill beans on what makes games fun

Posted May 12th 2008 7:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: News

The obvious choice aside, we can't think of many game designers who are better qualified than Masahiro Sakurai to discuss how to make fun videogames. Which is a good job, really, because the Smash Bros. and Kirby creator has been booked by DiGRA, Japan's Digital Games Research Association, to deliver a talk on what makes games enjoyable.

Don't go getting excited, though. Sakurai's speech, entitled 'Game-ness,' will be delivered at the Fukutake Hall Running Theatre at Tokyo University's Hongo campus, and to an audience of only 150 people. If by some chance you are located near to the venue, know that DiGRA members get in free, while student non-members pay ¥500 (roughly $5) and all other non-members ¥1000 (approx $10).

We wonder what games he'll use to convey his message? Bringing up Brawl or Kirby might seem a little conceited, but those are two of the titles we would use.

[Via Develop]

Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/28-5/4

Posted May 9th 2008 5:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Another Week in ...

Ah, remember Link's Crossbow Training? The game that was bundled with the Wii Zapper last November (December, for PALs)? It was only released in Japan last week. If sales are any indication, though, Japanese gamers were clamoring for the goron-junk shooter rail shooter, as it claimed the third place spot.

Even so, Link had to hail to the king (baby), as Mario Kart Wii still dominated the charts. The other big news for Mario Kart Wii? It passed one million sales in the Far East, denoting its success. Meanwhile, Deca Sports clamored back into the top ten, but Brawl only slipped further downward, thus answering our question from last week. Also proving that the Japanese love their sports games for the Wii, Bandai Namco's Pro Baseball Family Stadium debuted at spot twenty.

The Wii triumphed in hardware last week as well. While the console continues to trail behind Sony's handheld, Wii sales went up almost 30,000 units from last week -- perhaps from the Link's Crossbow boost. Go on and check things out for yourself after the break, if you feel so inclined.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/28-5/4

Hiroshi Yamauchi rolling in gold coins

Posted May 8th 2008 9:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: News

After coming third last year, former Nintendo president Hiroshi Yamauchi is now the richest man in Japan, according to Forbes. Current estimates place Yamauchi's net worth at $7.8 billion, a figure that would see the 80-year-old place 40th in the equivalent U.S. list, and 149th in the world. You would think he'd have bought some new glasses by now.

It's pretty obvious that Nintendo's recent success with the Wii and DS have inflated Yamauchi's fortune massively; though he left the company in May 2002, Yamauchi retained stock in Nintendo, which was founded by his great-grandfather in 1889. "... Yamauchi's net worth soared $3 billion in the past year and has tripled since 2006, thanks mostly to booming sales of the Wii gaming device," notes Forbes.

"It's truly incredible," added Chris Greenhough, seventh richest blogger on the Wii Fanboy team.

Block Breaker Deluxe breaks out onto Japanese WiiWare

Posted May 7th 2008 1:30PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: Imports, WiiWare

In what may be Japan's only WiiWare release for May (much like Minna de Puzzloop was the only April release), Gameloft's Block Breaker Deluxe is now available for download in Japan. For 800 points, Japanese gamers can now play a decent-looking Breakout/Arkanoid clone with a neon visual theme and goofy images of "cool" people that make it look so much like a cell-phone game (which it was). Or Miami Nights.

We'd like to see this one soon within the U.S. launch of WiiWare, because we're perfectly willing to overlook all the posing jerks -- and the inauspicious origin of the game -- for a chance at a new big-screen Breakout game.

[Via Inside-Games]

Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/21-4/27

Posted May 2nd 2008 5:00PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Another Week in ...

Mario Kart Wii continues to top the charts in Japan, but a lot of movement happened with the Wii's other software. Because a bunch of new games came out last week, Wii Sports, Deca Sports, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl were all knocked out of the top ten. We know that Wii Sports will return to top ten fame soon enough, since it always does, but we'll be interested to see whether the other two titles can pull that off as well.

On the hardware side of things, the Wii got sandwiched by the two portables as it jumped up into second place:

PSP: 92,411
Wii: 48,796
Nintendo DS: 42,435
PlayStation 3: 9,107
PlayStation 2: 7,108
Xbox 360: 1,283

To see the software sales, just bring your super smooth moves past the break.

Continue reading Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/21-4/27

Famitsu knows a legend when it sees one

Posted Apr 28th 2008 8:00PM by Chris Greenhough
Filed under: News

Now might be the right time to construct a bigger, stronger mantelpiece in the Miyamoto household, because Nintendo hero Shigeru Miyamoto has just won another damn award. This one comes courtesy of Japanese gaming bible Famitsu, which recently held its own awards ceremony in recognition of its 1,000th issue.

As Miyamoto picked up 2007's MVP gong ~~and subsequently burst into tears on stage~~, it seems fitting that two of his most ubiquitous Wii creations also did rather well, with Wii Sports (not a pack-in game in Japan, remember) bagging the Best Hit award, and Wii Fit grabbing a trophy of its own for innovation. So congrats, Shiggy -- even if you don't return our daily letters asking to meet up IRL for a chat, some chamomile tea, and a round of Wii Sports tennis (he'd be really good), we still love ya!

May's VC games for Japan: May include MSX games

Posted Apr 26th 2008 12:00PM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: Virtual Console, Imports

Nintendo has released the planned May lineup of Virtual Console games for Japan, and while it doesn't include any megatons (like last month most certainly did), there are at least a lot of games on the list. The first two MSX games, Eggy and Aleste, are supposed to make their fashionably late appearance, but we find it a lot easier to believe that they'll be bumped for some Wonder Boy ports.

Other interesting games, which may actually be released, include: Front Mission Series: Gun Hazard, a shooter similar to Cybernator (in fact director Toshiro Tsuchida worked on both games) and based on the Front Mission series of strategy games; Star Parodier, the "silly" Star Soldier game; and Martial Champion, a CD-based Street Fighter clone from Konami. Hit the break for the full list!

Continue reading May's VC games for Japan: May include MSX games

Wii Warm Up: Moving backwards

Posted Apr 23rd 2008 9:00AM by David Hinkle
Filed under: Imports, Controller, Wii Warm Up

Of course, you're all aware of the reissued GameCube controller (now in white!), but did you know that the controller is now available for purchase? It's fetching a price of $24.90. But, do you really need it?

We were wondering about those of you who lack a GameCube controller for backwards compatibility fun and, of course, Smash Bros. Brawl. Any of you interested in picking this up? Or, like us, are you already covered with a WaveBird?

[Thanks, celestialxplsion!]

Nintendo enlists celebrity aid in marketing Mario Kart Wii to Japan

Posted Apr 22nd 2008 10:35PM by David Hinkle
Filed under: News, Fan stuff, Video

Aside from advertising in the United States, another region important to sales of Mario Kart Wii is Japan, Nintendo's native country. As such, the gaming giant has enlisted the aid of Japanese celebrities to help hock their wares onto the gaming populace. Above, you can see model Aki Hoshino and comedian Medaka Ikeno having the time of their life with their Wii Wheels.

Cruise on past the break to check out a plethora of Japanese ads for the game.

Gallery: Mario Kart Wii

Continue reading Nintendo enlists celebrity aid in marketing Mario Kart Wii to Japan

No More Heroes remix CD launched nerdily

Posted Apr 22nd 2008 10:30AM by JC Fletcher
Filed under: News, Imports

Game|Life's Jean Snow, along with a very exclusive audience that naturally did not include us (we'd be happy just to be able to buy the CD), attended the launch party for the No More Heroes Dark Side CD, which features remixes of Masafumi Takada's excellent soundtrack by other game and chiptune musicians. The party took place at Shinjuku's 8-bit Cafe, a retrogaming-themed restaurant with displays of classic games, and even a bin full of games for customers to play at any of the systems set up around the shop.

Once the event closed, the celebration moved to another bar called 16 Shots -- as in Takahashi Meijin's button-mashing record. You'll never hear a geekier name for a business, at least until our loan goes through.

This is what a coin-operated NES looks like

Posted Apr 18th 2008 10:30PM by Candace Savino
Filed under: Fan stuff

While it's not unusual ~~to be loved by anyone~~ for hotels to include video game services, Japan used to do it arcade-style with coin-operated consoles (like the one shown above). 100 JPY (approximately $1 USD) would net you 10-15 minutes with a Famicom (NES), which means you'd have to lay down about $2 or $3 to for a satisfactory amount of this blogger's hotel staple, Punch-Out!!. The Super Famicom (SNES), though, was a bit more coin-hungry, and the $1 equivalent would only last five minutes -- yikes. Still, we're sure that if we visited Japan during the magical time that these boxes were hooked-up to hotel TVs, we would have let go of a few coins for some quick bouts of Mario and such.

[Via Kotaku]

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Nintendo Wii Fanboy

Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 5/5-5/11

One third of Japanese Wii owners have Wii Fit

Wii surpasses six million in Japan

Miyamoto talks WiiWare launch, American devs

Sakurai to spill beans on what makes games fun

Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/28-5/4

Hiroshi Yamauchi rolling in gold coins

Block Breaker Deluxe breaks out onto Japanese WiiWare

Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 4/21-4/27

Famitsu knows a legend when it sees one

May's VC games for Japan: May include MSX games

Wii Warm Up: Moving backwards

Nintendo enlists celebrity aid in marketing Mario Kart Wii to Japan

No More Heroes remix CD launched nerdily

This is what a coin-operated NES looks like

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