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.
Looking over this week's releases, we're pretty dead set on wanting to get some quality time in with Deca Sports (previewing it got us intrigued). Sure, there's We Ski, but until the Balance Board releases (well, until Wii Fitreleases, we should say), we're not down with it. Almost all of the appeal for us is the Balance Board support, but, hey, maybe we're alone in that.
So what will you all be playing this weekend? Checking out WiiWare titles? Got another game you've been working on? Picking up one of this week's releases? Interested in Deca Sports, like us?
Hudson's attempt at an accessible game full of sports is finally hitting shelves this week. We're anxious to see how it does, considering we found our preview build that Hudson sent over pretty fun. On top of that, the title looks like it might be a great match for playing with some friends. Of course, the $29.99 price point doesn't hurt Hudson's chances for success, either!
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.
Hudson's latest trailer for Deca Sports provides extended looks at the archery and soccer events, along with the badminton game that was part of our preview. By now you know the format for Wii minigame-collection trailers: shots of gameplay punctuated by shots of people standing in front of a couch in a well-appointed apartment, waggling with giant smiles affixed to their faces.
Most importantly (to us), the trailer features that ridiculously catchy Deca Sports theme. Hearing it makes us want to go get into some workout clothes and run around or something. Everybody move your body into our gallery for new screens!
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.
We don't have to tell you that we're excited for Deca Sports from Hudson. After giving 4 of the game's 10 final sports a test drive, we're anxious to see if the other 6 sports are the fun we think they're going to be. Until the game releases next month, we're just going to have to settle for this new trailer above.
Be sure to give our gallery a look, as well. We just put in a bunch of new screens for you all to check out.
The Wii had a good week in Japan, as far as sales are concerned. With Mario Kart Wii continuing to champion the cause, the little white console almost nabbed second place in hardware:
PSP: 85,421
Nintendo DS: 44,551
Wii: 44,241
PlayStation 3: 7,438
PlayStation 2: 6,545
Xbox 360: 1,076
Even in software, five of the top ten games were Wii titles. Wii Sports found its way back into the coveted ten once again, managing to coexist peacefully with Hudson's Deca Sports. Wii Play, meanwhile, performed the worst in relation to the rest of the Wii games in the top thirty, but still ended up in spot twelve.
Check after the break to see just how well Mario Kart Wii did last week in Japan.
Imagine our delight when we had a brown envelope from Hudson sitting on our doorstep Friday afternoon. As we opened the parcel up, we found the above items: a preview copy of Deca Sports and this sweet little wristband. Huzzah!
But, woe was us for we would not be able to just play and selfishly enjoy the four available sports on the demo disc by our lonesome (or with some friends). Oh no, we have a job and have to let our readers know what we think. So that's what we did. But, we didn't just settle for playing the included sports and writing up a preview. No, instead we decided that we'd do a nice little video for you. And for all of you who enjoy reading things, we wrote up our opinions as well.
So head on past the break for our hands-on look at Deca Sports for the Wii!
It looks like just the same old stuff for Wii sales in Japan last week. Wait a minute -- what's that, you say? Mario Kart Wii dominated Japan? Sure enough, sitting pretty at the top of the charts is Nintendo's famous kart racer, with almost half a million copies sold in its first week.
Despite the Mario Kart bump, the Wii only took third place in hardware. Considering that Japanese gamers love them some handhelds, though, that's not too much of a surprise. One little observation that may floor you, on the other hand, is that Brawl was already overtaken by Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G in total sales.
Last week was once again all about Sony. Although Nintendo still had a good showing in the top thirty, there were only five Wii games in the software chart. Wii Fit continues to be the system's best-seller, but Super Smash Brothers Brawl and Deca Sports also made appearances in the top ten.
As for hardware, the Wii once again trails behind the handhelds, but leads the pack in home consoles.
Why do we love the Wii with friends? Because we want all to share the splendor and majesty that comes from playing the best home gaming console around. So that's why we set out to bring you a nice, easy package of great multiplayer games for the Wii.
Both online and local multiplayer is covered, as well as games that have released and those that are still in production. We hope you find this useful in your own life, in some small way, or at least a good place to link a friend who has no idea what they're getting into with the Wii. So read on and see what we have in store, then come back here and tell us what multiplayer experiences you enjoy most on the Wii!
For the first time in a long time, the Wii is down to having only five games in Japan's top thirty. As House of the Dead 2 & 3 Return fell of the charts in its second week and Everyone's General Knowledge Training TV disappeared after having a good run, only the regulars remain.
Deca Sports is the exception, being the only Wii title on the charts without either "Wii" or "Smash Bros." in its name, but even that is showing early signs of fatigue. While the game managed to nab the eighth spot and sell 29,000 copies, its Nintendo counterpart, Wii Sports, is nipping at its heels in spot twelve. This may seem insignificant, but keep in mind that Wii Sports has been out for around seventeen months, wheras Deca Sports has only been out for two weeks.
In the hardware department, the Wii got a beat down from the handhelds (especially the PSP), but still continues to do better than any other console in Japan. This week, for example, the Wii sold over four times the amount of PS3s, its closest console competitor.
Of course, you can just take a look at all the numbers for yourself by clicking past the break.
Hudson is being smart about the company's new sports game, Deca Sports, which will hit North American Wiis on May 13th. Since the little white console already comes bundled with Nintendo's game, the bigwigs at Hudson probably knew they couldn't price Deca Sports too highly. That's why we were pleased to hear of the title's $29.99 price tag. Just ten dollars higher and we would have been a lot more hesitant about this game, but $30 hits our sweet spot.
Where's your sweet spot on this title, though? Do you still wish it cost less, or would you have payed even more to try out Hudson's sporting events?
As you all know, we've had our eye on Deca Sports for quite some time. It really looks like a fun compilation of sports. But, to sway any doubt about the game's excellence that we may have had lingering around in our mind, Mike Samachisa, the head of Hudson Entertainment's console division, answered some of our questions regarding the game.
Why wasn't Wi-Fi support added? What made them go with this collection of sports? What sports did they have to cut? Which is better: Wii Sports or Deca Sports?
Head on past the break to get a better idea for what the present and future holds for Hudson's Deca Sports game.
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.
The Wii had a good week in Japan, as far as sales are concerned. With Mario Kart Wii continuing to champion the cause, the little white console almost nabbed second place in hardware:
Hudson is being smart about the company's new sports game, Deca Sports, which will hit North American Wiis on May 13th. Since the little white console already comes bundled with Nintendo's game, the bigwigs at Hudson probably knew they couldn't price Deca Sports too highly. That's why we were pleased to hear of the title's $29.99 price tag. Just ten dollars higher and we would have been a lot more hesitant about this game, but $30 hits our sweet spot.
