PlayStation LifeStyle » Famitsu

Skyrim Becomes First Western Game To Receive Famitsu’s Perfect Score

Tony Wibowo — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 16:01:33 +0000

Since The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim released, the game has enjoyed a scorching reception from fans and critics alike, including a perfect score from PSLS. Famitsu has become the latest member of gaming media to give this great gem a perfect 40/40 score. Even though Skyrim joins a list that already contained 16 games that received perfect scores in the past, its inclusion marks the first time a “western” game receiving such score.

Famitsu reviews games based on scores from four point of views; in short, four reviewers get the task to review the game and at the end tally up the scores from the four people. In order to get perfect 40/40, the game needs to be great enough for the reviewers to brandish 10s – and Skyrim is certainly worthy of such scores.

Many western games, such as Grand Theft Auto IV, FIFA 12, Red Dead Redemption and Modern Warfare 3, came close to receive the perfect scores but they all had to settle for 39/40.

Have you got any objections to Skyrim earning the prestigious perfect score from Famitsu? Let us know in the comment section below.

[Via]

Famitsu’s Most Wanted: FF Type-0 Gets Pre-launch Love

Heath Hindman — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 06:37:24 +0000

While the top five spots in Japanese game mag Famitsu‘s periodic Most Wanted feature haven’t shifted around much lately, they’re certainly about to, as its number one game has just shipped to retailers across the country. The votes, of course, were sent in before that.

Square Enix’s PSP RPG Final Fantasy Type-0 takes top honors again, right where it’s been ever since Tales of Xillia went to market in early September. Here’s the top 15:

1. Final Fantasy Type-0 (PSP)
2. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
3. Mario Kart 7 (3DS)
4. Monster Hunter 3G (3DS)
5. Dragon Quest X (Wii)
6. Dragon’s Dogma (PS3)
7. Super Mario 3D Land (3DS)
8. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
9. Fotokano: Picture Girlfriend (PSP)
10. Persona 4: The Golden (Vita)
11. Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PS3)
12. New Love Plus (3DS)
13. Metal Gear Solid Rising (PS3)
14. Animal Crossing (3DS)
15. Gundam Extreme Versus (PS3)

The heir apparent is another Square Enix title, Final Fantasy XIII-2. To the dismay of some, this means that as early as next week, a sequel to perhaps the most widely divisive Final Fantasy game in history may become Japan’s most anticipated game. Beyond that, numbers two, three, and four are all slated for December releases, which means Dragon Quest X might move back onto the top of the heap. Prior to 2011, it had been quite comfortable there for some time.

[Source: Weekly Famitsu Magazine #1194]

Famitsu’s Vita FAQ Answers Burning Questions

Cameron Teague — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 16:09:25 +0000

Most of you probably have plenty of questions about the Vita, its functionality, and what peripherals it can use. Thankfully, Japanese magazine Famitsu has a Vita FAQ in its latest issue that answers some big questions many of you might have.

The major tidbit found was about “Game Archives,” which we can only think means older games. The FAQ says that “archive” titles cannot be played on the Vita at time of the launch, hinting that this is something that could come later. A few other things from the FAQ include:

Sony is looking into a method of allowing PSP owners to carry their save data over to the Vita.
Sony will offer a “Portable Charger,” a battery which offers double the capacity of the system’s built in battery.
The system’s web browser supports Java, HTML5, cookies, and so-forth. It does not support Flash. However, this is just initial functionality.
As the Vita does not use Memory Stick or SD Card, if you want to transfer your music and images from PSP to Vita you’ll need to go through PC or PS3.
The system’s brightness level setting is not step-based — you can make gradual adjustments.
You can put the system into sleep mode by quickly pressing the power button. Outside of sleep mode, you can temporarily suspend the current game by pressing the PS Button, which takes you to the game’s Live Arena. You can then use such functionality as PS Store, friend lists, photos and so forth. If you want to boot up another game or the video player, though, you’ll need to exit the current game.

On top of the FAQ, Famitsu also posted responses to 50 questions that potential buyers might have about the system and here are the biggest questions and answers.

Required Peripherals
Famitsu says that a Memory Card is pretty much a requirement, as some games will require the card. Games that require a card can’t even be booted up if you don’t have one.
External Video Out
The system does not have external video out.
PS3 Connectivity
Memory Card data management and Trophy sharing. You can also view video and music via Remote Play. PS3′s Torne DVR device can also be used once you’ve updated its firmware.
PSP Software Compatibility
You can up the visual quality through bilinear filtering. This can be toggled on and off.
Use of PSP and PS3 Peripherals
The system cannot use PSP and PS3 peripherals
Internal Software
At shipment time, you can use the following built in apps or functions: Welcome Park (introduces you to the controls), Party (a chatting app that can be used in games), Photo & Camera, Music, Video, Near (a social app for interacting with other Vita systems in your area), Browser, Group Messaging, Friend, Trophy, PS Store, Remote Play, Content Management and Settings.
Parental Controls
For 3G, content will be filtered by default. If you want this feature turned off, you have to fill out some paperwork at the NTT DoCoMo shop.
GPS Without a 3G Contract
You can still use GPS, but 3G can acquire positional information faster.
Current 3G Usage
You can check your current 3G usage through an app called “Network Operator.”
Wi-Fi VS 3G
The system will first attempt to connect via Wi-Fi. If no Wi-Fi connection is found, it will connect through 3G. While connected through 3G, even if the system later finds a Wi-Fi hotspot, it will not automatically switch.

Hopefully this solves some concerns or questions that many of you might have.

[Via/Via]

Famitsu Lifts the Lid on Some PlayStation Vita Titles

Cameron Teague — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:03:27 +0000

With Sony’s Tokyo Game Shower Presser taking place minutes from now, details are streaming in from the latest issue of Famitsu, revealing a whole bunch of upcoming PlayStation Vita games, from old favorites like Ninja Gaiden Sigma to new titles such as Armies of Hell.

In the Japanese magazine, we see Vita ports of the aforementioned Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Katamari Damacy, and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 to name a few. Unconfirmed reports are also stating that Falcom’s Ys IV will also get some Vita love.

Some of the revealed new and original games include Armies of Hell and Lord of the Apocalypse from Square Enix.

Armies of Hell and Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 are reported to be launch titles for the Vita. More information on all of these titles should start pouring in once the event goes live shortly.

Stay tuned to PlayStation LifeStyle as more titles are revealed for Sony’s handheld.

[Via]

Japanese Gamers and Developers Comment on PlayStation Vita

Cameron Teague — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:41:30 +0000

The PlayStation Vita has been a very popular topic among gamers, journalists, and developers ever since its initial reveal back in January, and even more so after E3. Japanese magazine Famitsu recently announced the results of a PS Vita survey sent to both gamers and game industry professionals. What you can see from the survey results is that Sony and the PS Vita should do very well out in Japan.

Here are some of the strong numbers from the survey:

87 percent of Japanese gamers have an interest in purchasing a Vita.
44.8 percent say they intend to pick it up on day one.
54.9 percent found the Wi-Fi model to be “inexpensive” at 24,980 yen ($249).
58 percent said they would choose the Wi-Fi model over the 3G.

Outside of the numbers, the Vita also got high praise from some of the industry’s brightest talents, including Akihiro Hino, Jun Takeuchi, and Yoshinori Ono to name a few.

Tomonobu Itagaki, former Tecmo/Team Ninja director who is currently with Valhalla Games:

I got to touch the actual system for the first time at E3, but it’s really amazing. I think the fact they’re releasing a system that comes so close to the PlayStation 3′s specs when the PS3 is still a primary platform in the marketplace is especially worth noting. I’ve worked on a portable game only once in my career, but I think I’m going to need to change my stance toward portables, and I think the game business will need to join me on that. Either way, I need to hit the state-of-the-art with a high-end project — if it winds up that portables are as powerful as consoles, then where does that leave consoles?

Akihiro Hino, head of Level-5:

I’m really impressed with the Vita’s specs, considering the net-based society we live in now. It’s a platform with the sort of new features that get creators excited about making new kinds of games, and that alone means there’s a good chance at seeing some really innovative stuff done with the system. I find its console-caliber specs to be really fascinating, and I’d love to release a product that takes advantage of those specs.

Yosuke Hayashi, head of Team Ninja:

Up to now, most developers thought to themselves ‘Okay, this project is for consoles and this is for portables.’ The PS Vita blows a hole in that entire concept; it offers a new challenge to the industry. I’m in the midst of thinking about what sort of game the Vita’s suited for — you can play smartphone games on it, but is that enough?

Jun Takeuchi, Capcom:

To me, the most impressive thing is how it brings visuals to a level previously unheard of in portables. The analog stick is easy to use, and the dual touch panels are extremely quick and responsive — as a portable, it’s the perfect package. That, plus its network capabilities, really makes it feel like the ultimate all-in-one game system. Assuming that the game media is faster than optical discs, it’ll be easy to take full advantage of the Vita’s memory specs. It’s a system that definitely demands serious effort from developers.

Yoshinori Ono, Capcom:

I think this hardware will let me do what I want to try in the future on the portable front. So far with Street Fighter X Tekken we’ve only talked about features that we can do on consoles, but we’d also like to implement some stuff that would only be possible on portables like this one in the future. If we can do fun stuff with the 3G/Wi-Fi, GPS and PSN functionality, then that just sets my imagination on fire. I’m looking forward to working with SCE to get everything out of the system.

Check out our opinions of the Vita from E3 as well and let us know in the comments if you plan to get a Vita, and if so, what model?

[Via]

Picture Girlfriend Outranks Versus XIII on Famitsu’s Most Wanted

Heath Hindman — Wed, 18 May 2011 14:59:14 +0000

Aside from Namco Bandai’s Tales of Xillia taking back the top spot, there was one other big change on Famitsu’s recently published Most Wanted Games list; Fotokano: Picture Girlfriend has overtaken the next (offline) console-based Final Fantasy game. “The hell,” you say?
Here’s the magazine’s top 20:

1. Tales of Xillia (PS3)
2. Final Fantasy Type 0 (PSP)
3. Dragon Quest X (Wii)
4. Yakuza: Of the End (PS3)
5. Fotokano: Picture Girlfriend (PSP)
6. Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PS3)
7. Mario Kart 3D (3DS)
8. Metal Gear Solid: Rising (PS3)
9. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (3DS)
10. Ragnarok: Princess of Light and Dark (PSP)
11. Tales of the Abyss (3DS)
12. Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (PS3)
13. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
14. Akiba’s Trip (PSP)
15. The Last Guardian (PS3)
16. Tiny Battlers (PSP)
17. Dark Souls (PS3)
18. Animal Crossing (3DS)
19. The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Wii)
20. Stein’s Gate (PSP)

For the uninitiated, Fotokano is an anagram combining “photo” with the first part of the Japanese word for “Girlfriend,” which is “kanojo.” So we end up with “Fotokano.” As the title may or may not indicate, you snap photos of 12-year-old girls in compromising positions. Leading reasons for the game outranking Square Enix’s next big console title on this anticipation gauge are likely to include, “It will be published before I die.”

Sega’s Yakuza: Of the End also took a step up. Hey, remember when I called that?

Expect to see Atelier Meruru show up on the list in future publications, as the game is inching closer to its June 23 launch date.

[Via]

Disaster Impact on Game Industry Small, Temporary

Heath Hindman — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 11:18:54 +0000

Enterbrain, the publisher of top Japanese gaming magazine Weekly Famitsu has announced some interesting figures on the magazine’s official website.

This past weekend, at a seminar in Tokyo, Enterbrain CEO Hirokazu Hamamura delivered some details and company estimates. The first piece of data he spoke on was the headliner, as this conference was subtitled “How Much Did the Disaster Affect the Game Industry?” In the following image, the colored bars are gauges of weekly sales, the leftmost one being the last week of February, the next ones being weeks of March. The dark blue represents software sales while the light purple atop it shows hardware sales. In the second week of March, the light blue shows up, which represents Hamamura’s estimated software sales losses. Pink likewise stands for estimated loss of hardware sales.

While there is a dip from the last week of February to the first week of March, despite the disaster not happening until March 11, it should be noted that late February saw some highly anticipated releases in Japan, including the arrival of the 3DS as well as big software titles like Catherine, Killzone 3, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, LittleBigPlanet 2, Red Dead Redemption, Samurai Warriors 3 Z, and Rune Factory Frontier, just to name a few. Late February was huge and already had an advantage over the first week of March, which explains the visible drop there.

But notice, while weeks 3 and 4 do see big drops in estimated sales, they’re not as big as one might assume. I’m going to add my own analysis of this, as it doesn’t surprise me much. Physically as well as mentally, people need rest. This is no secret; it’s why we have days off work, lest we burn out or end up the ER due to running on nothing but Red Bull and coffee. Year in and year out studies continuously prove that, contrary to its appearance, people who take more breaks and get proper rest are generally more productive than their burned out counterparts. People need rest, not just physically. What some view as laziness is, to an extent, just plain healthy. Oh yes, it can cross the line and that guy Dave that you knew in college that just played Madden and flunked out and wasted his dad’s money is still a loser, but don’t sub him in for anyone calling a time out to jump on some Goombas. Games are amazing things that let us escape reality, if only for a moment.

In times of life-changing distress like this, those people in Miyagi need some games. I see news clips here of kids living in temporary shelters, playing DS and such and feel relieved that at least they have something resembling their old way of life and letting them forget the fact that they now live in a high school gym, if only for a few minutes. Tokyo Disneyland just reopened the other day, and people were literally so happy that they were crying. We need happy diversions in times like this. The whole country of Japan is stressed out about this, even in the unaffected areas, so I say yes, get out there and keep buying games. To me, seeing a kid in a shelter playing a video game and smiling says that things truly are moving back to normal, if slowly. We’ll be OK. I’ll shut up and get back to news now.

Going along with my comments above, Enterbrain’s CEO cited the movie industry’s reactions to disaster, pointing out that on a national scale, it often sees a 120-140 per cent increase in revenue in times following a disaster. People seek the mental breather. Likewise, he is sure the game software and hardware sales dip is just temporary, largely due to shipping difficulties and of course the affected areas needing to put resources into the actual, literal core necessities for survival right now. Another factor in the drop, he said, was that hotly anticipated releases such as Yakuza: Of the End had been delayed.

Also an interesting info bit revealed in this slideshow was the estimated market share of each console. This graph below shows the Wii, PSP, and PS3 getting bumps up from 2009 to 2010, while the PS2, DS, and Xbox 360 lost some ground.

For the next while, Famitsu magazines are being printed on some type of different paper (it’s less glossy, but heck if I know exactly what it is) and containing less pages in general. Since Famitsu is priced based on how many pages it has, this keeps the magazine more affordable in Japan’s tough times.

Famitsu’s Most Wanted Still Seats Xillia No. 1

Heath Hindman — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:06:01 +0000

Tales of Xillia still ranks in at the top of the heap in Famitsu’s Most Wanted, as it holds off Japan’s most popular franchise yet again. Meanwhile, both 3DS titles take a slip, with Mario Kart falling three spots and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time falling from number 5 to number 13. Its huge drop is balanced out by Fotokano‘s gigantic climb, going from 15 to 7. Dark Souls, spiritual successor of Demon’s Souls, has dropped out of the top 15 in favor of the PSP’s Story of the Last Promise, which has been more recently translated as Final Promise Story.
1. Tales of Xillia (PS3)
2. Dragon Quest X (Wii)
3. Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PS3)
4. Final Fantasy Type 0 (PSP)
5. Yakuza: Of the End (PS3)
6. Super Robot Wars Z (PSP)
7. Fotokano: Picture Girlfriend (PSP)
8. Metal Gear Solid Rising (PS3)
9. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)
10. Mario Kart 3D (3DS)
11. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
12. Tales of the Abyss (3DS)
13. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (3DS)
14. Story of the Last Promise (PSP)
15. The Last Guardian (PS3)

A couple of these come out soon, so expect some real shakeups in future lists. With Sega’s recent announcement of its new plans for Yakuza: Of the End, I’m thinking that game will keep a high ranking right up until its release.

[Source]

Xillia Strengthens Lead in Famitsu’s Most Wanted Countdown

Heath Hindman — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:23:12 +0000

Upon last count, Tales of Xillia had only a slight lead over Dragon Quest X for the top spot on Famitsu’s reader poll of the most wanted games. We’re talking like 13 votes was the only thing between the two, some serious Bush-versus-Gore, Florida, 2000 business. Now, however, the gap has gone the other direction to become the biggest I’ve seen between the two RPGs, as it currently stands at over 400 votes.

This comes in the form of 1,028 votes for Tales of Xillia and 606 for Dragon Quest X. Here are, according to Famitsu, the top 15 most wanted games right now:

1. Tales of Xillia (PS3)
2. Dragon Quest X (Wii)
3. Super Robot Wars Z (PSP)
4. Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PS3)
5. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (3DS)
6. Metal Gear Solid Rising (PS3)
7. Mario Kart 3D (3DS)
8. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
9. Final Fantasy Type 0 (PSP)
10. Yakuza: Of the End (PS3)
11. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)
12. The Last Guardian (PS3)
13. Tales of the Abyss (3DS)
14. Dark Souls (PS3)
15. Fotokano: Picture Girlfriend (PSP)

The PS3 version of the PC and XBox 360 title Last Remnant has been canceled for some time, but the diehards keep voting for it, and once again it lurks just outside the top 15. It’ll be interesting to see how long this small-but-dedicated group clings to a canceled game — one that got such lackluster reviews to boot. Sony once again has reason to be pleased, as 7 of the top 10 titles are for Sony systems (5 PS3, 2 PSP). And unlike Last Remnant, those games actually exist, which history has proven to be a very big influence on sales.

[Source]

Yakuza: Of the End Gets Huge Boost in Famitsu’s Most Wanted

Heath Hindman — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 20:42:07 +0000

After several high-profile games were canned or delayed indefinitely due to the Tohoku Earthquake, the people have apparently spoken up for one of them. Their voice seems to say that, despite its apocalyptic themes, they’re ready for Yakuza: Of the End. After being absent from the last countdown, it comes into this one at a strong #4.With the game set in an apocalyptic Kamurocho, the game certainly covers a sensitive subject, so a delay was fully understandable. However, with the title’s comedic and light-hearted themes, perhaps the Japanese public are ready for Yakuza 4.

Tales of Xillia (PS3)
Dragon Quest X (Wii)
Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PS3)
Yakuza: Of the End (PS3)
Super Robot Wars Z (PSP)
Mario Kart 3D (3DS)
Metal Gear Solid Rising (PS3)
Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)
Final Fantasy Type 0 (PSP)
Fotokano: Picture Girlfriend (PSP)
The Last Guardian (PS3)
Tales of the Abyss (3DS)
Dark Souls (PS3)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (3DS)
Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)

As has been the standard in 2011, Sony has been on fire, with 11 of these 15 titles being for either PSP or PS3. Don’t count out Dragon Quest X though, as a highly anticipated, numbered entry in perhaps Japan’s single most popular game series, on one of its most-owned systems, the game could easily overtake Tales of Xillia in the near future. This week’s official numbers actually show Tales of Xillia clinging to a tiny 13-vote lead over the Square Enix RPG.

[Source]

Sony Still Owning Famitsu’s Most Wanted List

Heath Hindman — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 15:21:23 +0000

Famitsu’s newest reader poll isn’t drastically different from the last one, with PS3-exclusive Tales of Xillia still riding high and other expected games also weighing in. Dark Souls now makes its first appearance on this list at number 13, and it will likely be inching upward as it gets a little closer to release time. The Last Guardian, meanwhile, has finally made it into the top 10.

The new list doesn’t have Sony with quite the stranglehold it had last time, but reaching such a thing in the first place would certainly be very rare for any company in this competitive age, let alone holding onto it for an extended period of time. Nonetheless, Sony has to be pleased with this favorable showing from Famitsu’s readers. The top 30 includes 9 PS3 games and 9 PSP games, with games for Sony systems making up 8 of the top 10.

1. Tales of Xillia (PS3)
2. Dragon Quest X (Wii)
3. Super Robot Wars Z (PSP)
4. Final Fantasy Versus XIII (PS3)
5. Final Fantasy Type-0 (PSP)
6. Mario Kart 3D (3DS)
7. Metal Gear Solid Rising (PS3)
8. Persona 2: Innocent Sin (PSP)
9. The Last Guardian (PS3)
10. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3)
11. Photo Girlfriend (PSP)
12. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (3DS)
13. Dark Souls (PS3)
14. Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories (PS3)
15. Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection (PSP)
16. The Legend of Zelda: The Skyward Sword (Wii)
17. Fantasy Life (3DS)
18. Tales of the Abyss (3DS)
19. The Last Remnant (PS3)
20. Amagami: Ebicore+ (PSP)
21. Resident Evil: Revelations (3DS)
22. Story of the Last Promise (PSP)
23. Animal Crossing (3DS)
24. Tiny Battlers (PSP)
25. Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2: Professional (DS)
26. Pro Baseball Spirits 2011 (3DS)
27. Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney (3DS)
28. Black Rock Shooter: The Game (PSP)
29. Earth Seeker (Wii)
30. Warriors: Legends of Troy (PS3)

One more note that should be made is that number 14, Disaster Report 4, has been cancelled in the wake of the devastating Tohoku Earthquake. The votes in this poll were collected before Famitsu magazine went to press, however, so the game is still on the list.

[Source]

Way of the Samurai 4 Disembowels 360 and Becomes PS3 Exclusive

Matt Baker — Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:38:36 +0000

Way of the Samurai 4 has been in development for quite a while now. Popular Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu has the action-adventure game featured in its latest issue and although it was previously known as an Xbox 360 title, the magazine lists it as a PlayStation 3 exclusive.

Way of the Samurai 4‘s publisher, Spike, ported the last game in the series to the Xbox 360 just four months after the game released on the PlayStation 3 in Japan.

Siliconera managed to grab some additional details on the game. When you start Way of the Samurai 4 there’ll be four types of heroes to choose from. Once you’ve chosen a hero you can decide what happens to the three groups fighting over a harbor after foreigners arrive onto the scene.

God of War: Ghost of Many Hats

Paulmichael Contreras — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 22:40:06 +0000

God of War: Ghost of Sparta releases in just a few weeks. While we now know all the pre-order goodies that will come with the game’s North American release, a special limited edition is now available for pre-order in Japan, and includes some unique items.

The limited-edition bundle has been spotted and is available now at Japanese magazine Famitsu’s website. Priced at 8,480 yen (about $104 USD), this edition will come with a copy of the game as well as a God of War-branded hat (pictured above) and t-shirt. The t-shirt’s design has not yet been finalized, however. Pre-orders will also come packaged with a voucher to download the Legionnaire skin. God of War: Ghost of Sparta is scheduled to release in Japan on November 11th.

Famitsu Boss Believes 2010 Will be PSP’s Biggest Year

Matt Baker — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 11:30:33 +0000

Sony’s PlayStation Portable is nearing its 6th birthday in Japan. Despite the aging handheld nearing the end of its lifecycle, it very well could be on track to have its best year ever.

The PSP has gone head-to-head for several weeks on end with the Nintendo DS. And now, even with the launch of the Nintendo’s 3DS looming, CEO of Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, Hirokazu Hamamura, believes the PSP still has plenty of fight left in it, even going as far to say:

“This year will be the PSP’s biggest year.”

Hamamure mentioned a number of blockbuster titles including Lord of Arcana, God Eater Burst, Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity, Black Panther Yakuza New Chapter Tactics Ogre and The 3rd Birthday. However, he believed Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is what will sell the most for the PSP with Hamamura stating it could sell up to 5 million units.

“Selling five million units is not a dream.”

Hamamura also continued to say the “The PSP will expand its market” for the end of the year.

[Via]

PS3 Outselling 360 4-to-1 in Japan

Paulmichael Contreras — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:13:09 +0000

Yesterday’s conference held by Sony on the opening day of TGS had many statistics and numbers thrown our way. One thing that may have flown past many people in that flurry of info is just how obviously the Japanese prefer consoles made in Japan, and we’ve got the raw numbers for you after the break.

Famitsu‘s publisher, Enterbrain, recently publicized every current-gen console’s lifetime sales in Japan. While the DS is King, with over 30 million units sold so far, the PSP is in second, tipping the scales at just over 15 million units purchased. The Wii has almost double the sales of the PS3 with over 10 million consoles sold, and the PS3 has over four times the sales of the Xbox 360. This is especially bad news for the 360, considering it had an 11-month head start over both the PS3 and Wii. Below are the actual numbers, sorted from most to least:

DS: 31,039,215
PSP: 15,009,120
Wii 10,655,962
PS3: 5,501,923
360: 1,354,685

Looks like the PS3 has some work to do if its sales are going to catch the Wii, and time will tell how much of a push the Move and the upcoming holiday season will help the console sell. Stay connected with PlayStation LifeStyle for all the information you can handle straight from TGS.