Hell has thawed, Xbox 360 didn't win Japan afterall
by Xav de Matos 
{ Sep 19th 2008 at 12:15PM }
Quick. Someone call the caterer, the petting zoo and the guys behind the three hundred and sixty pounds of confetti we ordered for the party to celebrate Xbox 360's win in Japan. VideoGamer.com is reporting new sales data from MediaCreate that contradicts figures released by Famitsu publisher Enterbrain which claimed the Xbox 360 had outsold the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii in the Land of the Rising Sun.
MediaCreate have released figures which now put the Xbox 360 about 1,500 units behind the Nintendo Wii with 28,188 units sold versus Nintendo's 29,686. While numbers for the PlayStation 3 were not detailed it was verified that the Xbox 360 outsold Sony's console in the period of September 8 to 14.
Uh oh. Was that the doorbell? Quick, turn off the lights! Maybe the delivery guys will leave and take the life-sized J. Allard funnel cake with them.
MediaCreate have released figures which now put the Xbox 360 about 1,500 units behind the Nintendo Wii with 28,188 units sold versus Nintendo's 29,686. While numbers for the PlayStation 3 were not detailed it was verified that the Xbox 360 outsold Sony's console in the period of September 8 to 14.
Uh oh. Was that the doorbell? Quick, turn off the lights! Maybe the delivery guys will leave and take the life-sized J. Allard funnel cake with them.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SAGExSDX @ Sep 19th 2008 12:23PM
there really isn't a way to know. the same thing happens here in USA for NPD vs VGChartz. VGChartz doesn't have as much credibility as NPD but both are tracking retail sales only partially. The rest of the numbers are derived off calculations and fomulas.
so it is possible that Xbox 360 sold more than Wii in a week. but it also is just as possible that it didn't.
Does it matter? not really. we should be looking at it more generally in that if MS wants to sell 360s, they need more japanese games (yes, obvious)
Fx.Dr @ Sep 19th 2008 12:28PM
Outselling the PS3 in its strongest territory - home turf - is still one helluva feat. GG, Microsoft.
Right now I wouldn't be surprised if Nintendo had More Wiis in circulation than the Gideons have Bibles - not being able to overtake them comes as no surprise.
Deezul @ Sep 19th 2008 12:43PM
I'm pretty sure if there was a Wii in the drawer of my hotel room, it's going home with me. The Gideon Bible, not so much.
illisium @ Sep 19th 2008 12:30PM
If anyone ever had any doubt about the importance of getting quality launch JRPGs to market, it should be put to rest now. I hope to hell Microsoft/Nintendo/Sony have learned their lesson, but I'm not holding out hope.
EdgeZephyr @ Sep 19th 2008 12:33PM
Biggest question is, are these figures necessarily more accurate than Famitsu? Kotaku was making it sound like MediaCreate could be wrong too (and Famitsu) right, we just have little way of knowing right now.
SAGExSDX @ Sep 19th 2008 12:48PM
no, neither is necessarily more accurate than the other. the numbers that come out should be viewed for trends rather than hard numbers of actual sales.
Xav de Matos @ Sep 19th 2008 1:13PM
Well we don't know for sure that's why I made a point to say these figures are according to MediaCreate.
I suspect we'll find out soon.
Mr Khan @ Sep 19th 2008 1:24PM
Ah. For it to have been so close was an achievement in and of itself. Either way its something to be congratulated.
Seanross @ Sep 19th 2008 2:36PM
Achievement unlocked?
100 Points?
maynard @ Sep 19th 2008 2:37PM
Please don't compare VG/NPD to Famitsu/Media Create. VG is little more than a guesstimate of sales done by a few amateurs who know little more about game sales than the average shmoe, while NPD #'s are compiled by actual experts and people who know what they're doing.
So, lest you enjoy making yourself look a fool, don't do yourself the disservice of every mentioning or comparing VG's numbers to anyone that might have a clue about console/software sales.
I beg this of you!!!
erico316 @ Sep 19th 2008 2:49PM
um there 2 other system that are selling 2x better then the wii in japan.the psp and ds are the system to beat in japan.why are u guys celebrating a useless win.The ps3 didnt have any new games out that week and the wii doesnt have a lineup to substain the rest of the year to keep it in first place.i hate when people over react i never believe 3rd place was a win for any1 to truely win the 360 had to outsell the psp and ds the wii and ps3 had done it a few times in their life cycle.
Jake @ Sep 19th 2008 3:01PM
Microsoft faking numbers? No suprise there then. Perhaps they just got aload of shills to buy consoles is their last ditch attempt to crack Japan...
Xav de Matos @ Sep 19th 2008 4:37PM
Microsoft hasn't even commented on recent Japan sales, dude.
petrov @ Sep 19th 2008 9:49PM
yea well the wii's sales are based on these fad products that are causing oooos and ahhhhhhs but for how long? first they had the wii controller with wii sports, then the wii fit with the glorified scale, and next they will have the accurate wii controller addon. does anyone still play wii sports every single day? or has anyone really lost a ton of weight from wii fit? or will anyone really care about a more accurate wii controller? where are the kickass games to go with these silly gimicks. if anything nintendo is going to run out of novelty controllers and face the music that they have a weak lineup of games that truly compliment the hardware.
Jack @ Sep 19th 2008 10:15PM
I'm actually getting tired of Nintendo pulling this crap for 2 gen of consoles. (Wii, GC) They simply don't give a crap about doing things like they used to back in N64 and SNES eras. Disappointing.