Category Archives: Japan

If you’re in Japan, you can get free downloadable content for your Nintendo DS and 3DS consoles by popping into your local McDonald’s.

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Siliconera has gotten to the bottom of a Square trademark it uncovered this morning called Rebellion Overdrive, and turns out its a new episode for the Japanese, GREE social game, Knights of the Crystals. The North American version on Facebook ends on February 29. So much for hoping it was one of Square’s Unreal Engine 3 games.

Resident Evil: Revelations topped Media Create’s software charts this week, after debuting in second place to Armored Core V last week. On the hardware side of things, Vita’s rebound the week prior was short-lived, as sales of the handheld fell 1,801 units week-over-week.

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Famitsu publisher Enterbrain has said 3DS software topped the hardware monthly totals for last month in Japan.

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ASCII Media Works, known for its Dengeki magazines, has reported that Resident Evil: Revelations has sold-through 75% of its initial shipment in Japan its first week on sale, which essentially is around 158,012 copies. The figures show a discrepancy between ASCII’s figures and those of Media Create’s, which stated earlier this week the Capcom title moved 146,559 units its first week on sale. Furthermore, ASCII’s figures state another debut, Tales of Innocence R for Vita, moved 70% of its shipment, which is close to 53,000 copies, a bit less than the 54,853 reported by Media Create. Regardless which figures are correct, both debuts did well the first week on offer. Thanks, Siliconera.

Yasuhiro Wada has wandered back out of obscurity, at the head of a brand new company called ToyBox Inc.

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Andriasang reports a delay to the Japanese release of Dynasty Warriors VS; originally scheduled for March 15, it’s now expected on April 26. This is perhaps not the most exciting news out of context, but the hack and slash title was to be one of the first titles utilising the Nintendo Network, the company’s long-awaited answer to the PSN and Xbox Live, alongside Final Fantasy Theatrhythm. The Omega Force title’s network features have not been detailed beyond an emphasis on multiplayer, but DLC is expected to be a part of it.

Capcom has announced it will release Monster Hunter With Everyone: Card Master, known as Minna to Monhan Card Master in Japan, via DeNA’s Mobage mobile social gaming platform. Pre-registrations started today for the card battle game developed by Gloops. Each card is based off characters and monsters from the Monster Hunter series, and it allows players to form guilds, gather cards, and battle other guilds. The game will be released on feature phones and smart phones with microtransactions starting February 21. Thanks, Andriasang.

PS Vita have rebounded slightly in Japan after week-over-week declines since launch, and the new handheld should send Namco a thank you card for the resurgence, as it was due to Tales of Innocence R’s debut which did it. Over on Media Create’s weekly software chart, the Tales game wasn’t the only debut in the top three, as Armored Core V and Resident Evil Revelations took the number one and second place spots, respectively.

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Ubisoft’s announced its recent art exhibit featuring Assassin’s Creed in Japan has raised ¥4,067,215 (£33,850) in the country. The money from the show, which ran from August last year to last month, will be donated towards Red Cross Japan’s continued tsunami relief efforts in the country.

Thanks, Andriasang.

THQ Australia has confirmed the publisher’s ongoing restructuring has affected Australian staff, although the fate of its Japanese office remains unknown.

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PS Vita sales in Japan continued to decline last week according to Media Create’s weekly sales chart. The system moved 15,219 units, which is 3,142 units less than the prior week, and is the system’s lowest sales period since it launched in the region during December.

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Screenshots for Nippon Ichi’s lovely PS3 RPG, The Witch and the Hundred Soldiers, have been posted over on Andriasang. The game, which puts you in the shoes of a witch commanding an army of undead knights, will be released in Japan on June 28. Still no word on an western releases, but we’ve still got our fingers crossed.

Andriasang reports that the venerable Gemaga will end its 28 year run, with the April issue to be the monthly rag’s final. Although it has only enjoyed its new title for six years, the magazine traces its history right back to a 1984 publication, having gone through multiple reinventions and held on to a loyal core fan base. Farewell, Gemaga; thanks for giving Famitsu a run for its money.

PS Vita sales showed a drastic decline on Media Create’s weekly sales chart with only 18,361 units moved, a 57% decline over the 42,648 units sold last week. On the software end, Namco’s Super Robot Taise OG Saga Masou Kishin II moved 81,996 units for its debut on PSP.

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Konami has announced it plans to dissolve Japanese developer Hudson Soft on March 1, after which it will officially be absorbed into Konami Digital Entertainment. The move was agreed upon by members of the Hudson board of directors during a meeting held last week. Komani purchased a majority stake in the Bomberman firm during early 2011, and it is still unclear if any of the firm’s classic titles will continue development under the Komani brand. Additional information can be found via Andriasang. Thanks, Eurogamer.

Media Create figures have shown Nintendo dominated 2011 with monster sales of 3DS and Mario Kart 7.

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In its latest financial briefing, Japanese sch’mup developer Cave revealed a change of focus sure to distress the hardcore.

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3DS continued to dominate Media Create’s weekly sales chart moving 240,819 units which is a 20% increase over the week prior. Monster Hunter 3G crossed the 1 million units sold mark during the week, making it the third 3DS and first third-party title to do so.

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Square Enix officially announced Gunslinger Stratos during a press event in Japan this morning, and it’s a shooter for arcades.

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