Following an usually busy week last week, the Japanese games market has fallen back to its normal levels for this time of year, with only the number one title selling over 100,000 units. Despite stock levels that appeared to be returning to normal last week, the Nintendo DS has once again become sold out in many Japanese stores, although demand for software has only increased at the same time.
English language education tool Eigo Duke has risen to the number one spot with 109,481 unit sales, as Animal Crossing and the latest Brain Training title have also risen up the chart. The highest new entry was Tourist Trophy at number four with 59,654 units sold – a disappointing debut for the motorcycle simulation from Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital.
The second highest new entry was American football manga license Eyeshield 21 at number eight, with just 36,811 unit sales. It came in just below Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII, which has seen a precipitous fall from the number one spot following negative critical feedback, including an unusually harsh, and controversially delayed, review from respected magazine Famitsu.
Despite the stock issues with the Nintendo DS, the PSP could only manage to outsell it by the narrowest of margins at 25,905 units to 25,321. The PlayStation 2 sold 24,780 units this week, followed by a combined 8,963 for the Game Boy Advance family of consoles. For only the second time since it’s launch the Xbox 360 outsold the GameCube at 2,194 units to 2,138.
