Famitsu has always been a great publication to learn about the latest games from Japan. In fact, the magazine often reveals games before any other outlet. All readers should once again keep their eyes peeled on next week’s issue, as the magazine will share the first information on a popular “robot action game.” There will be a 5 page preview as well as a developer interview to accompany the announcement. As is usually the case with these types of secrets, there is no confirmation yet as to which platform(s) the game is being created for. However, in about a week’s time, we’ll find out.
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep (PSP) – 10/9/9/9
Batman: Arkham Asylum (PS3/360) – 10/8/8/8
Last Window (DS) – 9/8/8/7
Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles (Wii) – 8/7/7/7
Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising (PS3/360) – 7/7/7/7
Thanks to Tosh for the news tip!
First Time the FightStick is Available on the Nintendo Wii
San Diego, January 05, 2010
Mad Catz® Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, today announced the licensed Tatsunoko VS. Capcom Arcade FightStick for the Nintendo Wii expected to ship alongside the US launch of TASUNOKO VS. CAPCOM™: ULTIMATE ALL-STARS in January 2010.
TATSUNOKO VS. CAPCOM: ULTIMATE ALL-STARS pairs well-known characters from Capcom®’s roster of games with some of Japan’s most beloved characters from anime powerhouse ‘Tatsunoko Production’. With a roster of more than 20 colorful combatants to choose from, gamers can create the ultimate video game tag-team combination, in a title which is sure to appeal to hardcore fighting fans as well as gamers new to the genre.
This information accounts for data from December 29, 2008 to December 27, 2009.
2009 Market Size
HW Value = 216.49 bln yen (-13.6% YoY)
SW Value = 326.16 bln yen (-1.8% YoY)
Total Value = 542.64 bln yen (-6.9% YoY)
2009 Hardware Sales
NDS – 4,025,313 (29,160,589)
PSP – 2,307,971 (13,386,455)
Wii – 1,975,178 (9,501,999)
PS3 – 1,727,041 (4,391,407)
360 – 331,706 (1,197,873)
2009 Software Top 5
1. [NDS] Dragon Quest IX – 4,100,968
2. [NDS] Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver – 3,382,597
3. [WII] New Super Mario Bros. Wii – 2,485,150
4. [NDS] Friend Collection – 2,311,948
5. [PS3] Final Fantasy XIII – 1,698,256
– Expansion packs called Karaoke Joysound Wii: Duet Songs and Karaoke Joysound Wii: Enka/Ballad
– 1 microphone, 100 songs on Enka/Ballad
– 2 microphones, 50 songs on Duet Songs
– No set release date
– Hudson also releasing Owari Party Game 100 Bakushow sometime this year in Japan
Nintendo Announces Healthy Holiday Sales Figures
As everyone looks ahead to the possibilities in store for 2010, Nintendo of America is looking to extend the glow of the holidays with some fresh December sales information. The following items were announced by Nintendo President Satoru Iwata in Japan:
* Although official U.S. sales data for December and all of 2009 will be announced by the NPD Group on Jan. 14, it appears that U.S. consumers responded enthusiastically to Nintendo’s Wii™ home console in December. Nintendo estimates that December sales in the United States will exceed 3 million units.
* Nintendo estimates that the portable Nintendo DS™ lineup, including the Nintendo DSi™ video game system, set a new all-time calendar-year U.S. sales record for any console or hand-held system.
* Nintendo software also continued to perform well. Although the NPD Group will provide the full sales numbers for each game, Nintendo estimates that lifetime U.S. sales of New Super Mario Bros.™ Wii are approaching 4 million. The game, which is the first Super Mario Bros. game to include simultaneous four-player action, launched in the United States on Nov. 15.“The millions of people who bought Nintendo hardware during the holidays can look forward to enjoying great games on those systems now and in the future,” said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. “The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks for Nintendo DS, and Wii Fit Plus and New Super Mario Bros. Wii are all currently providing Nintendo fans with amazing experiences and fun adventures for the whole family.”
