14 DAY TRIAL // The only console to see an actual sales growth in Japan has been the PlayStation 3, with the Sony device managing to sell almost 30% more units than during the previous seven-day period just as other gaming gadgets registered another drop. The fortunes of the Sony platform were improved by the launch of Resident Evil 5: Alternative Edition, which piqued the interest of gamers.
The PlayStation Portable handheld managed to sell 32,796 units in seven days, down significantly from more than 39,000, while the PlayStation 3 rose to second spot in the chart with 32,130 units moved to players, up from less than 25,000. The Nintendo Wii also lost about 6,000 units in sales, moving just 31,652 in one week.
The DS line from Nintendo occupies the next four positions, with the LL big screen version coming in at 24,388 units and with the normal DSi coming in at 15,380. The DS Lite, despite better devices being available, is still selling, moving a little more than 5,000 units to players. The Xbox 360 managed to outsell both the PS2 and the PSP Go.
When it comes to videogames, Resident Evil 5: Alternative Edition from Capcom for the PlayStation 3 is the big winner of the week, succeeding in moving 143,000 units in its first week on sales.
The zombie killing bonanza featuring Chris Redfield managed to beat out God Eater from Namco Bandai for the PlayStation Portable, which only sold some 64,000 copies during last week. New Super Mario Bros. for the Wii is holding on to third sport in the chart with 44,000 in sales, while Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie, a one time first place videogame, is down in fourth, with Tomodachi Collection closing up the top five.
Heavy Rain, one of the most widely awaited PlayStation 3 exclusives of this year, debuted at number six in Japan, selling 27,000 units, which is not a lot by today's standards and might indicate that Sony has a good but not commercially attractive title on their hands.