14 DAY TRIAL // Dragon Quest IX and the Nintendo DSi handheld are becoming fast friends on the Japanese market, the link between the two pretty much driving the whole videogame market in the country. Since the Square Enix-made JRPG came out on July 11, the Nintendo-made handheld console has leaped to sales levels more in line with those seen in 2008 rather than earlier in 2009.
The Nintendo DSi, the new and improved version of the old product, sold 80,362 units in one week, while its closest rival, Sony’s PlayStation Portable, managed to sell 30,523 units in the same period. The Nintendo Wii is in third place of the hardware chart, with 23,995 home consoles moved to gamers.
Interestingly, the DS Lite, the older version of the handheld, sold 12,285 units, which is more than the PlayStation 3 that is reported to have shipped 8,997 units in one week, the PlayStation 2, which reported 3,305, and Microsoft’s Xbox 360, last in the hardware chart with 3,080 devices moved.
When it comes to the videogames for all of these consoles, Japan seems to be slowly growing tired of Dragon Quest IX, but the title is still posting more than impressive sales numbers, even if they are dropping each week. It has managed to hold on to the top spot with 270,000 copies sold, while Tomodachi Connection, made by Nintendo also for the DS, moved 74,000 in the same period. Third spot goes to Wii Sports Resort, which also sold 74,000 units to hold on to third spot.
The first new entry is at number four. Penguin no Mondai: Tenkuu no Senshi was created by Konami and moved 43,000 units, while number five goes to Okaeri! Chibi-Robo! Happy Richie Oosouji from Nintendo. All the top five games are released for Nintendo-made hardware devices.