3DS Sales Still Strong In Japan, Despite Lack Of Software

Though its software is not moving in any significant way, Nintendo's 3DS is still the top-selling console in Japan. For the week ending October 16, 55,026 3DS units were sold in the region, a slight bump from last week. System sales continue to be strong despite a lack of interest in its current software. Indeed, only one 3DS game -- Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D -- managed to crack the top 20 software charts, and that game was released over four months ago. Typically sales surges for hardware in Japan come on the backs of new software releases, but this has not been the case for the 3DS, which has topped the charts each of the past four weeks after trailing behind Sony's PSP. In this particular case, it appears that hype surrounding games yet-to-be-released -- such as Capcom's Monster Hunter 3G, which has an ongoing advertising campaign in the country -- is driving its sales. The hardware charts for Japan for the week ending October 16, as tracked by Media Create, follows: 1. Nintendo 3DS - 55,025 2. PlayStation 3 - 28,596 3. PSP - 25,271 4. Wii - 12,161 5. Nintendo DS - 4,791 6. Xbox 360 - 1,887 7. PlayStation 2 - 1,280