Professor Layton And The Diabolical Box Hit 67,500 Units In August

Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box sold 67,500 units in the U.S. in August, the NPD Group tells Gamasutra -- a healthy number, considering the title launched here on August 24. The Level 5-developed DS title is the second one in the series to release in the U.S., after Professor Layton and the Curious Village. The franchise has seen three games launched in Japan, with a fourth in development. It features brain-teaser puzzles set against the backdrop of animated mystery stories, starring the titular top-hatted Professor and his boy apprentice, Luke. Nintendo has heavily advertised the title in the West for the casual audience, running a series of television ads depicting adult women enjoying the game in social settings and on the go. But the series has also enjoyed considerable popularity among more traditional audiences -- critics gave the first two titles each a Metacritic average of 85, appreciating the sophistication of the series' puzzles and the originality of its look and tone. The original title was a regular presence on the charts in the U.S., UK and Japan for several weeks following its release, and was the top-selling DS game in the U.S. for its first three weeks on shelves.