Could it have something to do with the very non-Japanese storyline and characters?

icegoat

For now...

umbrae

@waterbottle: Hehe, Snake is doing to that guard, what he did to the countyard statue.

AntiZERØ

HOLY FUCK NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!

thejakeman: still using an old joke that no one finds funny anymore. i have no friends.

Same picture everytime.

I'm not complaining.

waterbottle

Keep in mind that the MGS series has never broken 1 million units sold in Japan. Europe and the US always sold way better. So... these numbers aren't a terribly good indication of how MGS4's doing overall, haha.

Poojipoo

snake? snake?? SNAAAAKEEEE!!!!

Nihon no Purin

lol, nards...

DeathBeforeDishonor

@tehflyingwombat: Are you calling SRW shit?! You are dead to me as a person.

Amuro1X

@DugDawg: Dude, that was a shoe-in. Japan loves its Super Robot Wars games. And we all know how big the PSP is in Japan.

Amuro1X

@DugDawg: this is japan we're talking about. They prefer shit. Well... that might be a bit harsh, but they spend a lot of money on really crappy and/or lackluster games. Even as someone who likes RPG's, Japanese gamer have way lowered their standards and will buy even the most ludicrous of RPG's... kind of sad.

Didn't expect it to drop that much, oh well.

tehflyingwombat

@SG79: Ya, I'm not terribly surprised. Japan isnt the biggest country in the world and only so many of the people there have PS3s. According to VGchartz, 2.23 million PS3s have been sold in Japan to date (estimated). That means an attach rate (already only in its second week mind you) of approximately 25% which is pretty impressive. To sell better, they would basically need people there to buy more PS3s.

NitrousO

500,000 is a respectable number. Hopefully it'l continue to sell and do well.. I gotta admit I'm a bit of a blind MGS fan, but hey. :)

Gogo Solid Snake! :D

Thugmunk

Metal Gear Solid: Online has not begun yet but soon, so sales will rise again. plus kojima is doing signing in japan now, to boost sales. It's only one Japanese news site, speculation to me.

sladee

@RandomHero48:

I can't think of any major console game aside from Wii Fit or whatnot in the past... 6 years actually, that didn't experience a similar drop in Japan.

SG79

Hmmm Super Robot Taisen A Portable eh? . . . If I was a gambling man, well . . . I'd still had never guessed that one.

DugDawg

Well the drop was ineveitable...
Hopefully it will continue to sell well...

TheApprentice

Wow from 476,334 copies to 68,000 copies must be a huge kick in the nuts!

RandomHero48

Such an appropriate pic.

Thorax

Nothing. Is better than that punch.

dowingba

PSP robot rumblin' is serious business!

Wolfers

@bobtheduck:

always leaning back on ff7 remake. How about a good original game or perhaps they can finish fucking xenogears, maybe a REAL sequel to Chrono Trigger. I don't NEED 6 different final fantasy 13 games.

Ever since that enix merger they've been churnin out doo doo. (yes, I said doo doo. maybe you folks would prefer bantha fodder)

ManjiKengo

Well, if Meryl Silverburgh was dressed up in a Moe fetish like attire, it might of sold much better in Japan.

Magnum1024k

Did U Riked It ? :D

Interstella

Did u riked it ? :D

Interstella

No place for Hideo indeed... =(

Elemence

considering it's the best ps3 game there is.....

I dunno where I'm going with that. It's just the best ps3 game there is. Honestly with what I've seen in the past few years of the ps3, and it's current lineup, I don't think it'll get any better. That's not really blasting mgs4 though, don't get me wrong. I got a ps3 for the game, it was well worth it too, but seriously.....

ManjiKengo

hmmm, so mgs4 is a fangame; it has a huge burst of sales at the beggining cause of all the fans that waited, but doesn't appeal to a new fanbase.

this is kinda what happened to SSBB

genbeef

thats.. sad

warxsnake

Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G sold better in its first week than MGS4 in Japan.

Go Monster Hunter!!!

大漢中

I've always had a little issue with portable games being included in console game sales.

New console games now are $60, a portable is $20, $30 tops. It takes something major to hit that $35 mark even. That puts a lot of portable games into an impulse buy mode.

There's games I've bought for a portable, that if something similar was on a console, I wouldn't have given it a second thought. Point being here--there's different forces on what makes a portable game sell 500,000 in a week vs. a console game. I just find it odd they are lumped together in one chart. It's comparing apples to oranges

homerj

There are fewer than 2 million PS3s in Japan, right? That means MGS4 is on 1/4 of all the PS3s in Japan, plus the PS3 is still selling much better than it did a month ago.

Still, as I've always said, MGS4 wouldn't be the PS3s salvation in Japan... The combo of WKC and FF13 will be... Or FF7 remake, but that will be its salvation worldwide, and Japan will simply explode.

bobtheduck

I totally saw that coming. The Super Robot Taisen series is extremely huge in Japan. I just checked wikipedia: it's been rehashed over 48 times beginning from the original gameboy. The game formula - turn based strategy robot battle, has never changed a bit. I've played a few of them in the SNES era and to be honest, they were pretty addictive games. Even better if you grew up watching the featured robot anime series (like me).

cpt

OTACOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

MGS4 kicked the chart's ass the first week, and I salute Snake a hearty farewell!

DigiMish

I can see MGS 4 having a longterm life in sales since it'll continue to sell those jumping onto the PS3 bandwagon from the PS2 as the price continues to drop and the console's appeal increases.

B33

The anti-PS3 crowd is gonna have a blast picking over this carcass.

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

@sladee:

That's the spirit! Though, I don't think sales will increase by a substantial amount. Everyone who wanted a copy has one now... I don't think there's going to be much "word of mouth" on this one.

"Hey Bob, I got this great game called METAL GEAR SOLID 4, ever hear of it?"

"Why no, Sam, I think I'll buy a copy!"

Snokie

@tehflyingwombat:

Considering the American charts are dominated by Madden and mediocre FPS titles, I think it's safe to say that pretty much every territory likes to buy shit.

Gitaroo_Dude

Uh... surprise?

Considering how Snake Eater sold less than 4 million copies, I doubt MGS4 can do more than that on a system that has 1/5th the install base.

Gitaroo_Dude

Well it's kind of understandable as to why it was SRW that surpassed it. It's pretty much fanservice to anybody that is interested in mechs or SRPGs, which is a considerable amount in Japan.

GyrFal

@ManjiKengo:
Past few years? It's only 1 1/2 years old dude.

Garo

@GogolGants:
I guess he meant the Metal Gear Database.

Garo

Not to change the topic but whatever happened to that "suprise" [kotaku.com] Ryan Payton promised MGS4 fans.
Has it been revealed and I just wasn't paying attention or what?

Also P.S., MGS4 I still love you.

GogolGants

Hopefully it takes it back next week.

AFreak3000

Let's wait till we get real numbers.

Garo

@Wolfers: fuck yeah it is.

[www.bobaymark.de]

ManjiKengo

@jallen:
I've been saving it.

Brian Ashcraft

as /m/en everywhere rejoiced.

crabman484

@tehflyingwombat: Yeah uh

Don't uh, don't call SRW shit. Especially not on a gaming blog. That's impolite, at the very least.

MonsterKingRen

Hurry up and bring some SRW down hereeeeeee.

Channing

nards? I haven't heard anybody say that since 1987. Good lord.

jallen

As said before, the game was bought by 1/4th of PS3 owners in Japan, and the MGS series has always been far more popular outside of Japan.

Plus, anime/manga/nostalgic games sell ass-tons in Japan. Dragon Ball Z Burst Limit was number 1 just a couple of weeks ago, and I'm betting that upcoming Macross game for PSP will destroy all comers as well.

AlKusanagi

@bobtheduck: FF7 remake being the salvation worldwide? More like it would be the end of times. People would forget to eat.

cowondinosaur

@xCruciaLx: @Soldier_CLE: I don't understand. How is the 360 not ready? If people are willing to buy it and it could be brought to the system why not do it? Even if people did have to swap discs in the game, it wouldn't be too different from large games with multiple discs on the PS2. I already have this on the PS3 but if people with Xboxes wanted to play it and the publisher is willing to make more money, by all means. MGS isn't your grandmother, its a GAME, you can share it.

NeVeRMoRe666

Personally,I still think that 60,000 is nothing to sneeze at, and no, I don't think that the 360 is ready for this game either. It'd be too annoying to swap discs half the time you're playing it.

Interestingly enough, I felt that Hideo Kojima's Zone of Enders was the start to the PS2 becoming an awesome system. The first year before that (In the United States, anyway), kinda sucked all kinds of dank.

Perhaps history does have a way of repeating this?

Soldier_CLE

Not really a surprised since MGS4 is a straightforward sequel.

If you haven't played MGS1 to 3, or haven't read anything about MGS, then why bother buying ?

@CaptCHAOS:

Dare to dream.

Call me selfish but the 360 isn't ready yet for this kind game.

xCruciaLx

@TheApprentice: Nope, I hope it DOESN'T continue to sell well.. I want the publisher to receive a kicking so they know they need to release it on the 360 too next time.

Call me selfish but I only have a 360 and wouldn't mind playing the game.

CaptCHAOS

@Brian Ashcraft: Since 1987?

Next you're going to tell me you've got a box of Nintendo cereal you're going to give away when the Wii turns 2!

jallen

@NeVeRMoRe666:

Sorry I don't share games.

xCruciaLx

@NeVeRMoRe666: Too many textures, not enough space. If the PS3 could barely contain it (and it can), then the 360 wouldn't have the space... Oh sure, if you take out the camo and all the cool guns, then you could probably port it to the 360. It'd lose so much in the translation that it really wouldn't be the same game. It'd should just be called "Snakes in a Box: THE GAME!"

Voteforme2020

Of course Super Robot Wars A Portable would win. SRW games = win! I'm still wishing they would localize any game besides the OGs.

Angryrider

Super Robot Taisen is that like battle toads?

smith47

you know what? i just finished MGS4 last week, and i didn't grab anyones nuts! not once! no junk inspections at all! i think i need to replay through the game... how do you grab someones junk?

pandafresh

Well it's pretty expected that most Japanese MGS fans probably already have a PS3/MGS4/Completed the game.
Considering the amount of Japanese PS3 gamers 500k in two weeks is still impressive.

tehFluffz

I would've expected the game to sell another 476,334 copies. Cause you know, everyone wanted to buy it twice.

@pandafresh: When you frisk someone (holding the gun against the back of them) you'll get popups telling you to press triangle to grab and item. When it pops up towards the pelvis...press. ;)

Kanik

@smith47: I'm not sure, but it was reported (on Kotaku, no less!) to have copious amounts of jiggling boobage.

And is apparently somehow good in other ways too.

erlik

This is not surprising, because Super Robot Taisen ALWAYS sells like crack-ladden hotcakes...if anything, maybe Konami should have released MGS4 a little sooner.

Phester

@erlik: Yeah, when you have Rose on the codec, you can shake the Sixaxis for liquid booty effects.

afrosheen

it's a great game and i've been enjoying it tremendously (even all the cutscenes). i'm still not through it yet, i'm taking my time since i've spent over $120 for the game (limited edition) and collectors edition guide (very nice hard cover guide).

but so far, there is nothing in the game that the 360 can't do (over multiple discs). the game could be done and sold (requiring a hard drive for owners) and span 4 discs (the bd is only 32gb in size). the audio could be compressed (instead of uncompressed as on the ps3 version) and that would save additional space, everything would work fine on the 360.

its just the ps3 owners, who don't own the multiple consoles (ps3 / 360) that don't want this game on 360.

but since i also own a ps3, i'm not gonna worry about a 360 port and enjoy it on my ps3.

kneehighspy

Super Robot Taisen...wow, been a long time since I played those on SFC. The only way it can still be awesome is if Grendizer is still in.

Koztah

@hotdamn: Fully agreed. I have owned a 360 since launch. I have never seen anything on the system like MGS4.

sascha23

there is nothing in the game that the 360 can't do

I could not disagree more.

hotdamn

So in MGS 5 will Snake take down those robots from Super Robot Taisen?

Forkball

@hotdamn:

ok, you guys have all rights to disagree, but from a technical standpoint, owning both systems and seeing whats available up till now on both systems, there is nothing done in mgs4 that cannot be done on the 360.

i'm not biased to one system or another owning both (and a wii, now the wii can't do it) but 90% of all 360 owners and owners who own both systems will agree that the game can be done on the 360.

but everyone is entitled to their thoughts and opinions...

kneehighspy

@kneehighspy:

Except fitting the entire game on one disc!

:-p

EnigmaNemesis

@kneehighspy: While the 360 can indeed pull off some impressive visuals (Gears of War comes to mind), there's nothing on the 360 like MGS4. I could see it being possible to port the game... But certain things would have to be dumbed down and altered... It just wouldn't be the same game...

B33

Japan never ceases to amaze me with its crappy videogame tastes.

gencid

@kneehighspy: I own all three systems as well and I don't see anything in the game that would totally make me think the 360 can't do it. With a proper port, many more people will be happy and many new fans will be bought. You can't lose.

NeVeRMoRe666

@kneehighspy: Exactly! People should stop worrying about what games goes where. It's a game, it doesn't define who you are. Have fun with it. Let others have fun with it. Fanboyism is not cool...

NeVeRMoRe666

@NeVeRMoRe666:

i agree, the game is impressive, i've been playing it to death and really enjoying it, with only breaks to play lego indy on the 360 with my daughter (she loves the game and loves playing coop games).

indeed mgs4 could be done on 360, multiple discs, compressed audio and need hard drive, but it could be done. i think in a year or so we will see a port to the 360, this allows a '1 year' exclusivity to sony and then a release to 360. things seem to me like development has been going on a port 'behind closed doors'. the game could fit on 4 dvd9s (with compressed audio) since the bd version uses like 32-36gb.

but taking a day off yesterday from gaming and things in general, it's looking like i'm jonesing to fire up the ps3 for awhile...

kneehighspy

Nearly all games do this in Japan except those tacky Nintendo games that everyone in Japan will soon own.

Other news: MGS4 outsells in 2 weeks more than all 360s in Japan.

@kneehighspy:
Well for one thing MGS4 can fit on one PS3 game disc vs. 5-6 360 game discs.

ThomasAnthony

@cpt: The SRW games freakin rock. You should definitely check out the SRW games for PS2, GBA and DS. Ever since the PS2, the games have improved a lot over the Snes ones, which I always felt were a teeny bit clunky.

Anyway, nothing against MGS4 (I bought it, beat it, and liked it), but I'd take SRW over MGS any day.

Tayruh

@Poojipoo:
I agree with you because MGS4 has lots of violence and is better suited for a western gamers because of all the gun play. Japan prefers games that are about fantasy and/or anime.

ViciousViper