Mario Kart 7 leads the Japanese sales charts as the year wound down.

Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land have become major sellers as 2011 is coming to a close, the latest Japanese Media Create sales data confirms.

From December 19 til December 25, Mario Kart 7 managed to sell 260,836 units for a total of 1,050,706 copies sold since its December 1 debut. Super Mario 3D Land came in third with its 174,566 copies for a total of 1,011,709 units sold.

One of the 3DS's biggest third party titles, Monster Hunter 3G, came in fourth with 155,069 units sold for a total of 885,456 copies sold since its debut. The Wii also saw some strong sales with Kirby's Return to Dream Land selling 114,545 copies, placing it in the sixth position. Right behind it is Just Dance Wii, the localized, Nintendo published version of Ubisoft's popular dancing game. For the week, Just Dance Wii sold 96,771 units.

The last half of the chart was dominated by software on Nintendo hardware. SD Gundam G Generation 3D from Namco Bandai pulled 90,873 copies for the week, followed by Level-5's Inazuma Eleven Go for the 3DS at 86,026 units sold, and last is the Wii game Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 Extreme  at 85,117 units sold.

The top twenty list of the best selling games in Japan according to Media Create is as follows:
[3DS] 01. Mario Kart 7 (Nintendo, 12/01) 260,836 (1,050,706)
[PS3] 02. Musou Orochi Z (Tecmo Koei, 12/22) 200,526
[3DS] 03. Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo, 11/03) 174,566 (1,011,709)
[3DS] 04. Monster Hunter 3G (Capcom, 12/10) 155,069 (885,456)
[PS3] 05. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (Square Enix, 12/15) 118,816 (643,033)
[WII] 06. Hoshi no Kirby Wii (Nintendo, 10/27) 114,545 (513,061)
[WII] 07. Just Dance Wii (Nintendo, 10/13) 96,771 (420,064)
[3DS] 08. SD Gundam G Generation 3D (Namco Bandai, 12/22) 90,873
[3DS] 09. Inazuma Eleven Go (Level-5, 12/15) 86,026 (221,285)
[WII] 10. Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 Extreme (Level-5, 12/22) 85,117
more after the break...

Last week’s Media Create software chart featured a number of Western games, but the latest results are decidedly Japanese in flavour. Sega’s rhythm game for the PSP - Hatsune Miku: Project Diva Extend - is the best selling title this week, notching up sales of 184,673 units.

Sengoku Basara 3: Utage also charted well, coming in at second and sixth place on the PS3 and Wii respectively. This historical beat-em-up looks very similar to Dynasty Warriors, although Capcom have clearly added a few ingredients of their own to spice up the experience.

In seventh spot is Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker HD Edition on PS3. In Japan Peace Walker HD was released before and separately from Metal Gear Solid 2 and 3 HD (unlike in the West). This decision on Konami’s part may end up being the wrong one as Peace Walker HD made a smaller splash than expected with just 39,743 copies sold during its first four days on sale.

You can find the rest of the top ten chart entries below, while this week’s hardware figures also make for an interesting read.

Software Chart

After the break.. read more.

Mario's first 3DS adventure sold 343,492 units, putting it in first place for the week. It appears to have caused a spike in 3DS hardware sales, with the system selling 145,271 units this week.

The 343,492 unit total is almost triple the total amount of software the system sold in all of October. Last month, Enterbrain's sales stats showed the system's hardware outselling software two to one (see this story). It was widely believed that many were upgrading their DS systems in anticipation of major year-end releases like Mario Land, Mario Kart and Monster Hunter.

The week was packed with new releases. Trailing Mario were two western PS3 titles, Uncharted 3 and Battlefield 3. These sold over 120,000 units each. Sony gave Uncharted a big marketing push, with a series of commercials featuring Harrison Ford. Uncharted 2 debuted in October of 2009 with 54,000 units in its first week.

Other newcomers in the top 20 this week included Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest 3 and various versions of Winning Eleven. The PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Winning Eleven were released last month.

Here's the top 20 software chart for October 31 through November 6. Publisher, release date and life-to-date sales are in parentheses.

1.  [3DS] Super Mario 3D Land (Nintendo, 11/03): 343,492
2.  [PS3] Uncharted 3 (Sony, 11/02): 124,989
3.  [PS3] Battlefield 3 (EA, 11/02): 123,379
4.  [PSP] Final Fantasy Type-0 (EA, 10/27): 122,286 (594,540)
5.  [WII] Kirby Wii (Nintendo, 10/27): 55,779 (192,589)
6.  [PSP] Winning Eleven 2012 (Konami, 11/03): 45,437
7.  [3DS] Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest 3 (Square Enix, 11/03): 38,859
8.  [360] Battlefield 3 (EA, 11/02): 27,723
9.  [WII] Just Dance Wii (Nintendo, 10/13): 25,665 (189,116)
10.  [WII] Go Vacation (Namco Bandai, 10/20): 16,995 (89,463)
11.  [WII] Winning Eleven Play Maker 2012 (Konami, 11/03): 14,117
12.  [WII] Wii Sports Resort Wiiplus Pack (Nintendo, 11/11): 12,570 (638,091)
13.  [PS3] Idolmaster 2 (Namco Bandai, 10/27): 10,721 (76,233)
14.  [PS3] Winning Eleven 2012 (Konami, 10/06): 10,636 (381,156)
15.  [PS2] Winning Eleven 2012 (Konami, 11/03): 9,786
16.  [PSP] AKB1/48 If I Loved an Idol in Guam (Namco Bandai, 10/06): 8,883 (310,625)
17.  [WII] Minna no Rhythm Heaven (Nintendo, 07/21): 8,581 (535,523)
18.  [PS3] Macross F Sayonara no Tsubasa Hybrid Pack (Namco Bandai, 10/20): 8,352 (167,700)
19.  [PSP] Naruto Narutimate Impact (Namco Bandai, 10/20): 7,144 (72,374)
20.  [3DS] Model Fashion Audition 2 (Alchemist, 11/03): 6,643

Hardware data to follow after the page break..

Square Enix's Final Fantasy Type-0 for PSP took to the top of the Japanese weekly software sales charts last week, selling nearly half a million units in its opening week.

For the week ended October 30, 2011, data from tracking firm Media Create, and as reported by NeoGAF, shows that the new Final Fantasy title sold a total of 472,253 units in the days following its launch. Kirby's Return to Dream Land from Nintendo also had a good opening week, selling a total of 136,811 units and landing itself a position at number two in the charts.

Other new entries last week included Bandai Namco's The Idolmaster 2, Nippon Ichi's Disgaea 4: Fuuka & Desco-hen Hajime Mashita and Kadokawa's Ro-Kyu-Bu!, which took positions three, six and seven respectively.

Down the bottom of the chart, Senritsu no Stratus entered at number nine, while Ragnarok: Hikari to Yami no Koujo took position ten and Arcana Famiglia: La Storia Della Arcana Famiglia for PSP jumped in at number 18.

Last week's number one, Gekijouban Macross F: Sayonara no Tsubasa - Hybrid Pack, dropped down to number eight, while last week's number two, Naruto Shippuden: Narutimate Impact dropped even further, down to number 15.

The complete top 20 chart, as supplied by Media Create, is shown below.

The latest Media Create software chart makes for wonderful viewing if you’re affiliated to Namco Bandai. The Japanese publisher has five titles in the top ten this week, including all three of the podium positions.

In first place is the Macross F Hybrid Pack on PS3 with 142,607 units sold during its opening week. This is essentially one Blu-ray disc which combines the Macross F movie with the PS3 game. Buying the hybrid pack is the only way to obtain the Blu-ray version of the film.

Other new entries include Naruto Shippuden: Narutimate Impact in second spot. This brawler for PSP sold an impressive 53,148 copies during its first week.

The PS3 versions of two Western games - Dead Island and FIFA 12 - slot into five and six place respectively, while the Xbox 360 version of the former also did well in tenth position with 13,147 copies sold during the latest accounting period.

1. [NEW] Macross F Hybrid Pack (Bandai Namco) - PS3 - 142,607
2. [NEW] Naruto Shippuden: Narutimate Impact (Bandai Namco) - PSP - 53,148
3. [NEW] Go Vacation (Bandai Namco) - Wii - 47,209
4. Just Dance Wii (Nintendo) - Wii - 45,580
5. [NEW] Dead Island (Spike) - PS3 - 39,945
6. [NEW] FIFA 12 (Electronic Arts) - PS3 - 25,640
7. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2012 (Konami) - PS3 - 22,902
8. Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (Bandai Namco) - PS3 - 18,120
9. AKB1/48: Idol to Guam de Koishitara (Bandai Namco) - PSP - 17,562
10. [NEW] Dead Island (Spike) - Xbox 360 - 13,147

More after the break..

Source: Media Create

Media Create has released sales data for the week of October 10 through 16, 20011 and the Japanese market apparently went fairly nuts over Ace Combat: Assault Horizon in a week full of new releases.

Namco’s title moved 149,470 units on PS3 during its three days on the market, and the Xbox 360 version landed at number six on the chart with 20,523 units moved.

The Japanese version of Just Dance Wii debuted in second place with 90,039 units moved, and Forza Motorport 4, Dead Rising 2: Off the Record, Class of Heroes Final and Clock Zero rounded out the week of newcomers in the top 20.

Here is the top 20 as of 16 Oct, 2011 as provided by Media Create and translated on the NeoGAF forums:

1. Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (Bandai Namco, PS3) 149,470
2. Just Dance Wii (Nintendo, Wii) - 90,039
3. World Soccer Winning Eleven 2012 (Konami, PS3) - 61,787
4. AKB1/48: Idol to Guam de Koishitara (Bandai Namco, PSP) - 34,114
5. Forza Motorsport 4 (Microsoft Game Studios, Xbox 360) - 24,854
6. Ace Combat: Assault Horizon (Bandai Namco, Xbox 360) - 20,523
7. Dead Rising 2: Off the Record (Capcom, PS3) - 16,913
8. Class of Heroes Final: Shinnyusei wa Ohimesama (Acquire, PSP) - 16,904
9. Rhythm Heaven (Nintendo, Wii) 13.202
10. Dragon Quest 25th Anniversary (Square Enix, Wii) - 12,987

Konami's World Soccer Winning Eleven 2012 stormed the Japanese weekly software sales charts last week, selling more than quarter of a million copies in its opening weekend. For the week ended October 9, data from tracking firm Media Create, and as reported by NeoGAF, shows that the PS3 soccer title sold a total of 272,036 units.

Yet it still had competition for the top spot, as Bandai Namco's AKB1/48: Idol to Guam de Koishitara for PSP sold through a very respectable 236,587 copies.

Other new entries into the charts last week included F1 2011, entering at number three, and then Phantom Kingdom Portable, Okashi na Shima no Peter Pan: Sweet Never Land and God of War: Origins Collection down the bottom of the charts at 16, 18 and 20 respectively.

Both versions of Rage also entered the charts, with the PS3 version at number eight, and the Xbox 360 version sitting lower down at number 14.

Last week's top selling title, Nihon Falcom's RPG The Legend of Heroes: Ao no Kiseki, dropped down to number five, while Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends and Dark Souls also hung around the top ten.

The complete top 20 chart, as supplied by Media Create, is shown below, after the break..

For the week ended October 2, data from tracking firm Media Create, and as reported by NeoGAF, shows that last week's top selling title, From Software's Dark Souls, dropped down to position three after surpassing 250,000 sales in its opening weekend.

Nihon Falcom's RPG title The Legend of Heroes: Ao no Kiseki topped the the Japanese weekly software sales chart last week, with a total of 127,938 units sold.

The top 20 saw a number of new entries other than Nihon Falcom's PSP title. Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends took second place, while Bandai Namco's Evangelion Shin Gekijoban: 3nd Impact settled for position number four.

Lower down the charts, PSP adventure game Wand of Fortune 2: Jikuu ni Shizumu Mokushiroku sat at number 13, Capcom's Monster Hunter Frontier Online: Forward .2 Premium Package entered at number 17, and Flora and Fauna 3D Field Guide for the Nintendo 3DS scrapped in at number 20.

Despite the Nintendo 3DS being the top selling console in Japan at the moment, the top 10 contained no 3DS games. However, the likes of Pokemon Rumble Blast and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D held fast at numbers 18 and 12.

There was only one re-entry into the charts last week, with Bandai Namco's Family Fishing jumping back in at number 19.

The complete top 20 chart, as supplied by Media Create, is shown below.

The PS3 has taken both first and second spots in the Japanese software chart, but failed to translate those sales into new hardware units, remaining in second place to the 3DS.

From Software's Dark Souls, a PS3 exclusive in Japan but cross-platform elsewhere, romped home to the number one spot with over a quarter of a million sales, far outstripping the combined HD remake of ICO and Shadow of the Colossus in second with 91,902.

Gears of War managed an almost unprecedented fourth place as a 360 exclusive, outdoing MMV's gravure battler Senran Kagura in sixth but getting pipped to third by Yu-gi-oh 5D's Tag Force.

In the hardware chart, the 3DS made further gains, increasing sales by over ten thousand units. PS3 dipped slightly whilst most other platforms remained stable. The 360 made gains thanks to the success of Gears 3.

Eight new titles made the top ten in Japan this week. All charts courtesy of Media Create, via Andriasang.  Other new releases included Monster Hunter Freedom 3 at 12 and Shadows of the Damned at number 18.

The complete top 20 chart, as supplied by Media Create, is shown below.

This week’s Media Create software chart sees just one new entry in the top ten, and once again proves just how commercially successful remakes and re-releases are provided they’re based on an established franchise.

Dragon Quest 25th Anniversary edition goes straight to number one with a jaw-dropping 263 398 copies sold during its opening week. This compilation of Dragon Quest I, II and III for the Wii includes a trailer for the upcoming Dragon Quest X as well as anime intros for each game produced by Kamikaze Douga.

There’s often a large disparity between the respective sales figures for titles in the top two spots, and this week is no exception. In second place we have Tales of Xillia with 47 297 copies sold during the last week. If you’ve visited the Japanese PlayStation Store recently you will have been greeted by the sight of plenty of add-on costumes for the game’s cast, selling for about ¥300 (R30) per item.

The rest of the top ten is made up of evergreen titles like Wii Sports Resort and Rhythm Heaven, although none of them managed to shift more than 16 000 copies during the latest accounting period.

More after the break..