MGS4 is best-selling PS3 game in Japan, boosts hardware sales
by Andrew Yoon 
{ Jun 17th 2008 at 11:25AM }
It shouldn't come as a surprise that Metal Gear Solid 4 is a system-seller. The PS3 exclusive has managed to beat sales records in Japan, becoming the best-selling PS3 game in the territory. (The previous record was held by Minna no Golf 5.) MGS4 sold 476,334 copies in four days. That's slightly less than the Japanese launch of Metal Gear Solid 3, but more than the launches of MGS and MGS2. Considering PS3's smaller install base, this is a fantastic achievement.Hardware sales have jumped to over 77k in the region, an impressive feat when one considers the sluggish sales of PS3 in the region (averaging under 10k per week). This is certainly a time of celebration for Konami and Sony, and should alleviate fears that a PS3 exclusive can't be incredibly successful. However, only time will tell how long MGS4 will be a system seller.
[Via Joystiq]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fireball @ Jun 17th 2008 11:34AM
I work at a GAME store in the UK and we've seen a massive increase in system sales due to MGS4 and GTA. We sell far less Wii60's then PS3's, but then most people that want a wii or 360 have probably already go theirs....
Dark Archon @ Jun 17th 2008 11:58AM
Slight OT: I've got a MGS related question.
There is an option in the game Option Menu that allows the use of an external headset to be used as your codec... or at least that's how I understand it. It just doesn't seem to work. The game still uses the speakers for the codec. Couldn't find anything on that on the internet or in the manual. Any help, please?
On Topic: GO MGS4. The game is awesome. Completed it once, now going to grab some more emblems. A must buy, so it's really no surprise that it is doing that good. Great to have a GOOD PS3 exclusive for a change!
Rowdehaj @ Jun 17th 2008 1:17PM
Really?! That would be like ... totally awesome!
Archon @ Jun 17th 2008 3:37PM
Anyway, that's what I was referring to:
http://forums.gametrailers.com/showthread.php?t=431356
BBCorps @ Jun 17th 2008 7:49PM
Did you pair it up to the PS3 under system settings and then set it up to be used by the game? if not then tahts were ur problem lyes!
Lars @ Jun 18th 2008 3:18PM
It works fine for me. Make sure your voice output device is set-up right, outside the game.
However, I turned it off because stupidly it only works when you're walking around and someone's talking to you on the codec. When the game pauses and the codec comes up on-screen then it comes out the speakers... lame.
Mo @ Jun 17th 2008 12:13PM
best... game... ever...
imo at least
yes, i have good relations with several gamestops and they all are saying they havent moved this many ps3's since the price drop. Although they dont have official bundles, they are making their own
golden sapphire @ Jun 17th 2008 12:15PM
"best... game... ever..."
I second that
Gaucho @ Jun 17th 2008 12:22PM
One of my all time favorite games for sure, personally I had a different ending in mind but I'm not complaining. . . too much. Right after I beat the game I started playing again on a different difficulty, I had only done that before with MGS2.
massive_98 @ Jun 17th 2008 12:22PM
"This is certainly a time of celebration for Konami and Sony, and should alleviate fears that a PS3 exclusive can't be incredibly successful"
Wasn't there just an article on PS3fanboy about exclusives selling better on PS3 than the other consoles.
Anyways, its nice to see it doing well. I think the MGS4 effect will slow down in the coming weeks, but PS3 sales will be up compared to before MGS4 arrived.
wtangofoxtrot @ Jun 17th 2008 12:31PM
i thought the Japanese dint like shooters of any kind ? or is it they just dont like shooters developed by anyone thats not them ?
Zombie Huggles @ Jun 17th 2008 12:48PM
Yay Metal Gear and PS3, but is anyone else annoyed that the online multiplayer is region locked? I have a good friend in Australia with-whom I like to play, but now we can't. Is it so much to ask that I be allowed to play with anyone in the world? I play Rainbow Six, Warhawk, GTA4, and Burnout with this guy and have no problems or lag...why not MGS4?
Byron517 @ Jun 17th 2008 1:11PM
I think this is going to be addressed and resolved once the actual MGO comes out I believe they already decided it was going to be world wide? Or at least that's what I thought??
Popfrogs @ Jun 17th 2008 2:17PM
Playing against other regions = unacceptable lag. Anyone in the MGO beta will agree.
kentuckyfried @ Jun 17th 2008 4:01PM
As much as I would like to play MGO with everyone around the world, COD4 has shown that that might be a bit hard to pull off successfully....
Mbot @ Jun 17th 2008 1:39PM
First i want to say a BIG Thanks to Kojima and all his team !!
I really liked the game, and all the layer of the story, to me its really a master piece because of so many of those layers.
In a way it make me think of 2001 by Kubrick.
I hope that konami and the fan will let Kojima do another game that is not MGS. Not that i dont want any other MGS game, but i can wait !
And i really want to see what Kojima and his team can do next. And now that they know how to use the PS3, the next game could be huge !
So yeah please, do another game that is not MGS please !
And in 4 or 5 years when we, the fan, are all starving for a new MGS come back with a big bang :p
Thanks again to Kojima Production !
coyurtney @ Jun 17th 2008 1:15PM
Not to Troll but wow you totally skipped how it didn't do that well in the UK?
http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/17/mgs4-sells-476k-units-first-week-in-japan-uk-ps3-sales-impact/
amount @ Jun 17th 2008 1:31PM
It wasn't skipped. Look at yesterday's posts.
Kabapu @ Jun 20th 2008 12:56AM
And you clearly didn't read the article ... or picked and chose what you wanted to hear:
"MGS4 is the second fastest-selling PS3 title behind Grand Theft Auto IV and was 14,000 short of MGS2's initial sales in 2002."
That's pretty damn good by any standards.
Vince UK @ Jun 17th 2008 1:38PM
"MGS4 is the second fastest-selling PS3 title behind Grand Theft Auto IV and was 14,000 short of MGS2's initial sales in 2002."
That sir, is not too bad at all.
creyes4182 @ Jun 17th 2008 11:16PM
Fanboys really like to spin stuff.. why don't you do some research next time. 1 It's the fastest selling ps3 exclusive. 2 they don't offer the 80gb PS3 w/ DS3 controller and alot of them are waiting for that system to drop. They want the BC.
Riley Freeman @ Jun 17th 2008 1:29PM
yea that region lock is stupid andddddddd getting online is a B*TCH. totally annoying process
a.j. @ Jun 17th 2008 3:28PM
"getting online is a B*TCH. totally annoying process"
i know, an extra 2 minutes to sign up was horrible.
Mattchewie @ Jun 17th 2008 1:54PM
Looking at the comments in that linked Joystiq article is hilarious . I still can't believe people are complaining about price of the PS3. Where is this mentality that the PS3 has to Wii Priced? I know its not "cheap" but common!
golden sapphire @ Jun 17th 2008 4:12PM
wouldnt hurt to save a couple hundred bucks and still have fun you know...
Mattchewie @ Jun 17th 2008 4:40PM
No doubt however where are the complaints from the xbox and Wii folk?
The xbox prices are only 50 bucks less than the 2 skus from sony. The arcade to me is a GIANT joke considering you pretty much NEED a HD and once you get one, your pretty much at Pro pricing
Then the wii, ......250 dollars for a repackaged GameCube with a new controller and some net functions.
So I completely understand wanting it for less but when the direct competition is only 50 bucks cheaper is it really that bad? Especially considering for that 50 bucks your getting the BR ability, built in wifi and free online play?
Lars @ Jun 18th 2008 3:24PM
I kinda felt the same way (Wii = cheap, PS360 = overpriced) at first. But since owning a Wii and a PS3. I just have to say... you get what you pay for.
Also, I realized the Wii's cheapness is deceptive. I bought it for party gaming with 4 people in the same room. So, I had to buy 3 more controllers of course. Wii+3 controllers = $400. Same price as the "overpriced" PS3. And since PS3 multiplayer games are mostly online-only, 4 controllers isn't really needed. Plus, I just bought a couple adapters for the PS2/PS1 controllers I already have @ 5-10 bucks a piece, for same-room multiplayer.
Overgauss @ Jun 17th 2008 5:24PM
Math and logic is not needed to consider yourself a gamer.
All that is necessary is an unreserved willingness to buy most any hyped game or gaming system that shows up on your personal radar.
Most other considerations be damned.
Viola! You are now a gamer.
'True' gamer status is thus proportional to your willingness to buy almost anything and everything. Because if you don't, the self appointed elite will attempt to revoke your gamer card. Even though their own ownership of said card is suspect due to their, what I like to call, gamer-tard status.
So instead of owning a gamer-card, they are a gamer-tard. If you think on it some I'm sure you'll realise that you personally know a few of these individuals.
If this where a political discussion, these are the types of people that you could expect to call you a Paul-tard, if you lean that way, for example.
They will espouse the values of paying premium prices for substandard product, and look at you crazy (just got kicked in the nadz) eye if you choose to differ.
They will buy all the add-ons, both hardware and digital, pushing cost of ownership startling close to $1000 or more yet refuse to pay for quality hardware, even after experiencing hardware failure. Sometimes over and over again.
I am sensitive to the borderline hypocritical nature of this post, but c'mon when people bitch about prices and forget totally about inflation and the cost of say a $299 PS1 in 1995 in terms of 2006-2007 dollars ($413 ish) I begin to wonder.
playcrackthesky @ Jun 17th 2008 7:36PM
Isnt it sad a terrible game like Halo can sell systems and systems yet MGS4 wont do as well?
Thats how easy the world is to please these days. Well in North America anyway. The rest of us know which is the right system.
abnerayag @ Jun 18th 2008 4:36AM
I bet the numbers would've spiked more if there were more of the 80gb bundles w/ the game and DS3 and hadn't made them so limited. It's almost like Sony hates money or something.
Sysiem @ Jun 18th 2008 3:24PM
i totally agree... i would only buy that 80gb bundle but the future shop beside my house only got 13 so far and they were gone fast... If they wanted to have a boost in console sell they should have been able to tie the demand.... i know a bunch of people that want this new 80 gb bundle since it is totally worth it compare to the little 40 gb PS3.