Console Sales in Japan

Weekly Famitsu shows the need for that lower Dreamcast price this week, the the dream machine still getting spanked by Sony's PlayStation. N64 sales are flagging too...

June 3, 1999

The following are real sales figures from Japan for the week of May 17-23 from Weekly Famitsu's June 18 edition.  Above and beyond disappointing sales for the Dreamcast, Wonder Swan is gaining on the indomitable Game Boy and SNK is still getting wholloped with its Neo Geo Pocket Color. Hopefully for SNK, the system's recent release in the U.S. will give it a boost.

Hardware Sales

PlayStation 19,128
Dreamcast 3,344
Nintendo 64 5,041

PocketSation 28,896
Game Boy Color 17,029
Wonder Swan 11,857
Game Boy 2,976
NeoGeo Pocket Color 1,852
Dreamcast VMU (Figures Not Released)

Software Sales Top 30

PlayStation 63.7%
Nintendo 64 18.2%
Game Boy 12.4%
Wonder Swan 5.7%
Dreamcast 0.0%

Individual Titles

1. Dance Dance Revolution 40,574 (511,382 total, PS)
2. Pokemon Stadium 2 30,778 (383,952, N64)
3. The Billiard 25,443 (118,535, PS)
4. Omega Boost 18,418 (147,196, PS)
5. Pokemon Pinball 16,635 (538,793, GB)

Courtesy Next-Generation

A Bug's Life Infests the Nintendo 64

Activision, joining forces with The Walt Disney company for the first time, has announced the release of A Bug's Life for the Nintendo 64. This title will allow console gamers to take the role of the film's hero Filk, in a fully-interactive 3D world. In a bit of a switch from the usual 3D experience, gamers will be able to interact with a "living world" as Activision describes it, using seeds to grow plants and access useful power-ups, platforms and hidden areas.

Playing as Filk, gamers will enlist the help of a group of Flea Circus insects to help them in their quest to save the colony from the hands of the villainous Hopper and his legion of grasshoppers. Containing 15 levels, A Bug's Life will give players the chance to solve challenging puzzles in order to defeat a vast array of enemies (from sneaky spiders to vicious wasps). During the course of their journey, players will interact with a multitude of characters -- both good and evil -- from the feature animated film, including such favorites as Heimlich, Francis and Hopper.

This collaboration between Activision and Disney/Pixar is on shelves now, with a suggested retail price of $59.95.

Courtesy GameFan

Tomb Raider IV Coming
This Christmas

Despite Eidos' no-show at E3, Lara Croft ventures yet again to PlayStation.

June 01, 1999

The Lara Croft phenomenon, just like an avalanche, is on its way. Again. IGNPSX learned yesterday that Eidos and Core Design are in the works for another adventure game, Tomb Raider IV, for PlayStation. Due sometime prior to December 1999, Tomb Raider IV stars the luxuriously built Lara Croft and is likely to be an improved version from the last three Tomb Raider titles.

In an article written by the British newspaper The Guardian (and posted on the Web by FGNOnline), Eidos' CEO Charles Cornwall explained the game's schedule, sayinf that "by Christmas(time) Tomb Raider 4 should be released."

Eidos, however, remained silent. "We've not made any announcements regarding the next version of the Tomb Raider games," said a company spokesperson.

Although many speculated that Eidos would make an announcement about the next TR iteration at the Electronic Entertainment Exposition, the company did just the contrary. There was no official display of Tomb Raider IV at the show (other than the live model Lara Wells, who did appear). But according to those in the know, the new game may have appeared behind closed doors. Again, Eidos would not confirm any such information.

We'll have more for you as soon as possible. In the meantime, prepare yourselves for a new third-person adventure with the most popular woman in the world of videogames, Ms. Lara Croft.

MP3 on your PlayStation?

Your system may become a music jukebox of sorts with a upcoming unlicensed peripheral.

June 01, 1999

A surprise device has just sprouted up on the web – if you follow the URL http://www.mp3enhancer.com, you'll notice a puzzling new peripheral that will soon be released for the PlayStation. Though not much information is offered, it looks like the device, titled the MP3 Enhancer, will enable you to play MP3 files on your PlayStation. The device will retail for around 50 dollars.

MP3 files are audio files that have been compressed to a very small size using a powerful compression routine. CD quality audio files using this compression can get as small as a megabyte a minute, and usually get smaller if you cut the quality further. The format was devised for easy music transfer over the internet – small files with incredible sound quality.

What it looks like the MP3 Enhancer may be is a way to transport MP3 files from the PC to the PlayStation for  external listening, much like the Diamond Rio, a portable MP3 player. How much memory or what kind of features this device will have is still unknown – the company's website is extremely cryptic about the unit. We're guessing that you will have to interface this device with a PC to transfer audio files to the PlayStation – another reason why we question the necessity of the MP3 Enhancer.

The Internet domain, www.mp3enhancer.com, is registered to Visoly Inc. – the company responsible for the Game Enhancer (the mod-chip alternative to play Japanese and copied games on the PlayStation), as well as the Z64 backup device for the Nintendo 64. We'll keep you informed of when the unit will be available.

Courtesy IGNPSX

Juggernaut

The Next Myst?

06.02.99
Jaleco and Tonkinhouse have joined forces to create Juggernaut, a 3 disc Myst-style cursor-based game due out this October for PlayStation. Juggernaut's plot is heavily influenced by classic horror films, especially the Exorcist series. It seems that your girlfriend, Sarah, has been possessed by an "evil force" that she contracted by drinking a bottle of a mysterious liquid (St. Ides, perhaps? It always seems to make us act evil.) You must go on a quest to save your main squeeze's soul.

Many of us around the office aren't exactly crazy about cursor-based games, but Myst fans might want to check  out Juggernaut for its great look, which simulates grainy film. A few of the FMVs had us spooked.

Courtesy Game Informer

Mario Gold Gets Gold
Others Get Lead

This week's Famitsu points to slim pickin's in Japan.

June 3, 1999

Reviews from Weekly Famitsu 6/18 edition: Racing Lagoon (Square for PS, 6/10) 7,7,6,6
Road of Monsters (SCE for PS, 6/10) 7,6,7,6
Super Robot Wars Complete Box (Banpresto for PS, 6/10) 7,7,7,8
Populous The Beginning (Electronic Arts/Square for PS, 6/10) 8,7,7,7

Mario Golf 64 (Nintendo, 6/11) 8,8,8,8 Gold

Metal Slug First Mission (Neo Geo Pocket, SNK, 5/27) 6,6,6,7
First Contact (NGP, SNK, 5/27) 6,5,6,6
Neo Poke Pro Baseball (NGP, ADK, 5/27) 6,5,6,7

Only 10 games were reviewed and the above are the best of another weak week of new titles following slow  hardware and software sales.

Nintendo is again the exception with quality above quantity. Even the mighty Square has disappointed with Lagoon Racer.

The miserable launch of the Neo Geo Pocket Color continues with 3 more mediocre titles launched on May 27.  Their hardware sales continue to migrate south as divine punishment for their 'I'm Not Boy' campaign taking liberties with the English language.

Perhaps Sega and Dreamcast can save SNK's bacon when The King of Fighters Dream Match goes on sale on 6/24. The Neo Geo Pocket Color connection cable also goes on sale on 6/24. It allows data to be uploaded from DC to NGP and downloaded from DC to NGP.

Dive Alert is also scheduled for release in July along with Puyo Puyo, Neo 21 (Board), Pocket Tournament Golf and Shanghai Mini (puzzle), whose prices have not yet been determined.

Samurai Spirits hits the stores on 6/10.

Sega has demonstrated commendable concern for its customers' best interests by posting an official warning notice of the price reductions to Y19,900 due on 6.24, as our pic from a Dreamcast Partner shop shows. There is another warning notice on the display unit inside the store and another below the counter just in case.

Courtesy Next-Generation

Superman, Fighting Force Ship

The Man of Steel hits N64 along with a year-late port of Fighting Force.

June 01, 1999

Two games quietly shipped to retailers over the weekend. Yes, while you were lounging around the house enjoying your holiday, Titus shipped Superman for Nintendo 64. But that's not all. Crave Entertainment got into the game as well with the release of Fighting Force 64. You may remember the 3D beat-'em-up as it came out for PlayStation about 15 years ago.

IGN64 will have reviews for both games this week. In the meantime, let us warn you not to buy either of them until you have read our thoughts. In fact, let us beg you. Please, for the love of God, be patient. You won't regret the decision.

Superman, an 8MB cartridge, retails for the attractive low price of $64.95 while the other game, whatever it's
called, weighs in at $59.95.

Courtesy IGN64

Three-Way Tie

Wild Arms 2 gives players three different ways of looking at a complicated, new affair.

June 01, 1999

The forthcoming RPG saga from SCEI, Wild Arms 2, is going to be a complicated affair, portraying the action from three separate viewpoints, laying down three divergent pathways through the story but trying to keep the whole thing tied together into a coherent whole.

Ashley Winchester, Liluka Eleniak, and Brad Evans will be your guides in this luscious looking sequel, as players get to hack and slash their way through Final Fantasy-like battle sequences, bringing peace and prosperity to their homeland of the (parallel world) of Farugaia. Here's the background info on each hero:

  • The youthful Ashley (19) is described, rather optimistically, as a Gun Warrior. To rescue the hostages kidnapped and held in the ruins, a gun warrior was dispatched. Ashley is the one.

  • The cradle snatched Liluka is a petite, dangerously illegal 14-year-old Cresh Sorceress. Just how Japanese men like 'em. With plenty of spells written down on her cards, Liluka is, surprise, simple and innocent in character. Funny that, just how Japanese men like 'em. Still, at least they've given her the formidable weapon.

  • Practically ancient, Brad (32) is a deserter. But he's big, standing tall at 190 cm, so we'll forgive him. A hero in the civil war five years previously, he returned to a peaceful world expecting to be hailed a savior but was instead imprisoned. Armed with a rifle and launcher, with a headband that is actually a bomb he can detonate at any time, Brad is not a man to be messed with.

Source - Famitsu PS
Courtesy IGNPSX

Now Playing in Japan

Square's Racing RPG gets slammed by Japanese gaming critics.

June 01, 1999

Racing RPG? Sorry… Famitsu's review staff has given Square's new racing game, Racing Lagoon, a big thumbs down, rating it only 21 out of 40. All reviewers commented on the pretty graphics and movie scenes, but thought that the racing action and challenge (RPG-like fighting) elements simply didn't gel properly together, giving the whole a very unbalanced feel. You can race around, or you can fight with other characters, but not both. 

Source - Famitsu PS

Sprint Toma Runner -- fast furious racing on-foot?
Now that the Japanese gaming world has gotten its heads around the concept of a racing game conducted entirely on foot, SCEI has seen fit to announce their own version of the past-time, called 'Sprint Toma Runner'. In what Famitsu describe as a "comical touch race game," you go head-to-head with an opponent around courses set in a temple, hotel, castle and others. Comical it may well be, but Sony has decided to make the action fast and furious, incorporating high-speed circuits, vicious turns and aggressive game-play into the title. Winning will involve maximum exploitation of the layout of the courses, including getting your timing dead on, taking corners as quickly as possible and availing yourself of any handy shortcuts. For the less honorable victory, missiles, landmines and other such devices can be used to block your rival. So, um, get your skates on. 

Source - Famitsu PS

Top Ten List

PlayStation only

  1. Dance Dance Revolution (Konami)
  2. Super Robot Battles F – Final Conflict (Banpresto)
  3. Bust a Move 2 – Dance Heaven Remix (Enix)
  4. Omega Boost (SCEI)
  5. World Stadium 3 (Namco)
  6. Saga Frontiers 2 (Square)
  7. Simple 1500 The Series The Billiards (Culture Publishers)
  8. Glay Complete Works (Orashion)
  9. Culdecept Expansion (Media Factory)
  10. Simple 1500 The Series Vol.1 The Mah Jong (Culture Publishers)

Source – The PlayStation, May 10 to 16, 1999
Courtesy IGNPSX


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