Berserk’s Toshiyuki Kubooka helms next PES work with Somarta fashion designer Tamae Hirokawa
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Overview

Xbox 360 sales increase this week due to the release of Borderlands 2. Hardware sales week on week are up for the Xbox 360 and PSP, and down for everything else. The 3DS continues to be the only platform up year on year, but is only up by two percent. Overall hardware sales are down 41 percent year on year.

Five games debuted in the top 30 this week. Borderlands 2 is this week’s top debut. The Xbox 360 version debuted at the top with sales of 1,042,464. The PlayStation 3 version sold 546,122 units, and the PC version sold 221,228. Software milestones this week in the top 30: Borderlands 2 (X360) passed the one million mark in its opening week; and Madden NFL 13 (X360) passed the one million mark.

Worldwide Hardware

Hardware sales week on week are up Xbox 360 and PSP, and down for everything else. The 3DS is at the top for another week with sales of 180,950 units, which is down 3,347 (-2%).  The PlayStation 3 is down 5,213 (-4%) to 119,202 units sold. Xbox 360 sales are up the most this week, up 17,242 (17%) to 116,239 units sold. The Wii sold 35,123 units, which is down 3,187 (-8%). The PlayStation Vita sold 33,311 which is down 1,990 (-6%) compared to last week. The PSP is up 7,500 (31%) to 31,773 units sold. The DS is down 315 (-1%) to 23,231 units sold. Total week on week sales are up 10,690 (2%) to 539,831.

The 3DS continues be the only platform up year on year, however only by two percent. The PlayStation 3 is down 106,565 (-47%), the Wii is down 74.393 (-68%), and the Xbox 360 is down 112,464 (-49%). The PSP is down 62,899 (-66%) the DS is down 57,897 (-71%) and the 3DS is up 3,888 (2%). Year on year sales are down 377,018 (-41%).

Xbox 360 sales have increased for one week, almost catching up to the PlayStation 3, which saw sales decrease this week. The PlayStation 3 has been the bestselling home console all year. Wii sales after jumping up the week of August 4 have decreased every week since then. The PlayStation 3 has a 44 percent market share; the Xbox 360 has a 43 percent market share; and the Wii has a 13 percent market share. Compared with ten weeks ago the Xbox 360 is up, while the PlayStation 3 and Wii are down.

3DS hardware sales have declined every week since the release of the 3DS XL and New Super Mario Bros. 2; however sales have started to level out the last couple of week. The 3DS has outsold its predecessor, the DS, by nearly 8 to 1, while the Vita barely outsold its predecessor, the PSP. The PSP has a 58 percent market share this week for the current generation handhelds and the DS has a 42 percent. The 3DS has an 84 percent market share for the next generation of handhelds, while the Vita has a 16 percent market share. Compared with ten weeks ago the 3DS is up while the PlayStation Vita, DS and PSP are down.

Worldwide Software

Five games debuted in the top 30 this week. Borderlands 2 is this week’s top debut. The Xbox 360 version debuted at the top with sales of 1,042,464. The PlayStation 3 version sold 546,122 units, and the PC version sold 221,228. The game launched in North America and Europe, and will be in the following weeks chart for Japan.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 (PS3) debuted at number four with sales of 178,172. The Xbox 360 version debuted at number 13 with sales of 47,441. The game launched in Europe, and will be in the following weeks chart for North America.

F1 2012 (PS3) debuted at number six with sales of 112,879. The Xbox 360 version debuted at number seven with sales of 80,535. The game launched worldwide.

Final Fantasy III (PSP) debuted at number 14 with sales of 45,540. The game launched in Japan, and will be in the following weeks chart for North America and Europe.

LittleBigPlanet PS Vita debuted at number 21 with sales of 24,373. The game launched in Japan and Europe, and will be in the following weeks chart for North America.

Other games in the top 10 that are not debuts include New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS) at number five with sales of 141,684. Madden NFL 13 (X360) is at number eight with sales of 74,235. Guild Wars 2 (PC) is at number nine with sales of 62,661.  Madden NFL 13 (PS3) rounds out the top 10 with sales of 55,328.

Week on week software totals are up for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PSP, and PlayStation Vita, flat for the Wii and DS, and down for the 3DS. The Xbox 360 sold 2.31 million games this week, an increase of 996,052 (76%). The PlayStation 3 sold 2.14 million games, an increase of 647,705 (43%). Wii software sales are down 666 (0%) to 738,251. The DS sold 470,977 games, an increase of 439 (0%).  The 3DS sold 464.136 games, which is down 131,025 (-22%). PSP game sales are up 51,225 (24%) to 266,464 games sold. The Vita sold 100,365 games, an increase of 15,509 (-25%).  Total combined software is up 1.58 million (32%) week on week to 6.48 million.

Year on year software totals are up for the PlayStation 3 and 3DS, and down for everything else. The PlayStation 3 is up 287,678 (16%), the Wii is down 377,691 (-34%) and the Xbox 360 is down 1.85 million (-45%). The DS is down 326,749 (-41%), the PSP is down 130,794 (-33%) and the 3DS is up 164,999 (55%). Total combined software is down 2.13 million units (-25%) games sold year on year.

Xbox 360 software sales outsold the PlayStation 3 for the first time since the week ending May 19. The Xbox 360 has a 45 percent market share, the PlayStation 3 with 41 percent, and the Wii with 14 percent. Compared to ten weeks ago the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 software sales are up, and Wii is down.

The DS sold more software this week than the 3DS, which is the first time since the week ending July 21. The DS has a 64 percent market share for the current generation handhelds and the PSP has a 36 percent market share. The 3DS has an 82 percent market share for the next generation handhelds, while the Vita has a 18 percent market share. Compared with ten weeks ago all four handhelds are down.

The Top 100 can be seen below or click here to view the full chart.

Pos	Game	Weekly	Total	Week #
1	Borderlands 2 (X360) Take-Two Interactive, Shooter	1,042,464	1,042,464	1
2	Borderlands 2 (PS3) Take-Two Interactive, Shooter	546,122	546,122	1
3	Borderlands 2 (PC) Take-Two Interactive, Shooter	221,228	221,228	1
4	Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 (PS3) Konami Digital Entertainment, Sports	178,172	178,172	1
5	New Super Mario Bros. 2 (3DS) Nintendo, Platform	141,684	2,366,833	9
6	F1 2012 (PS3) Codemasters, Action	112,879	112,879	1
7	F1 2012 (X360) Codemasters, Action	80,535	80,535	1
8	Madden NFL 13 (X360) Electronic Arts, Sports	74,235	1,068,295	4
9	Guild Wars 2 (PC) NCSoft, Role-Playing	62,661	1,232,485	4
10	Madden NFL 13 (PS3) Electronic Arts, Sports	55,328	901,709	4
11	One Piece Pirate Musou (PS3) Unknown, Action	48,539	895,889	30
12	Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (PS3) Namco Bandai Games, Fighting	47,696	208,738	2
13	Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 (X360) Konami Digital Entertainment, Sports	47,441	47,441	1
14	Final Fantasy III (PSP) Square Enix, Role-Playing	45,540	45,540	1
15	Sleeping Dogs (PS3) Square Enix, Action	35,743	379,584	6
16	Sleeping Dogs (X360) Square Enix, Action	34,072	417,567	6
17	Mario Kart 7 (3DS) Nintendo, Racing	28,598	6,201,862	43
18	Super Mario 3D Land (3DS) Nintendo, Platform	27,146	6,651,664	47
19	NHL 13 (X360) Electronic Arts, Sports	25,133	106,845	2
20	Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (PS3) Activision, Shooter	25,104	12,381,778	46
21	LittleBigPlanet PS Vita (PSV) Sony Computer Entertainment, Platform	24,373	24,373	1
22	Mario Party 9 (Wii) Nintendo, Misc	23,703	1,783,190	30
23	Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (PS3) Electronic Arts, Role-Playing	22,558	522,511	33
24	Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (X360) Activision, Shooter	22,138	14,531,980	46
25	Battlefield 3 (PS3) Electronic Arts, Shooter	21,329	5,823,310	48
26	Battlefield 3 (X360) Electronic Arts, Shooter	21,162	6,288,721	48
27	Zumba Fitness 2 (Wii) Majesco Entertainment, Sports	20,965	2,073,584	45
28	Mario Kart Wii (Wii) Nintendo, Racing	20,730	32,445,465	233
29	New Art Academy (3DS) Nintendo, Misc	20,644	59,667	9
30	Max Payne 3 (PS3) Take-Two Interactive, Shooter	20,392	957,073	19

Contact VGChartz at wdangelo@vgchartz.com

As sure as the sun will rise, a new FIFA is upon us with a raft of new features and a few holes that need plugging. Much like the series’ new cover stars Lionel Messi, Joe Hart and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the demo is brilliant, promising and bizarre all at the same time.

Whereas FIFA 12 emphasised the defensive side of the sometimes beautiful game, equipping the player with a variety of tugs, pulls, jockeys and brutally mistimed tackles to shackle their opponent, FIFA 13 has gone full circle. In the new incarnation EA have attempted to explore the attacking side of things with a large array of new manoeuvres to bamboozle the opposition. Feints have been added and closer dribbling skills implemented, but it is the movement of the players which has seen the most noticeable improvement. Wingers dart in from the wings and strikers arc their runs realistically, dragging defenders to make room for driving midfield runs. Likewise, central midfielders marshal the middle of the field diligently, with defensive players taking a more regimented approach in the midfield scraps.

The impression of the game given these additions, strangely, is that of classic Pro Evolution Soccer during its glory days (PES 2-4). In attempting to extend its current stranglehold over Konami’s series, FIFA appears to be somewhat ironically turning back to what made Pro Evolution Soccer great (fast, counter-attacking end to end arcade play), just as PES itself is improving by basing itself on FIFA’s recent resurgence (diligent, progressive play, built on a solid and satisfying engine). The addition of a first-touch system is appreciated, as I am a big believer in the importance of a good first-touch in football; however, a lack of clarity over how to control the power of a touch (close control or knock through, for example) means that this feature is difficult to judge at this point. The result is as entertaining as you would expect. Games ebb and flow as the action flits from end to end as each team incessantly counter-attacks, the reliable ball-holding option of FIFA 12 now redundant due to the more realistic physical collisions of the players as wrecking-ball midfielders like Nocerino deny any time on the ball. Defenders dive desperately to divert well-placed through balls, a skill which has been handily improved with the new movement.

Unfortunately, defenders diving desperately in FIFA 13 is something you will quickly get used to. The problem really is that despite EA’s noble intentions, the defensive additions to FIFA 12 were deeply flawed and naively implemented at best; they only really worked against a computer designed to run into the channels – a human player cutting inwards immediately caused trouble. As such, the new attacking intentions of FIFA 13 have been included on the assumption that the defensive system is good enough to balance the play. It isn’t. Instead, the game feels vastly weighed in favour of the attacking player, with the cumbersome defensive controls and poor positional play exposed by the offensive additions. Although not a critical problem I have found this juxtaposition an issue with every session of FIFA 13, whether against a computer or fellow meatbag. This would not be an issue if the defensive system had been likewise improved with the attacking movement, but as this isn’t the case most FIFA 13 defences are left as exposed as a shy lingerie model at the Playboy mansion – with even less places to hide.

The arcade-style attacking intent is not the only instance in which FIFA 13 has borrowed from vintage PES. Loading screens now feature a series of mini-games akin to the old PES training sessions, ranging from passing practise to dribbling slaloms. Although reasonably fun at first, these games soon drag and you will quickly hit the start button; if properly implemented in the full game, however, they could be a fun and quick way for players to improve some of the more rudimentary skills.

As mentioned previously, the addition of more realistic character models is not just superficial; players now jockey and harry as their size permits, with more physical players such as Abou Diaby likely to win the day. The players themselves look impressive as part of a consistent approach by EA to remove the grotesque caricatures of previous instalments for more humane features. Stadiums seem more befitting of their real-life counter-parts, although crowds are still appallingly mundane (this should really have been sorted by now). The graphics are sharp, detailed and shiny, screaming ‘SKY SPORTS SUPER WORLD WAR THREE ACTION WONDER-SUNDAY’ with some clean and clear presentation. Likewise, you will be relieved to hear that the commentary is reliably woeful, with Alan Smith still a useful counter to all of life’s excitements.

The impression of FIFA 13 then, given by the demo, is one of immense promise but laden with some seriously avoidable flaws. During its best moments the game flows brilliantly, a thrilling end to end tussle of pace and physicality, aided by a well-implemented attacking system and fluid movement, which reminds one of the classic Pro Evolution Soccer titles. At other moments FIFA 13 is a naïve mess, with one new addition completely crippling the last, the defensive mode that appears to have never been finished; an easy avoidable paradox, and one which begs the question why they could not improve both. It will be interesting to see how far this somewhat fractured approach has infested the rest of the game come its release on Friday.

This story was originally featured on www.gamrReview.com, read the full version here – Hands-On Impressions: FIFA 13 Demo – Preview

Animators introduce professional skill of tracing key animation and drawing in-between animation.

In the third part of their ”Professional Skills” series, Studio 4°C has posted a look at the in-betweening work from the PES: Eco Smile Toyota collaboration. Get a look after the jump.

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Konami hiring for London studio to reinvigorate Pro Evolution Soccer for “high-end consoles and PCs.”

Pro Evolution Soccer publisher Konami plans to establish a European studio for Tokyo-based PES Productions. The London studio will focus on PES projects for “high-end consoles and PCs,” Konami said in a press release.

The new London-based satellite office will “adopt and recreate local football culture that will ensure the long-running series is kept fresh and exciting,” according to Konami. The Japanese firm will be recruiting staff for the new studio at the Games Developer Conference Europe, the mid-August industry conference that precedes Gamescom in Cologne, Germany.

PES devs to set up shop in UK.

With the Tokyo team’s PES 2013 scheduled for release this autumn, a secondary team dedicated to “high-end consoles” might turn its attention to the next generation of games machines, given that the Wii U launches this winter and Sony and Microsoft are expected to unveil their efforts next summer.

The football franchise will be looking to recover ground lost to rival series FIFA. Though last year’s PES 2012 performed solidly for Konami, it debuted in the UK sales chart at five, while FIFA 12 charted at number one and outdid PES’ first-week sales several times over.

Konami president Shinji Hirano talks up the new UK studio as an initiative to capture “the majesty of European football,” saying that …these are hugely exciting times for the PES series.”

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Begins streaming today at 11am PDT

Crunchyroll has pulled yet another new anime announcement out of the proverbial bag of tricks at Anime Expo. Today at 11am PDT, Crunchyroll will be streaming PES: Peace Eco Smile, the new collaboration anime from Studio 4°C and Toyota. More details…after the jump!

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Check out the newly posted third short online

Anime producer Studio 4°C (Halo: Legends, TekkonKinkreet) has teamed up with car maker Toyota on a series of animated shorts called PES: Peace Eco Smile. If you’re online, you can catch the new third part here, and if you’re lucky enough to be visiting Anime Expo, you can see the feature screened. Get a look after the jump.

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“Driving Earth” short and Yuri Miyauchi-animated music video posted on PES channel

Anime producer Studio 4°C has teamed up with car maker Toyota on a series of animated shorts called PES: Peace Eco Smile. The second, “Driving Earth,” went online today, with #3 “Fun Fun Drive” scheduled for June 22nd. Get a look after the jump.

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Anime studio offers a look at “PES: Peace Eco Smile” development

Anime producer Studio 4°C (Halo: Legends, TekkonKinkreet) has teamed up with car maker Toyota on a series of animated shorts called PES: Peace Eco Smile. In a new video, the anime artists show off how the strange, artistically colorful sausage is made. Get a look after the jump.

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PES 2013 out this autumn on multiple platforms including PS2 and PSP; no Vita or Wii U versions coming.

The Pro Evolution Soccer franchise will be kicking off again this year, Konami announced today. Though the firm would only confirm an autumn release window, an October release in Europe is to be expected; for as long as the series has been around, Konami has never failed to ship a Pro Evolution soccer game in that month.

Ronaldo has stepped over all other football games to endorse this one, says Konami.

The Japanese publisher has promised a raft of AI and control improvements, as it did in 2011, 2010 and 2009, as well as in 2007 and 2005. Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 will be the first entry in the franchise to not involve long-time executive producer Shingo “Seabass” Takatsuka.

Konami’s PES European team leader Jon Murphy was unconcerned about such personnel changes, saying, “fresh faces within the development team and some very exciting ideas will breathe new life into the PES series.”

Konami has also promised steps forward in the areas of audio and social networking. The game’s audio effects “are being tied closer to the on-field action,” the firm said. It also confirmed it is planning an extension to the myPES application for Facebook which will “extend the connectivity and communication between Facebook-using PES fans.”

The game is due for release this autumn for PS3, Xbox 360, PC, PS2, PSP, 3DS and Wii, the firm said. No mention was made of a version for Sony’s Vita handheld or Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U.

[ Watch Video ]

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