This is one of those things that may be difficult to grasp for players outside of Japan, but in Japan PSP is one of the hottest systems. It's neck-and-neck with the DS at the top of the weekly hardware charts, and it's getting many of the biggest releases.

Don't take my word for it, though. Here's a bit of what Hirokazu Hamamura, CEO of Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, had to say at the fall edition of his semi annual game industry seminar targeting mainstream press and analysts. Famitsu.com posted a summary of the speech, which was held on the 8th.

"This year will be the PSP's biggest year," said Hamamura. The system recently crossed the 15 million sold mark, and considering the upcoming releases, he expects it to keep on extending its sales total.

The system has seen a boost in third party titles, with such games as Metal Gear Solid Peace Walker and Monster Hunter Diary Poka Poka Felyne Village in the first half of the fiscal year. Hamamura cites two major factors as the background for this increase. First, third party software hasn't done well on Nintendo DS and Wii. Additionally, because of development costs, third parties aren't increasing their lines of development for HD machines.

Hamamura made note of a number of major titles for the rest of the year (through March), including Lord of Arcana, God Eater Burst, Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity, Black Panther Yakuza New Chapter (already released), Tactics Ogre and The 3rd Birthday.

But Monster Hunter Portable 3rd is, needless to say, the biggest game. "Selling five million units is not a dream," said Hamamura. This would be about one million more than Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G, but Hamamura feels the game will benefit from a strong multiplayer gaming market and also the increased awareness for series due to Poka Poka Felyne Village.

Felyne Village, a spinoff of the series that lets players experience life as the Felyne mascot characters (who accompany on your hunts in the main games) has shipped 500,000 copies. Capcom recently saidthat the game's audience is 50% female, a figure that was achieved (according to Capcom) by offering beginner-friendly gameplay and tie-ups with Hello Kitty.

This isn't the first time Hamamura has mentioned "five million" in connection with Portable 3rd. He said a similar thing, in the Spring edition of this seminar. He previously predicted five million units for Dragon Quest IX.

http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/10/10/monhan_five_million_hamamura/

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WOW if it comes true!!!!!

Darth,Interesting tidbit not entirely related but interesting

The two most recent of the Monster Hunter's Sold More on PSP (besides the first one) than DQIX has in the west... granted its IX is still selling, and May or may not outsell it them.

But I doubt the newer Monster Hunter's would sell better than the old ones, in the west beings the state the psp's in. But maybe it increase in japan again >_>,

Monster Hunter Freedom .4 million
Monster Hunter Freedom 2 .67 million in west
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite .76 million in west

Dragon Quest IX .59 million
The Remakes sold way less, but that isn't really a fair comparison.

79.1 million 3rd party games have sold on the Nintendo DS in Japan alone, you asshat Hamamura. That's not quite double what 3rd party games have sold on PSP.

Way more when  if they port it over the 3DS.

it will easily reach 5 million psps but not 5 million bought version piracy is just soo huge on psp

tehehehehe!

@ishiki

True, but he means Japan only though!

Well, I think  5million is pushing it. And it's also banking on that 4.03 million isn't the peak... like Say FF7 was for FF or Zelda OoT was for Zelda (sales-wise)

Because MH sales in Japan Was 1.03 then 1.75 then 4.03, so obviously if it continues the trend it will obliterate 5 million but, I'd say that's not likely. Now will it sales increase... I'd say it's a reasonable guess, but I do not know these things because if I did I'd be a millionair

Well the preorders are already high and increase a lot every day.

My moneys on DQ.

no "THIS IS BULLSHIT THE PSP IS DEAD AND THE ONLY WAY TO DO THIS IS TO PORT GAMES TO THE DS, AGREE or DISAGREE?!?!"  from you darth ?

edit: jeez someone already beat you to it.