I'm pretty sure it's the number of retailer orders. 

This is a huge title for Sony.

In Japan, this is one of their biggest franchises (arguably behind GT and ...?). It sold massively on the PS2 - but there was a much larger install base at the time, with more momentum and a cheaper console.

I think a lot of people (i.e. other publishers) will be watching to see how well this sells. Its a very casual title, and doesn't seem to be the ideal title to push the PS3 with.

Personally - as a consumer that owns a Wii - I now consider any "non-motion controlled" golf title to be unacceptable. It will be interesting to see how this impacts sales (if at all). 

yea i'm sure this is number of retailer orders, but that is a huge number considering the PS3 install base in not 1 million yet and Dragon Quest swords only has preorders of 250k. It's hard to believe that it is that high, i expected 300k to maybe be the lifetime sales in Japan. Anything over 250k should be considered a major success so it looks like a success already

As I can see it's according to SCE, that there are 300.000 accepting orders, which should mean orders from retailers. From my experience with these articles, it's mostly based on retail orders.

Anyway the writer of this article is saying that the person at Sony who gave this information is really surprised and the amount of accepting orders are even higher then the so far most selling game on the PS3, Gundam Musou, which sold about 290.000 so far. So the amount of sales of Minna no Golf 5 will most likely surpass the sales of Gundam Musou and will become the biggest selling PS3 game so far.

Also mentioned that the PS3 owners we're getting tired of waiting for the next big title and the writer him-/herself will also be one of those buying Minna no Golf 5 :D

Okay this is odd, hit the post button once and get the message twice :-/

Don't get your hopes up too high, this game won't reach 300K

Don't tell me, tell Sony Computer Entertainment, I can't blame them. I'm positively sure it will surpass the 300.000 lifetime, if Gundam Musou already made it by hitting almost 300.000 with such a low fanbase with a PS3 in Japan, Minna no Golf which is basically targeting on all gamers (ironic, everybody's golf), will most definitely be the first game to prove some succes for the PS3.

Or else it will be a complete disaster and the worst selling "new made" Minna no Golf game ever. Too bad Minna no Golf is a PS only franchise then....

IMO 300k for this title (lifetime) would be close to a disaster. It should reach at least 500k, and maybe even 1m (over say 12 months).

There ARE 1m PS3's sold in Japan - and these owners haven't had much to play recently. They will be itchy for a new title.

The real question is how much hardware it will sell?

 Actually there are about 950K PS3's in Japan, and a majority of those ownwers are either videophiles using it as a blu-ray, or the hardcore gamers, golf is however a more causal game and seems unlikely to appeal to a vast majority of current PS3 owners

Well... Almost every japanese I know is a golfer. so... even those who buy it as a blu-ray player, will buy the golf to play. Its a casual game! Look at the Wii. You dun need hardcore gamers to push. Its the casual gamers that push up sales. the hardcore gamers are a niche market.