UPDATE: More Japanese shops drop Monster Hunter 3 price 59% - brand new pic courtesy of Jonnyram from Tokyo

More pics from 2ch - http://dubai.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/ghard/1250164527/l50   I'll update the OP as well!

Even more pics from Japan:

Is Monster Hunter 3 Underperforming?

By Brian Ashcraft, 6:00 AM on Thu Aug 13 2009, 8,814 views (Edit, to draft, Slurp)

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Wii title Monster Hunter 3 came out of the gate like gangbusters in its first week this August, selling half a million copies. So why is it already in the bargain bins?

The Monster Hunter series on the PSP has been one of the real success stories — not just for the PSP, but Capcom. The game was originally scheduled for the PS3, but later announced for the Nintendo Wii. With the Nintendo Wii being the most popular console in Japan, Capcom shipped one million copies of the game.

Yet, after moving half a million copies in its first week, indications are that sales are way down to the tune of 130,000 copies sticking retailers with unsold copies of the game. Some retailers like Bic Camera have knocked the price down to ¥2,980 (US$31) from ¥6,600 ($69) for new copies as part of a special sale. Capcom has already shipped these games. If sales are lower than targeted, retailers are getting screwed.

Don't get us wrong, Monster Hunter 3 selling half a million copies in its first week on sale is impressive. That's the biggest third party Wii debut in Japan. Selling 130,000 copies in a week is also impressive.

However, when a million copies of a game are shipped, and there is a significant drop off in its second week, one can't help but think the game isn't living up to retail expectations. But those are only sales expectations, and sales expectations smells pectations. Monster Hunter 3 is doing great!

2週目は約13.8万本。 [忍之閻魔帳] [Pic]

TheSource: http://kotaku.com/5336507/is-monster-hunter-3-underperforming

So I guess Street Fighter IV was a mega bomb then? Didn't Capcom ship 2 million units for the first week? I can list quite a few other games that had large initial shipments that took a few weeks to clear out and no one dared call any of them a bomb or wrote stories about it.

Of course, it's only news when it happens on the Wii.

But those weren't on Wii, and weren't Monster Hunters. The mere fact it's on a console that "hardcore" gamers/press don't believe in means good or bad it's going to get pub. It's what makes news.

...Personally I find it all ridiculous, but hey it's news. I would be reporting the same. No one wants to look at the reality that the bundles were the preferred choice. Nintendo/Capcom miscalulated on the bundles demand. Thats stuff isn't as interesting as, "O.M.G!!!!11!! Monster Hunters is being DISCOUNTED!!!11!! DA HORRA!!!" 

Look at the number of threads on the topic, and the length those threads get, it's as good a topic to get hits as making a thread about PS3 slim...

Ok, I get that bundles are more in demand. But wouldn't an even slightly savvy consumer buy a 2980 yen copy of MH3 and a 1800 yen CC PRO as it would be far, far cheaper than buying the bundle? The controllers are in stock at amazon.co.jp, not sure about other vendors.

Honestly, I'm kind of jealous of Japanese gamers. I'd love to be able to buy a popular recent release for 59% off retail two weeks after launch. It often takes many months if at all to see that kind of discount here.

So soon after the initial release?

Wow. That was fast. Wonder why they dropped the price so quickly?