Sluggish software, solid handheld system sales continued for the week ending October 16th.

Courtesy of Media-Create, we have the most recent sales figures from Japan.

The DS continued its reign this week, despite a lack of any substantial new software. In fact, by and large, new software mostly failed to make a splash on any platform. Software releases will really start to pick up after October, and hardware numbers should jump in accordance.

The week's numbers follow:

Software sales, slow as they were this week, still notched a few newcomers in the top 10. Besides Square-Enix's new PS2 RPG Code Age Commanders, the GBA saw release of the new YU-GI-OH! Duel Monsters GX and Tsuukin Hitofude (the effective GBA version of the DS black n' white puzzler.) October, historically, is apparently quite the slow sales month (at least in Japan.)

It should be noted that the fabulous looking new Nintendo platformer Super Princess Peach for the DS will be reflected in next week's charts, a development worth following. The game, as appealing as it is to hardcore Nintendo platformer fans, nevertheless shows signs of an attempt at broader appeal (aside from its female-friendly characterization, I refer to the allegedly low difficulty in an otherwise very fun game.) Also of interesting note, the Super Mario Bros. GBA re-release is nearing a million sold. Impressive, but at the same time a bit sobering. It is a shame that Screw Breaker, a fresh new action title developed by Gamefreak (of Pokemon fame), simultaneously dropped off so quietly following its release last week. But I digress. The numbers follow: