Western games shine in Japanese charts

Rockstar Games’ L.A. Noire has taken the top spot in the Japanese charts after its first week on sales, leading a wave of Western-developed successes in the region.

The Team Bondi-developed detective thriller shifted more than 70,000 copies in Japan, with the PS3 copy taking No.1. The game was one of four titles in the Top Ten from Western developers, according to Kotaku.

Sony’s Infamous 2, from American studio Sucker punch, debuted at No.2 with more than 33,000 copies sold. Meanwhile UK developer Eurocom’s Goldeneye 007 came in at No.9.

Elsewhere in the charts, Namco Bandai’s Earth Defence Force: Insect Armageddon took No.3 and No.4, and Nintendo’s Wii Play Motion reached No.5 in its first week.

The full Japanese software charts for July 4th to July 10th are as follows:
1. L.A. Noire (PS3)
2. Infamous 2 (PS3)
3. Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (PS3)
4. Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon (Xbox 360)
5. Wii Play Motion (Wii)
6. Cardboard Senki (PSP)
7. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS)
8. Steins;Gate (PSP)
9. Goldeneye 007 (Wii)
10. Wii Sports Resort (Wii)