This chart clearly shows that for practically a decade, Nintendo has been by far the prevalent force in term of software sales on the Japanese video games market with several multi-million best-sellers. But it shows also, with the Playstation emerging in the end of the 90's, that Nintendo is facing a threat like no other before. Unlike the early years, and the triumph of the Famicom, the Game Boy and the Super Famicom, the Nintendo 64 has less million selling titles than its rival. And while 6 titles of the Nintendo 64 are ranked within the top 100, the Playstation scores big, three times bigger, with 18 titles. In comparison, Nintendo's old rival, Sega, shows an insignificant presence in the ranking with merely one title ! Something is changing and that's what the next years are sadly going to confirm.

Another interesting fact, however not highlighted in our statistic chart, is the strength of RPGs, and especially the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series from Square and Enix. RPG is strong in Japan, Pokemon is another crucial example. In that regard, one decisive factor for the years to come after this ranking was published, is which console will receive the key RPGs. By buying majority stakes in Square, Sony guarantees its next console the exclusivity of Square's licences. And by merging, Square and Enix makes the deal for Sony even sweeter. One can't help thinking that the deal Nintendo should have signed to give the GameCube a greater chance.