DBZ Helps Namco Bandai's Game Biz Perform

Publisher Namco Bandai's games business saw sales climb in its fiscal second quarter to 30,976 million yen ($320 million). It also realized a profit of 337 million yen ($3.5 million), thanks largely to sales of Dragon Ball Z: Burst Limit. The latest title in the enduring franchise sold 728,000 units in Japan, Europe and America together. Japan-only Super Robot Wars also pitched in with 510,000 units, and We Ski, released in the U.S. and Europe, sold 456,000 units. Last-gen DBZ title Budokai Tenkaichi 3 sold 420,000 units in Europe, while DS title Taiko Drum Master 2 sold 342,000 units in Japan. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja, a PS2 title, sold 324,000 units, while Soul Calibur IV continues to make the company's top ten in Japan at 189,000 units. However, the company overall, which includes numerous business segments, saw a year-over-year decline, down 3.3 percent in sales from the same period in 2007, and with revenues declining 12.6 percent. Namco Bandai's game divison performed better than all of its other divisions, including its amusement facilities and its "visual and music" segment. Only its Toy and Hobby business fared better.