The latest Media Create figures from Japan show the PS3 Slim is still selling well. Just not as well as the DSi...

Is there no stopping Nintendo’s handheld? Apparently not, and we’ve simply lost count of the number of times it’s held the top spot on Japan’s hardware chart. However, today’s big story is the PS3 Slim, which sold over 150,000 at launch, but is now relegated to second place – in fact current sales are around a third what they were a week ago. Like, ouch!

But that’s still pretty good going compared to all other competitors, the majority of which have actually shrunk in sales since last week – yes, even the mighty DSi. Xbox 360 is the only exception, although you still wouldn’t want to write home about its distinctly non-stellar performance. Anyway, here’s how it all stands right now, last week’s sales in brackets as usual:

DSi – 66,498 (68,728)
PS3 – 55,344 (151,783)
PSP – 18,375 (22,184)
Wii – 17,568 (21,557)
Xbox 360 – 7,568 (6,827)
PS2 – 2,612 (3,179)

In view of all the above it won’t surprise you to learn that the DS dominates the Japanese software charts. Five of the top ten games are on the format, and we suspect that this week’s numbers one and two will have sold more than the rest of the games in the top 40 combined – Pokemon Soul Silver and Pokemon Heart Gold, moving a staggering 722,904 and 720,086 copies respectively.

Meanwhile, last week’s PS3 biggie – ‘Mobile Suit Gundam Senki Record U.C. 0081’ – is down to fifth place, selling just 32,679 copies instead of the 178,000 it shifted just a week ago. The Xbox 360's sole contribution to the top 40 is good old Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare at 14 and with weekly sales so low that Media Create hasn’t bothered to count them. Make of that what you will...