Playstation 3 Greatest Hits Coming Soon

More than a year after launch, the Playstation 3 will be receiving its first shares of "Greatest Hits" titles, at least in Japan.

The land of the rising sun will receive five "Playstation 3 the Best" (the equivalent to the Greatest Hits line In North America) titles: Folklore (known as Folk Soul in Japan), Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Resistance: Fall of Man and Ridge Racer 7. Out of the first five "Playstation 3 the Best" titles, Sony (Folklore and Resistance: Fall of Man) and Namco Bandai Games (Mobile Suit Gundam: Target in Sight and Ridge Racer 7) both published two titles each in the line.

Although Sony hasn't announced the criteria for a greatest hits game, it usually involves sales. The following titles managed to sell over 100,000 copies in Japan that are not yet named to the list: Bladestorm: The Hundred Years' War, Dynasty Warriors 6, Dynasty Warriors: Gundam, Gran Turismo 5 Prologue, Hot Shot Golf 5 and Winning Eleven: Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. Of an interesting note, Folklore and Ninja Gaiden wasn't remotely close to selling 100,000 copies.

In the past, the criteria for being a Greatest Hits title on a Playstation platform is 250,000 units sold for Playstation and PSP games and 400,000 units sold for Playstation 2 games.

The "Playstation 3 the Best" line will launch in Japan on March 19th with the suggested retail price of 3,619 yen (about $35USD). Past Greatest Hits titles for the Playstation and Playstation 2 retail for $19.99. The pricing goes in line with the price increase from this generation of games (new games went up from $49.99 last generation to $59.99).

Although Sony is mum about possible North America and Europe iterations, there have been several rumblings with Motorstorm, Resistance: Fall of Man and Warhawk being the first titles. Seems like Sony is withholding the announcement until the 80GB Playstation 3 bundle with Motorstorm is sold out (that model is no longer being produce).