Post by: Karl Castaneda #2 on March 12, 2006, 05:04:10 PM
If you’ve had trouble buying a copy of Phoenix Wright, Capcom’s fantastic lawyer game on the DS, lately, you’re not the only one. Much to the chagrin of potential buyers, the game’s been out of stock with retailers for some time, due to low production numbers in the United States. There seemed to be some hope, however, when reports of a new shipment were confirmed. And soon, too, with a projected date of tomorrow. Oh yes, it would seem that gamers the country over would finally be able to experience this Triple-A game. It was a nice happy ending…
HOLD IT
PGC was as excited as anyone when we heard such reports, and so we went right to the source, hoping to make sure the claim was true. According to Capcom, though, the game is not sold out nationwide, so there is a chance your local store still has a copy from the original shipments. But the company is finally starting to acknowledge the widespread shortages, saying that more units are on the way. Here's the official statement from Capcom:
"Based on demand we are shipping more units. Consumers interested in purchasing a copy should check with their store."
As of this writing, even Capcom's official game store is still sold out. But it seems that supplies are on their way:
"From our end, we can verify that units have been shipped and at the same price as we originally shipped them. On the retail side, we can't control what they price the product at."
It seems, then, that the distributor supplying NCS is simply marking up the game's price due to the high demand. Normally priced copies should be entering the marketplace soon, so there is no reason to pay more than the suggested retail price of $30 USD.
So what can you do if your local retailer doesn’t have a copy yet? You'll have to keep on asking your nearest outlet to order more copies. Until they arrive, though, practice those "OBJECTIONS!"
Post by: RiskyChris on March 12, 2006, 05:19:31 PM
Post by: Bill Aurion on March 12, 2006, 05:53:19 PM
Post by: Shin Gallon on March 12, 2006, 05:58:58 PM
Post by: Bartman3010 on March 12, 2006, 06:11:43 PM
So wait, we should bug the retailers to order more copies?
Lets go to the Capcom forums, then. Restock on Capcom.com for god sakes...
Post by: 31 Flavas on March 12, 2006, 06:12:36 PM
Post by: ruby_onix on March 12, 2006, 06:34:40 PM
Quote
A Capcom representative told us, though, that the game isn’t even sold out, and thus, would not receive a re-release.
...
So what can you do if your local retailer doesn’t have a copy? Pester them until they reorder, says Capcom.
Capcom lies. Retailers have been trying that for months and it hasn't worked. Until now, apparently.
But if they actually follow through with more Phoenix Wright now, and we aren't reduced to importing it from Europe of all places, then it doesn't really matter what they say.
Post by: jasonditz on March 12, 2006, 06:38:12 PM
Why does the reprint cost $5 more than the original? Was there a bout of inflation in the past few months? Since the game's obviously selling better than Capcom expected, shouldn't that be a reason to if anything lower the price on the re-release so as to maybe build up excitement for bringing the sequel stateside?
Post by: ShyGuy on March 12, 2006, 07:17:17 PM
Post by: RiskyChris on March 12, 2006, 07:27:12 PM
I was rolling on the floor watching that translated video!
Post by: Ian Sane on March 13, 2006, 06:51:13 AM
I myself have bought a few games because of this phenomenon. I remember everyone was saying great things about Iridion 2 and Ninja Five-O so when I managed to find them I snapped them up. In the end neither game really turned out to be that great. The greatest appeal in both titles is that they play more like games used to in the 2D days but if they had been released during that time they probably wouldn't have been considered a big deal at all. Yet both games have a fair bit of buzz around them with hardcore gamers because they're hard to find and they're decent games.
Now Phoenix Wright might be legitimately a classic. I don't know because I haven't played it. But I think it would be a good strategy to intentionally try to make a game into an "overlooked classic" by intentionally making it rare.
Post by: KDR_11k on March 13, 2006, 08:23:09 AM
). It looks nice but the gameplay can't even measure up to the average freeeware shooter.I think this tactic is currently working for Ico and hell, it sold me that POS Rez and the way-too-stealthy Beyond Good and Evil, too.
BTW, Ninja Five-O makes for an enjoyable TAS.
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on March 13, 2006, 09:45:38 AM
Post by: Ian Sane on March 13, 2006, 10:01:55 AM
I was just pointing out a potential strategy of using rarity to build demand in a game and that it could work even if the game isn't that exceptional. That doesn't mean Phoenix Wright isn't, I'm just saying the strategy might work well enough that the game in question doesn't even have to be that great.
My earlier post is actually pretty off topic and I just thought of it because of this rumour involving Phoenix Wright being rare.
Post by: Karl Castaneda #2 on March 13, 2006, 10:13:54 AM
Shifting to another topic, what'd you guys think of this article as far as the new standard for rumor reporting. Now that Louie's retired, the style for reporting is kind of left up in the air. Any suggestions?
Post by: vudu on March 13, 2006, 10:13:57 AM
Post by: ShyGuy on March 13, 2006, 11:51:41 AM
Post by: Smash_Brother on March 13, 2006, 11:59:29 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: TheYoungerPlumber
Ian Sane, shut your trap hole. You're always cynical. This game is fantastic, no two ways about it. I was never that huge a fan of PC adventure games (which Phoenix Wright is close to) so your nostalgia mule isn't going to work on me. Sure, parts of Phoenix Wright feel like Carmen San Diego (which I did play as a kid), but no more than a third of the action. Pretty much everything about the courtroom drama was new to me.
Ian, I think what you should derive from this is how good PW truly is: people will rabidly defend the game. I'm no exception to this.
PW delivers a certain level of satisfaction which is seldom found in gaming: the satisfaction of being right. When you win, it's like it was your ability to outthink the game is what won the case and that's something you barely ever see, even in puzzle games.
I can't say for certain if you'd enjoy it, but it's definitely worth the hype in my book, if for no other reason than being something new and unique in gaming. Some might call it a text adventure, but Phoenix Wright is to text adventures what Mario 64 was to platformers.
Post by: KnowsNothing on March 13, 2006, 12:25:40 PM
But whatever.
Post by: Karl Castaneda #2 on March 13, 2006, 12:57:14 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: ShyGuy
Can I send in a rumor to get published? How substantial does the rumor have to be? I liked the follow up in the same article.
You can most certainly use the News Tip Line to send in a rumor, if that's what you mean. As for how we choose rumors to cover, they usually have to sound meaty. For example, if someone half-assed a blog post about Nintendo using mind-control devices in NEW Super Mario Bros., we wouldn't run it, obviously. Stuff that sounds more plausible and has been run on a variety of sites, though (like Phoenix Wright), is really what we're looking for, especially with New Rumors, which I plan on keeping up far more often than Louie ever did. If possible, I'd like it to be weekly.
Post by: Infernal Monkey on March 13, 2006, 01:00:54 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
The 'hardcore' have been importing it from Japan and getting ready to order it from Europe in a few days due to this pathetic treatment. I'm sure this is what Capcom USA planned in their amazing strategy for sales.
Post by: Ian Sane on March 13, 2006, 01:07:26 PM
I'm not saying this is Capcom's strategy just that it might actual be a strategy worth trying. Capcom obviously isn't doing it because they don't seem to have any plans on a re-release which is a key part of the strategy.
And why is my quoted text a picture of an action figure?
Post by: Karl Castaneda #2 on March 13, 2006, 01:13:45 PM
Post by: JonLeung on March 13, 2006, 02:07:27 PM
For a, uhm...fictional dead lawyer boss woman.
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on March 13, 2006, 04:14:40 PM
Post by: Smash_Brother on March 13, 2006, 04:35:15 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: Ian Sane
And why is my quoted text a picture of an action figure?
I don't get the reference, either.
I thought the title on the side said "Talkbot" at first, which would have made sense, but it's actually "Tankbot".
Post by: Strell on March 13, 2006, 04:35:15 PM
Just a heads up. Get it now if you don't have it. I WILL hunt you down if you don't.
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 13, 2006, 04:40:01 PM
Post by: ruby_onix on March 13, 2006, 04:40:37 PM
Edit: Nevermind.
Ian: Releasing niche games in small quantities and letting word of mouth take over isn't a new concept. And yelling "shortage" and "out of print" does tend to work in spurring sales, but not always, and it tends to leave the userbase feeling burned and manipulated. There's no reason for anyone to do it on purpose when it happens by itself sometimes anyways. The problem with pushing your luck is that some bad luck might push you overboard.
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 13, 2006, 05:56:02 PM
</sarcasm>
Post by: Smash_Brother on March 13, 2006, 06:13:02 PM
The hardcore would would enjoy the type of game buy it, love it, and rave about it. Meanwhile, by the time the non-hardcore who wouldn't enjoy the game hear all the raving, it's already gone from shelves but only because the publisher didn't predict strong sales.
For the next few months, people are left to try and track down a copy of the game while the hardcores continue to rave about how great it is.
Finally, the publisher ships more and the people who wouldn't like the game try it and give it bad reviews which would have countered the raving of the hardcore had there been enough copies to go around.
In Phoenix Wright's case, it's a niche game, but it's an excellent game, probably the best experience I've had on the DS to date.
EDIT: Hey, look! I just negated my own opinion...
Post by: RiskyChris on March 13, 2006, 06:36:51 PM
=(
Post by: Rize on March 13, 2006, 06:45:47 PM
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3943030
Post by: Bartman3010 on March 14, 2006, 05:37:37 AM
Amazon says J&R Music has a copy.
Edit: I also have evidence that Gamespot also contacted a Capcom represenative and said copies are indeed returning to store shelves
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6145876.html
Therefore I conclude with this evidence that Planet Gamecube met with a person who knew NOTHING!
Post by: Karl Castaneda #2 on March 14, 2006, 09:23:06 AM
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on March 14, 2006, 09:23:25 AM
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on March 14, 2006, 10:29:57 AM
Post by: jasonditz on March 14, 2006, 10:43:20 AM
Post by: Shin Gallon on March 14, 2006, 06:05:16 PM
Post by: TheYoungerPlumber on March 15, 2006, 11:00:31 AM
Post by: KDR_11k on March 15, 2006, 11:16:33 PM
Post by: GoldenPhoenix on March 20, 2006, 10:55:22 PM
Post by: Shecky on April 15, 2006, 06:23:54 AM
Post by: ruby_onix on April 15, 2006, 01:59:28 PM
It sold 5,000 in November, and another 10,000 in December, at which point the word-of-mouth on the game was really starting to spread (although it was positive from day-1). Especially after Christmas, when presents were opened.
The last 5,000 units were snapped up within the first few days of January, at which point the "shortage" became complete (although some people were having trouble finding the game long before then). Stores didn't order more units, because the game was cancelled, and they couldn't, so they just shrugged their shoulders and moved on. And Capcom was denying that there was a shortage or a need for a reprint, noting that it was "still selling" in January.
Then Capcom probably noticed that zero units were selling in February, or there was some sort of inter-division friction because of the threat of Americans storming the European launch of the game in March, because Capcom decided to un-cancel the game and do another print run.
I don't know how big the run was, but Capcom didn't advertise it's arrival, so most stores didn't order any copies, only the ones who were specifically pestering Capcom (or stores that kept up with videogame news) did, and yet the run still shipped out entirely.
NCSX got their copies on March 13, and the scattered stores that got copies probably got them on about the same day. I didn't see any local stores carrying the second run of the game, and most online stores who picked it up seemed to sell out in about a week. NCSX thought they had "several months" worth of supply, and they had it available longer than anyone else I know of, but they ran out as of yesterday, April 14.
NCSX is saying that a third run of the game has been produced, and will be arriving sometime next month.
Post by: Kairon on April 15, 2006, 02:20:05 PM
Want to make some big money for relatively little expense?
Make a Phoenix Wright game! You'll easily sell around 60,000 80,000 units in America, tons more in Japan, and all for a game that has almost zero animation, is completely sprite-based, and can't possible cost you that much to make!
....now...about Phoenix Write on the Rev...
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: Shecky on April 15, 2006, 04:48:08 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: ruby_onix
NCSX is saying that a third run of the game has been produced, and will be arriving sometime next month.
And Capcom slowly becomes aware of this thing called capitalism, and supply and demand....
"Hey, look at this boss... everytime we ship out some of these games they _disappear_! It's like MAGIC!"
Thanks for the update ruby
Post by: KDR_11k on April 15, 2006, 10:59:01 PM
Post by: ruby_onix on June 05, 2006, 01:37:02 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: ruby_onix
NCSX is saying that a third run of the game has been produced, and will be arriving sometime next month.
Seeing as someone just asked about Phoenix Wright in the Mailbag, now seems like a good time to bump this thread and point out that the "mid-May" date for the second batch of reprints was pushed back to "late May", which obviously didn't happen either, and a couple days ago NCSX reported that Capcom told them it was delayed again until "mid-June".
If this next reprint's anything like the last one, it's not going to be very big, and will only be carried by stores that know enough to be involved with it, FYI.
Post by: Infernal Monkey on June 05, 2006, 02:36:02 PM
Post by: KDR_11k on June 06, 2006, 02:48:43 AM
Post by: ruby_onix on June 17, 2006, 12:34:58 PM
Some places like NCSX and VideoGamesPlus.ca have it, but they're charging more than the original $30 MSRP. They say the higher price is coming from their distributors, but maybe they're just marking it up. NCSX is charging $40 plus shipping, and Videogames Plus is charging $45 Canadian (which is $40 American, but since their shipping is pretty low and you don't have to pay import fees, it's a reasonable price for Canadians).
Some places are charging $30, so if you hunt around you might get lucky.
Post by: ruby_onix on June 26, 2006, 11:33:41 PM
NCSX said they got about as many copies as they did the last time, but this time it sold out in a week instead of a month. And they say that they were selling as many as 150 copies a day.
There were also a few reports of Phoenix Wright sightings in Canadian EB's (one of which, I can confirm).
NCSX says that Capcom is telling them that there will be a third reprinting of the game, currently set for mid-August.
Post by: Shecky on June 27, 2006, 03:31:10 AM
I was able to score a copy off this last reprint from walmart.com. The online store had them available for only half a day, shortly after NCSX got them in. Walmart list is $30.
Post by: Shecky on June 27, 2006, 04:20:55 PM
Phoenix Wright; $30 Capcom Store
