Topic: Dragon Quest IX To Offer Co-operative Wi-Fi Quests

[NWR_pap64]

A new kind of quest will have players teaming up with each other via Wi-Fi.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=19954

 SquareEnix recently announced that Dragon Quest IX will offer a new feature called "Wi-Fi Quest". Wi-Fi Quests are co-operative quests in which players join online and complete them by playing as a team. The quests are assigned by the "World Inn Cooperative" and require large amounts of players to complete.    

The first quest is already live and will continue until September 30. The goal of the quest is for players to simply upload their save file over Wi-Fi, with the goal being 500,000 uploads by the time the quest ends. The purpose of this quest is for SquareEnix to gather the player data, play rates and play trends of the popular DS title (such as where players are located, for instance).    

If the goal is met, Fleurette from the Wii title Dragon Quest Swords will make a special appearance in one of the game's locales.

[that Baby guy]

Square-Enix is definitely trying to be a bit misleading, here, in this particular situation.

The Quest:  Go online and upload a save file.  The multiplayer aspect:  If 500,000 players upload a save file, you get a reward.  The reward:  A character from another game makes a cameo appearance.

There isn't "team" gameplay in this particular quest.  There's virtually no gameplay in it, actually.

But, don't let me mislead you, either... This is just the initial quest, and there certainly could be a lot more coming that's a lot more interesting.  For example, imagine a "world-wide" boss, someone that everyone can fight, one-on-one (or four-on-one, if participating in local wireless play,) and this boss has a massive HP bank that decreases every time you upload a file.

Yeah, it's not the most exciting thing, but there's potential here, regardless.  The problem is that SE is definitely painting a different picture than what's actually been shown so far.

[BlackNMild2k1]

They are desperately trying to do whatever they can to prolong the sales of this game to as far past 5million as possible. The only way to do that is to get people to hold onto their copies long enough that the people waiting for the used bin copy will just buy a new one instead. This may seem artificial, but what better way do they have to test these anti-used game sales techniques?

[that Baby guy]

But didn't this game already initiate a set of unlockable single/multi-player missions via Wifi?

I don't see why this is something you'd advertise when you have actual additions to gameplay going on at the same time, it doesn't make all that much sense to me.

[GearBoxClock]

Thats pretty cool actually.

[BlackNMild2k1]

This is a way to dupe their customers into providing all their gameplay info voluntarily.
What they plan on doing with it is anybodies guess, but its just one more bulletpoint to get people to either buy the game or not sell back to the shops yet.

[that Baby guy]

See, I'd assume it's so they could figure out an adequate super boss thing.  Something with enough HP that it could be difficult to take down, but not too difficult, then offer a reward, so they can make gamers happy and brag about having a massive boss defeated by the whole of Japan teaming up and giving energy in through their DSes.

[BlackNMild2k1]

That would be nice, but I just know that whatever it is they are up to, its to help prolong the sales of DQIX. There won't be another DQ game for atleast a year (DQX on Wii 2010?) but maybe two, so with DSi and SD cards, they can support this game as long as necessary.

SquareEnix leading the way on defeating the used game market in Japan.

[KDR_11k]

Defeating the used games market sounds so sinister. They're prolonging the value of their game, not doing some kind of unique code bullshit like Epic.

[Flames_of_chaos]

They are desperately trying to do whatever they can to prolong the sales of this game to as far past 5million as possible. The only way to do that is to get people to hold onto their copies long enough that the people waiting for the used bin copy will just buy a new one instead. This may seem artificial, but what better way do they have to test these anti-used game sales techniques?

I disagree, they are doing this to prolong the replay value with new content in order to discourage trade-ins. The used market in Japan is very big and much more diverse than North America.

[that Baby guy]

Isn't... Isn't that the same thing BNM said?  Not the same language, no, but you say you disagree, then you make a statement that easily coincides with what he said.

[BlackNMild2k1]

They are desperately trying to do whatever they can to prolong the sales of this game to as far past 5million as possible. The only way to do that is to get people to hold onto their copies long enough that the people waiting for the used bin copy will just buy a new one instead. This may seem artificial, but what better way do they have to test these anti-used game sales techniques?

I disagree, they are doing this to prolong the replay value with new content in order to discourage trade-ins. The used market in Japan is very big and much more diverse than North America.

Discouraging trade ins prevents used games sales.
You can't buy used if no one has traded it in.
prolong the game play of the game and you discourage trading it in.

So I'm glad you agree with me through disagreeing(?) like thatguy said.

[Flames_of_chaos]

You did also said that they are doing this to prolong sales to reach 5 million so I disagree on that point. Games from popular series essentially sell themselves (or well word of mouth) long after  the marketing campaigns end, just look at New Super Mario Bros, Mario Kart DS and Wii, Wii Fit and such.

Discouraging sales and trade ins is good for the publisher since earns them more money, the only companies that benefits trade-ins is the retailer and publishers want to minimize that in order to maximize profits.

[BlackNMild2k1]

5million was their highest selling DQ i think. I think they went on record somewhere that they were hoping for this to be the best selling DQ yet. If they can get people to not trade in their copies, there won't be any used copies for bargain hunters to purchase. It the bargain hunters really want to play, they will be forced to buy the game new. Therefore pushing sales ever closer to 5 million.

It's a circular theory that is related to and dependent on itself.

To push New sales they need to prevent used sales
to prevent used sales they need to prevent trade-ins
to prevent trade-ins they need to prolong the game
to pro-long the they add new features
new features prolong the game
the prolonged game prevents trade-ins
no trade-ins kills the possibility of used sales.
you can't buy used you buy new instead.


Nintendo published games are the exception to the rule and we all know that. Nintendo games maintain high value and are traded in less often than other games. I'm sure it's related to Nintendo fans and the want to hold onto Nintendo games as collector items.
People simply aren't trading in WiiFit or NSMB and that's why people are still buying it new, because they can't find it or don't want it used.

[vudu]

I disagree.  Used Nintendo games cost more because they're traded in less often than other games, so Nintendo fans buy them new because they want to hang onto them and can't find them used.

[NWR_pap64]

I disagree.  Used Nintendo games cost more because they're traded in less often than other games, so Nintendo fans buy them new because they want to hang onto them and can't find them used.

This, to a certain extend, is true. I have yet to see an used copy of Punch-Out Wii while the new version is still doing well.

[Ian Sane]

I have found two exceptions in regards to Nintendo games being sold used.  Perfect Dark was like $20 used less than a year after it came out.  The Gamecube Metroid Prime games were also incredibly cheap.

My theory for that is that those games were more popular with teens and adults.  Kids have no means to drive to Gamestop and rely on their parents to buy them games.  And I don't think many parents are going to trade in their kids' games.  But some college kid who is low on cash will trade in his games.  The few Nintendo games that I commonly see used for cheap are all games that will appeal to more than families or Nintendo fans.

[NWR_Lindy]

I disagree.  Used Nintendo games cost more because they're traded in less often than other games, so Nintendo fans buy them new because they want to hang onto them and can't find them used.

Clever.

[vudu]

Would you expect anything less from me? 

I'm glad at least someone got the joke.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Would you expect anything less from me? 

I'm glad at least someone got the joke.

I got it, but that's why I didn't respond to it. Thought I would just let it sink in.

[NWR_pap64]

I didn't get the joke because from what I've seen there's a little bit of truth to it. It's very common to see used third party games. Yet only a few select Nintendo titles are sold used.

Since I am apparently not "witty" enough to get it, what was the joke.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I say something, then proceed to explain what I mean.

Flames disagrees with me and then rewords what I just said as his explanation for disagreeing

thatguy calls him on it.

I explain it again

Flames tries to recover...

But I douse the Flames with further explanation to reinforce my original point

Vudu jokingly disagrees and rewords what I just said (mocking Flames)

Pap agrees with Vudu, completely missing the joke

Lindy acknowledges the joke

Vudu smiles

Pap having missed the joke, ask for an explanation

I explain the joke to Pap

Did I miss anything?

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

You are so God damned elite with your colored names.