Topic: Enterbrain President Disappointed with Monster Hunter 3 Sales

[NWR_pap64]

Despite the title selling a million copies on Wii, the president believes it could have sold better.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20832

 In a recent interview with Japanese website Mainichi.jp, Enterbrain President Hirokazu Hamamura expressed his disappointment over the sales of Capcom's Monster Hunter 3 in Japan. "I thought it would sell more. Crossing the million mark was the passing grade, though. On the Wii, which doesn't have games targeting core game fans, it made a strong effort against the 'hurdles' of being on a console and being a network game. However, I believe they wanted it to reach 1.5 million to 2 million copies."    

The title was a strong performer throughout the whole year, coming in at number eight in ASCII's list of the year's best sellers with 949,095 copies sold.    

Despite its relatively modest performance, Hamamura noted that the title could still be a strong seller for the rest of the year, especially if a new Monster Hunter title is released. He also hopes that the release of core games like Monster Hunter will grow the core market on the console.

[Mop it up]

Considering how many companies would have been ecstatic if their Wii game sold a million copies, I find this to be rather humourous.

[broodwars]

Considering how many companies would have been ecstatic if their Wii game sold a million copies, I find this to be rather humourous.

Ditto.  Granted, a million copies is nothing compared to what you'd think the Wii userbase would be, but it's still very impressive.

[ShyGuy]

Who is Enterbrain?

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Being the big shot of Japan's major non-casual video game press outlet (Famitsu mag), he probably realizes that his publication (and its readers) don't really carry the kind of weight and influence he hoped he had (as they did in previous generations) when it comes to the "Wii audience."

Sounds familiar somehow.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Enterbrain = Famitsu

I also like how he was only disappointed with MH3 sales after FFXIII came out. Before that, MH3 was the best selling home console game in Japan this gen.

[broodwars]

Enterbrain = Famitsu

I also like how he was only disappointed with MH3 sales after FFXIII came out. Before that, MH3 was the best selling home console game in Japan this gen.

True, but FFXIII still has the Western market to reap probably big sales across 2 platforms.  MH3 is a very unknown quantity outside Japan, even with Nintendo seemingly aiding in the marketing effort over here.  I have a feeling that game's going to bomb just like Dragon Quest has outside Japan.  Perhaps that's the reason for the discrepancy?

[Chozo Ghost]

If MH3 is anything like MH2 on the PSP then this game will have some LOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNGGGGGGG LEGS.

[TJ Spyke]

The console Monster Hunter games have never sold that well. I think Monster Hunter Tri is the best-selling one, so I don't see why he would be disappointed.

[greybrick]

Monster Hunter on the PS2 is the only game that has succeeded in making me scream like a little girl. I have played plenty of "survival horror" games (no, not just the action-y RE4) and have at worst jumped a little. Monster Hunter, that giant thing sneaks up on me in the forest and I am terrified.

[KDR_11k]

The console Monster Hunter games have never sold that well. I think Monster Hunter Tri is the best-selling one, so I don't see why he would be disappointed.

I guess he forgot that being portable is integral to the MH experience for most people.