Topic: RUMORS: Phoenix Wright Gets Appeal?

[Karl Castaneda #2]

Recent reports have led us to believe that Capcom’s lawyer adventure is boosting its availability. Is it the truth? Updated yet again with availability and pricing info!

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!"

[RiskyChris]

Awesome.  Just awesome.

[Bill Aurion]

More like Capcom sucks for not shipping copies out on their own...

[Shin Gallon]

Having just finished the game last week, I have to say that gamers should do everything (legal) in their power to obtain a copy. It's one of the best justifications for the DS's existence.

[Bartman3010]

This just cant be real...

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...

[31 Flavas]

And if you need any further proof that phoenix wright is a must have....  Check out the TGS 2005 promo trailer.

[ruby_onix]

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.

[jasonditz]

HOLD IT!

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?

[ShyGuy]

I agree with Shin Gallon, do whatever you can to get this game. It has the best written humor I have ever seen in a videogame. Yes, even better than the Mario RPGs, or Animal Crossing. It's actually entertaining just to highlight different items around the screen to read the descriptions.

[RiskyChris]

I'm about to jump through a ton of hoops to get this game; it better be worth it! =)

I was rolling on the floor watching that translated video!

[Ian Sane]

I think we have inadvertingly stumbled on the secret to selling an unfamiliar or new concept.  First undersupply retailers with the game.  The rareness of the title will get the hardcore internet gamers into a frenzy.  Even if the game isn't that good the sheer fact that it's rare and competently made will give it this buzz of being an overlooked classic.  Then re-release the game and watch as every game geek in the country snaps the game up the second they see it so they can experience this supposedly great game they missed out on the first time.

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.

[KDR_11k]

Ninja Five-O is great. While it may not have been that much of a standout during the 2d days (grappling hooks weren't that common, especially such freely usable ones) it's still a great game and a lot more fun than many other 2d games (including recent Nintendo 2d games). Now Iridion 2, that was a waste of money. One of the worst shmups I've played during the last few years outside of samples for game programming libraries and our competitors during the last 72h challenge (sorry, smack talk has to be ). 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.

[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 Sane]

I don't recall saying anything negative about Phoenix Wright.

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.

[Karl Castaneda #2]

Yeah, TYP, Ian's got you on this one. He even said, "Now Phoenix Wright might be legitimately a classic. I don't know because I haven't played it."

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?

[vudu]

Ian has a point.  He wasn't being cynical about Phoenix Wright.  He was being cynical about publishing strategy.  Lay off him.  

[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.

[Smash_Brother]

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.

[KnowsNothing]

Acutally, I was a bit let down by Pheonix Wright.  I can appreciate good writing and humor in an adventure game, but for me it's a little too linear.  Granted, I suppose I'm only about half done with the game, but I just don't feel compelled to play.  I want to be able to explore my own ideas, and present my own ideas to the court.  I feel the game was far too restraining.

But whatever.

[Karl Castaneda #2]

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.

[Infernal Monkey]

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.

 

[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."

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?

[Karl Castaneda #2]

I think it's his new thing for you, Ian.

[JonLeung]

Mia Fey is HAWT.

For a, uhm...fictional dead lawyer boss woman.

[TheYoungerPlumber]

I will admit that Phoenix Wright is very linear.  I played the game for its humor and plotlines, so I did not have a problem with this.  I can see why some might, especially if they approached the game primarily to play the role of a lawyer (considering PW does some pretty darn illegal things).