Topic: Xenoblade Chronicles Wii / 3DS / Definitive Edition

[ejamer]

Yeah, the VGChartz numbers for this game are completely made up, so don't take them too seriously.  But it appears to be pre-selling pretty well based on early indicators (showing up as a top item on GameStop and now starting to run out of the preorder bonus materials).


Success?  It's unlikely we'll ever know how much of a success the game is unless GameStop releases numbers or a reprint takes place. I sure wouldn't count on NoA to release any numbers that suggest they made a bad choice not bringing out this game earlier.

[Chozo Ghost]

I hope this goes so successfully that Nintendo is compelled to give the game a proper release and ship it to ALL retailers such as Walmart, Amazon, etc. So that the game has the potential to be a million or even multi-million seller.

[KDR_11k]

Look I am going to quote someone. "Until there is some other source other then VG Chartz and there is some other source that is very open with their numbers then it is the best we have."

Is believing a lie better than knowing that you don't know the truth? Socrates didn't think so.

[ejamer]

Regarding VGChartz, I think that their "data" tends to become more accurate over time as other sources leak numbers and they are able to correct and adjust early guesses. That isn't without merit, but means their estimates are completely useless early on during a games release.

Even NPD doesn't have real numbers and has to extrapolate and interpret before making their guesses - and they are a business that sells the data instead of just giving it away. (Of course the difference is in what methods are used to reach a final number: there is a reason NPD doesn't freely share data.)  Unfortunately any sales figure that NPD gives for Xenoblade Chronicles will also be of questionable use since Nintendo - one of the two retailers selling the game - doesn't share data with them.

In both cases, pre-order numbers would be unconfirmed guesswork that have absolutely no meaning.

[noname2200]

Regarding VGChartz, I think that their "data" tends to become more accurate over time as other sources leak numbers and they are able to correct and adjust early guesses. That isn't without merit, but means their estimates are completely useless early on during a games release.

Sadly, their system has the tendency to give games massive legs as well, so even the long-term numbers can be highly inaccurate. Maxi's right in that it's better than absolutely nothing...but I don't think it's "better enough" to use in any serious fashion.

[NWR_insanolord]

I would argue that wrong data is actually worse than no data.

[ejamer]

I would argue that wrong data is actually worse than no data.

It certainly can be in many cases.  Depends on how "wrong" the data is, what you intend to use that data for, and how clear you are about the sources being used.


(NPD numbers are wrong, but are close enough to be useful estimates for a lot of situations. VGChartz would need to prove their numbers have any meaning before they can make a similar claim.)

[BeautifulShy]

Just want to note for any Canadians here that EB Games has changed the time that they are selling it to April 5th so lucky Canadians can grab the game a day before the rest of the US.

http://www.ebgames.ca/wii/games/xenoblade-chronicles/312135


Oh also here is that episode of Nintendo Week that features Xenoblade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V__ARyejE0g

[leahsdad]

I wonder how many people pre-ordered it from my stupid area Gamestop.  When I stopped in a few months ago to plunk down my money and said "I want to preorder Xenoblade Chronicles" the clerk asked me "Is that on PS3 or 360?"

[BeautifulShy]

Hey everyone I just found this out. It seems that EB Games Canada is out of stock for art books.However Gamestop.com still has some avalable. Basically any preorders that took place on EB Games Canada site before today will get the art book. If you want the art book and have been dragging your feet about it then Gamestop.com is the best place to get it or in store.

http://operationrainfall.com/ebgames-canada-website-runs-out-of-xenoblade-art-books/

Well now two days after EB Canada ran out of art books it seems that Gamestop.com has run out as well for the artbooks.

I hope you guys preordered from Gamestop.com if you hadn't already done so two days ago. So if you preordered in the past 2 days from Gamestop.com then you likely will get an art book.

http://operationrainfall.com/gamestop-com-removes-art-book-from-xenoblade-pre-order-page/

[Stratos]

*Pats self on back for remembering to do it Wednesday*

[Dan Laser]

I wonder how many people pre-ordered it from my stupid area Gamestop.  When I stopped in a few months ago to plunk down my money and said "I want to preorder Xenoblade Chronicles" the clerk asked me "Is that on PS3 or 360?"

How lame! When I preordered the game, I was asked if I was going to pick up The Last Story, too.

I'm glad I preordered the game while ago - I should be getting an art book. Less than a week away!

[noname2200]

So we've gone from "is that a PS3 game?" to "Sorry, no more artbooks."

I wish I knew whether that meant that preorders have become great, or if it just means they didn't print many artbooks. My eternal pessimism is screaming "Number Two! Number Two!"

[Mop it up]

My guess is, the number of art books produced was based on the number of pre-orders received for the game. They probably looked at how many pre-orders were taken, then calculated how many more they would get at that rate, and produced that many art books. However, I imagine that pre-orders increase when it gets near the release date of a game, so now they didn't make enough books.

[Chozo Ghost]

Anyone preordering at this point might as well just get it from Nintendo, since there is no guarantee that Gamestop will give them an art book anyway, and at this late point its probably unlikely.

[ejamer]

Certainly nothing wrong with ordering from Nintendo, but GameStop offers free shipping even without the bonus artbook if that matters to anyone.


More notable (at least for Canadians interested in the game) is their current trade-in offer: get $20 credit per qualifying* game traded towards Xenoblade.  If you happen to have a couple of old games sitting at home to take advantage of this deal, you could end up getting Xenoblade very cheap - that's how I'm planning on paying for the lion's share of my preorder.




*Qualifying games need to be worth $8 or more. Calling ahead to confirm value is best, but this website might also help:  [size=78%]http://www.tivs.ca[/size]

[BeautifulShy]

New video is out from Nintendo's Wii youtube channel.

Also remember for those in Canada and that reserved from EB Games you can pick up the game on the 5th at 2 pm EST.  Everyone else can pick it up on the 6th. Also for those that have it from Nintendo's online store they are sending it out on the 6th.

[Cyrian]

Looks like it's not a Nintendo/Gamestop exclusive after all...

http://www.estarland.com/NintendoWii.cat..product.36260.html

[BeautifulShy]

Yeah there is other retailers offering preorders for the game. I have them in the OP post.

[BeautifulShy]

If you are up in Canada and for some reason don't have it preordered from EB Games or missed preordering it from there then you can preorder this game from Video Games Plus.

https://www.videogamesplus.ca/product_info.php?products_id=19956

It will be in stock on April 10th.

[ejamer]

Yeah, not going to videogamesplus.ca after all my personal data was stolen from there last time.  Too bad: they would've had my sale otherwise for being one of the first sites in Canada to support Op.Rainfall.


Interesting to see other retailers selling the game. Has anyone heard why that happened, after all the "GameStop exclusive" chatter?  Has the game done well enough in pre-sales that they want to expand the market?  Is it just a coincidence that this change happened quickly after GameStop ran out of preorder bonus materials?  Or were there too many copies printed and Nintendo/GameStop are selling to other retailers to get rid of them quickly?


Regardless, nice to know that the game is getting a slightly wider distribution. Hopefully more people get the chance to play this game.

[BeautifulShy]

Well here is my theory. The game maybe had a certain amount of time it was exclusive with Gamestop and Nintendo because the other retailers did show up selling the game before for preorder before Gamestop ran out of artbooks it is just that they were more international.Chile,Brazil,Mexico and Canada for example so it may have gone unnoticed to any here because it may not matter to them. In the end it shouldn't matter too much and we should just enjoy the game and the journey it takes us on.

Here is the second video from Nintendo from their Wii youtube channel.

[BeautifulShy]

http://soundcloud.com/operation-rainfall/check-your-phones

[Fatty The Hutt]

Will be picking up my copy in approx 1.5 hours. I may just have to break down and get Kid Icarus too.
It's Easter! Backlog be damned!

[BeautifulShy]

That is great to hear Fatty_The_Hutt. Enjoy your game and can't wait to hear from you with some thoughts on the game when you can pull yourself away from the game.


Also here is a word from Reggie.