Topic: Official Sales Thread

[Enner]

The only way I see DQX happening outside of Japan is Nintendo rolling the dice with a free-to-play version or a Guild Wars 2 style no-subscription model and crossing fingers. They can certainly test the waters with some sort of free, public beta or playable preview and decide whether to go for it from there.

[Chozo Ghost]

As long as Nintendo at least breaks even by bringing DQ over then they should do it. It doesn't have to be a multi-million seller to be worth it.

Anyway, I'm glad Iwata is FORCING NOA to bring it over. He should do that more often, because its almost like Reggie is AWOL. What is Reggie being paid for? To show up at E3 and a few other conferences/expos a year and talk crap about kicking ass and talking names? Reggie does absolutely nothing meaningful. He talks, but doesn't do.

[ejamer]

The game has sold 1.02 million copies in the US and Europe (http://www.siliconera.com/2011/01/27/heres-how-much-dragon-quest-ix-sold-overseas/), that is without a doubt a success.

I'm not sure how accurate these numbers really are.


I mean, they probably were accurate on January 27th, 2011 when the article was first published... but DQIX had only been released for 6 months at that time, and now it's been well over 18 months (which included many price drops and sales) since we've seen any data.  I'm not sure how accurate or meaningful the numbers are now.


Did the game reach or approach 1,000,000 copies sold per region? What was the distribution like between Europe and North America?  Did it, along with the DS remakes of IV/V/VI, grow Western interest in the series enough to justify a new game?  How many copies need to be sold to justify localization, since the game already existed (and development for the Japanese market was going to happen regardless of global interest).


Most likely, sales of DQIX dropped off significantly after the first six months. Most likely, a pay-to-play model won't work very well in North America for future games. But I don't think dismissing interest in Dragon Quest X is entirely fair without some more data.

[Louieturkey]

And with DQ X under-performing at launch compared to other DQ games, I don't know if even exclusivity can justify pouring more resources into that money sink.

Just to put this in perspective, SE stated recently that FFXI was the most successful FF ever for them and that was an MMO.  I believe they stated they needed 500,000 sales to break even on that game.  Well, if DQX is anywhere close to the same number for break even status, I'd say they are well on their way to making a profit on it and possibly bringing it out in the other two majoy regions could be mostly gravy. 

[broodwars]

I believe they stated they needed 500,000 sales to break even on that game.  Well, if DQX is anywhere close to the same number for break even status, I'd say they are well on their way to making a profit on it and possibly bringing it out in the other two majoy regions could be mostly gravy.

I doubt it "could be mostly gravy", considering the localization and server costs for making an English version and how less significant Dragon Quest is outside Japan.  I don't doubt it has broken even in Japan (the Japanese will buy anything Dragon Quest-branded), but I don't think it would be profitable as a subscription-based MMO outside Japan.  Maybe if they went Free-to-Play or Nintendo ate the server costs, but otherwise I can't see it being a profitable venture.

As for FF 11, that was a completely different time for MMOs.  That market has completely shifted towards Free-to-Play (with pretty much the exception of WoW) since that game released, so I don't think its success back then is altogether relevant now.

[Kairon]

What if there WERE no dedicated American servers? What if we had to play on JPN servers, and communicate predominantly through pre-set communications functions?

... I must grasp onto any remote possibility for this game. I MUST!

[Sarail]

I'd love to mix it up with Japanese players...

I already do this on Final Fantasy XIV.

[Louieturkey]

What if there WERE no dedicated American servers? What if we had to play on JPN servers, and communicate predominantly through pre-set communications functions?

... I must grasp onto any remote possibility for this game. I MUST!

You could probably do that now by importing the game.

[Shaymin]

Won't work without a lot of work and messing with VPNs, etc. The servers are region locked too.

[Enner]

Japan numbers!
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=489968
http://www.siliconera.com/2012/09/05/this-week-in-sales-divas-ninjas-and-soul-hackers-team-up-for-an-attack/

Period: The week of August 27th – September 2nd (2012)

Top-seller: Hatsune Miku: Project Diva f – 159,592

Nintendo 3DS sales: 29,342 | Total sales: 6,789,440

Nintendo 3DS XL sales: 44,951 | Total sales: 487,650

PlayStation Vita sales: 50,070 | Total sales: 946,820

Media Create Sales: Week 35, 2012 (Aug 27 - Sep 02)

01./00. [PSV] Hatsune Miku: Project Diva f # <ACT> (Sega) {2012.08.30} (Â¥7.329) - 159.592 / NEW
02./00. [3DS] Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers <RPG> (Atlus) {2012.08.30} (Â¥6.279) - 69.365 / NEW
03./00. [3DS] Senran Kagura Burst: Guren no Shoujotachi <ACT> (Marvelous AQL) {2012.08.30} (Â¥5.980) - 69.084 / NEW
04./01. [3DS] New Super Mario Bros. 2 <ACT> (Nintendo) {2012.07.28} (Â¥4.800) - 56.061 / 1.037.205 (-18%)
05./00. [PS3] Kami Jigen Game Neptune V # <RPG> (Compile Heart) {2012.08.30} (Â¥7.329) - 36.189 / NEW
06./00. [PSP] Mobile Suit Gundam Age: Universe Accel / Cosmic Drive <RPG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2012.08.30} (Â¥5.980) - 35.903 / NEW
07./00. [PS3] Sengoku Basara HD Collection <ACT> (Capcom) {2012.08.30} (Â¥4.990) - 35.690 / NEW
08./03. [NDS] Pokemon Black 2 / White 2 <RPG> (Pokemon Co.) {2012.06.23} (Â¥4.800) - 29.186 / 2.707.600 (-14%)
09./00. [PS3] AquaPazza: AquaPlus Dream Match # <FTG> (Aqua Plus) {2012.08.30} (Â¥7.140) - 20.935 / NEW
10./04. [WII] Dragon Quest X: Mezameshi Itsutsu no Shuzoku Online # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2012.08.02} (Â¥6.980) - 16.360 / 526.735 (-27%)
11./22. [3DS] Tousouchuu: Shijou Saikyou no Hunter-Tachi Kara Nigekire! <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2012.07.05} (Â¥5.040) - 15.689 / 109.939 (+264%)
12./00. [PSP] Rurouni Kenshin: Meiji Kenyaku Romantan - Kansen <FTG> (Bandai Namco Games) {2012.08.30} (Â¥6.280) - 15.178 / NEW
13./07. [3DS] Taiko no Tatsujin: Chibi Dragon to Fushigi na Orb <ACT> (Bandai Namco Games) {2012.07.12} (Â¥5.040) - 11.278 / 189.006 (+1%)
14./06. [WII] Just Dance Wii 2 <ACT> (Nintendo) {2012.07.26} (Â¥5.800) - 10.587 / 159.712 (-10%)
15./05. [3DS] Tohoku University Aging Medicine Research Institute: Headed By Professor Ryuta Kawashima - Train your Brain Effectively in 5 minutes a day with Oni Training <HOB> (Nintendo) {2012.07.28} (Â¥3.800) - 10.569 / 138.690 (-15%)
16./08. [3DS] Kobitodzukan: Kobito Kansatsu Set <ETC> (Nippon Columbia) {2012.07.26} (Â¥5.040) - 9.825 / 78.608 (+14%)
17./09. [WII] Wii Sports Resort with Wii Remote Plus # <SPT> (Nintendo) {2010.11.11} (Â¥5.800) - 8.231 / 1.060.107 (-4%)
18./00. [PSP] Ano Hi Mita Hana no Namae o Bokutachi wa Mada Shiranai # <ADV> (5pb.) {2012.08.30} (Â¥6.090) - 7.666 / NEW
19./00. [PSP] Genroh # <ADV> (Idea Factory) {2012.08.30} (Â¥6.090) - 6.397 / NEW
20./12. [WII] Kirby's Dream Collection: Special Edition <ACT> (Nintendo) {2012.07.19} (Â¥3.800) - 6.305 / 193.265 (-10%)


Top 20

3DS - 7
PSP - 4
WII - 4
PS3 - 3
NDS - 1
PSV - 1

HARDWARE
Code:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|System | This Week  | Last Week  | Last Year  |     YTD    |  Last YTD  |     LTD     |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3DS # |     74.293 |     71.373 |     54.744 |  2.994.947 |  1.727.529 |   7.277.090 |
|  PSV  |     50.070 |     10.880 |            |    505.448 |            |     945.434 |
|  PS3  |     12.433 |     11.896 |     33.831 |    766.178 |    852.514 |   8.402.563 |
| PSP # |     10.266 |      9.499 |     30.199 |    548.624 |  1.426.172 |  19.278.008 |
|  WII  |      8.680 |      8.810 |     11.606 |    378.653 |    468.182 |  12.541.874 |
| NDS # |      1.488 |      1.542 |      5.710 |     57.968 |    570.745 |  32.866.454 |
|  PS2  |      1.098 |      1.157 |      1.394 |     41.074 |     54.568 |  21.815.181 |
|  360  |        875 |        863 |      1.228 |     47.697 |     78.345 |   1.583.742 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
|  ALL  |    159.203 |    116.020 |    138.712 |  5.340.589 |  5.178.055 | 104.710.346 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| 3DSLL |     44.951 |     41.901 |            |    487.650 |            |     487.650 |
|  3DS  |     29.342 |     29.472 |     54.744 |  2.507.297 |  1.727.529 |   6.789.440 |
| DSiLL |        803 |        870 |      3.177 |     32.170 |    294.527 |   2.326.489 |
|  DSi  |        685 |        672 |      2.453 |     25.798 |    256.221 |   5.859.848 |
|  PSP  |     10.266 |      9.499 |     30.192 |    548.624 |  1.410.681 |  19.102.021 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hatsune Miku brings Vita sales last week to 50k. Not bad for a character attached to a voice synthesizing software. Two 3DS games in the #2 and #3 slot are among of the many new games of last week.

[Chozo Ghost]

Why is the Kirby Collection way down at rock bottom? That's not good.

[TJ Spyke]

Why is the Kirby Collection way down at rock bottom? That's not good.

It's not bad though. Sales are only down 10% from the previous week, it's because there were so many new releases.

[Sarail]

Of course a Hatsune Miku game tops the charts...  :/

[Chozo Ghost]

Of course a Hatsune Miku game tops the charts...  :/

I don't know what that even is, but this proves the point I made awhile back of why we shouldn't rule the Vita out. The PSP did poorly for most of its existence until an unknown game called Monster Hunter came out of left field and single handedly saved it. Looks like this Hatsune Miku is the new Monster Hunter of this generation.

[noname2200]

Of course a Hatsune Miku game tops the charts...  :/

Looks like this Hatsune Miku is the new Monster Hunter of this generation.

Let's not go nuts now.

And for what it's worth, I'm about to count the Vita out myself. Only notable games for it coming out soon are an Ys remake and an Aetlier game. Decent performers, but not exactly platform pushers.

[TJ Spyke]

Chozo, PSP would sometimes get spikes from other games too and then drop back down a week or two later. Back in June, the release of a Persona game spiked PSV sales from 13K to 34K. It is nothing like Monster Hunter. For example, Monster Hunter Portable 3rd released in December 2010 and cause PSP sales to jump from 75K to 326K.

[Chozo Ghost]

Well, even if this is not THE game, it still shows how an unknown game can come out of the woodwork at any time and give the Vita a huge bump in sales. Who here seen this game coming and predicted this huge sales boost for the Vita? I sure didn't see it coming. Who knows what else is lurking just around the corner? Like I said, all it takes is for the Vita to get just one Monster Hunter equivalent and its fortunes will change. At least in Japan anyway.

[Kairon]

Wow, that's TWICE the launch sales of the 3DS Hatsune Miku game that released there last March!

...is there any chance of the 3DS one coming to the states? Any chance at all? T-T

[Enner]

Why is the Kirby Collection way down at rock bottom? That's not good.

It has sold nearly 200k and has been on the chart for at least a month. Not bad for a collection of old games.

...is there any chance of the 3DS one coming to the states? Any chance at all? T-T

Not likely given how Sega of America seems to run things. A bit of a shame but it would've been a hard sell with how specific the game's potential English-language audience is. Miku will have to settle for a concert at Anime Expo and Toyota commercials.

[TJ Spyke]

Well, even if this is not THE game, it still shows how an unknown game can come out of the woodwork at any time and give the Vita a huge bump in sales. Who here seen this game coming and predicted this huge sales boost for the Vita? I sure didn't see it coming. Who knows what else is lurking just around the corner? Like I said, all it takes is for the Vita to get just one Monster Hunter equivalent and its fortunes will change. At least in Japan anyway.

It may be a unknown game in the west, but it is a VERY popular series in Japan (and has been since the first game came out in 2009). So it's not too surprising the PSV version is doing well.

[Louieturkey]

It does show that the series has its fans.  Somewhere around 30,000 people bought a Vita just to play this game.

[Enner]

NPD!
https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2012/09/06/darksiders-ii-leads-august-sales.aspx

U.S. market research firm NPD released its latest video game retail sales figures for the month of August. THQ's Darksiders II led software sales with 247,000 units sold. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron from Activision placed 7th and sold 105,000 units.

Overall game sales declined 20 percent from $647.2MM to $515.6MM, according to NPD.

Below is the top 10 list of best-selling video games in the U.S. for August 2012:

Darksiders II (360, PS3, PC)**
New Super Mario Bros 2 (3DS)
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (3DS)**
NCAA Football 13 (360, PS3)
Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes (Wii, 360, NDS, PS3, 3DS, PSV, PC)
Sleeping Dogs (360, PS3)
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (360, PS3)
Batman: Arkham City (360, PS3, PC)**
Call of Duty: Black Ops (360, PS3, NDS, Wii, PC)**
The Amazing Spider-Man (360, PS3, NDS, 3DS, Wii)
**(includes CE, GOTY editions, bundles, etc. but not those bundled with hardware)

AUGUST 2012 US GAME SALES (July 29-August. 25)OVERALL DOLLAR SALES

Total retail sales: $515.6 million (-20%)
Non-PC hardware: $150.6 million (-39%)
Non-PC software: $237.7 million (-9%)
Accessories: $127.3 million (-7%)
Total software: $252.8 million (-11%)

Darksiders 2 takes the top followed by two 3DS games. Nice to see Sleeping Dogs in the charts and having sold at lest more than 105k.

[Louieturkey]

Black Ops is up there and MWIII is not.  Interesting.

[Shaymin]

Nintendo's PR is saying that NSMB2 finished #1 for August (single game/system combo, or SKU if you weeel) with >240k and Kingdom Hearts 3D was #2 with >180k. The word "download" isn't mentioned at all, which makes me believe that download sales were a rounding error at best.

http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=35047

[Ceric]

Nintendo's PR is saying that NSMB2 finished #1 for August (single game/system combo, or SKU if you weeel) with >240k and Kingdom Hearts 3D was #2 with >180k. The word "download" isn't mentioned at all, which makes me believe that download sales were a rounding error at best.

http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=35047

They used Units.  I'll bet you the Digital are rolled in.