Topic: Dragon Quest IX Announced for Nintendo DS

[Ceric]

I can see handhelds taking over with the amount of power that is in Handhelds now days we all know that the next version of the Gameboy will trump the PSP graphics wise, it has to it be its only reason to exist.  Plus with a handheld you don't have to worry about the multiple TV standards that are out now or someone not having a certain controller.    Also space is very restrictive in many homes and access to the main TV even more so.  It's a logical shift.  Especially with Flash and its successor become cheaper, larger, and faster.  I can see the unused space on a cart in the future being used the same as system ram because it will be just that fast.  Everyone asked what about the traditional games for the Wii.  Well they won't be on the Wii.  That form of gaming is for the Handheld which in all honesty is fairly well suited for it.  New Style of play and things that can take advantage of the larger screen and the Wiimotes interactive properties are what going to stay on consoles.  Pure consoles are coming to a time where they can live by that alone.  

[KDR_11k]

I'm sort of surprised at this but isn't the DS getting a version of FF:XIII as well?

I think it was FFXII but all those Is can get confusing easily.

[JonLeung]

I was going to say, it's nice to see handhelds becoming the place for "main" series of game franchises.  Or at least for this one big franchise.  For the longest time it was always for remakes of old console games or for side-stories or separate series.

Mega Man (GB)?  TMNT (GB)?  Ninja Gaiden Shadow?  Blaster Master Boy?  Mega Man Xtreme?  MGS: (Ghost Babel)?  Please.

Super Mario Advance?  FF I&II/III DS/IV-VI Advance?  Come on, we've played them before.

But DQ IX?  Not DQ Monsters or DQ Heroes?  This is big.

EDIT: Yeah, I changed my tune between two posts.  So shoot me.  Though I still would've also liked a Wii version.

On a related note, this is a nice picture.
S-E and the big N  

[Smash_Brother]

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Originally posted by: KDR_11k
I'm sort of surprised at this but isn't the DS getting a version of FF:XIII as well?

I think it was FFXII but all those Is can get confusing easily.

This is FF12 Revenant Wings for the DS which is a sequel to 12 coming for the DS.

[JonLeung]

Both FF VII and FF XIII have spin-offs, too, including those for PSP and mobile phones.  They should scrap those and make them for the DS instead.  

[NWR_pap64]

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Originally posted by: Smash_Brother

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Originally posted by: Pale
It's confirmed that all Square-Enix does is look at sales volume when deciding on a platform.    Now we just need them to move FF XIII to Wii.

Anyway, while I'm incredibly excited about this news, I can't help but be somewhat bummed.  My heart was set on lounging on the couch playing DQ IX with one hand.

You said it best.

The DS didn't need this kind of help, IMHO, but like Pap said, the Wii and PS3 are still fledgling consoles, and while the Wii is already taking to the skies while the PS3 seems to be missing a wing, the DS is a safer bet in terms of sales.

And this

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and Japan was never heard from again...

Is going in my sig.

One thing I just realized is that I wouldn't be surprised if one of their other reasons for putting DQ IX on the DS is to see if Nintendo fans across the country are willing to give the main RPG series a second chance.

You have to remember that many fans were severely burned when Square switched over to the PSone, some migrating over to the PSone and PS2 while others decided not to even bother with them anymore. Square knows that they have the Sony fanboys, but they need to see if the Nintendo fanboys are willing to bite. Going on a limb here, I think all the spin off games we got on the GBA and the DS were tests to see if the fans were willing to try the S-E franchises once more, and with the huge success of FFIII and the other DS games, it inspired them to release DQ IX on the DS. If it does well (and I'll strip naked, kill people then castrate myself in front of school children if it doesn't), Square will eventually move onto the Wii. In other words, if fans flock to the DS, they will flock to the Wii if they release the next game.

Another thing is that Square must first get acquainted with the Wiimote. I mean, they can do DQ Swords because its a simple, straightforward hack and slash game. The main DQ games, however, are far deeper than that and thus they need to create a control scheme that works well with the Wiimote while still staying true to the formula.

Big Square support for the Wii WILL come, and all it takes is support them on the DS.

Regardless of whether you think the new DQ game should've been on the Wii or its fine on the DS, its hard to disagree that this will help Nintendo BIG time, while shows that their support towards Sony is slowly dying.

Anyone that fails to see this should die as fast as possible...

EDIT: Oh and Ian, its the DS that is very popular at the moment, the PSP is the one dying. And I think the Wii will be very popular in Japan once the big name games are released. Just give it some time. I doubt that handhelds will overthrow consoles anytime soon.

[Ian Sane]

"Everyone asked what about the traditional games for the Wii. Well they won't be on the Wii. That form of gaming is for the Handheld which in all honesty is fairly well suited for it."

What about multiplayer?  With handhelds everyone has to own their own hardware which, well, sucks.  The appeal of everyone sitting in the living room with a controller in their hand playing a game together is something that portables can never have.  Games like SSB and Mario Kart HAVE to be on the Wii for that is the only Nintendo system where they will truly shine.  They are possible on the DS (Mario Kart DS) but to get that true feel they need to be on a console.

[Smash_Brother]

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Originally posted by: pap64 Anyone that fails to see this should die as fast as possible...

Dude, don't go all "Square Jihad" on anyone.

But yeah, I know the reason it wasn't being made for the Wii is because it's an unproven console as of yet.

[Viewtiful mario]

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There is a problem with this though. If that's the direction things are going then neither the Wii or the PS3 will win in North America because they won't get the dedicated console support that we expect in North America. Neither of those consoles will get the full treatment of being the market leader in Japan which would give the Xbox 360 a large advantage in North America. Of course this might not mean anything. DQIX might be an anomaly and for the most part consoles remain the focus on developers.

I personally don't want portables to become too popular because I, well, hate playing games on them. I tend to move the controller around too much when playing so the screen is always moving which makes it harder for me to play for a good length of time. Once I got the GB Player I stopped playing my GBA and prior to that I only played GB games on the Super Gameboy. Though I think the future of gaming is no difference between consoles and portables. Both will be compatible with the same games and people can choose whether they want their hardware in a portable or console format.

Just have to see everything from a negative point of view don't cha Ian.

The reason Consoles are dead over there right now is because developers are getting ready for the next generation.  The PS3 and Wii have just Launched and most of there games are still in development, not enough of there killer titles are out yet so now there's not much to get excited about when it comes to thoes systems (except maby Zelda but that's just 1).  As for the other next gen system that's been out for a year, the Xbox 360, it's as popular as the N gage in Japan so it basecly doasn't exist to them.  And the PSP is like the gamcube right now, the only people putting playtime into it right now are loyal fans.

The only system that's got plenty of wind in it's sales is the DS, which is freaken on fire with a stedy slow of game releases to make any owner proud.  It's at the top of it's game and nothing else can match up to it right now , that's why DQ 9 is on it, it's on fire and Square wants to be where the money is.

You shouldn't be worried about handhelds overtaking Consoles, it's the dawn of a new generation and the PS3/Wii are yet to realease there full potential.  If the Wii gains the popularity that the DS has (and from the looks of it it's well on it's way) than the Wii will be the top Console and as a result it'll get all the best games.  It's just that the DS is the better choice right now.

[NWR_pap64]

Actually, a couple of editors have mentioned that this is a clear indication that in Japan consoles are dying while handhelds are selling like crazy. This is not entirely true since the PSP has sold like a lead balloon there as well. If that were the case, the system would've been a strong competitor against the DS. I agree with what you mentioned about the consoles just being released. In fact, I believe the Wii will do for consoles what the DS did for handhelds.

[Viewtiful mario]

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This is not entirely true since the PSP has sold like a lead balloon there as well.

that's what I ment, just like the gamecube over here.

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Actually, a couple of editors have mentioned that this is a clear indication that in Japan consoles are dying while handhelds are selling like crazy.

that's becouse all the previous generation consoles are on there last legs.  You could argue about the PS2 but it's sold all it ever will.

[Crimm]

We know DS Lites are already hard to find in Japan, so I have a start-up business plan for you.

For the next 10 months we buy every DS Lite we can afford in the US market.
When DQIX comes out we open a store in Akihabara, selling those DS Lites at 3x face value.

[Ceric]

lol
We might actually get it if we did that now.

[Mario]

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What about multiplayer? With handhelds everyone has to own their own hardware which, well, sucks. The appeal of everyone sitting in the living room with a controller in their hand playing a game together is something that portables can never have. Games like SSB and Mario Kart HAVE to be on the Wii for that is the only Nintendo system where they will truly shine. They are possible on the DS (Mario Kart DS) but to get that true feel they need to be on a console.

Dude DS is WAY better multiplayer BECAUSE everyone has their own screen, and you can play anywhere, the appeal of that is something consoles will never have. The biggest multiplayer RPG ever, Pokemon, exists on handhelds.

[King of Twitch]

PSP port TBA the day before it's released  

[PopeReal]

Quote
Originally posted by: Pale
It's confirmed that all Square-Enix does is look at sales volume when deciding on a platform.    Now we just need them to move FF XIII to Wii.

Anyway, while I'm incredibly excited about this news, I can't help but be somewhat bummed.  My heart was set on lounging on the couch playing DQ IX with one hand.

And what would your other hand have been doing?

[Viewtiful mario]

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Originally posted by: PopeReal

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Originally posted by: Pale
It's confirmed that all Square-Enix does is look at sales volume when deciding on a platform.    Now we just need them to move FF XIII to Wii.

Anyway, while I'm incredibly excited about this news, I can't help but be somewhat bummed.  My heart was set on lounging on the couch playing DQ IX with one hand.

And what would your other hand have been doing?

Well, it's japaneze so they were bound to have some suggestive content.

[Bill Aurion]

That's okay, you can play Dragon Quest Swords one-handed!



*purr*

[KDR_11k]

I really don't think "fanboys with a grudge" are going to impact sales. Fanboys are a tiny minority of a console's userbase and even fewer of them will actually hold a grudge over something as silly as a developer switching to another platform.

[TJ Spyke]

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Originally posted by: MJRx9000
PSP port TBA the day before it's released

I doubt it, PSP software sells like garbage in Japan. Hell, there hasn't even been a PSP game in the top 30 list in over 2 weeks. Even before that there would be like 3 PSP games in the top 30 and like 17 DS games.

Square Enix did this because the Dragon Quest games are ALWAYS released on the system with the largest marketshare, which is the DS right now. If the Wii continues to be as sucessful as it is now, then I can see DQ X being on the Wii.