Topic: Dragon Quest IX Becomes a Budget Title in Japan

[NWR_pap64]

The blockbuster DS title will join Square Enix's Ultimate Hits lineup.
 http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/newsArt.cfm?artid=20764

 Starting March 4, Dragon Quest IX will be available as a budget title. As part of Square Enix's Ultimate Hits initiative, the title will be available for Â¥2,940 (31 dollars in American currency). Other titles that will join Dragon Quest IX in the Ultimate Hits Lineup include Dragon Quest IV, Final Fantasy IV, and Dragon Quest V. They will also be available for the same budget price.    

In addition to the news about Dragon Quest IX's lower pricing, Square Enix announced that as of December the Ultimate Hits series has sold over 2.5 million copies.

[Mop it up]

That seems fast. Then again, considering how the bulk of the game's sales were from the first month, I guess it is no surprise.

[Chozo Ghost]

Does this mean the game is a failure?

[BlackNMild2k1]

They've discounted the game somewhere around 40-50% to bring the pricing down to just below the regular price of every other piece of normal software on the DS.

That should spur some more sales, now that the Square tax has be removed.

[NWR_pap64]

Does this mean the game is a failure?

Hardly. The game keeps constantly selling each week, and according to Media Crate it was one of the best selling titles in 2009.

[Nemo]

So they're discounting it in Japan before even announcing a release date for America... Release it in the US already!!!

[Mop it up]

They've discounted the game somewhere around 40-50% to bring the pricing down to just below the regular price of every other piece of normal software on the DS.

The game's price was higher to begin with? By how much?

[BlackNMild2k1]

I think it was going for around $45 but I'm not 100% sure.
SquarEnix games tend to usually have a higher price than normal games, it's whats referred to as "The Square Tax".

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Well **** that.  It's their admission of going over budget.

[TJ Spyke]

I think it was going for around $45 but I'm not 100% sure.
SquarEnix games tend to usually have a higher price than normal games, it's whats referred to as "The Square Tax".

Higher than that. MOST DS games in Japan go for $40-$45. Dragon Qust IX was ï¿¥5,980 (about $65), but RPG's in general (not just Square Enix) tend to be more expensive in Japan. This has always been the case.

[BlackNMild2k1]

I accidentally deleted half of my post, but I was undershooting on purpose since I didn't have actual numbers to cite.

It was supposed to start off stating that if most games were $30 on the DS, then Square Tax would put the game at around $45 since their "tax" is usually around 30-50% obove average cost.

[Stratos]

Here it is a $10 tax.

[KDR_11k]

Here it is -20€ after six months.