[Kyoufu]

The thing is, once MH4 is out as a 3DS exclusive, it's all over. At that point we'll be looking at a 3+ million selling title that's built up a rock-solid install base and Capcom will have no reason whatsoever to rock the boat because those people will keep buying future MHs on the same platform. If Capcom were having second thoughts about committing the franchise to 3DS, the time to act on it would be right now.

This doesn't really make sense. Capcom has always had multi-platform Monster Hunter titles. Even when Frontier hasn't sold anywhere near what the console/handheld versions have, it still has 10 or so seasons of content and support.

I mean, it's quite simple really. When even the Xbox 360 has a Monster Hunter game, then there is no reason why we should rule out a Vita title.

What else will they do with the Portable brand?

[faridmon]

Nintendo would also be stupid to let them. If it turns up it will be after the damage is done, which is MH4. I'd be very surprised to see anything on Vita before then.

Surely, the amount of money Nintendo is prepared to pay is outweighted by the revenue of a 1 million copies brings to Capcom.

The only thing that Nintendo could afford is a timed exclusive deal in the short run. When is MH4 coming out?

[Castor Krieg]

Of course there is, there is the official data for that, the actual facts, you know? I mean, this is a thread about japanese sales, and here we discuss japanese sales, if a new hardware is doing badly one can talk about that piece of data.

Strange, for me 2 months of sales |= dead. But hell, what do I know?

[Truth101]

This doesn't really make sense. Capcom has always had multi-platform Monster Hunter titles. Even when Frontier hasn't sold anywhere near what the console/handheld versions have, it has still season 10 or so seasons of content and support. I mean, it's quite simple really. When even the Xbox 360 has a Monster Hunter game, then there is no reason why we should rule out a Vita title. What else will they do with the Portable brand?

People say this a lot, but there is a difference between a portable Mon Hun game and a console/PC Mon Hun game.

Two portable games won't co-exist as they will directly compete with each-other, in a consumer's minds. While a portable game and a console/PC game can co-exists because they aren't going to be viewed as the same experience.

[DECK'ARD]

Surely, the amount of money Nintendo is prepared to pay is outweighted by the revenue of a 1 million copies brings to Capcom. The only thing that Nintendo could afford is a timed exclusive deal.

Timed exclusive until after MH4 is all that matters though.

[Sammy Samusu]

How many of you actually play Monster Hunter? LOL

Yall better be THERE day one once MH3G hits the west.

[Gaborn]

Of course there is, there is the official data for that, the actual facts, you know? I mean, this is a thread about japanese sales, and here we discuss japanese sales, if a new hardware is doing badly one can talk about that piece of data.

I'm honestly confused by the defensiveness of PSVita supporters. When the 3DS was struggling many people felt comfortable calling it "doomed" or "bomba" but it's obviously bounced back very nicely. Perhaps Vita will do the same, perhaps it won't but in the meantime it seems fair that it gets the same skepticism 3DS got.

[DCharlie]

Nintendo would also be stupid to let them. If it turns up it will be after the damage is done, which is MH4. I'd be very surprised to see anything on Vita before then.

May well be right on when we see something on Vita in terms of timing but i'd have to wonder just how much cash Nintendo would have had to offer to get them to do this - especially given this deal was done way back when 3rdP was finishing up (according to Iwata)

Throw in Nintendo's help with marketing as well and you have a very sweet deal for Capcom indeed, especially when you factor in a siginificant Vita release would also mean higher development costs which have always been a factor with MH.

3G is built on MT Framework Mobile - i'd assume that's going to mean that the core engine is as portable as it could possibly be.

Anyways, i agree that this is getting a bit off sales topic - this should go to a MH thread and not the sales thread.

How many of you actually play Monster Hunter? LOL

I'm sporting an alatreon great sword at the moment if that helps clear anything up? (MH3rdP) - very tardy start to MH3G though at the moment.

Oh and i guess there's this - http://www.game-science.com/2010/03/08/monster-hunter/
We disbanded Game Science years ago but seems someone bought the web address and had copied all the content and is happily hosting it. It's a fairly poorly written review of MH1 from when the Japanese version came out.

It's the highest "rating" MH1 score on Metacritic - whilst a lot of other places were scratching their heads at what the appeal was, we were big upping! ;)

[Jaruru]

How many of you actually play Monster Hunter? LOL Yall better be THERE day one once MH3G hits the west.

played on Wii, I like the online co-op

[muu]

No, this is completely inaccurate. They were Japanese rumors from someone who definitely had intimate knowledge of things publishers were preparing to announce for the next few months. They extend beyond TGS, and are definitely not from someone who has "poor Japanese understanding". I read the original leak, I would know.

Wasn't there two halves to the rumor, 1 which was mostly correct and the other which necessarily wasn't? Found the first half which mentioned Bravely Default, MH3G, Miku, Rhythm Thief, Shining Force and Bayonetta 2. Aside from Bayonetta 2 this seems right, I don't remember what all was on the other half (if there was one).

[faridmon]

How many of you actually play Monster Hunter? LOL Yall better be THERE day one once MH3G hits the west.

I don't like MH series and how it controlles. Does that affect my posts regarding its sale impact?

Timed exclusive until after MH4 is all that matters though.

when is it coming out?

[duckroll]

Wasn't there two halves to the rumor, 1 which was mostly correct and the other which necessarily wasn't? Found the first half which mentioned Bravely Default, MH3G, Miku, Rhythm Thief, Shining Force and Bayonetta 2. Aside from Bayonetta 2 this seems right, I don't remember what all was on the other half (if there was one).

There's only one complete rumor. There is other shit that people added on later, which were never substantiated to be from the same source, so it doesn't really matter in this case. The rumor that said MH3G for 3DS is the same one that said they intended to have MHP3 HD for the Vita launch and to announce that at TGS. Clearly that never happened, which means it was likely canned at the last moment.

[Kazerei]

. Also - i don't see what proof their is that the MH user base is migrating to the 3DS. MH3G has sold well, but that's still a low % of the PSP MH base i'd have thought. MH4 (if no Vita/PSP version shows up) will be when the rush starts - for now, i don't believe it's happening in quite the exodus people seem to think it's happening.

Maybe the PSP->3DS exodus hasn't fully happened yet, but I think it's kind of inevitable once MH4 is released. I also think the Vita will probably get an MH4 port later, but it won't be announced until after the 3DS game is released. Nintendo isn't going to let Capcom screw them like with RE4 :lol

[Chris1964]

Hardware sales seem to have touched the bottom though.

Doubt it.

I read last week that price for used Vitas has gone really down at some places but I don't know how common this is across Japan.

[manueldelalas]

Strange, for me 2 months of sales |= dead. But hell, what do I know?

Yeah, let's simplify the reality so we can make it sound absurd, really mature.

[frankie_baby]

Surely, the amount of money Nintendo is prepared to pay is outweighted by the revenue of a 1 million copies brings to Capcom. The only thing that Nintendo could afford is a timed exclusive deal in the short run. When is MH4 coming out?

Nintendo could only afford a timed exclusive??? What have you been smoking, nintendo is rolling in so much money they could buy capcom several times over and still have change for a pint, wether they'd have wanted to spend it is another matter all together

[Takao]

Whoa Revelations definitely has better legs O_o

Generally speaking it's easier to have better legs when you debut lower. FFXIII-2 has displayed better legs than XIII, but largely because it it started off considerably lower.

How many of you actually play Monster Hunter? LOL Yall better be THERE day one once MH3G hits the west.

I've tried playing Tri, and the various PSP entries. I think the franchise is kind of janky, but as someone who enjoys the Phantasy Star Portable series I know the appeal of multi-player fun. I also appreciate what the MH franchise did for the PSP.

[DCharlie]

Maybe the PSP->3DS exodus hasn't fully happened yet, but I think it's kind of inevitable once MH4 is released. I also think the Vita will probably get an MH4 port later, but it won't be announced until after the 3DS game is released. Nintendo isn't going to let Capcom screw them like with RE4 :lol

I think Capcom hold all the power here to be honest - if a full on exclusivity deal was done, i think we'd be talking money houses rather than hats ;)

but agreed - MH4 is where the big movement will come. At that point i think it's largely moot as to whether it goes to Vita or not. Well, it'll still be a good game, but MH4 with any period of exclusivity is going to see a large chunk of people move. Without question. As stated previously - i didn't believe MH3G was the game to move everyone, but then again, i don't think Capcom/Nintendo did either by their target sales. MH4 is the real deal.

[Mr Swine]

Sony could have avoided this situation if they had released a handheld that was a bit more powerful than the 3DS a month after. Instead they gave Nintendo a 10 month head start with lower development costs and a much larger user base.

I honestly don't believe that MonHun will help much for vita if the LTD is around 1.3 million at the end of the year (if it ever gets released at Nov-Dec). 3DS was already around 2.25 million before MonHun released and now at the end of the year it will be likely around 8 million. Also there are already 1.2 million 3DS MonHun owners and when 4 hits the rest will buy it.

[duckroll]

I know I've said this before, but since we're on the same topic again, I'll say it again. If Capcom is smart, they'll be releasing a 2800yen MH3G re-release towards the end of this year. It'll definitely help indoctrinate more users in preparation for the big MH4 release.

[Kyoufu]

If Capcom intended to shift PSP MH base over to 3DS, then you don't think it would have made more sense to release a G expansion to the PSP game and not the less popular Wii game?

What this all represents is two brands, the mainline series and the Portable series. They didn't name MH3G "Portable" because it's a separate brand that they intend to go back and forth on, on an annual basis.

Just ask yourself what the director of the Portable brand is doing right now, because he isn't working on MH4.

Any way, this discussion is pretty off-topic. Sony will have opportunities to re-launch and reinvigorate interest in the system when they have more software to throw out there. If they can combine a price drop along with some hard hitting games then they may eventually escape the pit of doom's clutches.

[DECK'ARD]

when is it coming out?

TBA

It's obviously going to have a huge presence at TGS. If Nintendo are doing the same deal in the West then Tri G will feature heavily at E3 and we'll probably get some more details about 4 as well.

[Castor Krieg]

Yeah, let's simplify the reality so we can make it sound absurd, really mature.

Or maybe let's wait a bit more, act like we don't have ADHD, and give it a couple more months? Much like Nintendo, I doubt Sony will just say "fuck it", especially after the PSP. It will be interesting to see what they will do.

Also for the record, I don't play MH at all. I find the concept boring as hell.

Btw, doesn't Sony hold 30% of S-E? With all the crap S-E releases right now, what is the approx. amount of money they need to spend to buy S-E?

[test_account]

I'm not saying that they're not coming, just saying that it'd be silly at this point to expect the same caliber of games as their $60 counterparts. Western devs would be the last ones I'd count on to save your handheld.

I understand. Only time will tell how good the games are when they come out :)

EDIT: As for Japan, those games most likely wont have a big impact indeed, especially not Assassins Creed and Bioshock. CoD has popularity in Japan, but nothing compared to the western market.

[Kazerei]

I think Capcom hold all the power here to be honest - if a full on exclusivity deal was done, i think we'd be talking money houses rather than hats ;) but agreed - MH4 is where the big movement will come. At that point i think it's largely moot as to whether it goes to Vita or not. Well, it'll still be a good game, but MH4 with any period of exclusivity is going to see a large chunk of people move. Without question. As stated previously - i didn't believe MH3G was the game to move everyone, but then again, i don't think Capcom/Nintendo did either by their target sales. MH4 is the real deal.

Yeah, if it was an exclusive deal, I think Nintendo would've made that very clear. But I'm sure they at least have an agreement with Capcom to keep quiet until after MH4 is released.

[Chris1964]

Also, doesn't Sony hold 30% of S-E? With all the crap S-E releases right now, what is the approx. amount of money they need to spend to buy S-E?

Since Sony swims in money, now it's the time for a huge investment.

[duckroll]

Btw, doesn't Sony hold 30% of S-E? With all the crap S-E releases right now, what is the approx. amount of money they need to spend to buy S-E?

No, they had non-voting stock in the company years ago which they have sold back. It was more like a sort of temporary loan they gave to S-E.

[zero_suit]

Sony could have avoided this situation if they had released a handheld that was a bit more powerful than the 3DS a month after. Instead they gave Nintendo a 10 month head start with lower development costs and a much larger user base. I honestly don't believe that MonHun will help much for vita if the LTD is around 1.3 million at the end of the year (if it ever gets released at Nov-Dec). 3DS was already around 2.25 million before MonHun released and now at the end of the year it will be likely around 8 million. Also there are already 1.2 million 3DS MonHun owners and when 4 hits the rest will buy it.

How? The 3DS will most likely hit 5 million next week.

[manueldelalas]

Or maybe let's wait a bit more, act like we don't have ADHD, and give it a couple more months? Much like Nintendo, I doubt Sony will just say "fuck it", especially after the PSP. It will be interesting to see what they will do. Also for the record, I don't play MH at all. I find the concept boring as hell.

What I mean is that with what we currently know about the Vita (current sales and games announced for the near future), it is a reasonable conclusion to say that unless Sony does something completely unexpected (like big price cut + MH exclusivity, oh wait! someone already did that) or something completely random happens, the future of the handheld is looking bad, really bad. I don't think there can be two lectures about this.

The VITA still can have a decent flow of games and can be a handheld that survives (NGP and Wonderswan could also survive), but I really can't be optimistic about the VITA with the facts we know, I don't think it'll manage to sell anywhere near the PSP or GBA.

Btw, doesn't Sony hold 30% of S-E? With all the crap S-E releases right now, what is the approx. amount of money they need to spend to buy S-E?

IIRC it was like 18,6% of Square, and that means barely a 9% of S-E, which is not that big of a share, and S-E is just too expensive and probably not worth it.

[Kazerei]

If Capcom intended to shift PSP MH base over to 3DS, then you don't think it would have made more sense to release a G expansion to the PSP game and not the less popular Wii game? What this all represents is two brands, the mainline series and the Portable series. They didn't name MH3G "Portable" because it's a separate brand that they intend to go back and forth on, on an annual basis. Just ask yourself what the director of the Portable brand is doing right now, because he isn't working on MH4. Any way, this discussion is pretty off-topic. Sony will have opportunities to re-launch and reinvigorate interest in the system when they have more software to throw out there. If they can combine a price drop along with some hard hitting games then they may eventually escape the pit of doom's clutches.

It seems like Capcom is phasing out the "Portable" line, and putting the mainline on portable systems (namely MH4 on 3DS). So MH3G is kind of that transition.

[Smellycat]

The 3DS will most likely beat the PS3's LTD by the end of the year, right?

[Nairume]

Or maybe let's wait a bit more, act like we don't have ADHD, and give it a couple more months? Much like Nintendo, I doubt Sony will just say "fuck it", especially after the PSP. It will be interesting to see what they will do. Also for the record, I don't play MH at all. I find the concept boring as hell. Btw, doesn't Sony hold 30% of S-E? With all the crap S-E releases right now, what is the approx. amount of money they need to spend to buy S-E?

They only own about 8%.

[Diprosalic]

Since Sony swims in money, now it's the time for a huge investment.

lol yeah, they need to open their big wallets and buy SE best move ever.

::

MH vita will come one day unless the vita doesn't totally bomb from here on out , but if they don't announce it until MH4 hits on 3DS it won't matter in the big picture. that race will be most likely over by then.

[muu]

There's only one complete rumor. There is other shit that people added on later, which were never substantiated to be from the same source, so it doesn't really matter in this case. The rumor that said MH3G for 3DS is the same one that said they intended to have MHP3 HD for the Vita launch and to announce that at TGS. Clearly that never happened, which means it was likely canned at the last moment.

OK, found it. Don't like linking to Jin but said 'rumors' were originally sent to his site anonymously:

http://jin115.com/archives/51795557.html

The stuff I mentioned on the previous post, aside from Bayonetta 2, are all from "game magazine employee 'R'" MH3P HD for Vita @ TGS, Bayonetta 2, and Shining Hearts anime are posted as a separate "rumor mail #2" so there's no indication it's the same person that sent this in, or at the same time. That said, Bayonetta 2 is already known to be in development and A Shining Hearts anime is coming so MH3P might have just been canned like you mention.

[Kyoufu]

It seems like Capcom is phasing out the "Portable" line, and putting the mainline on portable systems (namely MH4 on 3DS). So MH3G is kind of that transition.

I have no idea how you came to that conclusion, but you'll be right if they never announce a G expansion to a 5 million selling game.

[Takao]

No, they had non-voting stock in the company years ago which they have sold back. It was more like a sort of temporary loan they gave to S-E.

IIRC they still hold like 9% of SE's stock.

It seems like Capcom is phasing out the "Portable" line, and putting the mainline on portable systems (namely MH4 on 3DS). So MH3G is kind of that transition.

If you believe weird magazine rumors the Portable series isn't dead ... yet.

[zero_suit]

The 3DS will most likely beat the PS3's LTD by the end of the year, right?

Easily

[duckroll]

IIRC they still hold like 9% of SE's stock.

Yeah, I'm not 100% sure either. Does anyone have like, some source which can put this to rest? Otherwise we have like 4 different conflicting statements. Lol.

[Diprosalic]

How? The 3DS will most likely hit 5 million next week.

i think he means end of 2012 not the end of the 3DS first year. but 8 million at the end of 2012 would be rather disappointing.

[Nairume]

Yeah, I'm not 100% sure either. Does anyone have like, some source which can put this to rest? Otherwise we have like 4 different conflicting statements. Lol.

How about their own shareholder info they released last year?

1 Yasuhiro Fukushima 23,626 | 20.47 2 Fukushima Planning Co., Ltd. 9,763 | 8.46 3 Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. 9,520 | 8.25 4 State Street Bank and Trust Company 505223 | 8,868 7.68 5 Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trust Account) 8.845 | 7.66 6 Masashi Miyamoto 7,077 | 6.13 7 The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd. (Trust Account) 3,115| 2.69 8 State Street Bank and Trust Company 3,068| 2.65 9 S System Co., Ltd. 2,045| 1.77 10 The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation Pte Ltd. 1,314| 1.13

[Kyoufu]

Yeah, I'm not 100% sure either. Does anyone have like, some source which can put this to rest? Otherwise we have like 4 different conflicting statements. Lol.

This? http://www.square-enix.com/eng/ir/st...areholder.html

edit: beaten

[duckroll]

OK, found it. Don't like linking to Jin but said 'rumors' were originally sent to his site anonymously: http://jin115.com/archives/51795557.html The stuff I mentioned on the previous post, aside from Bayonetta 2, are all from "game magazine employee 'R'" MH3P HD for Vita @ TGS, Bayonetta 2, and Shining Hearts anime are posted as a separate "rumor mail #2" so there's no indication it's the same person that sent this in, or at the same time. That said, Bayonetta 2 is already known to be in development and A Shining Hearts anime is coming so MH3P might have just been canned like you mention.

I don't recall Jin as the actual source of this though. It was all over 2ch, posted anonymously by someone who claimed to be a game magazine editor. This entire chunk came from the same guy, since on 2ch you can see the posting ID of a post, to tell if different posts are from the same person. Lots of blog sites reported on it at the same time though.

[Kazerei]

I have no idea how you came to that conclusion, but you'll be right if they never announce a G expansion to a 5 million selling game.

That's why I said "phasing out" and "transition". Portable 3rd G? Sure. Portable 4th? I doubt it. It's just called Monster Hunter 4.

[Nairume]

I do recall Sony definitely having a much larger stake in Square at the turn of the century, but them letting that go after the TSW flop was what allowed Enix to buy the company out to begin with.

[DCharlie]

<looks at shareholder list>

shudder - there's certain names that drive fear into even the stoniest of hearts.

Also - with the top two shareholders being Fukushima is it any wonder S-E are a massive disaster right now?! :/ (not serious)

[duckroll]

How about their own shareholder info they released last year?

Holy shit, GIC owns 1.13% of S-E? Looooooooooool.

[Stumpokapow]

Holy shit, GIC owns 1.13% of S-E? Looooooooooool.

Your taxpayer dollars are paying for Versus XIII. Just saying.

[DCharlie]

GIC owns

so many fingers in so many pies , it would appear.

[duckroll]

Your taxpayer dollars are paying for Versus XIII. Just saying.

I'm sure Lord Nomura-sama would be proud!

[cw_sasuke]

MH 4 isnt the final name as of now - it still could become MH 4 Portable on 3DS and MH 4 being the name for a home console version (WiiU ?).

I expect Capcom to release a Portable Version of Dragon Dogma or Lost Planet for Vita, but i cant see MH being on two handhelds. Even though they could make some big money if they were able to pull it off and cater to both console userbases for every other year.