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Media Create Sales: Week 33, 2015 (Aug 10 - Aug 16)

Is it really "progress" though? We're talking about literally the two biggest game titles in the world.

Well even overall western games are selling a lot better in Japan than for example a decade ago. Even 100k barrier was pretty rare for western games when nowadays it's already almost a norm for bigger releases. Then you have some games like GTA and Minecraft going beyond million when highest during PS2 gen was something like 400k (and it was also GTA...).
 

L~A

Member
Here's another update for Nirolak's Road to TGS: http://www.capcom.co.jp/tgs/

Capcom has announced their TGS booth plans, and Monster Hunter Stories will be playable for the first time there. MHS will be playable at both the main booth and the Family Corner, something that it shares with Monster Hunter Diary DX and Monster Hunter Spirits. This is a good indication of what to expect from the game's tone - something for younger audiences.

Yeah, I believe that's what Capcom said when the game was announced a few months ago. Guess they're trying to capitalise on the reported "younger audience" that bought MH4 (or was it MH4U?).

Also, nvm misread the post :')
 

Mpl90

Two copies sold? That's not a bomb guys, stop trolling!!!
Yeah, I believe that's what Capcom said when the game was announced a few months ago. Guess they're trying to capitalise on the reported "younger audience" that bought MH4 (or was it MH4U?).

But there's something strange about Monster Hunter Stories at TGS... During a livestream last month, Capcom clearly said the game would be playable.



Change of plans?

But MHS is playable, as duckroll's post states.

EDIT: I saw you corrected yourself. That was an error only a kid would do, but now you're a squid, you can't make such mistakes!
 

Ōkami

Member
[WIU] Splatoon: 596.946
[WIU] Super Mario 3D World: 602.234

Mario dies next week (already dead with digital)

Also

[3DS] Yo-Kai Watch: 1.280.799
[3DS] Yo-Kai Watch Busters: Red Cat Team / White Dog Squad: 1.280.292

First Yokai Watch spin off selling on par as first Yokai Watch.

Famitsu numbers.
 

duckroll

Member
Well even overall western games are selling a lot better in Japan than for example a decade ago. Even 100k barrier was pretty rare for western games when nowadays it's already almost a norm for bigger releases. Then you have some games like GTA and Minecraft going beyond million when highest during PS2 gen was something like 400k (and it was also GTA...).

They're selling more because there are more releases being localized and released, and re-releases on multiple platforms are more common now. Neither GTAV nor Minecraft would have crossed a million if they were just on one platform. I guess in a sense that's "progress" because the games are actually available in their market now to buy, rather than requiring them to learn better English and import. But beyond that, I dunno.

Call of Duty games have been selling pretty well in Japan ever since they started getting proper releases with CoD4. That's like 8 years ago? A decade ago GTA titles on the PS2 were selling 300-400k+ each. A generation before that Crash Bandicoot was drawing 600-900k on the PS1, and Banjo Kazooie sold 400k on the N64. Pretty much every generation has had successful western games in Japan! :)
 
They're selling more because there are more releases being localized and released, and re-releases on multiple platforms are more common now. Neither GTAV nor Minecraft would have crossed a million if they were just on one platform. I guess in a sense that's "progress" because the games are actually available in their market now to buy, rather than requiring them to learn better English and import. But beyond that, I dunno.

Call of Duty games have been selling pretty well in Japan ever since they started getting proper releases with CoD4. That's like 8 years ago? A decade ago GTA titles on the PS2 were selling 300-400k+ each. A generation before that Crash Bandicoot was drawing 600-900k on the PS1, and Banjo Kazooie sold 400k on the N64. Pretty much every generation has had successful western games in Japan! :)

Oh. There has been some good selling western games pretty much every gen. Just this gen at least it feels like the baseline for your average release has grown (it already started to happen last gen like you pointed out). While obviously one reason is that more games get localized and released why it started to happen suddenly if there was money to be made in the past too? imo I think it has more to do with Japanese industry shifting to mobile and handhelds and there still being audience that wants ''blockbuster'' games. In the past Japanese games themselves filled this void nicely as they were not behind western games in presentation and scope but that changed last gen. Reason also why Hollywood movies continue to do so well around the world.
 

duckroll

Member
Oh. There has been some good selling western games pretty much every gen. Just this gen at least it feels like the baseline for your average release has grown (it already started to happen last gen like you pointed out). While obviously one reason is that more games get localized and released why it started to happen suddenly if there was money to be made in the past too? imo I think it has more to do with Japanese industry shifting to mobile and handhelds and there still being audience that wants ''blockbuster'' games. In the past Japanese games themselves filled this void nicely as they were not behind western games in presentation and scope but that changed last gen. Reason also why Hollywood movies continue to do so well around the world.

Some of that is definitely true, but I think the biggest factor is probably that in the past they were not seen as money to be made. Localization was a smaller and less significant market, limited to more niche areas like PC, and western companies themselves were less aggressive in terms of pushing their brands internationally because they were still busy establishing a foothold domestically. What we're seeing is mostly a result of stronger globalization I would say. It's something that has been happening more and more, and not limited to the gaming industry. Just look at how Hollywood movies perform in China now for example, or how Smartphones took over the Japanese Feature Phone market.
 

Vena

Member
this is why splatoon is esports in the eyes of nintendo and smash is not

they value those japan sales more than anything else. it's why metroid is kill :(

I think the esports thing has a lot more to do with Sakurai vs. Sato in their points of view, as Sato built the original demo of Splatoon (and eventual product carried it over) as a competitive (albeit friendly) game.

Sakurai is a big developer so, really, you don't want to step on his toes with one of your premiere franchises. Even if NoA still tries to work on the side of smash fans through whatever loop holes they have.
 
What's the best selling title on vita and when will Minecraft beat it? I don't think the vita even has a 400k seller. or does it?

Here's Vitas top 10 software sales according to Media Create, retail only.

1. God Eater 2 - 423,536
2. Persona 4 Golden - 329,050
3. Final Fantasy X HD - 312,033 (58,407 Stand Alone, 253,626 Twin Pack)
4. God Eater 2 : Rage Burst - 299,945 (More than likely #2 now but hasn't charted since March)
5. Minecraft - 291,927
6. Freedom Wars - 289,288
7. Final Fantasy X-2 HD - 272,067 (18,441 Stand Alone, 253,626 Twin Pack)
8. Sword Art Online - 269,275
9. Soul Sacrifice - 251,174 (190,546 Stand Alone, 30,314 Double Pack)
10. Toukiden - 238,541

Not exactly sure how to count FFX/X-2 HD but split them up anyways.
 
Some of that is definitely true, but I think the biggest factor is probably that in the past they were not seen as money to be made. Localization was a smaller and less significant market, limited to more niche areas like PC, and western companies themselves were less aggressive in terms of pushing their brands internationally because they were still busy establishing a foothold domestically. What we're seeing is mostly a result of stronger globalization I would say. It's something that has been happening more and more, and not limited to the gaming industry. Just look at how Hollywood movies perform in China now for example, or how Smartphones took over the Japanese Feature Phone market.

That makes a lot of sense too. Nevertheless no matter the reasons I think we can agree that overall sales of western games have grown especially compared to PS2 gen and prior. =). Personally I also see that this growth will continue despite that the overall deticated gaming market will continue to shrink. To what end? We shall see.

You can kind of count Luigi's Mansion 2 with them too, as it was developed in the west. Sure the IP is Japanese in origin though.

Donkey Kong Country Returns also made it to the million on Wii if I remember right but yeah should have probably clarified that I meant games based on western IPs. =P
 

Fisico

Member
What's the best selling title on vita and when will Minecraft beat it? I don't think the vita even has a 400k seller. or does it?

With digital it already is and crossed the 500k mark a few weeks ago.
Retail only you can look at the post above, God Eater 2 is past the 450k mark with digital and Rage Burst should get to 400k soon enough with its legs (I think it had a huge digital adoption too), making him rank regularly between 20-30th rank weekly partly thanks to the anime.
 

Maniel

Banned
That makes a lot of sense too. Nevertheless no matter the reasons I think we can agree that overall sales of western games have grown especially compared to PS2 gen and prior. =). Personally I also see that this growth will continue despite that the overall deticated gaming market will continue to shrink. To what end? We shall see.
Maybe in the long term Japan's purchasing habits will become more in line with the rest of the world.
 

horuhe

Member
I'm starting to think Splatoon might never slow down.

It will probably be in fourth position, and only due to Busters being released weeks ago and SRW taking first place. Didn't think about it before, but now I expect Splatoon having better legs than Busters, though.
 

horuhe

Member
At Bic Camera Hachioji, they started to promote Dragon Quest VIII to be released on August 27th.

5Yqj6MY.jpg

Also Mario Maker is being showed and are accepting pre-orders not only for the game, but also for the bundle.

 
Smash WiiU VS Splatoon (the end is soon)
Code:
------------------------------------------------------------- 
|    | Super Smash Wii U |      Splatoon     |  Difference  |
|    | [WIU] (2014/12/06)| [WIU] (2015/05/28)|              | 
|----|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------------| 
|Week|  Weekly |   LTD   |  Weekly |   LTD   | Splt – SSBWU | 
|----|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------------| 
|  1 |  227.527|  227.527|  144.818|  144.818|       -82.709| 
|  2 |   79.005|  306.533|   68.913|  213.731|       -92.802| 
|  3 |   78.927|  385.460|   53.198|  266.929|      -118.531|  
|  4 |   85.776|  471.236|   43.653|  310.582|      -160.654| 
|  5 |   58.008|  529.244|   37.458|  348.040|      -181.204|
|  6 |   18.884|  548.128|   34.135|  382.175|      -165.953|
|  7 |   12.858|  560.986|   26.136|  408.312|      -152.674|
|  8 |    8.728|  569.714|   22.557|  430.869|      -138.845|
|  9 |    6.398|  576.112|   24.289|  455.158|      -120.954|
| 10 |    5.683|  581.796|   28.256|  483.413|       -98.383|
| 11 |    6.118|  587.913|   35.620|  519.034|       -68.879|
| 12 |    4.881|  592.794|   41.361|  560.394|       -32.400|
| 13 |    4.936|  597.730|         |         |              |
| 14 |    4.829|  602.560|         |         |              |
|----|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------------|
|Total        -|  653.783|        -|  560.394|       -93.389|      
-------------------------------------------------------------

Mario Kart 8 VS Splatoon (Obon boost and drop next week) *first week excluded
Code:
------------------------------------------------------------- 
|    |   Mario Kart 8    |      Splatoon     |  Difference  | 
|    | [WIU] (2014/05/29)| [WIU] (2015/05/28)|              | 
|----|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------------| 
|Week|  Weekly |   LTD   |  Weekly |   LTD   | SPLTN – MK8  | 
|----|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------------| 
|  2 |   73.051|   73.051|   68.913|   68.913|        -4.138| 
|  3 |   42.261|  115.312|   53.198|  122.111|         6.799|  
|  4 |   28.112|  143.424|   43.653|  165.764|        22.340| 
|  5 |   23.520|  166.944|   37.458|  203.222|        36.278|  
|  6 |   19.386|  186.330|   34.135|  237.357|        51.027|  
|  7 |   15.143|  201.473|   26.136|  263.493|        62.020|  
|  8 |   14.992|  216.465|   22.557|  286.050|        69.585|  
|  9 |   18.129|  234.594|   24.289|  310.339|        75.745| 
| 10 |   18.067|  252.661|   28.256|  338.595|        85.934| 
| 11 |   20.860|  273.521|   35.620|  374.215|       100.694| 
| 12 |   28.221|  301.742|   41.361|  415.576|       113.834| 
| 13 |   12.075|  313.817|         |         |              | 
| 14 |   11.148|  324.965|         |         |              |
|----|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------------|

Rhythm Battle (The Best+ won thanks to Obon)
Code:
------------------------------------------------------------- 
|    |   Rhythm Fever    | Rhythm the Best+  |  Difference  |
|    | [WII] (2011/07/21)| [3DS] (2015/06/11)|              | 
|----|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------------| 
|Week|  Weekly |   LTD   |  Weekly |   LTD   |  RHtB+ – RHF | 
|----|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------------| 
|  1 |  118.173|  118.173|  157.591|  157.591|        39.418| 
|  2 |   81.938|  200.112|   66.416|  224.008|        23.896| 
|  3 |   62.597|  262.709|   42.718|  266.726|         4.017|  
|  4 |   63.590|  326.300|   34.467|  301.193|       -25.107| 
|  5 |   48.190|  374.489|   24.650|  325.844|       -48.645|
|  6 |   25.063|  399.552|   17.650|  343.493|       -56.059|
|  7 |   22.762|  422.314|   16.110|  359.603|       -62.711|
|  8 |   15.600|  437.913|   14.382|  373.985|       -63.928|
|  9 |   14.647|  452.560|   18.852|  392.837|       -59.723|
| 10 |   17.354|  469.914|   27.356|  420.193|       -49.721|
| 11 |   11.468|  481.382|         |         |              |
| 12 |   10.731|  492.112|         |         |              |
| 13 |   13.202|  505.315|         |         |              |
| 14 |   12.377|  517.691|         |         |              |
| 15 |    9.251|  526.943|         |         |              |
| 16 |    8.581|  535.523|         |         |              |
|----|---------|---------|---------|---------|--------------|
|Total        -|  722.910|        -|  420.193|      -302.717|      
-------------------------------------------------------------

Minecraft Vita (soon 300k at retail)
Code:
-----------------------------------------
|    |  Minecraft PSVita |              |
|    | [PSV] (2015/03/19)|              |
|----|---------|---------|--------------|
|Week|  Weekly |   LTD   |  Variation   |
|----|---------|---------|--------------|
|  1 |   36.151|   36.151|            //| 
|  2 |   21.069|   57.220|          -42%| 
|  3 |   15.880|   73.100|          -25%|  
|  4 |   11.842|   84.942|          -25%| 
|  5 |   12.175|   97.117|           +3%|
|  6 |   12.667|  109.784|           +4%|
|  7 |   16.166|  125.951|          +28%|
|  8 |   18.025|  143.976|          +12%|
|  9 |   11.303|  155.278|          -37%|
| 10 |   11.898|  167.176|           +5%|
| 11 |   12.449|  179.625|           +5%|
| 12 |   10.708|  190.332|          -14%|
| 13 |    9.657|  199.989|          -10%|
| 14 |    9.703|  209.693|           +0%|
| 15 |   10.896|  220.589|          +12%|
| 16 |   11.941|  232.530|          +10%|
| 17 |   10.898|  243.428|           -9%|
| 18 |    9.878|  253.306|           -9%|
| 19 |   10.180|  263.487|           +3%|
| 20 |    8.553|  272.040|          -16%|
| 21 |    8.100|  280.140|           -5%|
| 22 |   11.787|  291.927|          +46%|
|----|---------|---------|--------------|   
|Total        -|  291.927|              |
-----------------------------------------
theres not really a point to missout on mario kart 8s first week now, splatoon is really close to it
 

Pandy

Member
yea i don't know what people have been playing.... just this last month there were games like galak z n++ everybody gone to rapture and volume. not counting games like bloodborne, order, infamous, and the long list of 3rd party games like batman, destiny, witcher 3. besides that yea i don't know what is selling the ps4 in the west....
PS4 was killing the competition in sales long before it had any noteable games. It's mainly trading on potential and being the best multi-plat machine for people buying the likes of GTA, COD, FIFA, WatchDogs and Destiny. The other games you mention will have helped with a few fringe cases, but the PS4 would still be leading even if they didn't exist.
 
PS4 was killing the competition in sales long before it had any noteable games. It's mainly trading on potential and being the best multi-plat machine for people buying the likes of GTA, COD, FIFA, WatchDogs and Destiny. The other games you mention will have helped with a few fringe cases, but the PS4 would still be leading even if they didn't exist.

dude, those are the notable games
 

noshten

Member
theres not really a point to missout on mario kart 8s first week now, splatoon is really close to it

A few months ago most people who thought a few months ago that 1 Million for Splatoon in Japan was outlandish. If it continues selling well during the next few weeks and SMM launch we might be watching it overtake MK8(talking bout LT) early next year - there is still December to come.

December 2014
Mario Kart 8 - 19.244 (Dec 01 - Dec 07)
Mario Kart 8 - 24.938 (Dec 08 - Dec 14)
Mario Kart 8 - 34.331 (Dec 15 - Dec 21)
Mario Kart 8 - 38.637 (Dec 22 - Dec 28)

Some Graphs for fun... Week 22 is when Mario Kart 8 & Splatoon both released.

Thanks for the graphs
 

marc^o^

Nintendo's Pro Bono PR Firm
I'm happy to see Splatoon sell constantly, probably on word of mouth. I like this game so much more than Smash and MK8, or any recent game I played.
 

sense

Member
PS4 was killing the competition in sales long before it had any noteable games. It's mainly trading on potential and being the best multi-plat machine for people buying the likes of GTA, COD, FIFA, WatchDogs and Destiny. The other games you mention will have helped with a few fringe cases, but the PS4 would still be leading even if they didn't exist.

lol i don't even know what point you are trying to make here. the games you just listed are why the majority of people buy consoles for and some of the games i listed are why they choose ps4 over the competition. you initially implied with your comment that the console was selling without any notable releases and then go on to list the notable games that they got the console for..... maybe this is some roundabout tired ole "ps4 has no gamezzz and selling on hype" argument
 

noshten

Member
if they were smart, at the meantime just port over splatoon while we wait for a sequel. easy money right there

With cross-play and cross-save!

If they add local multiplayer an NXPad peripheral with gyro, spectator mode. tournament mode - it might be the first port of a game I've played that I'd buy. I still hope some of these features(spectator mode) are added to Splatoon.


I'm happy to see Splatoon sell constantly, probably on word of mouth. I like this game so much more than Smash and MK8, or any recent game I played.

MK8 and Splatoon were the reason I bought a Wii U, I hadn't had a console since childhood. Splatoon is actually the shooter I've enjoyed the most since discovering CS when I was about 16 and has definitely taken over Bayo1&2/MK8 as my favorite game on my Wii U. Now that I got my PC I'm kinda of conflicted since I'm going to sink a lot of my time into the Witcher.
 

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
Here's another update for Nirolak's Road to TGS: http://www.capcom.co.jp/tgs/

Capcom has announced their TGS booth plans, and Monster Hunter Stories will be playable for the first time there. MHS will be playable at both the main booth and the Family Corner, something that it shares with Monster Hunter Diary DX and Monster Hunter Spirits. This is a good indication of what to expect from the game's tone - something for younger audiences.

Thanks. Yeah, even before this, my assumption was that this was their new kids push.

When Gaist Crusher was originally announced, they announced it as the combination of Monster Hunter style co-op, Capcom's action expertise, and an anime aesthetic/multimedia push targeted at children. They clearly wanted it to be a new million selling brand.

I think someone at Capcom went "Actually, if we're doing this, why not just use Monster Hunter?"

Some other signs:

1.) The game's promotional character is a young boy. In Monster Hunter mainline, you play 20-30 year olds being guided by 40-70 year olds, and they're also the starts of the CG trailers.

2.) It's a cutesy, kid friendly, chibi-ish anime art style where everything looks more friendly and inviting instead of the photorealistic style of the main game with intimidating monsters and brutal combat animations.

3.) It's an RPG. In Monster Hunter, not only is the game difficult, but you hit a hard cap as everything is tied to your gear. You can also only upgrade your gear with monster parts or armor fragments, and which ones you can get at any given time are limited by your ability to progress or defeat monsters. This also means a large number of fights you complete have no impact on your character's development beyond either progressing the plotline or raising your hunter rank. In the RPG, presumably each monster you fight will level you up, and you'll have the ability to grind to make fights easier.

On paper at least, this seems like a good fit for younger audiences. I'm guessing the game itself will also be easier in general given once you get to High Rank in Monster Hunter it can get pretty brutal if you're making any mistakes (much less G rank where you *really* better be playing well), and there are certainly a number of people who struggle from the start.
 

ZSaberLink

Media Create Maven
Code:
             YTD      Last YTD
WIU  |    364.732 |    364.481 |

Remarkable consistency.

Famitsu:
368.138 | 361.270

It's more that the Wii U YTD trailed in 2015 except for Golden Week and then when Splatoon launched, the YTD fairly easily caught up to 2014's numbers. For MC, the Wii U had a slightly better Golden Week last year, thus the fact that 2015's numbers had just passed 2014's numbers pulled them closer again. I expect that we'll see the gap between this year's numbers and last year's numbers increase as long as Splatoon continues to have any sort of hardware effect.
 
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