How about Strange Journey? Might be a good comparison.
A good comparison to what? The main objective here would be to see how many fans they can retain with a re-release/expansion/asset-recyclesequel of a major numbered game.
How about Strange Journey? Might be a good comparison.
I really don't think its problem is using sprites.
Setsuna is digital only right?
I'm impressed of Rainbow 6: Siege legs. Lifetime sales are already three times higher than first week. I guess that's good for The Division.
Media Create Sales: Week 6, 2016 (Feb 08 - Feb 14)
HARDWARE
Code:+-------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+-------------+ |System | This Week | Last Week | Last Year | YTD | Last YTD | LTD | +-------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+-------------+ [B]| PS4 | 27.576 | 31.058 | 21.381 | 177.783 | 148.138 | 2.478.860 |[/B] | 3DS # | 27.555 | 27.544 | 58.745 | 229.054 | 420.776 | 20.415.053 | | PSV # | 17.104 | 23.090 | 11.489 | 149.847 | 147.871 | 4.743.245 | | WIU | 3.933 | 3.939 | 7.007 | 68.221 | 77.147 | 3.088.883 | | PS3 | 1.633 | 1.715 | 6.683 | 11.735 | 62.039 | 10.399.829 | | XB1 | 101 | 286 | 191 | 923 | 2.410 | 64.814 | +-------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+-------------+ | ALL | 77.902 | 87.632 | 105.496 | 637.563 | 858.381 | 41.190.684 | +-------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+-------------+ | PSV | 17.104 | 23.090 | 10.901 | 149.847 | 142.835 | 4.557.793 | |n-3DSLL| 19.691 | 19.991 | 41.821 | 161.126 | 237.609 | 2.631.242 | | n-3DS | 4.695 | 4.389 | 9.584 | 36.628 | 97.708 | 869.076 | | 3DSLL | 452 | 459 | 4.126 | 5.272 | 44.913 | 6.948.535 | | 3DS | 2.717 | 2.705 | 3.214 | 26.028 | 40.546 | 9.966.200 | +-------+------------+------------+------------+------------+------------+-------------+
SMT4Final sales makes sense on some level - its 2016 i think the time for 2D sprites battles for a full price game is over, with 3DS being replaced soon this is the last hurrah for this type of graphics and the most dedicated fans. Even Pokemon and Dragon Quest have moved on a long time ago.
SMT 4 had the bonus of being the first numbered sequel in the mainline series after a long ass time.
I think it is...its been more or less the same re-used sprites for decades even though they already raised the bar on PS2. There are a bunch of people who just arent interested anymore in sprites and it makes the game look unappealing to them.
Of course its not the only reason, but im pretty sure the same game with 3D battles would have sold more. Main point is that SMT IV sold quite well to new customers who arent interested in the same type of experience again.
I'm hoping this is the case worldwide, too.I'm impressed of Rainbow 6: Siege legs. Lifetime sales are already three times higher than first week. I guess that's good for The Division.
I'm hoping this is the case worldwide, too.
I plan on picking it up soon since word of mouth is pretty strong. It just released in a pretty crowded window of games.
If that blogger guy is right Nintendo will suffer stock issues until sometime in March (or whole, depending on what he meant).
But if they were that unappealing SMTIV wouldn't have been successful to begin with really, and there's no real substance to the theory that the sprites are the reason this didn't sell more.
Also those 3D assets weren't fresh either, they were reused across plenty of games from that era. By the time Raidou 2 came out they were pretty stale.
I'd say SMT4 is a flop indeed but I'd blame it to Atlus for making it sound like it's just a "plus" version of the predecessor.
You leave my 2D sprites alone!
As said - SMT IV was a special case, this was the first numbered SMT maingame in a long time so there was more excitement compared to other games in the series. The sprites were fine for SMT IV, but not for a sequel in 2016 - if their plan was to sell as much copies as before.But if they were that unappealing SMTIV wouldn't have been successful to begin with really, and there's no real substance to the theory that the sprites are the reason this didn't sell more.
Also those 3D assets weren't fresh either, they were reused across plenty of games from that era. By the time Raidou 2 came out they were pretty stale.
I think it is...its been more or less the same re-used sprites for decades even though they already raised the bar on PS2. There are a bunch of people who just arent interested anymore in sprites and it makes the game look unappealing to them.
Of course its not the only reason, but im pretty sure the same game with 3D battles would have sold more. Main point is that SMT IV sold quite well to new customers who arent interested in the same type of experience again.
15./12. [PS3] Yakuza: Kiwami <ADV> (Sega) {2016.01.21} (¥6.490) - 4.973 / 90.234 (-31%)
16./10. [PS4] Yakuza: Kiwami <ADV> (Sega) {2016.01.21} (¥6.490) - 4.204 / 135.766 (-48%)
And you think those people would have been interested again if Final had 3D battles? Quite frankly, I can't see it being a very significant factor for this particular game. Sure, it may had sold some more units with increased production values, but I don't think we're talking about a significant enough number here that would have a big difference on sales (and likely wouldn't have been worthwhile financially).
SMT4 Final's sales potential is just somewhat limited by its very own nature. It's not just re-using assets of SMT4, it also builds up on it. You aren't just catering specifically to people who liked a game and want more of it, but the naming also implies that it's to a certain degree dependent on the knowledge acquired in the the previous game. Even if this isn't actually true, you will still have a lot of people who liked SMT4, but didn't finish it and thus think they should rather finish SMT4 first instead of buying SMT4 Final. After all, you might miss something otherwise. And, well, we have enough data that shows that a majority of people don't reach the end of an RPG (or any game, for that matter).
So, once you only have a limited audience to begin with - an audience that predominately consists of people who liked the predecessor - I don't see the presentation mattering much anymore. People who didn't like SMT4 enough to finish it or who just think they aren't "ready" for Final, aren't going to change their minds just because the battles look more fancy.
It would be another matter if this was SMT5, though, since in video games people have come to expect that a new number equals an entirely new game, largely independent of its predecessors.
Whether or not those sales are good and bad... I don't know. I'd assume it's still in line with Atlus' expectations, but on the lower side of it. Maybe a bit lower. A bit disappointing but not "bad".
Pretty good for a dead system.As for the dead PS3
Even though there's a new story with a new protagonist, in several ways its roots as a SMTIV expansion still show with the heavy asset reuse and aspects of the general game design. (Spoilers for SMTIV's and IVF's law and chaos endings)The Chaos and Law endings even are basically lower budget versions of the Law and Chaos ending from SMTIV, with no final dungeon or 2nd form for the redrawn Lucifer/Merkabah; also no walking around in destroyed Mikado before finishing the game in the Chaos ending.
/Wouldn't have described it better myself.
I remember someone in the other thread mentioning the game had pretty good reception, so that should translate in good sales in the following weeks, hopefully.
Isn't that just retailers slashing the prices? As opposed to "healthy" legs like Animal Crossing or Splatoon.
01. / 00. [PS3] Final Fantasy XIII (Square Enix) - 1.501.964 / NEW
[PS3] Final Fantasy XIII-2 # <RPG> (Square Enix) {2011.12.15} (¥7.980) - 524.217 / NEW <62,06%>
Raidou at least gave them new textures. Atlus couldn't even bother redoing the artwork of more than about 30 to 40 demons this time. If the demon didn't get a new design, he'll be using the same sprite from Strange Journey or even Soul Hackers.
So far, it seems like SMTIVF actually has less demons than SMTIV. The marketing mentioned about 450 demons, but the full in-game list stops at 410 or 411 right now (they cut all guest designed SMTIV demons that haven't been redrawn by the game's actual character designer). SMTIV had 426 demons (although that's including the 11 DLC demons).
I more or less agree with your argumentation though argumentation, 3D battles were just an example of something new/different they could have brought to the table to offset the expected lower sales coming from SMT IV. I know there were a lot of people who liked SMT3 on PS2 and were turned off by IV going back to 2D Sprites. IV Final is definitely aimed at hardcore users who finished IV and ready again for the same kind of experience.
Just looking at the game and considering how much it builds on the foundation established by SMT IV i doubt that Atlus will be disappointed by its sales. This reminds me of the way they have been handling the EO releases and re/releases and selling around 100k FW seems to be enough to justify further entries.
I'm impressed of Rainbow 6: Siege legs. Lifetime sales are already three times higher than first week. I guess that's good for The Division.
Good to see DQB still going.
PS4 hardware is solid and I think SFV, AoT and Setsuna should aid in PS4 holding or perhaps provide a small bump collectively.
They're all coming in the same week?
They're all coming in the same week?
App Annie has done a long overdue UI update to include app icons. I thought I'd note that here in case anyone was doing casual browsing and was having trouble reading the list without clicking on each game: https://www.appannie.com/apps/ios/top/japan/overall/?device=iphone
It looks like this now if the site is blocked at your work/school:
It is doing good. Not an amazing success but certainly a good success. Absolutely better than the usual doom and gloom certain users were attaching to it before launch.Are those considered good sales for Dragon Quest Builders? It's over half a million in Japan, and I can see it selling 750K in Japan. What's the general consensus?
Looking at PS4 hardware numbers as usual gives me the same reaction
Something happend with Famitsu and amiibo Festival last week
17./00. [WIU] Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival <TBL> (Nintendo) {2015.11.21} (¥6.000) - 4.101 / 65.526 <60-80%> (+212%)
I've always wondered why Sony's gaming division aren't the ones publishing Fate G/O. I get that Sony's many divisions are autonomous but still.App Annie has done a long overdue UI update to include app icons. I thought I'd note that here in case anyone was doing casual browsing and was having trouble reading the list without clicking on each game: https://www.appannie.com/apps/ios/top/japan/overall/?device=iphone
It looks like this now if the site is blocked at your work/school:
In regards to hardware? Bad of course.It is doing good. Not an amazing success but certainly a good success. Absolutely better than the usual doom and gloom certain users were attaching to it before launch.
Is that a good or bad reaction? lol
Something happend with Famitsu and amiibo Festival last week
17./00. [WIU] Animal Crossing: amiibo Festival <TBL> (Nintendo) {2015.11.21} (¥6.000) - 4.101 / 65.526 <60-80%> (+212%)
Wonder when and if Gung-Ho will be able to get another mobile hit - the market in the Top 10 is getting crowded. They make so much money you would think they would be able to leverage some of the PaD popularity to launch new exciting f2p projects.
What would you consider good hardware numbers?In regards to hardware? Bad of course.
I've always wondered why Sony's gaming division aren't the ones publishing Fate G/O. I get that Sony's many divisions are autonomous but still.