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BD, Viva Pinata, Gears of War, Lost Planet in Japan!

jimbo

Banned
The Blue Dragon thread got me thinking about other 360 games that may have an impact on the 360 in Japan and I'd like to know your opinion/predictions of these games over there. I've been burning to find out your opinion on this. I would especially love to hear any Japanese 360's owners take on GOW in Japan.

Lost Planet is Capcom's answer to Halo. Comes out next week. Will it move any hardware? If yes how much?

Release date: Jan 18th. Gears of War. Probably more anti-Japanese than Halo and Resistance combined. Yet amazingly enough Resistance and Halo were some of the best selling games at launch for each respective platforms. Will it be doomed by its gore the same way Dead Rising was to be shoved behind shelves where no one can find it? How will the million-seller western juggernaut fair in Japan?

Release date: Jan 11th. Finally Viva Pinata. A bomb in the US. Bomb in Europe(at least so far). And yet I can't think of any other western game that would fool me better if you told me it was developed by a Japanese developer. Will it see some vindication in Japan? Will it be more appealing to them than it was in the west?

And finally what do you predict BD's sales will be for the current week? How many systems will it help move? Half of what the launch week did? Will it have some legs?
 
lgw.jpg
 

GhaleonEB

Member
jimbo said:
The Blue Dragon thread got me thinking about other 360 games that may have an impact on the 360 in Japan and I'd like to know your opinion/predictions of these games over there. I've been burning to find out your opinion on this. I would especially love to hear any Japanese 360's owners take on GOW in Japan.
Okay.

Lost Planet is Capcom's answer to Halo. Comes out next week. Will it move any hardware? If yes how much?
I think the 5,000 LP bundles will sell out fast, since they are dead sexy and an absolute steal. There might be a similar bump to when other games get released, which is a couple k that week. Beyond that, I'm not expecting too much of a bump.

Gears of War. Probably more anti-Japanese than Halo and Resistance combined. Yet amazingly enough Resistance and Halo were some of the best selling games at launch for each respective platforms. Will it be doomed by its gore the same way Dead Rising was to be shoved behind shelves where no one can find it? How will the million-seller western juggernaut fair in Japan?
Partly depends how it gets rated. If it gets that Z rating or whatever that doomed Dead Rising, then zero impact. If not, then minimal impact.

Finally Viva Pinata. A bomb in the US. Bomb in Europe(at least so far). And yet I can't think of any other western game that would fool me better if you told me it was developed by a Japanese developer. Will it see some vindication in Japan? Will it be more appealing to them than it was in the west?
Slightly less than zero impact.

And finally what do you predict BD's sales will be for the current week? How many systems will it help move? Half of what the launch week did? Will it have some legs?
Apparantly it sold 30k bundles and 50k stand-alone copies. Final Media Create figures in a few hours will probably be close to that. The hardware in particular is spectacular, for the 360. Best week since launch a year ago.
 

open_mouth_

insert_foot_
I think Lost Planet will do OK and blue dragon will help push even more systems. It's a good holiday combo. Microsoft has to advertise gears and viva better in japan because those are games they may actually like (gears is not a fps ) :)

the key is that in january and february, Microsoft and its partners have to announce even more support and japanese made quality titles. they've got lots of jrpgs on the way which will help tremendously. 2+ million 360's in japan in the next 5 years is certainly possible.
 

jimbo

Banned
kzkb1 said:


I'm reffering to Capcom's statement. Yes, that's what they wanted LP to be. The Japanese Halo.

Apparantly it sold 30k bundles and 50k stand-alone copies. Final Media Create figures in a few hours will probably be close to that. The hardware in particular is spectacular, for the 360. Best week since launch a year ago.

I am reffering to the current week in sales, next week's Media Create sales. This week's Media Create numbers are for last week.
 

Arsenal

Member
Are they doing any bundle deals with Viva? Seems like that might be a smart thing to do. It would be kind of sad if Viva sold more in Japan than it did in the US, but 35k isn't that tough to top.
 

GhaleonEB

Member
jimbo said:
I'm reffering to Capcom's statement. Yes, that's what they wanted LP to be. The Japanese Halo.



I am reffering to the current week in sales, next week's Media Create sales. This week's Media Create numbers are for last week.
Oh, well then. 20k in hardware bundles, 10-12k to existing owners.
 

jimbo

Banned
GhaleonEB said:
Oh, well then. 20k in hardware bundles, 10-12k to existing owners.


Wow, you really think so on the bundles? That would be huge. Does anyone know the availability on the bundles anyway? How many are there?
 

Bebpo

Banned
Gears US is region-free and Gears JPN is going to be insanely censored (probably no gibs at all, maybe no blood at all). Anyone who cared about the game in Japan has bought the US import at the local game store already.
 

jimbo

Banned
PhatSaqs said:


Uhm WOW at Viva Pinata set-up. How come we don't get stuff like that here in the US? At first I thought the pics represented that there's no people caring for it judging by the first empty pic, but after scrolling down it looks like a lot of people are having fun over there.

I really hope Viva does better in Japan than here. I'd LOVE to see a sequel. It's such a great game. Shame on all of you Europeans that let it bomb, when it's developed by one of your own. You'll buy Pokemon without blinking, but Viva, a home-made gem, you will ignore. Shame.
 

Blackace

if you see me in a fight with a bear, don't help me fool, help the bear!
Gears has a Z rating here... so nobody will even know about it.. which is too bad because it could do really well... Not a big fan of the all out shooters but GoWs does it right...
 
Viva Pinata Prediction: will not sell very well
Gears of War Prediction: will not sell very well
Lost Planet Prediction: will not sell very well
 

Lyte Edge

All I got for the Vernal Equinox was this stupid tag
I predict a lot of those 360s sold because of Blue Dragon will be sold back to stores with the game once players have finished with it. I don't see Gears, Viva Pinata, or even Lost Planet (sadly) making much of a dent here.

Bebpo said:
Gears US is region-free and Gears JPN is going to be insanely censored (probably no gibs at all, maybe no blood at all). Anyone who cared about the game in Japan has bought the US import at the local game store already.

If where I'm living is any indication of other small cities around Japan, stores aren't selling imported 360 games. But I'm sure anyone with a 360 and interest did import it from somewhere.

The only store I know of that even carries imports gets the occasional PSP game (Virtua Tennis, both Grand Theft Autos, and Outrun...that's pretty much been it)
 

border

Member
Pokemon was a children's game on a $80 system that every other kid in the country owned.

Viva Pinata is an adult game on a $200-400 system that very few people own.

I don't know why people think that VP ever had a shot at "going Pokemon."
 

Lyte Edge

All I got for the Vernal Equinox was this stupid tag
Gears has a Z rating? Aw man, Microsoft ought to offer it to porn shops...it would have a lot more potential of being noticed by people that way. :/
 

Blackace

if you see me in a fight with a bear, don't help me fool, help the bear!
Lyte Edge said:
I predict a lot of those 360s sold because of Blue Dragon will be sold back to stores with the game once players have finished with it. I don't see Gears, Viva Pinata, or even Lost Planet (sadly) making much of a dent here.

I have heard people say that and I disagree... the people who buy consoles will keep them.. not like every store had a flood of used Xbox 1s.. there will be a few sold back but not a lot of them
 

Bravoexo

Member
If they air the Viva Piñata tv series over there in Japan (localized), then it might help the game in terms of sales.
 

Troidal

Member
The thing with Lost Planet is that they aren't really pushing hard in terms of advertising. Maybe because it's 360. In fact, Japan doesn't get any limited editions or faceplate bonus or anything, it's pretty standard and makes you wonder if Capcom is really trying hard to sell it here. It is a more Western oriented title so I can see why it's more prominent over there with all the cool LE sets and faceplate stuff.

It's coming out next week here but I ordered the PAL version w/the faceplate because it's so COOL yeah. God Japan just blows.
 

jimbo

Banned
Lyte Edge said:
I predict a lot of those 360s sold because of Blue Dragon will be sold back to stores with the game once players have finished with it. I don't see Gears, Viva Pinata, or even Lost Planet (sadly) making much of a dent here.


This is the most retarded trendy thing to say on GAf that I have heard in a very long time. Who started this crap anyway? Why in the world would people, even if they initally buy it just for one game, turns back around and sells it the next day? Where has this ever happened on any kind of a significant scale? Does the 360 cost people money to own and just sit there until something else comes out for it?

I'm just curious how some of you guys come up with this crap. Is there any logic involved?
 

Blackace

if you see me in a fight with a bear, don't help me fool, help the bear!
jimbo said:
This is the most retarded trendy thing to say on GAf that I have heard in a very long time. Who started this crap anyway? Why in the world would people, even if they initally buy it just for one game, turns back around and sells it the next day? Where has this ever happened on any kind of a significant scale? Does the 360 cost people money to own and just sit there untils something else comes out for it?

I'm just curious how some of you guys come up with this crap. Is there any logic involved?

I have heard this before on GAF.. but to Lyte's defense.. this is far more common in Japan than the States.. but not common enough to warrant the statement..
 

Bebpo

Banned
Troidal said:
The thing with Lost Planet is that they aren't really pushing hard in terms of advertising. Maybe because it's 360. In fact, Japan doesn't get any limited editions or faceplate bonus or anything, it's pretty standard and makes you wonder if Capcom is really trying hard to sell it here. It is a more Western oriented title so I can see why it's more prominent over there with all the cool LE sets and faceplate stuff.

It's coming out next week here but I ordered the PAL version w/the faceplate because it's so COOL yeah. God Japan just blows.

But they went out of their way to get the Korean actor just for the Japanese audience. That makes no sense.

Plus it has mecha!
 

Troidal

Member
Bebpo said:
But they went out of their way to get the Korean actor just for the Japanese audience. That makes no sense.

Plus it has mecha!

Yeah the Korean actor, I noticed some magazines do interview him as part of promotion. But the whole "Kanryuu" (Korean) boom in Japan is pretty much dying out...the timing couldn't be anymore better. Besides do you think middle-aged obasan ladies(that covers 99% of the "Kanryuu" otakus) will pick up a 360 to see him? I'd love to see lines for that shit :lol
 

Blackace

if you see me in a fight with a bear, don't help me fool, help the bear!
Troidal said:
The thing with Lost Planet is that they aren't really pushing hard in terms of advertising. Maybe because it's 360. In fact, Japan doesn't get any limited editions or faceplate bonus or anything, it's pretty standard and makes you wonder if Capcom is really trying hard to sell it here. It is a more Western oriented title so I can see why it's more prominent over there with all the cool LE sets and faceplate stuff.

It's coming out next week here but I ordered the PAL version w/the faceplate because it's so COOL yeah. God Japan just blows.


You mean besides the limited edition 360/LP bundle right?
 
Troidal said:
Yeah the Korean actor, I noticed some magazines do interview him as part of promotion. But the whole "Kanryuu" (Korean) boom in Japan is pretty much dying out...the timing couldn't be anymore better. Besides do you think middle-aged obasan ladies(that covers 99% of the "Kanryuu" otakus) will pick up a 360 to see him? I'd love to see lines for that shit :lol
If the DS can bring in new gamers, so can Korean actors. XD
 

Troidal

Member
Blackace said:
You mean besides the limited edition 360/LP bundle right?

Oh right, there's that one, forgot :lol

But I already have a 360 thank you. How about something special for those who already have a unit but want the game? All I just wanted was the same LE package treatment in Japan :/
 

Blackace

if you see me in a fight with a bear, don't help me fool, help the bear!
Troidal said:
Oh right, there's that one, forgot :lol

But I already have a 360 thank you. How about something special for those who already have a unit but want the game? All I just wanted was the same LE package treatment in Japan :/

Maybe you'll get faceplate stickers like BD!
 

Jonnyram

Member
Bebpo said:
Gears US is region-free and Gears JPN is going to be insanely censored (probably no gibs at all, maybe no blood at all). Anyone who cared about the game in Japan has bought the US import at the local game store already.
Not true. A lot of people are waiting to play it in their own language so they understand the story - I talk to some of them and even though I told them there's not much story, they're still waiting.
 

dirtmonkey37

flinging feces ---->
I think Blue Dragon will sell 200K (in fact, I know it will with bundle and game combined. No doubt. Even if it takes 3 months, it will)

Lost Planet will sell only slightly better than DOAX2 (maybe 60K). And its rate of declien will be greater than BD (in terms of sales figures)




I'm trying to be as pessimistic as possible so I get surprised!
 

justchris

Member
I don't see Gears or Lost Planet doing well at all in Japan. LP may manage 60k after a few weeks, but will then basically disappear. Gears probably won't top 20k.

I think Viva Pinata will have a far better time of it, and may sell as many as 130k over time. I don't think it'll do much to grow the 360 install base, though, and will mostly sell to people who already shelled out for Blue Dragon.
 

goldenpp72

Member
If pinata broke 100k in japan (not gonna happen) it would destroy the US sales, that would make me lose faith in america.
 

border

Member
So is Gears censored to death or does it have a Z-rating? Reports seem conflicting. Why bother with all the censorship if you are getting a Z-rating anyway? They might as well take out all the blood and gore so they can get a better rating.
 

Mato

Member
Some more hardcore gaming competition in Japan would be nice, but I don't see this quatro going places.
 

Bebpo

Banned
border said:
So is Gears censored to death or does it have a Z-rating? Reports seem conflicting. Why bother with all the censorship if you are getting a Z-rating anyway? They might as well take out all the blood and gore so they can get a better rating.

Dead Rising was Z-rated and it was censored as well. Cero doesn't make any sense so you're better off not trying to make sense of it :(
 

Speevy

Banned
Viva Pinata should do well in Japan, since it combines Pokemon-like collecting/achievements with the "non-game" craze, but it won't.
 
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