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[SalvaPot]

Destructoid talks about how Itagaki's carrer might be over in AAA development.

Also another fun fact is that Gamestop only got 420 copies of Devil's Third in the whole region of the United States. Only 420, let that number sink for a minute.

His latest game, Devil's Third, is probably the greatest example of that combination to date. It starts with a hugely muscular shirtless Caucasian man, covered in Sanskrit tattoos, performing a virtuoso rock drum solo in the basement of Guantanamo Bay. It's a scene that would be right at home on WWE Smackdown or one of Canon's schlock-classic American Ninja films. Ten years ago, the video games industry was littered this kind of fun. These days, not so much.

I went to one Best Buy and three GameStop locations before I found a retail copy of Devil's Third for sale. Best Buy had none in stock for the entire district, and only three GameStop stores in the state had copies of Devil's Third available for customers who hand't placed a pre-order. GameStop also let me know that, as far as they could tell, their online store only had 420 copies of the game available for sale for the entire country. Unless demand picks up and Nintendo of America issues a reprint, Devil's Third may end up being one of the more rare games the publisher has ever released.

Also the game is sold out in Amazon and Best Buy and its really hard to find in stores, something I myself saw when trying to track down a copy on release day. It all points that this game is going to become a collectors item soon enough.

What does this mean for Itagaki? Is he going to get another chance? For now it seems he is only working on the Multiplayer-only version of the game to release on PC free-to-play.

For now I am happy I got my copy on the way from Amazon before it sold out, there is one more item for my collection I don't have to worry about.

Update: Now all mayor retailers have sold out on the game online. Check the stores or just go digital if you want to experience it.

 

[Flying Toaster]

420?

I see missed marketing potential here.

 

[Takao]

Based on his Facebook posts, I sometimes wonder if Itagaki smokes weed everyday. This might be the confirmation I was looking for.

 

[PurpleMoustache]

*insert weed joke here*

 

[Soulflarz]

WELP

shouldve bought

 

[Mat-triX]

Of all the numbers, it had to be 420?

 

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

I told yall no one had it! Bestbuy got like 0!

 

[GamerJM]

BLAZE IT

 

[Santiako]

Blaze it!

 

[Kriken]

And yet somehow second hand copies of Devil's Third will be like $300 sealed in 10 years

 

[Warxard]

#blunted

 

[cj_iwakura]

Of all the numbers, it had to be 420?

 

[braves01]

It's still on eshop right?

 

[ShinRPGamer]

This is how Devil's Third will make it's money: Being an extreme example of Nintendo Artifical Scarcity. It's brilliant, brilliant I say!

That or it will just become the modern day Earthbound in terms of rarity.

 

[GDGF]

Gonna be one of the rarest officially released games of all time, plus it's got a crazy history.

This thing is gonna go for like 500 bucks in a few years.

 

[KZXcellent]

Nintendo's taking the Amiibo approach on this. Those sly dogs~

 

[TouchMyBox]

Just release a single copy like Wu Tang Clan.

 

[VeryGooster]

I thought it would get like 42 copies.

 

[Alucrid]

BLAZE IT

nintendo is trying to

 

[TheMoon]

From the OT:

I talked to Amazon customer service yesterday and they told me they're expecting new stock in 7-10 days.

 

[SalvaPot]

It's still on eshop right?

It weights 15 GB, no way I am getting it digital.

Also, so is Pikmin 3 and that game keeps on getting more expensive.

From the OT:

They said the same about Palutena Amiibo and that was an exclusive. I hope its true, but I won't rely on it.

 

[Shizuka]

Limited Run Games, eat your heart out!

 

[braves01]

It weights 15 GB, no way I am getting it digital.

Also, so is Pikmin 3 and that game keeps on getting more expensive...

Yeah, but it's nice for people who want to just play the game somehow. It's the worst when something you want to play is a collector's item you can't experience without dropping hundreds.

 

[DR2K]

is that how many copies they need to sell for it to make a profit?

 

[oneida]

panzer dragoon saga of wii u?

 

[J_Viper]

Is he the Eastern equivalent of Tommy Wiseau?

 

[Permanently A]

Gonna be one of the rarest officially released games of all time, plus it's got a crazy history.

This thing is gonna go for like 500 bucks in a few years.

And yet somehow second hand copies of Devil's Third will be like $300 sealed in 10 years

Shit now I should go buy one

 

[ShinRPGamer]

Incidentally, Amazon, Best Buy, and EBGames all have DT in stock here in Canada so if you genuinely want the game or banking on it becoming a rare gem in a few years, that's a possibility.

 

[dreamfall]

Well, I bought it! But from Amazon, one of those 420 copies can be claimed by someone else!

 

[SalvaPot]

Shit now I should go buy one

 

[SolidSnakex]

What does this mean for Itagaki? Is he going to get another chance? For now it seems he is only working on the Multiplayer-only version of the game to release on PC free-to-play.

He's previously said that he's going to make mobile games. As far as future console games go, it'll probably just depend on how much publishers feel the development timeline affected the end product. It was going to be funded by THQ, then they went under which meant Valhalla was left searching for a new publisher. Plus they had to switch engines during that period as well. It was originally running on a THQ engine but switched to UE3 after they went under. So it certainly wasn't the smoothest development period. But does that explain all of the problems the game has?

 

[Boke1879]

Yup caught Warios twitter and how he was saying Nintendo was barely doing marketing for this. Glad I jumped in and bought on GameStop.com before they sold out.

Unless they do another print this game is going to be one of those that becomes super rare complete in box.

 

[KevinCow]

420 across the entirety of North America? Holy shit, wow.

 

[RoboPlato]

Some intern was given the job to assign shipment numbers and knew it was his time to shine.

 

[Weeaboosuke]

Lmao why 420 specifically?

 

[Oneself]

Rarest game since ET. Same quality!

 

[lastrealgameralive]

And getting a sealed copy from GameStop is even rarer. Fuckin' GameStop.

 

[DeuceGamer]

I pre-ordered from Amazon in June and my copy just shipped today. I was waiting for it to be cancelled.

 

[kagamin]

Is he the Eastern equivalent of Tommy Wiseau?

I'd say yes.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

He isn't done. MS just needs to throw him a bone and get him working on a successor to Ninja Gaiden.

 

[leroidys]

FML, just bought it.

 

[PaulBizkit]

It weights 15 GB, no way I am getting it digital.

Also, so is Pikmin 3 and that game keeps on getting more expensive.

Why would anybody want to buy it digitally? The only reason there is to buy this game is because of how rare the physical version is.

It's not like Earthbound, which is rare and good. DT is only rare.

I'd buy as many copies as I can and leave them factory sealed.

 

[NinjaCoachZ]

420 copies in the entire US??

I have no interest in this game but I'm going to buy it just because I get the feeling it'll be valuable in a few years. Holy shit, I knew the print would be limited, but that is an entirely other level.

 

[Persona7]

wow, if that number is true then I am surprised that I managed to get one. My friend who ordered a copy from amazon got a email about it shipping next week due to a delay.

 

[ShinRPGamer]

420 across the entirety of North America? Holy shit, wow.

420 across USA Gamestops actually. No word on how many copies Best Buy or EBGames here in Canada got.

 

[Kinyou]

Hey, how many devs can say their game is sold out?

I do hope Itagaki finds his groove again. Devil's Third might have done better if it didn't basically come a console generation too late

 

[Ōkami]

panzer dragoon saga of wii u?

Are you actually comparing Panzer Dragoon Saga to Devil's Third?

Come on man.

I mean there are Saturn games that are terrible and sold poorly.

 

[PositiveGamer]

Is he the Eastern equivalent of Tommy Wiseau?

Nah!!! Itagaki actually produced and developed AAA material... DOA3 and NG1 come to mind..

Hell, even DOAX was amazing back then.. he was ahead of his time for sure..
On the other hand wiseau.. well yeah....

 

[GitarooMan]

Clearly a smart marketing tactic. Best way to sell a game nobody wants? Make it rare so the collectors rush out to get it. Then just print some more if demand is really there

 

[T.E.D]

This is all that needs to be said about the game in fairness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRtEnIZK97U