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[Goli]

Has there been any single case of a publisher taking a long running (lets say 10 years minimum) beloved franchise with an active fanbase on PC/Console and having greater success moving it to mobile?

Has this ever happened? As far as I can think of, no. I'm not sure how the Ace Attorney ports did on iOS but i never have seen them in the top rankings for games in the app store. And that's for a franchise that makes 100% sense on a mobile touch only device as its mainly a text based game.

It just seems so insane that this is still such a common idea in the industry - when you have an active fanbase that knows and likes your game, pulling it away from them and putting it on a completely incompatible device where totally different games thrive and succeed. Why does this still happen?

That's because Ace Attourney isn't really a very popular series, but SE has huge success on iOS (and the other mobile platforms as well, it seems). In most bigger iOS markets besides Japan their games usually reach high spots on the sale charts on release and subsequently they get small boosts on sales. For the western market in particular Deus Ex The Fall has been one of their biggest sellers so far IIRC, however, in Japan is where SE really dominates
Look at the current top 10 best selling paid games in Japan:

Since its release in 12/12 DQVIII had been the best selling game despite its 2800 JPY (around 27 USD) price, and it was only now taken off the first spot by Final Fantasy V (because of SE's holiday sale), though FFV itself had also held the best selling app top spot for a while at the time of its release last year. Nearly all of their other releases have the same phenomenon as FFV where they get released and hold the top spot for a while, then they drop off a bit in the charts (while still being around the top 100) with huge boosts during sales. That's why they're focusing on mobiles, I think. They want to have the same success they have in Japan with games like FFV, or FFT in the west with games like Deus Ex The Fall or a mobile Hitman title.

 

[Nirolak]

Copy bump.

I'm splitting this off as a separate thread because it's an interesting look at Square Enix's smartphone performance in Japan (and what apps sell well there in general during the holidays), and sheds some light on why they make so many smartphone games.

 

[Shard]

Welp, it looks like that is that, people voting with the wallet and so on and so forth.

 

[eliochip]

Their games are expensive too. They're making money.

 

[GhostTrick]

Copy bump.

I'm splitting this off as a separate thread because it's an interesting look at Square Enix's smartphone performance in Japan (and what apps sell well there in general during the holidays), and sheds some light on why they make so many smartphone games.

Because it's easy to make cash on quickmade ports ?

 

[ScriptedReality]

Please please please don't use this strategy in America. Sounds like eventually they'll focus on mobile gaming.

 

[Gamerloid]

Wow, didn't know about this. This explains a lot lol. Plus their mobile games are good too.

 

[dtg]

Hey capcom, notice how these are all real games cough cough

Spoiler

breath of fire

cough

 

[Jinko]

Can't say I am surprised.

I wonder why they don't bring more of this content to 3DS, or do Nintendo not allow it ?

 

[Jimmyfenix]

Please please please don't use this strategy in America. Sounds like eventually they'll focus on mobile gaming.

Well if it makes money why shouldn't they?

 

[Malyse]

So how many posts before this descends into general whining about Square doing things to make money?

 

[bigkrev]

Yep, that list seems about right. They probably make more money off of those smartphone games than they do on 3DS games, at a fraction of the risk (no need to press carts, ect).
Also, selling DQ8 for 30 dollars is crazy. I don't think they have broken the 19.99 mark in the US yet.
It's a shame, but that's just how it is these days.

 

[anaron]

The future is here!

 

[DrLazy]

Who cares about paid apps. Show the top grossing chart.

 

[MetroidPrimeRib]

Jesus 2800¥ for DQ and it's still selling

 

[That1BlackGuy]

Quality aside, you can't say that Matsuda wasn't on the money making this move. The focus on the mobile sector has proved to be an extremely beneficial venture on their end.

 

[Mpl90]

Who cares about paid apps. Show the top grossing chart.

Can anyone post that as well? I was interested in that.

 

[dionysus]

I see exploitation of the back catalogue which is smart. (DQVIII is a port right?)

But could mobile revenue alone fund a new FFV?

 

[GoldandBlue]

Well... at least All The Bravest isn't up there.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

Well if it makes money why shouldn't they?

Seriously, the people constantly complaining about this are crazy. They are a business, there are much greater risks in developing for consoles. This is easy money selling ports. Shit, they did this all the time for the ds era.

I've only seen a few of their nonport mobile games and they were all terrible though.

 

[Freedom = $1.05]

At least DQVIII appears to be a decent port of the game. It's a damn shame that FFV is up there given that it looks like complete dogshit, though. Doesn't deserve it.

Sure it could, or course you know where it would be heading and its not a console.

I just wish they would spread the love. If you've already decided to port something like DQVIII over to mobile already then most of the hard work required to port to other platforms had already been done. Go ahead, blow your load on mobile. But why not also release it on other portable devices and maximize your profits?

 

[Jinko]

I see exploitation of the back catalogue which is smart. (DQVIII is a port right?)

But could mobile revenue alone fund a new FFV?

Sure it could, or course you know where it would be heading and its not a console.

The problem I have with this is, that with every game that does well on mobile it makes SE less likely to bring their games to console.

 

[Wilsongt]

Well, if you're talking about "Highest grossing", of course that is gonna be the case. That Square-Enix mega tax.

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

Shows how out of touch i am with mobile gaming as i didn't even know that "Deus Ex: the Fall" had been released. Last year too. there again i'm not the target audience for these mobile games so i shouldn't be that surprised.
Are the games ports or are they all just "Swipe to win" like the FF mobile game released last year?

 

[Wiz]

Welp.

inb4FF789iOS

 

[Goli]

Another interesting information somewhat relevant now that this is a thing:
On the top grossing side of things, nearly every game in the top 100 is a F2P game with micro transactions:

Within the top 100 grossing games list the only paid apps are DQVIII at number 33, followed by FFV at number 45, Minecraft at 63, Pachislot Yoshimune at 74 and FFIV at 86.

 

[SwiftDeath]

Wonder how long until Square Enix only makes mobile games?

 

[Wilsongt]

Wonder how long until Square Enix only makes mobile games?

They are pretty much already there.

 

[maabus1999]

Hopefully this puts to rest why SE and other Japanese developers have abandoned traditional game development. The money has moved on for that country and I wouldn't expect any switch back to console/PC gaming development any time soon.

 

[Cornbread78]

Their master plan is being realized!

 

[BY2K]

Looks like SE is not stopping mobile anytime soon.

 

[RPG_Fanatic]

Yep, that list seems about right. They probably make more money off of those smartphone games than they do on 3DS games, at a fraction of the risk (no need to press carts, ect).
Also, selling DQ8 for 30 dollars is crazy. I don't think they have broken the 19.99 mark in the US yet.
It's a shame, but that's just how it is these days.

The is barely any risks because the games in the top 10 from Square Enix are ports of existing games. It would be interesting to see where the original mobile games from Square Enix chart in comparison to the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest ports.

 

[bigkrev]

Another interesting information somewhat relevant now that this is a thing:
On the top grossing side of things, nearly every game in the top 100 is a F2P game with micro transactions:

Within the top 100 grossing games list the only paid apps are DQVIII at number 33, followed by FFV at number 45, Minecraft at 63, Pachislot Yoshimune at 74 and FFIV at 86.

The third bestselling item on the marketplace, a port of a beloved game from one of the biggest franchises in gaming, being sold at 30 bucks a pop, is below 32 games that can be played for free.

And people wonder why the new Breath of Fire is going to be Free to Play

 

[Principate]

Another interesting information somewhat relevant now that this is a thing:
On the top grossing side of things, nearly every game in the top 100 is a F2P game with micro transactions:

Within the top 100 grossing games list the only paid apps are DQVIII at number 33, followed by FFV at number 45, Minecraft at 63, Pachislot Yoshimune at 74 and FFIV at 86.

Yeah I had imagined so. So it comes down to whether SQE wants to fully embrace f2p or are fine doing what they're doing.

 

[SmokyDave]

Good on 'em. They embraced the market early and didn't cave to the expectation to sell their games for a pittance. I wish them all the success in the world.

 

[Goli]

The is barely any risks because the games in the top 10 from Square Enix are ports of existing games. It would be interesting to see where the original mobile games from Square Enix chart in comparison to the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest ports.

Like I said, their original games usually also get to the top spots on release, but their ports are far more successful sales wise. They haven't released new games for a while, and this chart only demonstrates the standing as of today.
I could gather the charts showing the performance using AppAnnie in Japan but that would take longer and I'm not sure I want to do it, but anyone with a free AppAnnie account can fiddle around with that.

Also, their original F2P games like Kakusansei Million Arthur, Guardian Cross, Melpharia March or Sangokushi Rumble chart higher in the top grossing list (and have for longer periods of time)

 

[DrLazy]

Yeah I had imagined so. So it comes down to whether SQE wants to fully embrace f2p or are fine doing what they're doing.

So this is the point. One doesn't just switch to making mobile games. Your entire company culture has to change from making a packaged product that makes its money by satisfying players to creating a F2P service type game that is highly tuned at getting dollars out of people. Its similar to the old quarter-sucking arcade machines, but much much worse.

 

[Somnid]

I'm pretty sure that top grossing F2P make orders of magnitude more money. Also, these are all classic (then high budget) games that got ported. Once Square has devalued their back-catalog they won't really have anywhere to go.

 

[michaeltraps]

Good on 'em. They embraced the market early and didn't cave to the expectation to sell their games for a pittance. I wish them all the success in the world.

... well, when you put it that way.

Spoiler

Damn you for being logical and having some semblance of business acumen.

 

[HamPster PamPster]

Looks like 2014 is the year they finally announce that FFVII remake everyone has been asking for

 

[Toth]

SE was right after all about the market in Japan. I can't see how people can fault them for this practice.

 

[Aureon]

Just for info, do we have any hard numbers? What's the real revenue for all that?

I hope Square doesn't make the error of thinking that good story-based rpg craftmanship can translate well into f2p craftmanship. Obviously, they WILL want to do f2p, but, can they?
Japan, gaming's cradle, is that way.. sigh.

 

[Nibel]

Square Enix:

 

[Sgt.Pepper]

Good show on Plague Inc. Those guys hit gold with their first game.

 

[The Bankslammer]

That's actually a really interesting top 10, imo. I knew Final Fantasy is Final Fantasy is popular, but I didn't expect FF5 to be number 1. I guess it's because it's the most recently released and the highest numbered. I suppose I'm just not used to so much attention for 5, but all the better, I guess, as it's one of my personal favorites.

Also, sheesh, I really shouldn't underestimate Minecraft. I knew it would be big in Japan, but I wasn't expecting it to be THAT high.

And whoa, 428! Had no idea that was so popular either.

 

[bigkrev]

Despite what you think of the graphics in the games they put out or the price they charge, you are still getting a full 30+ hour game without compromises when you buy one of their games. F2P is all about compromising systems to encourage people to pay money often.

 

[Goli]

I'm pretty sure that top grossing F2P make orders of magnitude more money. Also, these are all classic (then high budget) games that got ported. Once Square has devalued their back-catalog they won't really have anywhere to go.

That's why they're also making a lot of original titles as well, look at their catalog:

But new games based off new IPs do tend to sell less than the ones based on established ones obviously.

Just for info, do we have any hard numbers? What's the real revenue for all that?

I hope Square doesn't make the error of thinking that good story-based rpg craftmanship can translate well into f2p craftmanship. Obviously, they WILL want to do f2p, but, can they?
Japan, gaming's cradle, is that way.. sigh.

We don't have numbers, but they're also embracing the F2P segment with their GREE, mobage and dGame games like Emperors SaGa, FF Artniks, FF Airborne Brigade, FF Tactics S and such, but those don't have much to do with the iOS sales charts shown here. That doesn't mean they don't have F2P iOS games, they do, but those are of a much higher quality than their mobage/GREE/dGame ones.

That's actually a really interesting top 10, imo. I knew Final Fantasy is Final Fantasy is popular, but I didn't expect FF5 to be number 1. I guess it's because it's the most recently released and the highest numbered.

Also, sheesh, I really shouldn't underestimate Minecraft. I knew it would be big in Japan, but I wasn't expecting it to be THAT high.

And whoa, 428! Had no idea that was so popular either.

428 along with all of Chunsoft's VNs are on sale, including Kamaitachi no Yoru.
And the latest FF release is the 3D remake of The After Years.

 

[The Bankslammer]

428 along with all of Chunsoft's VNs are on sale, including Kamaitachi no Yoru.
And the latest FF release is the 3D remake of The After Years.

Oh, right, I had forgotten about After Years. Good for FF5 then, I guess?

Man I would fucking love to play 428 or Night of the Sickle Weasel on my phone.
... or really, the former in any translated capacity.

 

[Nirolak]

Yeah I had imagined so. So it comes down to whether SQE wants to fully embrace f2p or are fine doing what they're doing.

They've been trying a bit more lately.

Dragon Quest Monsters: Super Light and Chaos Rings Sigma are both upcoming f2p games to follow up on titles like Guardian Cross.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Urgh, I'm just glad we're getting Bravely Default at least. I'll just pretend SE doesn't exist otherwise.