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[120v]

aside from DQ8 (and arguably 9) the series never really got the "prime time" treatment. it was always very much bespoke to a japanese audience, especially to those who grew up with the older games

i mean, the newest installment, a ps4 game in 2017, doesn't even have VA. which is perfectly fine. but you can't expect droves of westerners to latch onto it like they would FFXV or something. there just was never any sincere interest in making it a global brand

 

[duckroll]

No one knows if the western version of DQXI will have VA or not though.

 

[Raw64life]

aside from DQ8 (and arguably 9) the series never really got the "prime time" treatment. it was always very much bespoke to a japanese audience, especially to those who grew up with the older games

i mean, the newest installment, a ps4 game in 2017, doesn't even have VA. which is perfectly fine. but you can't expect droves of westerners to latch onto it like they would FFXV or something. there never was just never any sincere interest in making it a global brand

It remains to be seen if the western version of DQXI will have voice acting, but you're spot on about them completely fucking up every opportunity to make it a global brand.

The average release time for a DQ game from JP release to western release has been 1-2 years across its entire lifespan. In the age of the internet, where nearly every other company understands the importance of a simultaneous worldwide release to building up hype for a game, S-E still seems to be clueless when it comes to DQ. They have no clue how to hype their games.

Should we announce DQ Heroes II at the huge PSX event where literally dozens of new PS games get shown off? Nope, let's announce it 3 days later via a tweet. Big Dragon Quest XI western reveal at E3? Nope, a month later via a tweet. It's so incredibly frustrating.

 

[Boney]

With a few exceptions, JRPG's have only been really popular on the PS1 and to a lesser extent PS2. So it's hard for a series that is as traditional as can be to appeal to many people.

 

[Babyshams]

Old school grind and difficulty, no VA, very cartoonish look.

I haven't played one since 8 on PS2 since I don't like putting 80 hours into handheld games. Hurts my neck.

 

[clay_ghost]

Old school grind and difficulty, no VA, very cartoonish look.

I haven't played one since 8 on PS2 since I don't like putting 80 hours into handheld games. Hurts my neck.

I think the misconception will never die.

 

[1upsuper]

With a few exceptions, JRPG's have only been really popular on the PS1 and to a lesser extent PS2. So it's hard for a series that is as traditional as can be to appeal to many people.

What? No. That's just patently false.

 

[MoogleMan]

It's very old-school, and a lot of people don't like Toriyama's art so that doesn't help either.

I don't mind that it's old school but you nailed it with me not liking toriyama's art. It's the main reason I can't really get into dbz.

Not all of it though; some places it fits, like dragon quest builders. I loved that game. So much charm. DQXI looks great too; kind of like he adjusted proportions a bit so it's not as meh.

I couldn't get into DQ VIII at all.

 

[ggx2ac]

I think the misconception will never die.

The best part is how other franchises succeeded despite being old school. Or I should say, sticking with tradition.

Pokémon is a good example especially with how nostalgia helped reinvigorate sales of its games thanks to Pokémon Go.

Bravely Default was marketed as an old-school RPG and succeeded in the west considering current Final Fantasy games aren't that traditional in mechanics with each entry.

People were hyped for I am Setsuna for being an old school RPG as well.

But because Dragon Quest set the standards and stuck with tradition, Enix screwed up not establishing themselves in the west, so their games are seen as archaic.

 

[Rncewind]

i think people are to fixated with the 1990 and anime thing.

The recent "failures" far way more like the marketing or simply stuff like DQ X not comming out.


I know enough people who got FF XV only because ff XIV ingame talks for example

 

[duckroll]

I don't understand. If the bar for success includes Bravely Default and I am Setsuna, then by default Dragon Quest is pretty successful outside of Japan too....

 

[sotojuan]

i think people are to fixated with the 1990 and anime thing.

I really don't know why people have a problem with it. I never got into DBZ but the art style fits the game very well. I'll take this over the regular high school anime style (Persona, Trails).

 

[Onemic]

The last console DQ released in the west was in 2004

I just dont think SE really gives it a chance tbh

 

[Glitter and Gold]

I don't feel like I'm doing anything meaningful in battle other than spamming my strongest skills. There's no weapon advantage/disadvantage to think about, not much party synergy, and nothing interesting in terms of spells and skills.

It's like going back to white bread after eating cake I guess.

I don't blame you. I think that's where the misconception about grinding comes from. A lot of people playing this way, and thinking they have to grind because it's necessary to continue progressing that way over other more creative and resourceful solutions.

 

[ggx2ac]

I don't understand. If the bar for success includes Bravely Default and I am Setsuna, then by default Dragon Quest is pretty successful outside of Japan too....

I made the mistake of using sales when the problem was misconceptions and the game being old-school.

Pokémon is as traditional as Dragon Quest, but Dragon Quest's lack of growing popularity in the west is from failing to establish the franchise that it's more easily criticised for being old school compared to Pokémon.

 

[clay_ghost]

I really don't know why people have a problem with it. I never got into DBZ but the art style fits the game very well. I'll take this over the regular high school anime style (Persona, Trails).

Have to correct you here. The only Trials games with High school setting are Cold steel 1-3. Also the art style changes from games to games with Sky, Ao and CS having different art styles.

 

[jj984jj]

I don't understand. If the bar for success includes Bravely Default and I am Setsuna, then by default Dragon Quest is pretty successful outside of Japan too....

Was I am Setsuna successful anywhere? I never heard of it selling well in any region.

 

[Babyshams]

I think the misconception will never die.

I remember needing to grind and having a tough time in the beginning. I mean this was 13 years ago at this point so maybe I'm wrong.

 

[KtSlime]

The last console DQ released in the west was in 2004

I just dont think SE really gives it a chance tbh

The West's obsession with consoles and graphics, etc certainly doesn't help the series gain traction.

 

[RyougaSaotome]

I don't understand. If the bar for success includes Bravely Default and I am Setsuna, then by default Dragon Quest is pretty successful outside of Japan too....

The bar is everywhere, duck.

The bar exists in our heart.

Some of the takes in this thread are eating away at me.

Slow combat? Complicated UI? Grinding??

Did we all play the same games??

 

[Jaymageck]

It's really boring, due to outdated gameplay.

 

[Raw64life]

I think the misconception will never die.

Along with the "Toriyama's art style" comments that completely ignore how hugely successful Toriyama's art style has been in the west. I don't know which one is worse.

It's really boring, due to outdated gameplay.

Nevermind, I found a comment dumber than both of them.

The last console DQ released in the west was in 2004

I just dont think SE really gives it a chance tbh

And since then there's only been a paltry 100 million plus portable game systems sold in the west between the DS, PSP and 3DS. They've had plenty of opportunities to capitalize on the successes they've had with DQ in the west. They just failed to do so.

 

[Parfait]

Shit marketing. The most recent main numbered ones are a mediocre DS game and a MMO. The Super Famicom games never made it over either, and 7 came out when the ps2 was out. I didn't even know Heroes 2 came out in english already.

I'm really annoyed and it almost feels like it's on purpose, even though I know it isn't.

 

[Glitter and Gold]

Was I am Setsuna successful anywhere? I never heard of it selling well in any region.

There was pretty significant pre-release hype from the promotional material name dropping Chrono Trigger CONSTANTLY

but a lot of that interest quickly disappeared once people actually were able to play the thing

 

[Catman]

For a little perspective on how long they seem to take their sweet ass time localizing the DQ games that have come out in the US. Dragon Quest Heroes 2 came out 3 months after I had visited Japan, and was already able to buy a copy of the game on PS4 there for approx $20 already.

 

[randomkid]

I wonder if DQ5 would have had any impact if it was released by itself here on Super Nintendo or if it would have just been seen as another Enix RPG like Illusion of Gaia or something. I remember magazines praising DQ6's spectacular visuals at the time, so maybe it would have fared better. It's really tough to say, but I do think there's something to the idea that certain games hitting at the right time in the mid to late nineties are responsible for a lot of RPG gamer mindshare.

 

[Aeana]

In case you're just joining us, the general consensus in the thread seems to be "misconceptions by western gamers." Which is fair. SE has not done a very good job of trying to correct those misconceptions whatsoever.

 

[Nottle]

How much strategy is there in the games, I had the impression that they were games that you just grinded, and they had little story.

 

[Raw64life]

Shit marketing. The most recent main numbered ones are a mediocre DS game and a MMO. The Super Famicom games never made it over either, and 7 came out when the ps2 was out. I didn't even know Heroes 2 came out in english already.

I'm really annoyed and it almost feels like it's on purpose, even though I know it isn't.

I feel the same. Like they could never put two and two together and realize "hey, there are these huge gaming events with hundreds of thousands of eyes on them that we can use to reveal our new DQ games? Nah, let's just tweet it out a few days/weeks later to our 14K Twitter followers." You think they can't be that incompetent, but they are.

I wonder if DQ5 would have had any impact if it was released by itself here on Super Nintendo or if it would have just been seen as another Enix RPG like Illusion of Gaia or something. I remember magazines praising DQ6's spectacular visuals at the time, so maybe it would have fared better. It's really tough to say, but I do think there's something to the idea that certain games hitting at the right time in the mid to late nineties are responsible for a lot of RPG gamer mindshare.

I think releasing the SNES trilogy remakes could've done just as much if not more. A good way to reset the series and reintroduce it to RPG fans at a time when JRPGs were steadily gaining in popularity in the west.

How much strategy is there in the games, I had the impression that they were games that you just grinded, and they had little story.

Quite a lot, but I can't even be mad at you thinking that when S-E doesn't even attempt to get you interested.

 

[clay_ghost]

In case you're just joining us, the general consensus in the thread seems to be "misconceptions by western gamers." Which is fair. SE has not done a very good job of trying to correct those misconceptions whatsoever.

I do hope someone @ SE is watching this thread so they can do something when marketing DQXI.

 

[MoonFrog]

How much strategy is there in the games, I had the impression that they were games that you just grinded, and they had little story.

You don't need to grind. They have a lot of story.

The story isn't packaged in the same way as a modern FF.

 

[GamerJM]

I grind quite a bit in Dragon Quest, but I'm a weird outlier who actually enjoys spending hours grinding and will do so to make myself somewhat overpowered.

 

[Aters]

I do hope someone @ SE is watching this thread so they can do something when marketing DQXI.

Please no. If SE is watching this thread, they'd think they should make DQ like FF.

 

[Babyshams]

In case you're just joining us, the general consensus in the thread seems to be "misconceptions by western gamers." Which is fair. SE has not done a very good job of trying to correct those misconceptions whatsoever.

So then the answer to the question of why isn't it more popular would be "They suck at marketing it"

 

[DeliciousDoc]

1. You can't tell the dragon quests apart visually.

2. The npcs have a handful of versions and toriyama draws 3.5 faces. goku bulma satan and piccolo which is a green bulma face.

3. The exact same monsters in every game. Goes back to 1.

4. chiptunes past the snes.

5. no big cinematics.

6. story is generic.

7. gameplay barely innovates.

You could probably make DQ in rpg maker.

 

[KtSlime]

Please no. If SE is watching this thread, they'd think they should make DQ like FF.

Just the thought of such an awful fate makes my hair stand on end and sends shivers down my spine.

1. You can't tell the dragon quests apart visually.

2. The npcs have a handful of versions and toriyama draws 3.5 faces. goku bulma satan and piccolo which is a green bulma face.

3. The exact same monsters in every game. Goes back to 1.

4. chiptunes past the snes.

5. no big cinematics.

6. story is generic.

7. gameplay barely innovates.

You could probably make DQ in rpg maker.

This thread is becoming hard to read, going out for lunch then back to playing XI instead.

 

[Parfait]

Please no. If SE is watching this thread, they'd think they should make DQ like FF.

DQXII roadtrip coming 2020

 

[clay_ghost]

Please no. If SE is watching this thread, they'd think they should make DQ like FF.

No, I mean SE just need to market the game as it is. Fast battle, quick menu, no grinding required, interesting(and sometimes surprising dark) plots, etc.

1. You can't tell the dragon quests apart visually.

2. The npcs have a handful of versions and toriyama draws 3.5 faces. goku bulma satan and piccolo which is a green bulma face.

3. The exact same monsters in every game. Goes back to 1.

4. chiptunes past the snes.

5. no big cinematics.

6. story is generic.

7. gameplay barely innovates.

You could probably make DQ in rpg maker.

SE marketing should be just advertisements that just debunk this post (outside of maybe 5).

 

[Porcile]

The name is pretty dumb and unappealing too, especially with no nostalgia attached to it. Dragon Quest? It's not cool at all.

 

[MoonFrog]

I'd rather they made FF like DQ but I'd prefer more that they made DQ like DQ and that FF found a way to express itself without crippling itself with ridiculous production values that destroy the opportunity for it to do something of the scope of the older games again.

 

[Parfait]

1. You can't tell the dragon quests apart visually.

2. The npcs have a handful of versions and toriyama draws 3.5 faces. goku bulma satan and piccolo which is a green bulma face.

3. The exact same monsters in every game. Goes back to 1.

4. chiptunes past the snes.

5. no big cinematics.

6. story is generic.

7. gameplay barely innovates.

You could probably make DQ in rpg maker.

You gotta be kidding me. They have the same artist and artstyle but are you sure you can't tell a ps2, ds, and ps4 game apart?

I'll agree about the NPCs and Monsters, but I'm personally okay with those. We have our FF mainstays as well, though they do get varied up a bit.

We got the orchestrated OST for DQ8 four score and more years ago, I don't know what they were thinking not including ithem in the 3DS versions though.

The stories aren't terribly generic, I'd say they're classic. There's a hero, and there's problems to solve. DQ7 was an especially interesting time travel story.

I won't say much for DQs before 7, but 7 had jobs, 8 had static characters, 9 had jobs, 10 was a mmo, 11 has static characters.FF6-10 had static characters, with 10 getting gentrified into everyone's the same at the end/postgame. FF12 had the same character with different looks until IZJS/Zodiac age. FF13 and 15 have static characters. They may not innovate a whole lot, but at least they vary it up a bit anyway.

Releasing DQ8 on the 3ds felt like a spit in the face. Doin some searcing since I'm playing it right now I found some old emulator screenshot thread where posters were expecting a ps3 remaster. This game was not made for a handheld at all and it shows every time i step outside of a town. An absolute waste and it would have been an AMAZING intro for new players to get into. Nah just toss it on the 3ds in the middle of the year where jrpgs are getting good and popular again on consoles.

 

[brinstar]

1. You can't tell the dragon quests apart visually.

2. The npcs have a handful of versions and toriyama draws 3.5 faces. goku bulma satan and piccolo which is a green bulma face.

3. The exact same monsters in every game. Goes back to 1.

4. chiptunes past the snes.

5. no big cinematics.

6. story is generic.

7. gameplay barely innovates.

You could probably make DQ in rpg maker.

I'm impressed that nearly every point in this post is incorrect

 

[Nyoro SF]

I dunno if my input has any value, but I tried playing DQ8 and was bored to tears, characters and story felt extremely generic and the battle system was very uninteresting.

Maybe I will try DQXI on the PS4 when it gets localized.

 

[Man God]

Why isn't Madden NFL Football popular outside of North America? Some things are just cultural.

 

[Raw64life]

1. You can't tell the dragon quests apart visually.

2. The npcs have a handful of versions and toriyama draws 3.5 faces. goku bulma satan and piccolo which is a green bulma face.

3. The exact same monsters in every game. Goes back to 1.

4. chiptunes past the snes.

5. no big cinematics.

6. story is generic.

7. gameplay barely innovates.

You could probably make DQ in rpg maker.

As an aside, DQ's popularity is the reason why RPG Makers came into existence in the first place.

 

[The Giant]

Nintendo has been trying for the last 10 years to help the series become popular by publishing the games worldwide.

 

[Pikma]

VIII and IX did well over here, right? There hasn't been a new mainline entry since then. Also, I don't think the 3DS audience in the west took much to non-Nintendo games, which might be why all the 3DS entries sold so poorly here. I really think the PS4 is the key to JRPG sales in the west, which is why DQXI has a real chance to do well here.

The reason they sold poorly was because they took YEARS to even announce they were localizing them, and a lot of people had already moved on by then

 

[BocoDragon]

Nintendo has been trying for the last 10 years to help the series become popular by publishing the games worldwide.

They published the original Dragon Warrior too... so they've been trying (and failing) to make this game a hit in the West for nearly 30 years.

 

[TriggerShy]

The name is pretty dumb and unappealing too, especially with no nostalgia attached to it. Dragon Quest? It's not cool at all.

I feel that Dragon Quest sounds like a pretty 'classic' title. I think the subtitles carry alot of appeal too: "Chapters of the Chosen," "Hand of the Heavenly Bride," "Fragments of the Forgotten Past," or "Sentinels of the Starry Skies," don't they just scream adventure?

 

[Man God]

I can see someone finding 1-4 hard to tell at a glance if they're not familiar with the games. 5 and beyond though each game looks completely different from one another.