"Lost Odyssey" a catalyst to sell millions in Japan & tens of millions in Europe?

[DuckThor Evil]

do you realize that you're quoting the impressions of a MS employee on a MS published and funded game?

So what?, offcourse it's good to keep that in mind, but I respected Che when he was at 1up and I'm not going to start disrespecting him because he works for MS now. If we follow your example then no developer should ever be listened when they talk about their own or their company's game, and that's just stupid.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Phenomenal games don't have to sell x amount of units for the game to make an impact.

How so? What sort of impact is made selling, say, 50,000 copies of a game?

 

[DSN2K]

should sell well in the US/Europe if its a good game...but Japan's a lost cause it will bomb.

 

[Laa-Yosh]

It took nearly a full year for CoD2 to sell 1 mil copies on the xbox360 worldwide. It is the only game on the platform that has sold 1mil copies so far.

Wrong twice. COD2 sold 1 million in a year in the US only.

And Ghost Recon 3 and Oblivion have also sold more than a million copies so far.

 

[Martin Eddy]

I'm an XBOX 360 fan but I chose option 2 for 2 reasons "Tokyo & PS3"

 

[-=P3tRaN=-]

and as for the chances the 360 have to be revived in japan thanx to MW games, i think this quote from neogaf says a lot.

You have to be in Japan to truly understand how dead in the water the 360 truly is. I brought my Famitsu to work today to show some of my students Lost Odyssey.

Here's how it went:

Student: Wow, this looks really beautiful. The interface is very much like FF.
Me: Yea. The creator of FF is working on it!
Student: Wow! This looks promising.
Me: It's on Xbox 360!
Student: It is? That's too bad. I guess I won't play it then.

too bad you are doing the same, and you are not even close to japan, you are greek.

but people are free to miss some really great games because of their prejudism, so be my guest.

its a democracy thing. play or not play. you decide.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

its a democracy thing. play or not play. you decide.

Actually it's an economics thing - pay to play or spend your money elsewhere.

I think there is a definite problem for these XB360 titles in that those who would be interested in those games are likely interested in FF and DQ, and if those are PS3 exclusives, they'll need to get a PS3 to play them. I think it's a case of these people are going to buy PS3, and can MS convince them to buy an XB360 as well, rather than instead of? To get them to consider XB360 instead of PS3, they'd need a mind-numbingly diverse game portfolio rather than a few good games.

LO and BD might sell well to existing XB360 owners who want those games, but I think it unlikely it'll attract JRPG fans or lots of japanese gamers to the platform.

 

[-=P3tRaN=-]

Actually it's an economics thing - pay to play or spend your money elsewhere.

I think there is a definite problem for these XB360 titles in that those who would be interested in those games are likely interested in FF and DQ, and if those are PS3 exclusives, they'll need to get a PS3 to play them. I think it's a case of these people are going to buy PS3, and can MS convince them to buy an XB360 as well, rather than instead of? To get them to consider XB360 instead of PS3, they'd need a mind-numbingly diverse game portfolio rather than a few good games.

LO and BD might sell well to existing XB360 owners who want those games, but I think it unlikely it'll attract JRPG fans or lots of japanese gamers to the platform.

well I am interested in those titles, but that doesnt mean I am not interested in oblivion or mass effect (trilogy), which are also GREAT rpgs. (you probably will not see these at ps3, along with blue dragon, cry on, lost odyssey, trusty bell)

also, I'd like to remind people that xbox 360 launched with a FF title, something that cannot be said for PS3.

and of course those interested in FF games must have read the square enix interviews that said:
"we would love to port FFXI to ps3 like we did for 360, but it just is not possible"

as far as I know, the first rpg to reach ps3 will be enchanted arms, which already exists on the 360. and its not even a launch title.

out of the PS3 lauch titles, I see almost 50% being first person shooters and the total majority is multiplatform titles.

and I dont even want to start about the talent from japan that m$ has recruited. we will see this soon enough.

so, all in all, I guess it's a bit more about prejudism this time than before.

 

[PeterT]

I think there is a definite problem for these XB360 titles in that those who would be interested in those games are likely interested in FF and DQ, and if those are PS3 exclusives, they'll need to get a PS3 to play them. I think it's a case of these people are going to buy PS3, and can MS convince them to buy an XB360 as well, rather than instead of?

Very well summed up, that's exactly the problem I face as an avid RPGamer. I don't see any way for a person thus inclined to not get a PS3. Unless, of course, it fails horribly and nearly all of the 3rd parties jump ship - but that seems very unlikely.

[edit]
The other ones count, but Oblivion is a horrible example: Playing Oblivion on PC is better even without the mods, and with them, it's like 2 different games, one much better than the other not only in graphics but also gameplay depth and breadth. And FF11 is no FF title

 

[-=P3tRaN=-]

[edit]
The other ones count, but Oblivion is a horrible example: Playing Oblivion on PC is better even without the mods, and with them, it's like 2 different games, one much better than the other not only in graphics but also gameplay depth and breadth. And FF11 is no FF title

your PC example is already answered just before your post.

Actually it's an economics thing - pay to play or spend your money elsewhere.

399 and you get to play oblivion plus all other rpg's.
even if you have a multi$$$ pc that can play oblivion better than the very good and immersive experience that it is on 360, you are still missing all the other titles I mentioned.

I am a multiplatform gamer, but some things are just what they are. no way to change the facts.

 

[hey69]

this poll doesnt hold the reality ....

 

[Shifty Geezer]

well I am interested in those titles, but that doesnt mean I am not interested in oblivion or mass effect (trilogy), which are also GREAT rpgs. (you probably will not see these at ps3, along with blue dragon, cry on, lost odyssey, trusty bell)

Which proves what? The fact XB360 gets RPGs isn't an issue. The question is whether these RPGs are strong enough to make people want to get an XB360 to play them instead of, or as well as, getting a PS3 to play FF and DQ (For the record : DQ's unconfirmed at this point).

also, I'd like to remind people that xbox 360 launched with a FF title, something that cannot be said for PS3.

Meaning what exactly? It was poorly received and anyone keen to play the game likely already had it on PC or PS2. It's not as though XB360 was a necessary purchase for anyone wanting to play FFXI, so it didn't get any momentum from having that title.

and of course those interested in FF games must have read the square enix interviews that said:
"we would love to port FFXI to ps3 like we did for 360, but it just is not possible"

How is that relevant to anything? AFAIK those were interviews held before PS3's HDD as standard was known, and it's not stopping the fact FFXIII has been shown and announced as a PS3 title. You think people interested in FF aren't going to buy a PS3 because a year ago it was said FFXI couldn't be ported?

out of the PS3 lauch titles, I see almost 50% being first person shooters and the total majority is multiplatform titles.

What list of launch titles are you referring to? I haven't seen anything official, and some lists are totally whack. This seems the most plausible I've come across.
http://uk.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_msgs.php?topic_id=24627349

Red title are FPS

1. Warhawk
2. Resistance
3. Strangle hold
4. Fatal Inertia
5. Tony Hawks
6. Fight Night R3
7. Rainbow Six: Vagas
8. NBA Live 07
9. Tiger Woods PGA Tour
10. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance Developer Interview(4:52)
11. Ridge Racer 7
12. Madden 07
13. Call of Duty 3
14. Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom Developer Interview
15. Bladestorm: The 100 year War
16. Sonic The Hedgehog
17. NHL 2K7
18. Flow (PS3 Hub download)
19. Full Auto 2
20. F.E.A.R - Proof
21. Genji: Days of the Blade
22. Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
23. Assassin's Creed DEMO (PS3 Hub download) - All you need to know

As for cross-platform, what has that got to do with JRPGs? You think people wanting to play FF and DQ aren't going to get a PS3 because Madden and FIFA can be got on XB360 for cheaper?

and I dont even want to start about the talent from japan that m$ has recruited. we will see this soon enough.

Which is a great move, but will it be enough? Let me reiterate the argument for you as you seem t have missed it - People who want FF and DQ are going to get a PS3. That's $lots they're going to spend. How much are LO and BD and everything else going to be able to convince those people to also spend $300 on another console, or to give up caring about FF and DQ and play these new titles instead?

Do you think it likely that MS can manage this, spending any amount of money? To me, that's like someone creating a new Cola drink and trying to beat CocaCola as number one. Virgin Cola got nowhere, because there was already a brand everyone was happy to stick with. How do you convince people to stop caring about FF and care about these new franchises instead? It's not impossible, but it's very, very hard.

so, all in all, I guess it's a bit more about prejudism this time than before.

No, it's about people being loyal to a franchise and that franchise being exclusive to a platform.

 

[scooby_dooby]

To get them to consider XB360 instead of PS3, they'd need a mind-numbingly diverse game portfolio rather than a few good games.

LO and BD might sell well to existing XB360 owners who want those games, but I think it unlikely it'll attract JRPG fans or lots of japanese gamers to the platform.

I'd imagine a sub $150 pricepoint could go a long way in making it's case, with games like LO, BD, RE5, Dead Rising, Lost Planet you would think it would have to sell some decent numbers at a fairly low pricepoint.

 

[El Leone]

I'd imagine a sub $150 pricepoint could go a long way in making it's case, with games like LO, BD, RE5, Dead Rising, Lost Planet you would think it would have to sell some decent numbers at a fairly low pricepoint.

Even then, thats not enough. Its looking unlikely, But Microsoft really has to do a much better job at marketing and advertising in Japan (I'd say it would be prefable if they got a Japanese company to do it,instead of themselves).

 

[scooby_dooby]

Even then, thats not enough. Its looking unlikely, But Microsoft really has to do a much better job at marketing and advertising in Japan (I'd say it would be prefable if they got a Japanese company to do it,instead of themselves).

Definately a bigger more effective advertising approach would ne needed as well, also ensuring shelf space to showcase the full game library and show demo's is probably vital.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I'd imagine a sub $150 pricepoint could go a long way in making it's case, with games like LO, BD, RE5, Dead Rising, Lost Planet you would think it would have to sell some decent numbers at a fairly low pricepoint.

It'll be interesting how well that works. In the Cola example, there's cheaper brands then CocaCola, some that taste pretty similar, but they've never taken off. Of course, that's prices in the pennies versus hundreds of dollars. Still, how many people would take a cheaper sports car over a known brand like a Ferrari even if half the price and comparable performance?

The whole brand image thing seems unquantifiable. These games seem the first real efforts to try and challenge the PS image in Japan, and we'll see what happens!

 

[Acert93]

It'll be interesting how well that works. In the Cola example, there's cheaper brands then CocaCola, some that taste pretty similar, but they've never taken off. Of course, that's prices in the pennies versus hundreds of dollars. Still, how many people would take a cheaper sports car over a known brand like a Ferrari even if half the price and comparable performance?

Atari.
Nintendo.
Sega.
Playstation.

All were, at one time, synonymous with "Video Games". Having played/lived through each to a degree, I can distinctly remember periods of time when one could refer to games/video games simply by the above words, even if it was NOT on that platform. "Nintendo" and "Playstation" etc have become, during different time periods, short hands for "video games" of all sorts.

There are many, many factors in brand recognition and stability. Even product cost and quality/wealth of software are just a couple factors among many that determine success. But history says that console brands are not quite as durable as Coca-Cola.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Atari.
Nintendo.
Sega.
Playstation.

But history says that console brands are not quite as durable as Coca-Cola.

Yeah, that list kinda proves that point

 

[Powderkeg]

It'll be interesting how well that works. In the Cola example, there's cheaper brands then CocaCola, some that taste pretty similar, but they've never taken off. Of course, that's prices in the pennies versus hundreds of dollars. Still, how many people would take a cheaper sports car over a known brand like a Ferrari even if half the price and comparable performance?

Compare sales figures of Corvettes and Ferrari.

Now ask yourself this.

If most people were willing to spend rediculous amounts of money only to see relatively minor (And in some cases major) improvements over other cars then why are cars like Ferrari, Porsche, and Bentley the rare exotic, rather than the norm?

 

[avaya]

People don't seem to realise just how utterly dead the 360 is in Japan. There is nothing that could save it apart from the Diet forcing people to buy the console.

It's got nothing to do with price. Shops are discounting old stock in a vain attempt to try and move it on. Price cuts are not going to help. It's got everything to do with what the first Xbox did.

The Xbox was a disaster in Japan. The 360 by association with the Xbox was already in deep trouble from a branding standpoint. I cannot actually believe they thought that consumers would be so ignorant. Could they honestly think the Japanese would forget what the Xbox was to them? It offered nothing to them. Rightly or wrongly it was seen as the FPS box from America. To top this off they advertise HD as HD instead of Hi-Vision in Japan. Hi-Vision (1080i) is the NHK standard that became HD in the west so many years after its original establishment in 1971. The 360 campaign caused confusion.

If this wasn't bad enough the 360's true killer app, its integrated network functionality with XBL does not have the same cache in Japan. There isn't that same demand for online console gaming over there, maybe that has something to do with how much publishers were charging for the right to play online, I dunno. With your biggest weapon effectively removed from your arsenal the 360 was more than in trouble.

When you buy a console there is a certain leap of faith required, "I will get the games I want from it in future". The Xbox did not promise anything to the Japanese. There is very little on the 360 that could change this. Xbox is a bandwagon brand to PlayStation, a "me too" brand if you will, in Japan this was seen from the start, in Europe this is seen to an extent. It is really no surprise it does very well in North America, the console is virtually designed for the American market primarily.

The story of Xbox in Japan is a great textbook case study of a failure to research your market, just like the case of Sony for this generation looks like a great case study of how to totally torpedo a successful past business plan.