Comments on: Square Enix Sequels, Remakes Sell Well

By: Shuyin

Shuyin — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 14:55:23 +0000

The chart isn’t surprising. Remakes and spinoffs based on an existing franchise sell well, thanks in part to the name of the series they’re based off. Put FFVII in any game’s title and it’ll sell (that’s not to say CC is a bad game).

And no one should be surprised that SE has this business strategy. SE ’s president is trying to run a business and from a business pov, it’s more profitable to make a remake for the DS (DQ4, FF4) with low-dev costs (that will bring high profits) than make a new IP that’ll need longer dev times and a higher budget.
If i was the president of the company, after seeing that chart i wouldn’t green light any new IPs; i’d only make remakes, sequels and spinoffs if that’ll bring profits.

On many message boards i’vee seen many ppl blaming SE for not taking risks anymore (like in the PSX era) with new IPs. While in a way there’s some truth to it, in fact it’s exactly those ppl’s fault. They complain, but they’re part of the problem too. They don’t buy the new IPs, yet they complain that SE doesn’t make anything besides sequels and remakes anymore.
It’s not SE’s fault..if you were the president, you’d want to make money. And if sequels and remakes bring you money, you can’t be blamed for trying to run your company as you see fit. Instead, blame the ppl.

The numbers speak for themselves: TWEWY (an original new IP that is also a very good game) sold 7 times less copies than a remake (DQ4). So why make new IPs?
Using the same engine, they can make other remakes: DQ5, DQ6 (this applies to the FF remakes too). Also they’ll be ready in a relative short time, especially compared to the time needed to make a new IP. Not to talk about the actual budget of a remake and that of a new IP.

@Aoshi00: A bit OT, but for me Time Hollow is a 6/10 game. For a book, it’s a 10/10 as the story is its main point. However, for a game i just can’t see it labeled as ‘a good game’. I see many ppl thrilled by TH, but personally i think it’s definetly not in the same league as Phoenix Wright and other visual novels.

By: jarrod

jarrod — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 05:34:33 +0000

They have some lifetime shipments listed too…

TITLE (Platform) JP/NA/EU/AS/TOTAL

Crisis Core FFVII PSP) 820k/610k/460k/30k/1920k
Dragon Quest IV (DS) 1190k/90k/140k/x/1420k
Final Fantasy IV (DS) 610k/250k/180k/x/1040k
Dragon Quest Swords (Wii) 500k/110k/100k/x/710k
Final Fantasy Tactics A2 (DS) 300k/200k/120k/x/620k
The World Ends With You (DS) 180k/140k/50k/x/370k
Chocobo Dungeon (Wii) 90k/70k/x/x/140k

By: Aoshi00

Aoshi00 — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 02:56:17 +0000

@Spence – Problem is that I think the murder solving is supposed to be an integral part of the game, like collecting evidence before going to Trial in Phoenix Wright, yet the evidence gathering is so random and deduction so illogical, almost impossible unless one resorts to a FAQ which I dislike doing… I did level up a lot before facing the bosses, so Sigma frustrates me to no end. It’s a pity because it has such a beautiful soundtrack.

@Pesmerga00 – Yeah, IU looks so good and I highly anticipated it too until I hear about the across the board negative and discouraging reviews. I was actually going to pick it up on day 1 and then realize it’s region locked, and now I just ordered the Jpn version. There’s still Star Ocean 4… Now I’m worried how Last Remnant would turn out, personally the FF12-like visuals does nothing for me, I would wait and see. GoW2 and Persona 4 are keeping me very busy at the moment.

By: lostinblue

lostinblue — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:45:31 +0000

Nanashi no Game and Sigma Harmonics are my most antecipated Square-Enix games atm, would be neat to have some kind of confirmation

By: Pesmerga00

Pesmerga00 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 23:48:24 +0000

@Aoshi00, Infinite Undiscovery can be fun if you go into it not expecting much. It’s definitely not up to par with other Tri-Ace games but, there are some interesting concepts implemented. It’s just that there are too many new concepts crammed in without fully exploring any of them. I was really anticipating that game, so it was kind of a let down. My next game purchase will be The Last Remnant, and I hope it has a little more polish than IU.

By: Spencer

Spencer — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 13:45:57 +0000

@JeremyR – Very valid point, but maybe in Infinite Undiscovery’s case it isn’t as big of a deal since Microsoft paid for the initial development. Originally it was a Microsoft / Tri Ace project before it was given to Square Enix to publish.

Others probably means Ultimate Hits re-releases previous software, some Taito games are probably thrown in here too.

My guess for Nanashi no Game is Square Enix will see how Sigma Harmonics does first. We’re still not guaranteed to get Sigma, but it’s been trademarked… twice. Yeah, if you really try to “solve” Sigma Harmonics it gets ridiculous with the coin placement especially at the end. I think some people probably just go frustrated with “solving” and went with leveling up.

By: Aoshi00

Aoshi00 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:34:05 +0000

Yeah, just like movies sequels are your best bet as they pretty much guarantee good return if not profitable. I’m wondering how fun Nanashi no Game is, it got the atomsphere down.

Personally Sigma Harmonics bored me to death w/ its far-fetched deduction.. It was nothing like Phoenix Wright and Time Hollow, also the traveling in the mention and collecting evidence was awkward and a pain w/ the stylus, instead of simply clicking on locations.

I’m still waiting for my copy of Infinite Undiscovery, I hope it would be fun despite general so-so review.

By: alice

alice — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:46:14 +0000

That is a real shame considering how wonderful World Ends With You was, both from the perspective of it becoming a franchise with sequels, and from the angle of Square Enix trying something brand new instead of rehashing Final Fantasy again.

By: jeffx

jeffx — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 08:15:44 +0000

So I’m guessing “Others” includes titles like Space Invaders Extreme and Arkanoid? Legend of Kage 2 maybe? Seems like the USA sold nearly as many of these “others” as Japan did, I’m curious as to what they are.

By: JeremyR

JeremyR — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 06:09:31 +0000

The thing is though, a game on the 360 takes a whole lot more resources and money to develop than a DS game like FFTA2 (especially given the latter was basically just a GBA game in terms of graphics and engine and such). So while they might have sold the same, I doubt Square considers IU to have sold well.