Marvelous Lost Money On Wii, Made Money With PSP

I have to disagree somewhat, Ishaan. Both Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (Crystal Bearers) AND Bayonetta were so heavily promoted that their respective publishers actually put up billboard-sized posters in many Tokyo train stations. And mind you these are places like Shinjuku and Shibuya where hundreds of thousands of people transit through: it wasn't just Akihabara with a much more niche consumer appeal.

So I don't know if it's entirely based on marketing problems as far as games go (yet I sure as heck would say Sony's idiotic LACK of marketing for the PSPGo is responsible for that flop). As I suggested in an earlier post, the problem may in-part be the financial situation. I've seen the drastic change in Tokyo-life in the past year, since the financial meltdown last September. People aren't spending much money, major stores that once thrived are often devoid of customers, many talented people are being laid off, etc. And mind you this is on TOP of the fact that Japan was already in a recession since the housing bubble here popped in the previous decade.

I really don't know how seriously people take Famitsu. Obviously hardcore/otaku gamers may worship it, but from what I've seen, their comments or reviews are just used as marketing propaganda. I mean the magazine gives a perfect score to a game like Nintendogs and yet takes off points for other games “perfect” in the eyes of some and then disenchantment occurs.

Many Japanese publishers, most visibly Square and Capcom, have been commenting that the Japanese gaming market is in decline and that more efforts have to be made to work with/cater to foreign gamers. It seems that many old-school-type games are now appearing on PCs as freeware.

I think you misunderstood what I said…I agree, CB was given great marketing treatment. Giant billboards, several blowouts in Famitsu, even TV commercials. I just feel the game wouldn't have done well regardless. For one thing, it's an action-adventure game that looks very similar to Zelda (which hasn't been very popular in Japan in recent years). For another, it's a single-player game in a franchise that's known for its awesome multiplayer experiences. Also, I don't think it's quite fair to count that terrible Wii port of Echoes of Time. People are informed enough to be able to tell it wasn't worth the money.

Regarding your point about Famitsu — I've always wondered that myself. How many people actually take what it says seriously? Obviously, you're in a better position to comment on this than most of us. How is “advertorial” viewed in Japan by the consumer?

Ah, Ishaan this reply is for you but it would seem your message hit the limit as there is no reply option under it. Thus I will post here.

Ah, you mentioned that (about CB not selling well) in the other page, I remember. It is a good point, as are the others you follow up with; for the life of me I can't understand why Zelda has fared so poorly here. Overseas it's this huge gauntlet but in Japan it's almost as if no-one even cares anymore. I mean, just days ago there was the posting about the Nintendo shareholders conference (or something like that) and someone asked about the next Zelda and Miyamoto (or Iwata?) commented that the next Zelda is releasing next month and THAT is what people should be focusing on.

Truth be told, I first learned of Spirit Tracks NOT from any Japanese gaming magazine or store, but via a promo movie after E3 being shown in an import game store in Akihabara. My friend and I both thought it was some kind of Youtube-esque joke, as it looked the same as Phantom Hourglass. But even now, about one month away from the release, no one cares, there is no hype, etc. However you DO see hype and in-store marketing for Final Fantasy 13 absolutely everywhere, even the convenience stores.

I truly think that Nintendo is no longer a “gamer's” console here in Japan, but instead a place for “everybodies” to entertain themselves. When you look at any of the marketing Nintendo does in Japan, it is most certainly NOT aimed at gamers, less they wouldn't be having “talented” “comedians” promoting the games. (I use both words in quotes so as to denote my absolute disinterest with the “programming” people here find so “great”). But there you have it- I don't “get” the appeal of these people nor do I care about them in the slightest. But to the mainstream consumer who does NOT have a serious interest in games, that type of marketing works.

The only “gamer” thing Nintendo has done recently is the current New Super Mario Bros. gimmick at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. At set times (i.e. when the multitude of TVs are at a point in their broadcasting loop) the ENTIRE crossing is inundated with the classic Mario Bros theme, and an assortment of Mario icons (not the characters themselves, but the “?” blocks, a goomba, etc) flashing on the jumbo TV screens. There are no gameplay screens whatsoever, nor is there Mario's face or anything. That is definitely something for true gamers, though I suppose Mario Bros. is something that everyone knows.

ANYWAY, back on topic, I think Famitsu is seen as a bible among otaku (and fanboys), however as my circle doesn't involve either, it seems to be nothing more than a news source for those whose live extends outside of games, and as a marketing tool for both ads and scores. I think the internet has usurped much of Famitsu's clout, in that anyone and everyone can have an opinion now.

Actually I never use Amazon for new releases. It's mainly because of problems I've had with their deliveries. Amazon Japan always requires a signature on packages (or maybe just when they are over 5000yen or who knows) and orders from them never arrive until after 4PM. So basically I'm not home and thus get ticked off because I could have just gone out in the morning and purchased the game and have already played it rather than having to wait until 8PM or many times, the next day.

I also don't like how Amazon Japan USE to have next day shipping for any order sent to Tokyo, but now it takes 2 days because they want you to use their Amazon Prime option. Basically they will process the order today, ship it tomorrow, and then it will arrive the next day.

Finally I don't like how Amazon often doesn't have an actual item listed until after the sale. For example I tried to order Lunar for the PSP last week, but it wasn't sold by Amazon, but by a 3rd party. NOW they are selling it but I already bought the game.

Also, while Amazon is most always cheaper, all the major stores in Japan have a point card system where you accumulate store credit with each purchase. And most stores do not actually sell for the MSRP.

BUT, when it comes to getting a newer game a month or so after release, then Amazon Japan is tops because they will always have discounted the price whereas the retail stores will have the original.

Ishaan, this is in response to your previous post/reply.

>Hourglass. I think Spirit Tracks will do OK.

Hopefully it will, but it is curious as to the total absence of marketing. Even the feather-stylus pen element hasn't really been pushed. The only thing Nintendo is pushing currently is New Super Mario Bros. And, to an extent, the new DSi LL which goes on-sale tomorrow (and which IMHO looks HIDEOUS. Holy crap it might as well be an electronic dictionary it is so large. It's not even portable anymore really, and for that amount of space used there is no excuse why the thing can't do more. I mean you can get mini PCs running Windows XP for that size).

>Two core franchises (Metroid and Zelda) that people go crazy for everywhere

Isn't it funny how all the most creative games from Japan aren't even popular there? The GBA Metroid games, Metal Gear Solid, Zelda, etc. Maybe I'm wrong, but the Japanese gaming market seems to have boiled down to the “everybody” gamer and the total otaku, the latter only seeming to care about Gundam/Robot Wars games, or anime related products. (Seriously, HOW many Evangelion games have released in the past year or so?)

>seems like they've been trying to reposition the Wii as a core gaming platform >with all the bundles and pushing the Classic Controller with every major

Ah but none of these bundles ever reach Japan. The Wii continues to-and has always-been sold without ANY game software, as you probably know. I've always found this curious, as from the very start Nintendo of America had bundles (the NES with Duck Hunt/SMB) but Japan has always had to pay for everything. In fact, MANY things are cheaper in USA than they are here, including VAIO PCs, televisions, MP3 players, etc. I think Japanese companies literally exploit Japanese customers just so they can sell the products for less overseas.

>Mario Galaxy 2, Metroid and Zelda are all going to be huge in the West, but

I wouldn't be surprised if Mario Galaxy 2 sells worse here than the original.

>not in Japan. I'm just amazed we haven't seen them attempt to develop a >Pokémon MMO

Not to offend Nintendo, but I don't think the company would have the first clue how to make an MMORPG. Heck, it wouldn't even admit that online play/DLC was the way to go for a very long time. I get the impression that Nintendo is deeply disappointed that the “Japanese” way has been lost and that gaming is catering more and more to the interests of the west, be it trends like DLC, or gaming genres and the games themselves. Just the fact that the company remains based in Kyoto says a lot about its business.

(And on a side note, when the West IS clamoring for traditional Japanese Nintendo products such as Mother 3, the company totally ignores the demand, as if to say “You aren't good enough for it”. There is absolutely no reason a Mother 1-3 compilation for the DS has not graced foreign markets other than Nintendo's arrogant “insistence” that Mother 3 be for Japan).

Oh BTW, while on the subject of poor sales, Made in Ore was a total flop here IIRC, despite Nintendo heavily marketing it to the “everybody” gamer with said “talented” “comedians”.

>or put Monolith to good use and establish their own RPG franchise, since that's

Yes, what the heck is Nintendo doing with that company anyway? What a total waste of possibly the best talent it has. Monolith has become the Rare that Microsoft purchased: a great deal that everyone hoped would result in a string of major hits only to be all but taken off the map.

I think Isshan was talking about the CCPro bundles (Monster Hunter 3, Sengoku Musou 3, Winning Eleven Playmaker 2010) though Monster Hunter 3 got a Wii hardware bundle and Tales of Graces is also getting one. Nintendo does seem to be making a play for the gamer market recently, but they're doing it almost exclusively through exclusive 3rd party software support and bundles. They do seem to be a bit notorious about letting their own gamer oriented games slip through the cracks unfortunately, especially the stuff that's not developed inhouse (Disaster, Takt of Magic, Sin & Punishment 2, etc). I think Zangenki no Reginliev looks amazing, but I expect it's going to share a similar sub 20k sales fate. :/

Also, this reply limit is totally annoying. Siliconera should consider hosting a forum or something.

comparing to GC sales these 20k numbers can be considered average, as a good number of Gc entries has sold like 40k lifewise

are you jarrod from neogaf?

Oh sure, there were plenty of interesting 1st party GC games that also did terribly (Odama, Kururin Squash, etc) and even on N64 too (Sin & Punishment, 1080). I guess this isn't really anything new for Nintendo.

And yeah, I'm jarrod from gaf.

if you count first week there is much more games that were good and sold average which started with 20k-40k sales and then ended with numbers like 70k

I'm sure their Wii games will profit in the long run, I mean look:

LKS did 130,000 worldwide in 6 months.

Muramasa did 35,000 in NA as of two weeks after launch (Ignition even said it could be 20% higgher since NPD undertracks by that much, it it could be over 43,000), and Ignition were very happy with that. Thus the game is at least at 90.000 now. It's just coming out in EU as well.

Arc Rise Fantasia's only out in Japan and it's selling at a faster rate than Muramasa, and since iIgnition is publishing it in NA, they can use what marketing power they gave Muramasa for hopefully as good or even better sales.

Eldar Saga all around obviously had a shitty budget, so it'll need to sell far less to profit. It did around 4,600 in the first week, not good, but that makes it over 20,000, so hopefully it still has legs.

It may sound like I'm spinning things, but it makes sense.

but does Marvelous get a percentage of the sales, or just a licensing fee out front. If the latter, then these sales in the NA and EU aren't going to help Marvelous. :/