From: swordz9 | #210 They don't all have to be Symphonia. Xenoblade's Japanese sales were by no means exceptional and its lifetime sales aren't even half of the latest console Tales of game's 1st week sales in Japan. Even Europe's combined with Japan's lifetime Xenoblade sales don't beat Tales of Xillia's week 1 sales from what I see. It looks like it's around 130-160k for Japan and Europe each. It just seems much more reasonable to expect Xenoblade to perform around the same in NA rather than doubling or tripling EU and JPN imo also when you factor in that it really doesn't have the selling power or popularity of other established niche JRPGs like Tales of and Persona worldwide.
Lifetime sales in Japan are pretty meaningless due to how insanely frontloaded games in Japan are. The first week sales are always a significant portion of the lifetime unlike everywhere else.
Furthermore, the game already has more preorders in the US than it has sold copies in Japan lifetime >_>.
Games like this always sell the best in the US, especially with the hype surrounding it.
And frankly, you really can't compare Persona to Xenoblade. With the possible exception of 4 (and I've seen conflicting sales figures on that one) that's a true cult series. Xenoblade is way more popular. I'd argue that it's more popular than Tales outside of Japan, too, but we need to wait and see for the US sales.
But yeah, Symphonia was the only Tales game that was a hit internationally. And that sold about as well in the US as it did in Japan and Europe combined. It can happen. The US is a huge market with a massive population, and the biggest market in terms of sheer numbers for JRPGs. I stand by my previous prediction.
--
Something something something ^Poorly disguised anti-caps sig
Lightning Strikes posted... And frankly, you really can't compare Persona to Xenoblade. With the possible exception of 4 (and I've seen conflicting sales figures on that one) that's a true cult series. Xenoblade is way more popular.
So you're saying a cult game is more popular than cult series? I suppose it can happen every now and then. Persona is pretty popular all things considered, especially in Japan. It's not just restricted to gaming either since it has manga, figurines, anime series and other merchandise. The anime of Persona 4 is selling exceptionally well and is likely to hit about 375-400k volumes sold by the time it's done. Xenoblade has hype and good reception, but so did P3 and 4. I'll believe the popularity exceeding those series if I see anything to indicate it.
You have to remember Xenoblade has a different situation in NA too since Europe and Japan didn't restrict where it was available for sale as far as I know. I've seen people saying GameStop's only ordering enough copies to cover pre-orders too and Nintendo's online store won't ship the game until a couple weeks after it release. I don't think many people expect it to do well since Nintendo itself doesn't seem to want to give it an opportunity to do so. We'll just have to wait until it releases and see how it goes.
From: swordz9 | #253 So you're saying a cult game is more popular than cult series? I suppose it can happen every now and then. Persona is pretty popular all things considered, especially in Japan. It's not just restricted to gaming either since it has manga, figurines, anime series and other merchandise. The anime of Persona 4 is selling exceptionally well and is likely to hit about 375-400k volumes sold by the time it's done. Xenoblade has hype and good reception, but so did P3 and 4. I'll believe the popularity exceeding those series if I see anything to indicate it.
You have to remember Xenoblade has a different situation in NA too since Europe and Japan didn't restrict where it was available for sale as far as I know. I've seen people saying GameStop's only ordering enough copies to cover pre-orders too and Nintendo's online store won't ship the game until a couple weeks after it release. I don't think many people expect it to do well since Nintendo itself doesn't seem to want to give it an opportunity to do so. We'll just have to wait until it releases and see how it goes.
Xenoblade isn't really cult. Persona is cult. Xenoblade kinda sits on the cusp, in the space occupied by things like No More Heroes and Okami. And Persona 4.
And yes, Xenoblades sales were restricted in Europe-at first. I've said this before, but it got a very limited first shipment that only went to dedicated game stores because Nintendo apparently weren't expecting it do very well. They were wrong as this sold out entirely in about 3 days. So they gave it more, larger shipments (some of which sold out anyway) which went to more stores. Now it doesn't seem like the second part will be possible to Gamespot exclusivity, but if there is demand, and there probably will be, Nintendo will print more shipments if these sell out. It's just simple supply and demand. There'll certainly be demand, too.
--
Something something something ^Poorly disguised anti-caps sig
Sorozone posted... Wait...this game is releasing on a Friday?
Guess it gives me plenty of time to play it then!
yeah this is something new Nintendo is trying this year. They used to release all their big games on Sundays, but starting this year they've begun to do it on Fridays.
Not sure the reason, but hey 2 days earlier than it probably would have been!
ninkendo posted... Sorozone posted... Wait...this game is releasing on a Friday?
Guess it gives me plenty of time to play it then!
yeah this is something new Nintendo is trying this year. They used to release all their big games on Sundays, but starting this year they've begun to do it on Fridays.
Not sure the reason, but hey 2 days earlier than it probably would have been!
with Nintendo it is usually all about shipping contracts
--
Donny: Are they gonna hurt us, Walter? Walter: No, Donny. These men are cowards.
Lightning Strikes posted... Xenoblade isn't really cult. Persona is cult. Xenoblade kinda sits on the cusp, in the space occupied by things like No More Heroes and Okami. And Persona 4.
Not really sure how you can say Persona is cult and Xenoblade isn't really when Persona is more popular, sells better and is a spinoff of an equally or more popular series as well, but ok.