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July 8, 2009 by The News Team
Filed Under: DS
Did you think that Dragon Quest fever had died down in Japan due to the lack of interest in gaming? Well, you definitely thought wrong!
With the game launching in Japan next week, retailers have tallied up their preorders to find that there are roughly 2 million people with preorder slips, just foaming at the mouth for the game to fall into their hands. Looks like Square-Enix has a hit on their hands!
Story Feedback
And heads might possibly roll.
I'll say it again, and will keep saying until things change: the problem isn't with the lack of interest in gaming, but the lack of interest on the current available games. Monster Hunter and Dragon Quest are a proof of that - those games will sell even more than before, if simply because those are games Japanese are interested in and are among the few choices they care about.
I really wished the gaming industry suffered a small collapse, so it would stop being dumb and would try to fix its issues.
Wonder if they'll release FFXV on DS then, lol.
Ha...yeah I guess I have to take back what I said before. Japan must be more dedicated to series than America.
Well, it launches in 3 days... sparks are gonna fly!
That's because in Japan everybody plays DQ. Yes, EVERYBODY. If I were Japanese, chances are that even my grand-parents would know DQ and they would probably buy a DS for DQIX because it's inexpensive and convenient. Celebrities also play DQ (because they want to, not because they're payed to), and their fans would may also end up playing it. DQ is to Japan as Star Craft is to Korea. Only ten times more popular!
Also, because DQIX is on DS, it will definitely have better sales then a console version because:
a) DS is inexpensive
b)DS is portable, so co-op, which is huge in Japan, is more convenient
c) Several people per house-hold own a DS because they want their own copy, because it's their 'personalised' adventure (look at PKMN).
d) All of the above.
@Unknownsage
In the last DQ related article, you said that people will want a console DQ because going from PS2 to DS is a down-size in quality. Only in the graphics department. Everything else is equal in quality, if not more. The music is phenominal, art is fantastic, story looks intriguing and they've added features like co-op, charater customization, etc. Level-5 is developing it so you know that the quality is going to be top-notch. Even the graphics are great for DS. Solid 3-D with vivid and lush colours and magnificent locals.
@dandancc
I don' think it's a 'lack' of games, but an overly long development time for games and the lack of co-op and socialising in games. Socialising (not like how many friends you have, but more like communication during a game) is huge in Japan. Monster Hunter is popular because of the prospect of taking down gargantuan beasts along side three other people, whether they're friends, family or strangers. Also, Japanese gamers prefer being next to the other players, a reason why MHs on PSP do extremely well and why Arcade fighters are more popular then their retail conter-parts. DQIX will add the MH elemnt to Japan's favorite RPG, a dream come true for pretty much every Japanese gamer. Do understand that co-op is different from vs. NA gamers like to battle each other (popularity of shooters), but in Japan, people like to help each other. This also holds true for video games. In the latest NP issue, I was reading the NSMBWii preview and the journalist mentioned how, when playing against other NA journalists, the experience was more aggresive. Trying to steal items, kill opponents, getting more coins, etc. When playing with Japanese journalists, however, the experience was more cooperatice. Helping each other get items, escape or defeat ennemies, collecting coins, etc.
Games also take long development periods. Yes, because of the HD era, games are expected to be more robust, but even 'Imperial Hot' Wada (CEO of SE, forgot his actual first name) said so. FFXIII, FFvsXIII and FFagitoXIII were unveiled during 2006. No confirmed release for either of them and gameplay for vsXIII hasn's even been shown yet!
Me thinks his first name is 'Yoshido' but I don't know either.
Oh wow I just looked that up and your right. Level-5 always brings out the best quality, I should've looked up who was making it instead of assuming first.
I truly wish for DQ-series post DQ IX to do well in the West (includes Europe) as I enjoy co-operative games. I wonder why I've stopped playing PSO eps 1&2 GC online? Oh, wait. It's because my characters suck and people tend to ignore me. :'(
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