PSX5Central
Playstation/Gaming Discussions => PS3 Discussion => Topic started by: Chrono on July 19, 2001, 02:36:55 PM
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I’ve been a RPG fan pretty much my entire life, since Dragon Warrior 1 which I got free with a subscription to Nintendo Power. That’s the reason I ended up getting a PSX last generation, and picked the ps2 this generation. So, with the impending launch of Dragon Quest 7 (Dragon Warrior 7) in the USA this fall, and recent evidence which will fully support the case within. I have decided to write a article on where Dragon Quest 8 will end up. The majority of my points will be made with a article from a respected multiplatform website, and I will use long standing history as the rest of my evidence.
I will start with the most recent information regarding the game and work my way backwards. A Nintendo website speculated that the next platform that DQ will grace will be the NGC. However later Enix responded to these rumors with what is perhaps the most important comment Enix has made regarding what platform.
"Enix has not made any plans or officially announced any information related to Dragon Warrior VIII, including for what platform the title might be released," Handelman said. "However, historically, Enix has supported various leading game platforms, so I\'m certain we will reach the most possible number of our fans."
Nothing is offical.. we knew that. However he says "leading game platforms” and “reach the most possible number of our fans.”
The key point is “reach the most … fans.”
Recently in Japan, Final Fantasy X was released selling millions of copies. The game sales are not as important as the hardware sold during this time. A sharp increase of sales occurred the week before the release of FFX as shown on the sales data of fatmitsu.com.
“PSone 1920 123,643 1.1%
Playstation 2 88286 1,317,318 50.1%
Dreamcast 5951 228,546 3.4%
Nintendo 64 552 57334 0.3%
Game Boy color 2823 429,285 1.6%
Game Boy advance 73315 2,385,852 41.6%
Neo-geo pocket color 172 14733 0.1%
Wonderswan color 3264 206,081 1.9%”
In comparison to its previous week in sold much better even passing the 99 dollar gameboy advance in total sales for that week which is a newer console. Bear in mind it’s a different industry and there is no competition between the 2, it does create a decent comparison. No other major games were released last week as GT3, the last major game was released many weeks before meaning most of the extra console sales were for one upcoming game.. FFX. The ps2 price dropped on June 29th in Japan, however that was a couple weeks before and cannot be directly linked to the sudden surge of ps2 sales. Remember this is the week before FFX not of, so sales may even increase again next week. At this time we can only assume.
You probably know FFX is an RPG. So what console would Enix be able to reach the most fans? Especially RPG fans? Obviously the ps2!
But that’s not the only reason why DQ will appear on the ps2.
Enix choose the PSX to release its Dragon Quest game last generation.
“Enix has officially shipped 4.06 million copies of Dragon Quest VII for the PlayStation in Japan as of March 2001, according to a Reuters report. This exceeds the company\'s projected shipment of 3.9 million copies.”
This game sold an astounding 4 million copies in Japan ALONE. Enix will certainly use this in their decision of what platform. Not to mention, while it is assumption, that a lot of fans bought the ps2 expecting rpgs.
Enix also said,
"We are now preparing six titles for PlayStation II. The first one will come to market around April," Fukushima said.
We know of 2 games, Dance Summit 2001 Bust-a-Move and one that was canceled called love story. However we know nothing of the other titles. Obviously Enix has some confidence in the ps2 to say we have 6 titles in development.
And how can we forget,
“Japanese publishers Namco, SquareSoft, and Enix have announced a financial tie-up where each company will assume a 5 percent stake in the others. The three companies will additionally invest in joint projects”
I would be certain that that partnership will have some, while it might be small, effect on what console DQ will end up on. How can Enix ignore such high sales of FFX when they are even partnered?
Right now it’s quite obvious that all signs point to ps2. Square has garnered many fans to the ps2, fans remember DQ7 on the PSX which sales were tremendous, many of which bought a ps2 expecting the same thing. The PSX was remembered in part for its RPGs and until I see reason that the ps2 will be otherwise. I can way with over 85% certainty that the platform Dragon Quest will be on will be the ps2.
Sources:
http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2711115,00.html
http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2781049,00.html
http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2780208,00.html
http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2705683,00.html
http://psx.ign.com/news/9683.html
http://www.famitsu.com/game/hard/week/index.html
Last point on a possibility…
Will Enix make DQ8 multiplatform?
Well, when was the last time a RPG was multiplatform that was not originally on a dead Sega console?
… my point exactly
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Let\'s hope, if it IS on the PS2, that they don\'t wait FOREVER to do a US release.