Square Enix dropped the bombshell in December that the latest in its Dragon Quest role-playing game series, Dragon Quest IX: Guard of the Starry Night (working title), would be coming exclusively to the DS. As the last installments of the game--which is very, very big in Japan--were on Sonys PlayStation 2 and original PlayStation, the news was a head-scratcher for many.
WeAsel, good video, but you posted it under the wrong dragon quest game. Next time just double check to make sure you are submitting under the correct game, thanks.
1. http://ds.ign.com/articles/783/783284p1.html Menu-based battles are back in. A lot of the fear over the series' divergence from its roots hurting it in the marketplace, should end here.
2. By the time this game debuts, DS lifetime sales will be in the same range as PS2 lifetime sales in Japan. A franchise this big will have literally never debuted with an install base this big in Japan.
3. DQ8 was starting to gain some traction in the west, shipping over 1 million copies outside of Japan. With a lower price threshold and it could gain even more traction.
All-in-all, this could be the first DQ to hit 5 million copies.
It is interesting that this IPO is getting more interest than the Final Fantasy XIII IPO on Monday. I think FFXIII had substantial risk of going from a console exclusive. With DQIX made for DS, I think it is very unlikely it'll appear on any other system as DS games generally take advantage of the platform. Low risk of cannabilization.
I think Japan's obsession with the DS will shoot this stock up. DQ 8 did pretty well in other areas, and I can see this game following suit. I think starting this off at 4 million copies is alright, but I would have preferred it a little lower.
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