Do you think an "eccentric" 2d brawler can ever be a huge commercial success in today's market in the US, even one as amazing as Viewtiful Joe? Can this game become a system seller, even though it's not from a genre the mainstream market typically buys systems for (RPG's, first person shooters, or Grand Theft Auto games)? Do you think many people will buy it at all, outside of the hardcore gamers that keep up to date on everything that gets released?
With good marketing, yup.
Since a ton of magazines have given it extremely good coverage as well as awesome high scores, I believe it has a good chance. The internet gamesites have scored it high, and it's already being about alot on the internet and such.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpoDaddy
Also, since I work at Target I see a TON of people playing the demo kiosk, and they usually always play VJ and always look like they are having a ball playing it.
Definitely. With the right advertising and hype, nearly any game can succeed.
Grand Theft Auto wasn't doing anything spectacular on the sales charts until the 3rd game. GTA3 barely got noticed at the E3 it was first shown at.Quote:
Originally Posted by SpoDaddy
Viewtiful Joe is a great game, but hypothetically discussing the game's possible break-out popularity is silly. I have fun playing it, I don't care how many other people are doing the same.
Unless he was misquoted or something, the director of the game said that US sales would determine if there would be a sequel, so shouldn't you care if other people play in that respect?Quote:
Originally Posted by omfgninjas
Then it has failed. That, the Billy Hatcher and FFTA commercials make me very sad. They should just go back to using people in big suits or something.Quote:
Originally Posted by AstroBlue
What exactly would make it a commercial hit?
I mean, numbers wise.
RPGs are a "mainstream" component of the market? Since when?
It's hard to prove a negative so sure the idea could work, but -
If there's anything online petitons prove, it is that a great word of mouth usually means nothing.
Since Final Fantasy 7
I hope it does hit it big. It's a fantastic game.
i like to be optimistic, but i don't think it'll be an enormous smash hit..
probably enough to warrant a sequel or another game from the same developer, though... so it should be ok.
I think it will do well enough. I have yet to see someone walk up to a demo unit & not have fun with the game, & demos have been out for a while, so maybe.
If the game does fail, it won't be due to lack of media coverage. I haven't seen a single unkind word in a magazine or on the internet.
JM
Hopefully it will make decent money, that will allow for the sequel, but a major hit like GTA3 or Vice City? Probably not.
I think it will be a classic niche title that will be fondly remembered. Despite its excellence, I think it's too quirky to become a major hit with the mainstream.
But I hope I'm wrong.
it will probably do just well enough for a sequel
nothing will be that big of a hit unless it allows maladjusted teenagers to kill hookers after having sex with them(grumble grumble). that said, i hope it does well, i know once i clear the hurdles to getting a copy, its mine, beyond that, sales numbers are nice, but i will be glad just to be playing it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Despair
TMNT will probably do better as a brawler/beatemup since TMNT has that recognizable name and all, but VJ will probably sell enough to be happy.
oh come on, how can you not love the VJ commercial? Tons of gameplay footage and it's "henshin a go-go baby!" :-)
So far, every medium used to normally hype up a game and boost its sales have been hyping up Viewtiful Joe. So I can't see it not selling...unless you want to be prissy and point out it won't sell as well as it could, being on the GC instead of PS2.
Since Final Fantasy 7, Final Fantasy titles have become a component of the mainstream market to a certain extent.Quote:
Originally Posted by §eraphim
This is hardly true for RPGs in its totality, though.
-It came out right after the gamecube price drop
-its $40
-It came out on a holiday weekend
-Its getting phenomanal review scores
-its on the cover of play and nintendo power
-the demo was given out to people who bought a gamecube, as well as sold seperately
-its not going to be overshadowed by a bigger release
-its instant fun
Its a niche game, but its got everything else in its favor. It can do 200K in the US. That might be enough to warrant a sequel.
I could see it doing 200,000.
[QUOTE=Kinopio
-its $40
[/QUOTE]
SOME places (grumble grumble) :mad:
MOST places.Quote:
Originally Posted by frostwolf ex
No GTA comment is safe from someone making a lame joke similar to the above.Quote:
Originally Posted by frostwolf ex
The first 500 times it was cute in a "aww, you're really unoriginal" way, but now it's just offensively trite.
Just wait till it gets to stores like Best Buy. GameStop and EB are known for overcharging.Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Vegetable
I've seen it for $40 at Best Buy and Fry's Electronics, so I don't see why anyojne would mark it up much higher.
Most Gamestops have the game playing on the GC kiosk and it seems to have someone playing it, everytime I've been in one of the stores. I can't see this title appealing to the more casual gamer, but anyone that has a high interest in gaming will most defineatly think about buying it if they have a GC.
My Best Buy had zero copies in tonight. That's either because they haven't stocked it yet or sold out every copy. I'm guessing the former because the store is pretty lax on stocking. Oh, and the GC section looks like shit. It's the only section in the entire damn store that spits in the face of alphabatization.
Quote:
Originally Posted by kabuki
The Best Buy stores I've been to usually have the GC software split up, with half the software across the asle from the other half. Someone casually looking through the software section would most likely overlook the other half. I've noticed that some of the more recently released titles wind up on the end cap. If your Best Buy has the game, but it's out of stock, I'd look to see if the card with the price is even there.
Yep. Un-alphabatized, split between both sides of the aisle, and none on the end cap. Gamecube gets the big shaft from my local BB.Quote:
Originally Posted by gamevet
I'm not too concerned about finding the game - I've owned the import for months. I was just wondering if it was selling well locally.
Oh wait! That's right, sometimes they put GC games on the end cap by the GBA games, at the complete opposite end of the GameCube section. Maybe henshin Joe was hiding out over there.
Kabuki, Best Buys usually get their new game shipments 1 or 2 days later than GameStop or EB.Quote:
Originally Posted by kabuki
I think a successful game, budget wise, is one that sells over 100,000. But making a little profit isn't the name of the game unless you have enough games coming out to do so.
In good news, though, Capcom.com's USA site is out of stock on Viewtiful Joe.
i managed to pick up a copy last night at a new jersey best buy, so you might want to try calling today..Quote:
Originally Posted by kabuki
See for yourself!Quote:
Originally Posted by Official Capcom Website
The plot... he is 'ow you say? Thickening?
http://www.gamespy.com/interviews/oc.../viewtifuljoe/
Quote:
Originally Posted by GameSpy interview
The difference between what I believe and what I know-
I believe what Inaba said is true.
I know I won't be playing Rez 2 any time soon.
On the plus side, I'm pretty damn sure I'll be playing Viewtiful Joe 2 in a year or two. :)
James
We were told today that Capcom has already sold out of their entire intial shipment. I don't know how many units that comprises, but the game is far exceeding expectations thus far.
Indeed it is, Mr. Badguy. Indeed it is.
STFU n00b!!!!1!!1!1
nice to see this game doing well :)
it freaking PWNZ me
Viewtiful Joe kicks ass.Quote:
Due to the frothing demand for this fucking great game, we are temporarily out of stock. You should have placed your order earlier like the rest of America, you tool.
- Capcom
Viewtiful Joe does, indeed, liberally kick copious amounts of ass, in good measure. [/Mensk] ;)
This game owns me, and is quickly rocketing up my all time favorites list. Does anybody have any sales figures on the game so far? I need a sequel
Well hopefully it'll do well in Europe too. It's nice enough of Capcom to release the first one here (in a couple of weeks anyways) but if it's as good as people think, and it doesn't sell well here, Americans are gonna see a sequel and we won't, which could be a right pain in the arse for everyone who enjoys it here and doesn't like importing.
I think it will do solidly since exclusive GC games are few and far between due to Nintendo spacing them out too much.
Besides I've seen a good amount of advertising in magazines, television(during Wrestling and the like), magazine coverage and I haven't seen any magazine or site give it a less than 'great' score.
*rant* I didn't get why EGM had another Mario re-release on GBA over Viewtiful Joe. I know SMB 3 is an awesome game, I have it in my all stars cart but VJ is newer, innovative and it really should get 'Game of the Month' over that. Get with the program guys.*end rant*
http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/english/...ult/e040213.pdf
In overseas market, our lower-priced software achieved steady sales. However, highly expected titles such as “Viewtiful Joe” (for Nintendo GameCube) did not make sales as we expected during the quarter.
Gonna have to say 'No' on this one.
Though, apparently Official PlayStation 2 Magazine says that VJ is going to be ported to the PS2 soon, which can't hurt Capcom's sales any.
They should've done that in the first place.
it did 200, 000 and their still dissapointed? Oh well.
For how good the game is, it should have gotten lucky and cracked a half mill based on hype.
The address is shortened improperly and thus doesn't work.Quote:
Originally Posted by MVS
I do find it odd they're disappointed now when they sold out back during US launch. Hm.
Could have been a low initial print run. Everyone who wanted it to start was enough to sell it out, but after that the demand probably dropped.
Do they account the games that are sold to rental places like Gamefly and Blockbuster?
Does anyone have any actual month-by-month sales figures?
I was gonna use them for a project in one of my classes...
I think that used sales are hurting this game's true numbers.
A lot of nooblies were returning and exchanging this game due to the fact that it has such an intense curve of difficulty going for it. Everytime that happens, the game gets picked up rather rapidly off of the used shelves.
October 2003: GCN VIEWTIFUL JOE 102,231
November 2003: GCN VIEWTIFUL JOE 31428
December 2003: GCN VIEWTIFUL JOE 54937
January 2004: GCN VIEWTIFUL JOE 8839
---------------------------------------------------------
Total to January 2004: 197,435
And please, used game sales are hurting it? You're grasping for straws
Those sales look like every other game that is embraced by the non-mainstream gamers. Strong sales to start with, and then they usually taper off after about 2 or 3 months.
Yeah...I can't see how they can really be surprised by this. The masses don't want VJ (I, OTOH, do). PD:Orta got a little less than that AFAIK, and that's an amazing game.
I'm just listing contributing factors and offering mindless speculation like uhm... everyone else here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mairu
Too many "urban" style games came out this holiday season. Speaking of all the Underground//Gta fanatics that forgot about all the great games collecting dust on the shelves, [i.e. PoP, BG&E...etc]. Knowing its sales didn't do it justice sucks, but I feel relieved im not one of the suckers that don't know about VJ.Quote:
Originally Posted by Roufuss
:)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mairu
Mairu, you're my hero.
Now, America, I'm disappointed in you. Shame.
At least I know of two more people who're gonna buy the game when they get the money.
VJ did far better than I thought it'd do, the October sales for it were fantastic.
True, you have to realize that VJ doesn't have as big a commercial amp like Final Fantasy games do. Not many people knew about the game, which is unfortunate, but still ,100K in the first month is pretty good IMO.
dog$ told me that if this came out on the GBA it would have sold a ton better.
I thought he was crazy.
Contrary to popular belief, 3rd party individual games on the GBA don't sell very well unless they are a big franchise (FF:TA, Castlevania, Megaman, Sonic...)
So I don't think it would have.
http://www.boomspeed.com/willsncz/Lumberg_walks.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by BoBVila
Yyyeah...
I guess I don't follow...
I believe that's the guy from Office Space who speaks like Mr. VanDriesan from Bevis and Butthead.Quote:
Originally Posted by BoBVila
Oh yeah.
Wow, that was pretty unfunny.
you still didn't get it. -1 to u.
i didn't find office space to be a funny movie like so many others either, but thats neither here nor there.
Yes I believe word of mouth can make it a big commercial hit but not an instant success story that lasts forever. Rather, it has to go through the slow process of being a seed that grows on to audiences in the hope it stays in thier memory long enough to last another generation. Good reviews don't necessarily lead to "impulse purchase", as there are many top ten titles that the good, high-rated-but-poorly promoted games have to compete with for attention, before the average person can fit them into thier huge shopping list of AAA games which risk making them broke. There are game like otogi which I skipped because I knew there were other games I need to buy at the time.
Word of mouth is the slower-acting alternative to media hype that could benefit the game in the long run. If it is critically acclaimed but commercially it isn't doing well, it will at least last in the minds of the fans who would readily pay to see the sequel or encourage thier friends to buy the original through loyalty alone. I bet the reason a niche title like castlevania could survive in an age of 3d is purely because fans of those games who treasured them just kept buying up regardless of thier commercial success and recognition, and so the series was allowed to survive in the long term because of the loyal fans who had wanted more. The interest by fans of the series then, acting as the promotion, resparked interest amoungst the general audience (probably curious to try it) who then encourage more people to try it out.
VJ can't be an instant success though until enough fans of the game hype the game up for themselves and are more succinct in stating why it is considered an instant hit to them without looking bias because of the types or genres they like to play. (seperate yourself from the fanboys if you can) This is one of the reasons why hype can be so destructive as it misleads the crowds not suitable for liking the game. (morrowind is a good example, yes it got rpg of the year awards but I bet people had returned it thinking it was overated. Similarly look what happened when shenmue first got hyped and then reviewed with a low score because of the differences in taste)
If enough people hype a game I don't know much about myself, chances are I will buy it in faith that the people promoting it are telling the truth and the game is worth rushing out to try for the merits they state in thier posts in praising the game. That is if I trust their tastes from past recommendations.. :D I tend not to trust those in the extremes who sound too closed or too open minded. They happen to hang around forums sometimes with an axe to grind or with a happy-cuz-its-on-my-system attitude to things.
Devil May Cry did a good job of getting to the masses. It did'nt have a past to rely on and word of mouth, with a little help from retail outlets, sold the game to the masses.
VJ recieved similar support, yet the masses looked at the game and just did'nt get it.
No one is reading that. Just like every other post you make that takes over 200 words to say what could be said in three sentences.Quote:
Originally Posted by GameHED
Try two:
Media Hype will result in large sales, but will not necassarily lead to the game being deemed a "classic". On the other hand, word of mouth may not lead to fast short term sales, but will ensure the game is remembered and becomes a "classic".
This is the truth. Check it:Quote:
Originally Posted by omfgninjas
Word of mouth can work, but it takes time to build up. Viewtiful Joe may end up being a word of mouth success. When a lot of people are hyping a game to me (ie, word of mouth in my direction), I tend to buy it.
And I didnt even read the damn thing. I just took the first sentences from each paragraph and fucked with them a little.
What he said.