Unsurprisingly low Valkyria Chronicles sales

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 15th 2008 at 4:00PM }

What happens when you release a cel-shaded Japanese SRPG into the crowded November holiday lineup? Your game gets largely ignored. Sega's PS3-exclusive innovative tactics game didn't exactly light the sales charts on fire, with only 33k units sold in November, according to the NPD Group. November marked the release of heavy-hitting games like Call of Duty: World at War, Resistance 2 and Mortal Kombat vs. DC. It's thoroughly unsurprising that a game like Valkyria Chronicles didn't perform better in such a competitive market. That's a shame, considering how much we loved the game.

Of course, you could make it right. Right now. But chances are, you'll be waiting for the inevitable price drop on this retail flop. C'mon PS3 fanboys! Tell your friends about Valkyria. And while you're at it, tell them about LittleBigPlanet as well -- both of these games could use some better sales.

Tags: red, sales, sega, valkyria-chronicles

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

Marius @ Dec 15th 2008 4:06PM

yeah this wasnt a surprise especially since mostly no one knows what this game is or that it even exist

Chainblast @ Dec 15th 2008 7:24PM

And that's so sad. Specifically 'cause it has a PSN demo...

macserv @ Dec 17th 2008 6:51AM

Want it to sell more? 3 words: Make it downloadable.

I wouldn't buy Burnout: Paradise until it showed up as a PSN download. Yeah, it took a while to haul it through the 'tubes, but the lower price and convenience made it a good value to me.

Same goes for Valkyria Chronicles: If it shows up on the Playstation Store (preferably priced $10 or $15 less), I'm sold.

david @ Dec 15th 2008 4:06PM

I knew this would happen and it is such a shame. Sega should have held the game back or got it out earlier. Valkyria chronicles is an excellent game, with a great storyline, interesting likeable characters and tense challenging gameplay. It is one of the best games on PS3 and really deserves more attention. GO BUY IT!

sinai @ Dec 15th 2008 5:16PM

if you knew it would happen, why didn't you do something about it, smartass?

david @ Dec 15th 2008 5:19PM

to sinai, because i dont work for Sega smartass.

doc j @ Dec 15th 2008 5:25PM

@ sinai?

What exactly was he supposed to do? Single handedly change the release date? Create a Brown-Coat like following?

I understand what you're trying to say, but what you said is tantamount to "Don't like world hunger? Feed people!"

dabamf @ Dec 16th 2008 1:10PM

I agree, it's a really unique and fun game to play!

HardBoiled2009 @ Dec 15th 2008 4:07PM

to be honest i liked the Trial Version of this game .. but one thing throws me off. The Game doesn't have trophies ... right now i have my mind Focusing on games with Trophies so trust me when i say, if this game had Trophies .. Lots more would be Sold. i'l get it sometime in the future .. just not right now.

Josh @ Dec 15th 2008 4:25PM

why are trophies such a big deal? I'm not even trying to be mean, I really want to know what all the fuss is about. Personally I think trophies has to be one of the dumbest concepts ever, same thing with the gamer score on the 360, I just dont get it i guess.

-slycooper_rocker- (lorddshadow the amazing) psn: shahanasalam @ Dec 15th 2008 5:29PM

if its a good game, screw the trophies. mgs4 and fallout 3 don't have trophies. but they're amazing nonetheless.

Jerses @ Dec 15th 2008 5:40PM

Josh
1 A prize or memento, such as a cup or plaque, received as a symbol of victory.
2 A memento, as of one's personal achievements.

Its like hunting a deer. You just dont shoot it, you take the head and place it in youre wall so that when youre friends go to youre house say " oooohh nice" or "what a dumb hobby he got".... it depends on people perspective. well... i think i make my point. (even if not clearly)

RagingStormX @ Dec 15th 2008 5:58PM

Its almost like being proud of your 100% complete save data for your game on a memory card. Now you have nice awards you can show for it. Trophies does not define the game but it can be a strong selling point. Its for this reason I bought SoldnerX and why im still holding out on JointStrike. For an RPG its not of grave importance, but its good to have something to show for unique dedication and skills for various games.... I am personally waiting for the price of this game to drop before I buy it, but I wanted to comment of why throphies are important to some people.

Kurt @ Dec 15th 2008 6:01PM

Fallout JUST got the trophy patch today, btw! :p

Valkyria Chronicles is awesome though! I bought it the first day it came out. Shame it seems PS3 owners only want flashy shooters! This is exactly what I see people saying there is a lack of..RPGs! But no one buys it!

AshStampede @ Dec 16th 2008 5:54AM

@ RagingStormX

There may not be a big deal about trophies in a RPG but this is a strategyRPG. Plus the game has its own reward system, why isn't that a direct translation to a trophy?

Mr. Joe @ Dec 15th 2008 4:08PM

i appreciate your effort, andrew, but i'm waiting for the price drop.. ::sheepish::

zaxonzaxon @ Dec 15th 2008 4:10PM

I liked the demo a lot, but have been waiting for either a price drop or trophy patch.

Gambit07 @ Dec 15th 2008 8:05PM

same

vask @ Dec 15th 2008 4:10PM

this is definately a must have for anyone im amazed that the sales were this bad on it.

Ed @ Dec 15th 2008 4:21PM

I agree. It's the only good sega game in a while in my opinion, and one of the best games of the year. Come on people, go buy it!

Beseiged @ Dec 15th 2008 5:09PM

If you are waiting for trophies i wouldn't hold your breath. This is the kind of game where i think trophies wouldn't work well at all and would be rather pointless. The game itself is an awesome work of art with a pretty epic (and good) plot.

Eric E @ Dec 15th 2008 4:15PM

more worried for sony in LittleBigPlanet. More money and time invested im sure.
I tried to like VC but i just can't get into SRPGs. shame, but i'll bet getting Eternal Sonata once by catalog dies down a little.
I still tell as many people as i can about it!
LBPs fail actually has me a little worried now and KillZone 2 has a lot of weight on its shoulders.

FeaturePreacher @ Dec 15th 2008 9:41PM

It is quite interesting that LBP sold fewer copies in the whole month of November than it did in the 4 days of October. Perhaps Sony could do something about this by having a policy of not removing any user-created levels. Just let people use filters so they won't see levels that they may deem inappropriate. Moderation from on high is bad. Self-moderation is better. Killzone 2 I suspect will be a system seller perhaps coming close to as much of a system seller as MGS4 was.

JoeTheBlow @ Dec 16th 2008 5:58AM

Who said LBP failed?! You really shouldn't listen to the Xbots.

LBP has shot back up the chart to No.1 in the UK PS3 chart, no.6 in the combined all formats chart (holding off some *serious* Wii competition).

kenjix @ Dec 15th 2008 4:16PM

I just picked up my copy yesterday just to show my support, guess I was the only one :( Oh well i'll just have to enjoy the game :)

343 Guilty Fart @ Dec 16th 2008 5:40PM

I just picked this game up this past weekend and am loving it. I've never played a SRPG before (does Advance Wars count?), but I'm really digging this one.

GRT @ Dec 15th 2008 4:21PM

I'm hoping it'll be under the tree on Dec. 25th. If not, I'll be buying it asap. But I'm on a game-buying boycott now that the girlfriend has done her Xmas shopping. This was at the top of my list though.

Shannon @ Dec 15th 2008 4:35PM

Same here. It was marked as a must have on the Christmas list I gave my mom. So I'm expecting it for Christmas, too.

Jon Acheson @ Dec 15th 2008 5:25PM

I'm in the same boat. I would expect a sales spike on the 26th of December.

Otherwise I would have bought it already.

blkant @ Dec 15th 2008 4:22PM

grow up people, stop bitching about the lack of trophies etc.. Its an incredible game, Valkyria, LBP, and Motorstorm are the only games that allowed me to get over the epic fail that was R2. GET IT!! Its games like this that help the PS3 grow, but when sales are this low for new exclusive games, we lose exclusives. Then we wind up loosing support on the PS3, get off your asses and get this incredible game already. It's well worth it, seriously, take my word for it, I HATE RPG's, but this game is awesome.

spencermsh @ Dec 15th 2008 4:27PM

Totally agree with you on that one. I don't understand the mentality that no trophies = no buy.

FeaturePreacher @ Dec 15th 2008 9:53PM

I'm not trying to be facetious, I make this inquiry in earnest. Would you mind telling me what makes this game, Valkyria Chronicles, so awesome? Can you ricochet bullets? Can you increase characteristics of your character such as speed, accuracy, and agility? Can you shoot from higher and lower platforms? How's the melee combat? How are the alt-fire capabilities? Is there any close quarters combat? Any grappling hooks or rocket packs to propel your character to different altitudes? Any vehicles? And how's the online multiplayer? Once again, I'm not asking in order to deride you, I'm just wondering if it has these features or other things that make it so awesome.

TheJOKER @ Dec 15th 2008 4:22PM

Its an excellent game, first day buy for me. The person i asked to reserve the game with was like "what the hell is that" haha. everyone thinks its valkerie profile, well i did my part and got 3 of my friends to buy it. Such a shame, they should market it a bit and i bet sales would be good >.

Nate @ Dec 15th 2008 4:22PM

Wow, I can't believe the first exclusive RPG on the PS3 is doing so poorly, and one that looks so awesome, too! And there's even a demo! Come on people!

Personally, I haven't been buying any games for anything lately, which is my problem. But this would be right at the top of my list, maybe competing with LBP, but that's about it.

RagingStormX @ Dec 15th 2008 6:32PM

Ahh....I am most certain Disgaea 3 came out before this. And most SJRPG's have a different feel from traditional JRPG's. JRPG's are what most are crying for. SO4, LR, WKC, FF13 & Vs.

Voshempa @ Dec 15th 2008 4:24PM

The game is wickedly amazing. SEGA needs to be given a second look when it comes to their games.

spencermsh @ Dec 15th 2008 4:25PM

I've been excited for this game for awhile though I'm sad that I didn't have enough earlier. If I get some random cash from relatives for x-mas this will be the first thing I buy.

Isshin @ Dec 15th 2008 4:26PM

I'm not waiting for the price drop. I'm waiting for Amazon to ship this game to Brazil...

Robert @ Dec 15th 2008 4:51PM

Amazon does not ship software (that includes games) outside USA. I buy from http://www.cduniverse.com/ with shipment to Venezuela without problems (I only can recommend you to do not use the cheap Air Mail if you do not trust your country mail service)

Archon @ Dec 15th 2008 5:02PM

There's a European Amazon in the UK too, Robert.

Isshin @ Dec 15th 2008 5:37PM

Robert, currently Amazon is shipping some games outside US.
Check here
http://www.amazon.com/b/ref=dp_brlad_entry?ie=UTF8&node=345747011

I know CD Universe too, but never heard about someone who bought from them. Guess I'll give a try.

Lard @ Dec 15th 2008 4:30PM

Asked for this for Xmas. I technically didn't buy it, but it was a sale for me.

reson8er @ Dec 15th 2008 4:30PM

Its a crime, shame on you PS3 owners. When the xbox crowd buys every pos game that comes out, and amazing games of this calibur do so poorly.

/scold

magicfett @ Dec 15th 2008 4:52PM

The xbox crowd isn't as picky as we are they can't afford to be.

Popfrogs @ Dec 15th 2008 5:44PM

Well, the Xbox crowd is alot bigger and alot younger. They buy anything that gets released en masse regardless of what it is, similar to the Wii crowd.

We're pickier, and we should be. When you give 400+ for a system and 60 per game, you deserve the best gaming experience from any game that gets released.

Although it is a shame that it hasn't sold better. Then again, once people get Christmas money in their pockets, I expect sales to pick up this month and next month.

Popfrogs @ Dec 15th 2008 4:31PM

My brother is probably getting this for me for Christmas, so there's a +1 sale for Sega. I thought the demo was alot of fun and I see how later levels can get pretty challenging.

Oh and this is probably the best game Sega has made for a very long time, we should all encourage them to make more like this one.