White Knight Chronicles sells more Japanese PS3s than MGS4
by Jem Alexander 
{ Jan 12th 2009 at 10:30AM }
While MGS4 had higher launch week sales (75,311) it dropped considerably to only 20,336 the next week. A total of 95,647. White Knight Chronicles, on the other hand, has sold a total of 106,643 during its two week launch period, almost 11,000 more. We're intrigued to see how sales of both the game and hardware continue. White Knight Chronicles has already proven a greater success than we first suspected.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
havoc @ Jan 12th 2009 10:39AM
Wow you guys always sound like such fanboys in your posts. "White Knight Chronicles has already proven a greater success than we first suspected". Not that this isnt your honest opinions but giving a game credit for some good numbers doesnt mean you always have to take a jab in at it too.
DKY @ Jan 12th 2009 10:52AM
You are on a PS3 Fanboy site.
Nineteen88 @ Jan 12th 2009 10:56AM
I do not think the writer's taking a jab at anything, he's just surprised as well as I am of the game's sales in its first 2 weeks, given Level-5's kept a low profile.
digiboi @ Jan 12th 2009 11:14AM
Are you a jerk or an idiot - or both? The site is called PS3Fanboy.
KillaChaos @ Jan 12th 2009 5:30PM
"you guys always sound like such fanboys "
http://playstation.joystiq.com/
Dome @ Jan 12th 2009 11:20AM
well it's a rpg with big eyed characters who transform into giant 'robot'(s)/heros.
Ps3 needs more jrpg, but oddly, sega's vc and disgaea3 didn't sell that well. I'm gussing cost. (No shit sherlock!).
It's all about handheld these days....
Dome @ Jan 12th 2009 1:56PM
oops browser hiccups sorry
Nineteen88 @ Jan 12th 2009 10:42AM
My.. This wasn't expected, but the Japanese market is very unpredictable.. Funny that I'm playing MGS4 atm.
I guess that's a BIG sign that the PS3 needs more RPGs. Selling more than MGS4 isn't an easy challenge.
I'll keep this game on my radar when it's released in the US.
Nineteen88 @ Jan 12th 2009 10:44AM
Forgot to say,
Nice one Level-5!
Dome @ Jan 12th 2009 10:46AM
well it's a rpg featuring big-eyed-heros who could transform into giant 'robot'(s) with monster-hunter-ish elements.
It's only 2 weeks and it's holiday season, japan celebrates 1 January as japanese new year...
Draco @ Jan 12th 2009 1:47PM
Those Japanese, they're crazy.
come to think of it, I heard in Canada they also celebrate New Years on January 1st.
to each their own, I'll continue to celebrate on May 23rd like the rest of my kin.
adolson @ Jan 12th 2009 10:46AM
How was it not expected? We've seen what RPGs can do to the 360 over there, so when some RPG water comes along for the wanderers of the PS3 desert, you expect they won't drink it up?
adorna @ Jan 12th 2009 10:50AM
and you're really surprised by this? I think the only surprising thing is that the bad Famitsu Review didn't hurt the game more.
Its an RPG, it japanese in style, it has a Monster Hunter-like Online mode. So it basically has everything to be a success over there..and maybe not only there but it will hardly sell as good in US or europe.
OK, I'm biased, the trailer for that game a few years ago was one of the reasons I got a PS3, myself.
Dan Rabot @ Jan 12th 2009 11:21AM
Monster-hunter esque you say?
I've not paid much attention to this game but I play a good couple hours of Monster Hunter Freedom a day! I LOVE IT!
So with a serious passion for MH is it safe to assume I'm gonna like this White Knight Chronicles?
Leonard @ Jan 12th 2009 2:24PM
Well, part of the story is that this (last) week is generally a bump week since children get money/year bonuses are paid out.
vahdyx @ Jan 12th 2009 11:34AM
imagine final fantasy 13's effect on PS3 over there
Hussiens @ Jan 12th 2009 11:41AM
i guess i'll have to check this game when it comes stateside
Monkey Majiks @ Jan 12th 2009 11:46AM
Really great to see that games ARE selling in Japan on the PS3 when the customers get what they want...RPGS!!
Hopefully this will encourage other developers to start their RPGs on the PS3, the fanbase hasnt changed, and probably explains why alot of Japanese consumers haven't upgraded in the number sony expected. Especially when the PS2 has so many RPGs still being released.
Vincent @ Jan 12th 2009 11:51AM
Nice to see the Famitsu review didn't affect the game's success. This game was one of the primary reasons for me to pick up a PS3. C'mon Level-5, bring it to US already!!
DiddlyKong @ Jan 12th 2009 12:01PM
Takes the shot Boom goes the Dynamite!
havoc @ Jan 12th 2009 12:12PM
@#3 hey i was using some sarcasm in the begining of my post, but thinking about it i probably overreacted a little. I just get tired of every blog site taking any opportunity to demean the ps3. Even sites that you would hope would give you a slightly bias opinion in the ps3s favor seem to alway act like they are seeking to express any faults they can find. Maybe theyre trying so hard not to be fanboys that they come off as closet fanboys for the competition. Sorry for the rant
*pulls foot from mouth*
DarthNemesis @ Jan 12th 2009 12:32PM
If Square-Anus does not port Star Ocean after this,then they really are fools.This game has destroyed every JRPG on the 360 already.
JusticeCourtland @ Jan 12th 2009 12:41PM
It shouldn't surprise anyone who has played anything by Level-5. They're a solid developer with a proven track record of high quality titles. You know what you're getting when you buy a game they made.
Lower hype, higher quality, tons of charm & class, no matter what they're commissioned to do.
That's how Level-5 sells games. Man, I wish some of those other companies would follow that inspiration.
rubAdub72 @ Jan 12th 2009 1:18PM
have you watched the videos at gamersyde? it looks like a very unfinished product, plagued with screen tear and strangely empty cities... I'm afraid Level-5 dropped the ball in this one. =*
JusticeCourtland @ Jan 12th 2009 3:03PM
I just finished watching them. I don't agree with you about the graphics. However, the "strangely empty cities" comment may have some merit, though I've seen some Youtube videos that demonstrate a pretty expansive and rich gameplay environment.
Point stands; no one should wonder why anything Level-5 puts out sells well. They make a quality product. I won't be surprised if this game continues that tradition. And I won't be able to judge it until I've played it.
PeaceMaker_XII @ Jan 12th 2009 12:58PM
Why this did´nt happend with Valkirya Chronicles? T_T I love this game, maybe its cause its LEVEL 5, and the LEVEL 5 RPGs are incredible!
Jon Acheson @ Jan 12th 2009 1:28PM
I wonder the same thing, as I'm finding Valkyria Chronicles to be outstanding, a real breakthrough in gameplay.
My guess is that Strategy RPGs only appeal to a subset of the RPG market, whereas WKC appeals the whole market, because it's a regular JRPG.
JusticeCourtland @ Jan 12th 2009 3:33PM
Did you play the demo that was out on PSN? I did, and it totally turned me off to the game. For me it was a poor introduction to what ended up being a fantastic experience.
I borrowed the full game from a friend who hadn't played the demo, and stuck it out a little...and it changed my mind completely.
I wonder how many people tried the demo and were put off from it, as I was? A shame, I think.
donnie @ Jan 12th 2009 8:13PM
I did play the demo and I was turned off by it. I was expecting great things too bc FF Tactics was one of my favorite games. I remember thinking the gun shots were kind of lame and I don't think I completely understood what exactly I was supposed to be doing. Maybe I'll give it another shot when I'm done with Fallout 3...
irvin_g_ns3 @ Jan 13th 2009 5:40AM
Maybe they should put a better Demo, maybe if the girl with the blue hair appear xD or i dont know, a more impressive part of the game, and maybe if the game had Online gameplay the sells will be better
rubAdub72 @ Jan 12th 2009 1:11PM
Too bad they didn't flock when Valkyria Chronicles was released...
and WKC looks to be a huge let-down... =P
optimusprime @ Jan 12th 2009 2:45PM
Games sell consoles, especially exclusive RPG games in Japan. Sony needs to shift its priorities to game creation over everything else (Home included). That and lowering the price, and they should be fine
scratch @ Jan 12th 2009 3:11PM
First-off, I'm a big Level-5 fan (Dark Cloud 2 FTW!), and early WKC stuff got me very excited for the game. I haven't seem much lately, but I'm still interested in it. I hope they don't disappoint.
That said, I think your method of determining consoles sold "by" a game needs a little work. You ignore the fact that some people who are buying consoles in the week that WKC comes out are doing so for unrelated reasons.
The best way to do it would be to look at console sales for the week before the game comes out (baseline), as well as the weeks after. Subtract the baseline from the following weeks until the console sales reach the baseline again, or some other event disrupts sales.
I don't have the numbers handy, and while i suppose I could go digging through old Japanese sales charts, im at work and have better things to do... but real quick:
say PS3 was selling 20k/wk. Then LastFinalEndingCompleteXXIVMCV comes out and for the next 3 weeks the PS3 sales are: 80k, 60k, 30k, and then its back to 20k. Then the game "sold" (80-20)+(60-20)+(30-20)=110k PS3s.
~endes
Light @ Jan 12th 2009 3:27PM
Wow wow wow! I didn't expect this. Great game... I wanna try it as soon as possible.
Tez @ Jan 12th 2009 3:33PM
Not surprising, Kojima designed MGS4 for western gamers.
outlawauron @ Jan 12th 2009 4:56PM
I'm waiting for MGS4 as much as the next guy, but WKC is not the only factor that boosted PS3 sales. The biggest sales week of the year is the week after Christmas and the PS3 got its second week boost from that.
MGS 4 was completely unaided by seasonal boosts as in released in June.
kassatsu @ Jan 13th 2009 12:14AM
It was released during a busier part of the year. New Years = Christmas in Japan.
Bob @ Jan 13th 2009 12:28AM
Sorry, but you have no way of knowing this. PS3 sales were already on a steady rise, and barely rised at all for the release. You know why the two weeks beat MGS4? Because MGS4 was released in June when PS3 was average what, 8k a week? White Knight Chronicles was released when PS3 was already averaging 30k+.
Why is it so higher at this time? Holidays. Holidays always rise, and Japan is no exception. This past week was their highest week, and now it will return to the past levels of below 20k a week.
Very poor article.
PeaceMaker_XII @ Jan 13th 2009 5:46AM
Some know the actually total sells of MGS4???
BigEd @ Jan 13th 2009 1:59PM
Squeenix is pimping around with there last announcement of No SO4 for you ps3 ppl -_- meh. I hope Sony tosses a Double fat monkey wrench in there plans and spoil there earnings in Japan. How?
1. Reduce PS3 price to $299 what ever that is in Yen JAPAN ONLY
2. Advertise for White Knight Chronicles with patch for voice Chat during online play ^_^ (adhoc-party does why not WKC)
3. Do this wrench tossing on the day before and day of The Japan release date of Star Ocean 4
what do you guys think if this was the case ?
SUD123 @ Jan 14th 2009 10:10PM
You are a complete moron. You are mixing software sales concepts with hardware concepts. Typically software sells best in the first week and then declines. That is the point you are trying to leverage. However, you are as dumb as rocks because you are then comparing h/w across two vastly different timeframes....mid-Jun vs holiday season. And in case you haven't noticed , h/w sales increase during holiday season, ultimately leading to the culminating week...which in Japan is the last week of the year because Jan 1st is their big holiday (vs Xmas for us). If you used your brain for a second you would compare the two weeks of WKC vs the same time period in 2007. If you did, you would find that those two weeks are in fact both higher than this year (and week 2 is higher than week 1: see my Jan 1st comment). Therefore, perhaps we should conclude that WKC has led to negative PS3 sales!!!!! My point being that unless you standardize the data it is meaningless. Your analysis is utter crap and without merit of any kind.