PS3 version of BlazBlue outselling 360 version ... and here's why

by Andrew Yoon { Jul 9th 2009 at 5:00PM }

Hardcore fighting fans are all talking about BlazBlue, Aksys' foray into high-def 2D fighting. While equal numbers of 360 and PS3 copies were made, the PS3 version appears to be selling out faster than the other. Why is that? Well, it could be the system's superior D-Pad. While many players will opt for an arcade stick, those who play with a default controller generally find the DualShock layout more comfortable for 2D fighters.

Or, it could be the rare implementation of Remote Play. With a sufficient wireless connection, players can play the game with the PSP system from anywhere in the world. This is one of the few retail titles to take advantage of the feature, the first being Lair (ugh).

Perhaps players are taking advantage of the lack of region coding on the PS3 version. Without a European release in sight, some may look towards importing the American PS3 release. (The Xbox 360 version is region locked.)

However, according to an Aksys representative, the main reason BlazBlue is more popular among PS3 owners is its popularity with Japanese gamers. Aksys' Harry Chang explained that many hardcore players want to play against Japanese players, and people know that the "Japanese players are mostly on PS3." Those that are seeking competition from Japan's best players know which version to choose. No wonder PS3 is Capcom's "platform of choice" at the EVO Championship Series.

Tags: aksys, blazblue, evo-championship, ps3, remote-play

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

pd771 @ Jul 9th 2009 5:06PM

All of those points are logical, but I'm guessing the D-pad is the reason. The 360 Dpad is just awful, and they need to find a way to fix that for the next cycle.

LegendaryRedass @ Jul 9th 2009 5:14PM

MS did make a controller with an improved d-pad, but I think it's only available in Japan. It is also green in color. But yeah, dualshocks d-pad is way better. I can actually play a game with it.

sony boy @ Jul 9th 2009 5:29PM

no, it's germany.

fundando @ Jul 9th 2009 5:45PM

I use an arcade stick so the d-pad wasn't the issue. I bought the ps3 version because I prefer playing on the ps3. Plus it came with a blu-ray as oppossed to a regular dvd.

Erik Stroud @ Jul 10th 2009 1:13AM

I chose the PS3 version because of the D-Pad, and because it had the Blu-Ray Bonus. It was hard to find it and I could have settled for the 360 one since i saw plenty of those, but, I went with PS3 anyways.

Spike941 @ Jul 9th 2009 5:11PM

Well that, and the fact that the Dustloop team has chosen the PS3 as their platform of choice. Is there really any surprise?

FrankenCelery @ Jul 9th 2009 5:22PM

Lego Batman also used Remote Play. Just FYI...

coyo t @ Jul 9th 2009 5:29PM

sshhhhhhh, you can get banned for correcting Weblogs, Inc bloggers.

Copland @ Jul 10th 2009 12:54AM

Your right.
I corrected some blog entries here and now they ignore the tips I send lol

tung lashor @ Jul 10th 2009 10:16PM

PixelJunk Eden is another one...

Kilvoctu @ Jul 11th 2009 3:25AM

"Or, it could be the rare implementation of Remote Play. ... This is one of the few retail titles to take advantage of the feature, the first being Lair (ugh)."

What correction? It's not the blogger said the only games that use Remote Play are this and Lair. He simply said it was rare for a game to do so. Y'all are being somewhat childish.
I hope you aren't seriously disappointed that the guy didn't research the net and compiled a comprehensive list of Remote Play compatible games to put in the blog.

Considering the PS3 library, it's still a rare game feature if you smart-alecs can only think of an additional 2 games.

FrankenCelery @ Jul 11th 2009 9:27AM

Not a big deal, but that's not what the original article said. It said that this was the second and I was just saying that there was another. It is a very rare thing, which it wasn't supposed to be. Even if you couldn't "play" the game through remote play, there was supposed to be a whole lot more interoperability with the PSP and PS3. That was one reason I kept my PSP. The thing I wish is that Sony pushed to implement this more often in games such as Lego . Those are great games since the graphics aren't crazy and the control scheme is simple.

Kimleng @ Jul 9th 2009 5:26PM

Hmmmmm, I bought 2 copies of this. Kinda glad I did! I contribute to the shortage! Gonna sell my other one on ebay =)

gordo @ Jul 9th 2009 5:30PM

And I'm so glad I bought twelve.

Erik Stroud @ Jul 10th 2009 1:14AM

I wouldn't buy 2 since I want more people to be able to play against online. This does have some amazingly lag free online after all.

Josh @ Jul 9th 2009 5:46PM

Did they just make fewer PS3 copies than they did 360 copies?

Nick @ Jul 9th 2009 5:57PM

Hey, read the article, he clearly states that the same amount of copies were made.

Marztype @ Jul 9th 2009 5:59PM

They made the same amount of limited editions, which are the first batch to be published.

Letters2Kay @ Jul 9th 2009 5:52PM

Just got my copy from Amazon the other day. Let's not forget that LE video disc is available in Blu-ray on PS3 and crummy, old DVD on 360. Although, the SF4 LE had the same advantage...

Remote Play pushed me over the fence on this one. I loved the free LE upgrade perks and when I heard about Remote Play, I preordered. Of course, I always go for PS3 when it comes to multiplat games, so choice of platforms was never an issue.

The ever-increasing PS3 adoption rate could be another factor. I think we'll start to see these cross-platform margins slide more and more in the PS3's favor in the coming months...

Spike941 @ Jul 9th 2009 6:31PM

Couldn't agree more. The people who think the PS3 doesn't stand a chance in cross platform sales better start doing a double take.

seamonkey420 @ Jul 9th 2009 7:05PM

agreed.

i think a big incentive to devs about the ps3 is that it hasn't been hacked/modded. you can't play backups of games on it so each game played is a sale or rental (not a backup/pirate).

i still don't get why devs keep threatening to pull ps3 support cuz of lack of a price drop.

imo, most of the ps3 owners are the bigger game buyers.
(my reasoning: higher cost of system = gamers w/more money to spend on gaming vs necesseties and in turn willing to buy more games?? i may be reaching a bit here, hehe. but if i had a x360, most games would prob not be those purchased ones but the naughty ones)

just my .02

rolando.villagomez @ Jul 9th 2009 6:08PM

I think i beat you on BB the other day

Wiizer (Michael Pachter MUST DIE.. Professionally) @ Jul 9th 2009 6:21PM

If you don't believe that, would you believe that people may have bought more of the PS3 version because of the bluray disc that came with it?

I mean, unless the 360 can play bluray...

Chadd @ Jul 9th 2009 7:16PM

Not to start a war, but I prefer the 360 controller over the ps3 controller any day.

I finally broke down and bought the ps3 just before inFamous came out. If it weren't for that game, i wouldn't be playing anything on the ps3 though. The machine is just dog slow and the controller is way too uncomfortable. After each inFamous session my hands would be cramped. I never get that from my 360 controller.

LustSIN @ Jul 9th 2009 7:40PM

Well thats all opinion. The PS3 controller is great and so is the 360. I'm guessing you've never played with a PS controller before?

I bought it on PS3 instead of my 360 because the D-Pad is better and the 360s is a tad bit bad, i have a hard time playing DoA4 on it sometimes.

If you don't like the console, sell it and get your money back. Why degrade your purchase? If you keep it then honestly you must have some sort of attraction to it that you can't deny.

Mazrael @ Jul 9th 2009 10:13PM

I just find Playstation controllers a little small, and the diagonals on the D-pad a little awkward, I probably perfer N's d-pad if it were bigger, I was never keen on the gaps between u-l-d-r. But I got used to it.. I dislike the PSP nub though, kills my thumb, so I use the d-pad, and 'roll' my thumb to get those diagonals.. 360 d-pad is only practical if you need the 4 main directions (like gears weopon select), but then rolling it around on 'quick inventories' like in Oblivion.. trouble with the 360 d-pad is it's a stunted analogue from what I can tell, still not how it should be even after 7 years since the original 'big O'

Erik Stroud @ Jul 10th 2009 1:16AM

360 controller is great for shooters and racing, PS3's is great for fighters and RPGs.

Chadd @ Jul 12th 2009 9:56AM

Yes you are correct, it is just my opinion so don't get your feelings hurt. After I posted I thought I should have noted that this was my opinion, but that probably wouldn't have mattered.

I'm not degrading the purchase. Just stating that I feel it is very slow and that the controller cramps my hands. Do you really feel that you can't dislike anything about everything you purchase? There's pros and cons to everything and you can't have a good discussion if you only talk about the good things.

to your other point, I have had nearly every game system since the original Nintendo and the Atari 800. So the original PS controllers were good for their time. The 360 controllers have simply eclipsed anything available today (yes that is my opinion again).

luke @ Jul 10th 2009 1:17AM

um raging storm you dont really have a clue do you GG has no way near the worldwide following that street fighter does SF2 was the 1st true 2 player fighting game (minus IK+) and the whole world ate it up, whereas the GG's werent nearly as big and GG was also on xbox. check your facts and if you werent around when SF2 came out then your ignorance is at least understandable

usagi704 @ Jul 9th 2009 7:31PM

I play it on PS3 because I can use my Sega Saturn pad for PS2 via an adapter.

karlwulfekote @ Jul 9th 2009 7:41PM

According to VG Chartz SF 4 did sell better on the PS3 actually.

In all honesty, I think it mainly has to do with the PS3's more precise d-pad.

groin @ Jul 9th 2009 7:51PM

The primary reason that EVO will use the PS3 is to accommodate people who have participated in past EVOs using PS2 fight sticks.

doa766 @ Jul 10th 2009 12:48AM

PS3 owners are in general older so they know about guilty gears and they're familiar with 2D fighters

most 360 owners probably never played a 2D fighter except for street fighter 4

Kochi @ Jul 10th 2009 4:59AM

I chose PS3 version because 360 one is region locked.
in other case I would prefer 360's

custnam @ Jul 10th 2009 5:32AM

Resistance 2 and Resistance Retribution uses remote play as well.

Haohmaru (PSN - DimmuBurgerKing XBL - A Real Puppet ) @ Jul 10th 2009 9:00AM

My understanding has been that EVO chose the PS3 as its platform of choice for fighters because of the support for USB controllers. Some of these players treat their custom modded joysticks the same way Jedi view their custom built lightsabers. XD It's awesome.

Haohmaru (PSN - DimmuBurgerKing XBL - A Real Puppet ) @ Jul 10th 2009 9:05AM

Yeah, it should come as no surprise. :P ASW games have always had a much larger following in Japan, and PS3 is the bigger seller there. I'm still finding all kinds of good competition from Japanese players on the 360 version, though! And BB's netcode is so awesome I get no lag whatsoever. It beats the living hell out of SF4's online.

Also, the LE PS3 version did come with a Blu-Ray instead of a DVD for the Dustloop/SRK strategies, but that's misleading because it's not in HD. :/

Storm Eagle::The Blood Edge @ Jul 10th 2009 9:35AM

I definitely bought mine because of the D-Pad. And even though the bonus disc is blu-ray, the picture isn't all that great.

But I had no idea it had remote play! I need to get a PSP BAD.

Jim @ Jul 10th 2009 9:55AM

OR they had lots more of Xbox 360 copies in stock...

megapenguinx @ Jul 10th 2009 2:05PM

Read the fucking article

megapenguinx @ Jul 10th 2009 2:06PM

The 360 D-pad is terrible, so this makes some sense.

Skygen @ Jul 10th 2009 3:28PM

Sorry but there seems to be a few real reasons the writer missed.

The reason that the PS3 version is selling more.. IS BECAUSE EUROPE IS BUYING IT AND IMPORTING IT!

Plane and simple, the 360 version is region locked, with no date set to when they will sell it in Europe/Australia. Not because people want to play Japanese gamers..

Also the reason EVO uses the PS3, is because the 360 has no backwards compatible controllers, where as the PS3, you can use PS2 controllers, and I believe some non playstation controllers... Theres also stuff like custom controller PCB's, where as the 360 has to be licenced chips and PCB's which generally are more expensive.

Reality is however as someone who runs online Fighting Game tournaments, that the 360 ladder is always much much larger than the PS3 Ladder, usually by 4-6 times the size..

For people in the fighting game scene, it boils down to this, at home 360 for online play, then dualmod your fightstick with 360+PS3 PCB's for tournaments like EVO, and hit the arcades as much as you can.

Asher @ Jul 10th 2009 5:52PM

A lot of valid points are made but i wonder how much if it is just that 360 and PS3 appeal to different audiences.
I think a lot of the flame wars get started because both consoles are really fighting for the same audience right now. I'd like to see more RPG, Fighters, Platformers and adventure games on the PS3. And more Action FPS and Sport games on the XBox.
No disrespect here! I like games from all these categories but i think it would be nice to see the games cater more to these two groups. I'm curious what other people think. This is just my opinion.