dragon-quest-iv
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Gamefly lists new Elebits 2 title, possible Dragon Quest IV date
The rumors of a DS Elebits sequel, fueled by an "Elebits 2" Gamefly listing, have gotten a lot more plausible with a revision to that same listing. The title for the supposed sequel is now Elebits 2: Adventures of Kai & Zero, and the release date has been moved up two weeks to August 14.If this is real, we expect to hear about it very soon, since a Konami Gamer's Day took place yesterday. If it's fake, we expect to feel surprised.In other Gamefly news, Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen has an August 30 release date on the rental service's web page. No idea if it's accurate, but if it is, this is the summer of Square Enix "IV" remakes!
DQIV gets European release confirmation?
Apparently, a listing for Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen has shown up on the USK (or Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle, but we're sticking with the easier, shorter name), Germany's classification board. Not satisfied with just knowing the title exists in their database, we hit the USK's official website to see it with our own eyes and found this listing for the game.The chances that Europe will receive this game just increased, but we're curious about one thing. Just why isn't the game listed as Dragon Quest IV? It merely says Dragon Quest: The Chapters of the Chosen. Odd, if you ask us.[Via Wiiz]
ESRB rates Dragon Quest IV, virtually seals U.S. release
The apparently unassuming graphic above, freshly extracted from the ESRB's site, has some pretty serious implications for all of us.Most obviously, it means that -- yaaaaaay -- Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen has been classified in North America, confirming recent suspicions about certain trademarks. Barring nuclear fallout/meteor strikes/some bizarre volte-face from Square Enix, we're almost certainly getting the game!It also means that we'll be taking a break from blogging in the next hour or so to go outside, shoot our pistols in the air, and randomly hug strangers. And finally, it means that we'll be buying another damn Square Enix game in the coming months. Seriously, Square, can we not just pay you a flat fee directly from our bank accounts each month? Would probably be simpler.
A suspicious trademark appears! Command?
This is way speculative, but a new trademark registration by Square Enix may be a sign that the Dragon Quest IV remake is finally near. At the very least, it's a sign that something might be on the way, for some system. The trademark covers the phrase "Chapters of the Chosen." A Siliconera commenter cleverly remarked that it would be a great subtitle for Dragon Quest IV, which is broken up into individual chapters telling separate characters' stories. The original Japanese subtitle is "Michibikareshi Monotachi" ("The Guided People," or as Wikipedia has it, "Those Who are Shown the Way").If that's what this is, it would be a pretty strong indicator that Dragon Quest IV is being planned for U.S. release. Other evidence to support that theory includes the existing translation found on the card and Square Enix's interest in money.[Via Siliconera]
DS software extremely well-represented in 2007 Japanese sales
Japanese site geimin.net has compiled a list of the 500 highest-selling games in Japan (according to Media Create numbers), and, as would be expected of a video game thing related to Japan, the DS shows up a lot. 215 times, in fact.What was the top-selling DS game of 2007? No, not Brain Age 2. Newer, and slightly more game-like. That's right, it was Mario Party DS, which was also #4 overall in sales. We knew it was getting crazy sales, but we didn't realize that it was doing that well. Also a surprise though it shouldn't have been: Dragon Quest IV, which was the fourth highest-selling DS game and the overall eighth best-selling game. We've compiled the top 10 DS games and placed them after the break, but we encourage you to have a look at the whole list!
Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 2/11-2/17
The DS reclaimed second place for hardware, managing to inch past the PSP on this week's chart. A bunch of new releases helped the handheld's sales, as fifteen of the top thirty games last week were DS titles. Hardware: Wii: 78,583 Nintendo DS: 62,362 PSP: 59,645 PlayStation 3: 17,637 PlayStation 2: 11,266 Xbox 360: 2,198 The top contender for the dual-screened portable last week was the Japanese dating sim, Tokimeki Memorial: Girl's Side 2nd Season, which beat everything except Smash Bros. and Wii Fit. Meanwhile, After-School Boy and Doraemon Baseball were knocked out of the top thirty, but remained in the top fifty (along with Rune Factory 2). Overall, though, it was a great software week for the DS. If you want to see why, check out the numbers after the break.
DS Daily: Such a Square (Enix)
There's a lot of potential Square Enix on the horizon. Between The World Ends with You, Final Fantasy remakes, Dragon Quest remakes, new Dragon Quests, Border of Madness, Final Fantasy Tactis A2, and Crystal Chronicles, that's quite a lot of DS love. Oh, and let's not forget Kingdom Hearts. So, are you a Square Enix fan? If so, what game are you most hoping for or looking forward to? See also: 2008's Biggest Blips -- Final Fantasy IV -- The World Ends with You -- Final Fantasy Tactics A2
Another Week In Japan: Hardware and software numbers 2/4-2/10
Aside from Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games, the best seller for the DS last week was L, the Prologue to Death Note: Rasen no Wana. It's no surprise that this game did well in Japan, as it's based off a popular anime series. It wasn't enough to help the DS overcome the PSP or Wii this week, though, as Brawl and Mobile Suit Gundam kept their respective systems on top easily. Wii: 81,737 PSP: 75,912 Nintendo DS: 60,464 PlayStation 3: 23,985 PlayStation 2: 11,038 Xbox 360: 3,615 The rest is the same story as last week, with After-School Boy managing to stay in the top thirty, and a new Brain Age-like game thrown in. Check after the break to get a look at the software rankings and sales.
Another Week In Japan: Hardware and software numbers 1/28-2/3
It's a sad day for the DS in Japan. As Media Create's hardware figures from last week were released, we found out that not only the Wii topped the DS (like the week before), but also the PSP managed to overtake the dual-screened handheld. Hardware: Wii: 94,473 PSP: 72,528 Nintendo DS: 67,472 PlayStation 3: 41,796 PlayStation 2: 12,115 Xbox 360: 6,060 According to Media Create, the DS only had one game in the top ten (Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games). That's not surprising, since there were many new releases on other systems, but it's far from the DS dominance that we're used to. Still, it was nice to see some low-key games like After-School Boy, Taiko Drum Master, and Doraemon Baseball getting love in Japan. Check after the break to see the full list of software rankings from last week.
Everything you ever wanted to know about Dragon Quest
For gamers not living in Japan, Dragon Quest tends to be considered "that other" Square-Enix series. There's no question that the franchise is constantly overshadowed by Final Fanasy, at least here in the U.S. That's not to say Dragon Quest doesn't have a respectable fanbase, but compared to the support that the series gets in Japan, anything else is peanuts. There's much to be learned about this classic franchise, though. If you're a fan and want to brush up on your Dragon Quest knowledge, be sure to check out Gamasutra's in-depth history. We have to warn you, however -- reading it will only make you hungry for some localization announcements. Hopefully, it's only a matter of time before we hear something tangible.
Another Week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 1/21-1/27
We apologize for being late with Japan's sales figures from last week, but when we saw the Wii overtake the DS, we needed a minute to recover. Our beloved handheld was pushed out of the top spot in Japan? If you need to see it to believe it: Wii: 79,000 DS: 74,000 PSP: 61,000 PS3: 29,000 PS2: 11,000 Xbox 360: 4,200 That's right, folks. According to Famitsu's numbers, the DS was dethroned last week by Nintendo's other system, the Wii. We crosschecked the numbers with Media Create's figures just to be sure, which (to our relief) had the DS ahead by a smidge. Since both numbers are equally credible (we use Famitsu numbers because they come out first), we were glad to see that the Wii didn't triumph as a clear winner. Still, we came to realize something -- Super Smash Bros. Brawl just came out in Japan. Once the sales numbers for the game hit the charts (next week), the Wii will probably blow the DS (and every other system) out of the water. The DS also slacked slightly in software (compared to previous weeks). While games for the handheld still littered the charts, they didn't dominate over other titles as much as usual. Doraemon Baseball (which we haven't heard much of since its debut) did jump up into the number eight spot, though, while Final Fantasy IV fell out of the top twenty completely. Also, Exit DS came out in Japan last week, starting its run with only 5,500 sales. Check after the break to see the rest of the software sales for the week of 1/21.
Another week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 1/14-1/20
The DS version of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games premiered last week, immediately shooting to the top of the charts. Only Wii Fit could keep the game from taking the number one spot. Aside from Mario & Sonic and the Professor Layton sequel, though, most DS games found themselves in the bottom half of the top twenty. Rune Factory 2 even threatens to slip off completely after a few promising weeks.As for the hardware numbers, it's the same old story. The DS continues to sell well, and once again takes the #1 spot with Japanese gamers.Hardware: DS: 91,000 Wii: 76,000 PSP: 65,000 PS3: 32,000 PS2: 13,000 Xbox 360: 4,400 The Japanese software numbers for the week of 1/14 are listed after the break.
Another week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 1/7-1/13
The PSP might be inching closer to the DS in hardware sales, but the dual-screened handheld continues to dominate the software charts. Half of the games in the top twenty were DS games, while the Wii, PSP, PS2 and PS3 shared the other half.Many of the top games were old favorites, but relative newcomers like Final Fantasy IV and Rune Factory 2 did well, too. Professor Layton 2 continues to help its predecessor sell more copies, giving the original Layton a chance to reach one million sales. For the most part, though, it was a quiet and predictable week in the Land of the Rising Sun.Hardware: DS: 103,000 PSP: 84,000 Wii: 82,000 PS3: 34,000 PS2: 15,000 Xbox 360: 5,500 The software sales can be seen after the break.
DS Daily: Experienced
I was reminded by Leigh Alexander's adorable childhood Phantasy Star II fanworks of my own recent, abortive attempts to replay the game. What was shockingly doable when I was 11 is now painful and a little tedious. We have been coddled by role-playing games with sensible level progressions and relatively small dungeons (with automaps, even -- when was the last time you got graph paper out for a dungeon?) With Final Fantasy III already out and IV on the way, as well as Dragon Quests aplenty, Ys, Shiren the Wanderer and even remakes of PlayStation-era RPGs, the DS is going to be neck-deep in antiquated RPGs soon. How many of you have managed to get through an old-school RPG in the modern era? If so, did you have experience with them when they were new?
Another week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 12/31-1/6
The big news with last week's sales numbers is not that the DS managed to top 300,000 again, but that the New Super Mario Bros. broke five million in Japan. Not only that, but the game took the sixteenth spot in today's Famistu chart. Also showing legs is Mario Kart DS, which sold 68,000 copies to take the number eight spot. While it's no surprise that Mario Kart does well week after week (after week), we didn't expect it to make the top ten. We're also happy to see some new DS blood enter the ring, with Rune Factory 2 selling 56,000 in its debut. The rise in sales from the previous week was most likely due to the New Years holiday, which is a popular shopping period in Japan. These numbers are almost certainly not sustainable, though, so we should see a big difference next week. Of course, we fully expect that the DS will end up on top, as always, with a smattering of its games in the top ten. Check after the break to see the numbers, with NSMB sales tacked on for good measure.
Another week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 12/24-12/31
We were finally able to get our greedy little hands on the Japanese sales numbers from Famitsu for the week of 12/24, and came to find that the DS had another great week.Unsurprisingly, the DS took the top spot in hardware sales, moving 195,000 units. While this was a drop from the week before's incredible numbers, it certainly isn't a bad showing for the three-year-old handheld.In terms of software, Final Fantasy IV is continuing to sell well, meaning that more remakes in the series are sure to follow. The other Square-Enix remake on the charts, Dragon Quest IV, managed to go platinum this week. Mario Party DS, meanwhile, was the only other DS game to make the top ten, as the Professor Layton sequel slipped to the number eleven spot.To see the hardware and software sales numbers for the the week of 12/24, check after the break.
Another week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 12/17-12/23
Another week in Japan has come and gone, which means yet another week of ridiculous success for the DS. The hardware managed to top 300k for the week, while heavy hitters like Final Fantasy IV, Dragon Quest IV, and Mario Party DS littered the top ten in the software charts. It was also a good week for baseball game Dorabase, which debuted at the number nine spot with 96k, selling 90% of it's total stock. Hardware: DS: 319,000 Wii: 264,000 PSP: 162,000 PS3: 51,000 PS2: 24,000 Xbox 360: 8,100 Check after the break to see the software numbers for 12/17-12/23 in Japan.
Another week in Japan: Hardware and software numbers 12/10-12/16
Be careful with that DS of yours. It may be small and look all cute with its two screens, but that thing is a monster. How else could a system manage an 89,000 boost in hardware sales from last week's already ridiculously high numbers? The DS just continues to blow everything else away, selling 91,000 units more than the competing PSP (which also had a good week in Japan). As for software sales, however, only three of the system's biggest contenders (Mario Party DS, Professor Layton II, and Dragon Quest IV) managed to make it into the top ten. Not only did these three games do well for the week, but their total sales are pretty outstanding. We wouldn't be surprised to see all of them reach the million mark at some point.Check after the break to see Japan's hardware and software numbers for the week of 12/10-12/16.
Dragon Quest has hidden English translation
It's not complete. And it's pretty well hidden. But, it's there. If you're anything like us, you've been dying to get your hands on Dragon Quest IV. Now, importing it looks like a more viable option to getting our fix and to put a calm on these shakes, now that this has been discovered.What you'll need is an Action Replay and the game (natch). By inputting code 02106404 00000001, you'll be able to enjoy some nice, readable text. Of course, this isn't perfect, so those of you who want to experience the full game as it's intended for your language region might want to wait. But, of course the problem is that waiting is hard.
Japanese release of Wii Fit met by loooong queues
We may still lack solid numerical data when it comes to Japanese sales of Wii Fit, but all the early signs have been pointing to Nintendo scoring another major non-game hit.The scene to the right, for example, shows a queue of soon-to-be Wii Fit owners, patiently lining up in Akihibara. As the pictures after the jump and at the link below illustrate, this is far from a one-off; Wii Fit is shaping up to be big, in a way that poor old Super Mario Galaxy wasn't.Barring shortages of the Balance Board, or another miraculous performance from Dragon Quest IV (not that that should be completely ruled out), expect Wii Fit to be hogging top spot in Japan next week.
