PS3 sells more RPGs than Xbox 360?
Initially it wasn’t clear if RPGs would sell well on the PS3 or the Xbox 360 due to its intended target audience. There was a dry spell until the slow but steady release of traditional RPGs such as the Last Remnant, Tales of Vesperia and Valkyria Chronicles. With the launch of White Knight on the PS3, it seems that there is a revitalization of the genre.
Traditional RPGs, which are usually turn-based and strategy focused, have been around since the inception of Dungeons & Dragon back in the day. Since then, Japanese studios have really expanded upon that genre, possibly contributing the most.
There are still western studios that make traditional RPGs like Dungeons & Dragon and the Lord of the Ring series. However, most western RPGs are not true RPGs, but hybrids of action/adventure/hack & slash with RPG elements, like Oblivion.
Microsoft has done an excellent job of creating a nice library of RPGs to woo over the Japanese market. However, it seems Microsoft’s attempt hasn’t been all that successful when you compare its RPG sales to first week sales for the White Knight on the PS3.
According to PS3Center, the White Knight managed to sell an estimated 250k during its first week (3 days) making it the best selling RPG in Japan this generation. Apparently, the White Knight far outsold any other RPG released on the Xbox 360 and the PS3 to date.
To be fair, the PS3 has a much larger install base in Japan then the Xbox 360. This may be part of the reason for the high sales, but you have to also consider that this isn’t the first RPG to be released on the PS3 in Japan. PS3 exclusives, Valkyria Chronicles and Disgaea 3, are both highly rated RPGs that didn’t sell as well as White Knight.
White Knight is unique in the sense that it has a single player campaign with a multiplayer mode. Users can party up to four members and play the game similarly to a MMORPG. I am curious to see how well White Knight performs worldwide once it is released.
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28 Responses to “PS3 sells more RPGs than Xbox 360?”
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December 30th, 2008
I can’t wait to get this game it looks great. For PS2 online lovers buy this rare Network Adapter and play SOCOM II with me http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120356501286&category=139969&_trksid=p2773.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSI%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D40%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D54
December 30th, 2008
mike you do realize that Famitsu already have a review for White Knight… its not good…
but I digress… it doesnt matter… NOT one single bit… I dont care which platform sells the most… SPECIALLY for Rpgs… because… guess what… they dont have online components… except White Knight… I think Ill try White Knight… it should be fun…
also… I dont think the biggest portion of LIVE users want to play RPGs… online… I kindly request your attention to the most played games on LIVE…
case closed…
also I find it weird that I like Pokemon games… but I dont like Final Fantasy like games… maybe if they had more interaction within the turn based action… like QTEs or whatever… but I do like KOTOR 2…
December 30th, 2008
I know that DWH,
but Famitsu also gave Haze 34/40. It is a difficult magazine to gauge by, or even find relevance with our equivalents over here.
It seems the Japanese consumers find something appealing about White Knight that we don’t quite understand yet.
I am very much interested in the game, a RPG with a multiplayer mode which acts like an MMORPG of sorts… interesting. From what I understand the servers have been experiencing issues from the traffic.
This is one instance I am glad a game hasn’t come out here first. Let them work out the server issues over in Japan before they release it overseas.
I’ll give you guys an preview once we get our review copy.
December 30th, 2008
Lets just remember that 360 has not even sold a million yet in the reagon. PS3 I believe that it has over 2-3 Million.
December 30th, 2008
damn… I was just gonna say that… I hope famitsu is wrong with their score…
December 30th, 2008
That is a sensational article title, unfortunately it is slightly inaccurate… maybe “in Japan” would be a good tail end to it. Or you could just say the opposite and use the following numbers to back it up.
If we are going to use the PS3Center for numbers in japan, I’ll use VG chartz (better ref if you have it please):
Elder Scrolls IV (last update Nov08):
360: 2,620,000
PS3: 760,000
Mass Effect (last update Feb08):
360: 2,240,000
Eternal Sonata:
360: 260,000 (last update Dec 07)
PS3: 60,000 (last update Oct 08)
Lost Odyssey:
360: 850,000 (Aug08)
Tales of Vesperia:
360: 270,000 (Dec 08)
Blue Dragon:
360: 520,000 (Nov08)
Enchanted Arms:
360: 160,000 (Oct08)
PS3: 160,000 (Oct08)
Fallout 3:
360: 1,610,000 (Nov08)
PS3: 910,000 (Dec08)
Valkyria Chronicles:
PS3: 280,000 (Dec08)
Fable II:
360: 2,180,000 (Dec08)
Disgaea:
PS3: 130,000 (Dec08)
Culdcept Saga:
360: 140,000 (Jan08)
I’m still leaving out a lot of the less well received from the 360, quite a few less from the PS3.
Totals for the titles released on both systems mentioned here:
360: 7m
PS3: 2.4m
It seems the PS3 has a ways to catch up in order to sell more RPG’s than 360.
December 30th, 2008
To be more specific, the totals for only the titles that released on both systems mentioned above, not just one or the other, as the 360 has twice as many RPG’s.
December 30th, 2008
Royzy, how the hell do you make a creature on LBP to follow you?! I’ve just made the first bit of the level, but i need to know how to make them follow you! I tried tinkering with the brains, but nothing so far.
December 30th, 2008
[makes sound of rubbing lamp and smoke]
I don’t know. I haven’t tried it, but I’m sure the tutorial just said go to the tweak menu with the brain and set the mode to proximity, and the radius to whatever you need. If you press start and go to ‘videos and voice overs’ all the tutorial videos end up there. Also remember a lot of stuff only works in Play mode, not Create mode.
December 30th, 2008
Yeah i tried all of that, perhaps MM just dont like me. Whats your level based on?
December 30th, 2008
Woah. Is this writer implying that JRPG’s are “true” RPG’S? Last time I checked almost all JRPG’s are ultra-linear affairs where the player is almost more a spectator.
December 30th, 2008
1up previewed WKC and said that Famitsu was off base with their review.
December 30th, 2008
carlb- 99% of these articles are inaccurate. Great research, tho! only to be completely ignored by the ps3 zealouts…
December 30th, 2008
I WAS going crazy waiting for this game. But now I have discovered Valkyria Chronicles. My life is happy now…
-Arvis
December 30th, 2008
Kev honey don’t be bitter. when you get a PS3 we’ll invite you into Home and let you play on our LBP levels.
December 30th, 2008
Screw Famitsu! I can’t wait to pick it up. Hopefully they can get it ready in time of 2009.
Bourne – to make a creature follow you in LBP, simply tweak its brain. I think the category is behavior. Then set the radius of the response to trigger the action.
December 30th, 2008
Yeh i figured out how to make it follow me, its just that the wheels were the wrong sort (long story)
December 30th, 2008
THANK YOU BOURNE!!!
after piles and piles of crap… we finally have some “game talking”… lemme see… hows your level coming??
arvis what is so great about valkyria chronicles that gives you a boner for it…
December 30th, 2008
My games going…. interestingly. My idea is kind of stealing crash bandicoot ( where you have to outrun a giant monster or something jumping over nitro boxes and TNT ) But i’m having serious issues. DWH have you got LBP? We still haven’t played GTA.
December 30th, 2008
Arvis – Valkyria Chronicles is v. good.
Finally picked it up the other day. Really wish there was an MP mode – could’ve been really fun.
December 30th, 2008
DWH,
Everything. Literally everything.
…and my mom’s not gonna let us hang out anymore if you’re gonna be a sophomoric little perv. >.>
-Arvis
December 30th, 2008
I dont have lbp… well atleast I didnt buy WoW… il put that money to lbp…
arvis.. I need details… let me live that game THROUGH you… Im sure your mom can understand our complex relationship… our love for porn games… our hatred towards the 360… its what great love stories are made of…
December 30th, 2008
oh crap not this porn related crap here AGAIN.
December 30th, 2008
Fitting an Xbox 360 into a PS3 case just may make your eyes bleed
http://www.slashgear.com/fitting-an-xbox-360-into-a-ps3-case-just-may-make-your-eyes-bleed-3028248/#entrycontent
http://www.n8bog.com/ps360/ps360.html
December 30th, 2008
sometimes… life screws you over the head… sometimes you take crap from idiots on the net…
http://www.gametrailers.com/player/43916.html
sometimes… it really doesnt matter who won… because you are having fun whether you win or lose…
I hope we can see some new-er arguments from you kevin… god knows we need it…
December 30th, 2008
whats even funnier is that these guys didnt even nominate mgs 4 for best story… and the nest graphics went to gears 2…
still… doesnt really matter…
December 31st, 2008
dwh – i only keep bringing up the same facts, because you fnaboys keep bringing up the same tired, unfounded, predictions that never come true. blame yourself.
maybe you start to see gaming for the games and not loyalty to sony, i might not have to keep reminding you noobs of the facts.
bah…then i’d only have ivan psp to work with and that’s just too friggin’ easy….
December 31st, 2008
“maybe you start to see gaming for the games and not loyalty to sony, i might not have to keep reminding you noobs of the facts.”
Hey Mr Kettle….I’d like to introduce you to Mr Pot….