Capcom's Okamiden Limps to Retail in Japan
Posted by Damien McFerran
DS sequel lags behind PS2 and Wii versions in day one sales
We're absolute suckers for cute animals here at Nintendo Life so the high expectations we hold for Capcom's DS title Okamiden are entirely understandable - it's just a shame that Japan doesn't seem to feel the same way.
First-day sales figures for the Okami sequel suggest that only 10,000 copies have made their way into the sweaty palms of consumers - which is much lower than the PS2 (60,000) and Wii (20,000) prequel managed in the same time frame.
Apparently Capcom had very low expectations for the game, shipping only 20,000 units to retail. Simple mathematics would therefore indicate that they've sold 50% of their initial stock, and while this fact might provide a much-needed positive spin to present to the company's board of directors (Capcom's profit for fiscal year 2010 dropped 73% over the previous year), there's no escaping the fact that we're talking pitiful numbers here - especially when you consider the insane popularity of the DS in its native Japan.
[via gamekyo.com]
#1
WolfRamHeart said:
Aww, poor Chibiterasu! Don't worry little guy, I'll buy your game.
#2
SilverBaretta said:
It's not like we're talking about an RPG, here, but those sales could still be a lot better.
#3
labrat7 said:
Look at the poor little guy...
#4
Linkstrikesback said:
...Well that sucks, I have high hopes for okamiden, but obviously japan doesn't/didn't.
#5
TheBaconator said:
I don't expect many games on the DS to sell well for the next 5 months, due to both Pokemon and the 3DS.
#6
WolfRamHeart said:
I think I remember reading that the PS2 version of Okami didn't sell very well in Japan either but these numbers for Okamiden are seriously underwhelming. I really hope that it does better when it is released here in the US.
#7
citizenerased said:
Put the furball in Nintendogs as unlockable
And wtf I thought the Okami series was loved in Japan? They were in Famitsu's Most Wanted list and everything...
#8
Xkhaoz said:
Not again....
#9
Cipher said:
Well, I'll be getting this as soon as it hits Europe because it looks utterly fantastic, and I know a lot of my friends are doing the same.
Europe loves Okamiden!
#10
SevenForce said:
dont worry Capcom this is a day one buy for me
#11
Incognito_D said:
I'll be buyan' this when it hits Europe. Hopefully it does better in the rest of the world.
#12
Chrono_Crossing said:
I don't care how well it sold, Okami was epic.
#13
Crystalking18 said:
I'll buy it. Chibitersu needs a home!
#14
Tsuchinoko said:
To be fair, I've seen very little advertising for this game here. The most i saw was a billboard in a store. The art was pretty and all, but I never saw a commercial, no flyers, no posters, nothing on tv. It could be that I just missed something here, but compared to the adverts I've seen for other games, it is easy to simply NOT know this game exists.
#15
treeofmana said:
This is a game I'm not going to hesitate to pick up. Unfortunately, me not hesitating usually just means it's high on my priority list. I don't usually get a game as soon as it comes out. I wish that game companies could rely less on initial numbers since the market is saturated with games. Many of them are excellent titles that I can't wait to pick up. Unfortunately, I don't have the time or the disposable income to keep myself up to date with the latest and greatest.
#16
ArmoredGoomba said:
I've been playing Okami all weeekend. Great game! Capcom needs to push this sequel harder.
#17
Gavin_Rozee said:
I'll probably pick it up when it arrives here. Can't be too picky with DS games nowadays unfortunately.
#18
Marvelousmoo said:
I don't think that I would buy it either unless I heard that it was really good after its been out for a while. Sequels are usually not that great compared to their predecessors, and in my opinion, Okami was such a great game that it is almost a disservice to make one for it. The original lasted way longer than you expected it to, and the ending was completely unexpected from the beginning. When I finished it, I wanted to play more, but at the same time, I felt satisfied. I mean, the world is saved, what more can you do? You just defeated the ruler of all darkness, what else is there? Okami wasn't set up for a sequel, and i would have liked a completely new adventure game instead of a sequel.
#19
Objection said:
Wonder if it was bad timing. What else came out around that time in Japan?
Anyways, yeah I'll get this game right away when/if it comes to NA.
#20
Raylax said:
I dunno, if you're going to release a game, surely you don't do it right when something that's definitely going to eclipse it is dominating the sales, with practically no advertising, and only stick 20,000 copies in stores. It's going to be overlooked completely. Bad move, Capcom.
#21
HipsterDashie said:
It's a little unsurprising, considering Japan is gripped by Poke Fever at the moment. Still, depending on my funds, I'm hoping to pick this up when it's released here.
#22
JDesensitized said:
Japan dropping the ball again in supporting their games.
#23
Rasche said:
Well that's a darn shame but I have been waiting for this game for SO LONG. Ever since it was even announced it was going to be released in Japan, I've wanted it. From like, 1 1/2 years ago. You can bet I'll be one of the first in line.
#24
Objection said:
Black and White? Kinda figured by its sales numbers that everyone in Japan already bought at least 1 copy of that.
Poor Okamiden.
#25
OverlordMao said:
Wait a second.
Japan, the place that appreciates cuteness and animation more than anyone else, is barely purchasing the game unlike the U.S.?
Damn pokemon.
#26
Sneaker13 said:
Too bad. Wrong timing on Capcom's behalve, but hopefully it get picked up more in the next couple of week when the storm calls Pokémon calms down a bit.
#27
dsmaster said:
Uh-oh hope the dismal sales in Japan don't deter Capcom from releasing it stateside...
#28
LaytonAprentice said:
I never got the chance to play Okami but I will probably buy this since that dog is so cute and the graphics are nice. @7 Although Nintendogs is not that interesting to me if that little guy was in it it would be and insta-buy for me
#29
LzQuacker said:
I blame Pokemon
#30
WiiLovePeace said:
I blame lack of advertising for the game
#31
Fuzzy said:
I'll buy this in the first week, if it ever comes!
#32
Warioware said:
Sad. Maybe they should have made it a 3DS launch title instead of keeping it on the DS. I'll still buy it though.
#33
CanisWolfred said:
Hopefully those sales won't be lagging once it comes out here!
#34
Mayhem said:
Pokemon yes... but I'll probably get this when it hits the West, I did like the demo I played at San Diego...
#35
MasterGraveheart said:
I will buy this game at launch! That little guy is just too cute to resist.
#36
XD375 said:
The fact that Birth By Sleep sold so much and this sold so little breaks my heart as a gamer.
#37
Bobpie said:
I'm getting it. Poor Chibi...
#38
i8cookie said:
I was a little disappointed by this sequel. Okami was cool, you played as a fierce wolf. This one you play a a puppy? Looks like it's trying hard to be cute which quite frankly makes me a bit queasy...
#39
CanisWolfred said:
@Marveloousoo
We're talking about a Video Game here, not a movie. Sequels of video games are usually better since they fix the laws of the first and improve on what was already good.
#40
kurtasbestos said:
I was in Japan a couple of months ago and I found Okamiden advertisements at a 7-11 without really trying. Knowing their tastes, I'm not sure if I'm surprised or not that the Japanese aren't crazy about the series... but I guess it's up to all of us Japan-loving weirdos around the world to show Okami/den the love it deserves.
#41
Vinsanity said:
That's . Japan - you'll make Love Plus a million+ seller, but ignore something amazing like Okamiden!?! You KNOW it'll be largely ignored in the west - its up to YOU guys (for once) to guarantee some sales for a killer title. And, of course, you've let us all down:( You guys BETTER pick up sales later on.
And also, I suppose its a good thing then, that I'm going to buy two copies of this when it hits the states. One for me, one for my sister.
#42
Steamboat_Willie said:
It won't do well here in the states as well since the shootan games are all the rage here. =(
I'm getting it on day one if any stores bother to have it in stock.
#43
Flandy said:
Oh god it's happening all over again! D:
#44
Ashen_Iris said:
It not his fault that they are all still playing Pokemon
#45
PSICOffee said:
If this isn't released in the US because of the stupid obsessed Japanese pokemaniacs I'll be pissed at whoever decides which games are released in what regions. Granted, its also lack of advertising, and possibly they aren't as interested in their own feudal history like foreigners are (they are probably sick hearing about ancient Japan anyway). But I want this game to at least continue to be released around the world so the people who DO appreciate it can enjoy it, which I don't think is a problem yet. Pokemon is great and all but that's frickin ridiculous, they keep adding more pokemon because they know you wont have time to max out the abilities of all of them. Unless you cheat.