Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of the Sky (AKA: Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon: Sora no Tankentai) was recently released in Japan and promptly sold 141,000 copies, which equates to around a 30% sell-through. This retail performance was enough to place it at the top of the Japanese multi format games chart.
However, when looking at the figures posted by the previous Mystery Dungeon titles, this seems a little less impressive.
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time shifted 316,000 copies in its opening week, and Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Darkness managed 295,000.
You know that the industry is going through tough times when you see numbers like that.
Here’s the official top ten:
01. Pokémon Fushigi no Dungeon: Sora no Tankentai (DS) - 142,000 / NEW
02. Sengoku Basara Battle Heroes (PSP) - 28,000 / 114,000
03. Mario & Luigi RPG3!!! (DS) - 19,000 / 541,000
04. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP) - 18,000 / 591,000
05. Katekyoo Hitman Reborn! DS Fate of Heat II - Unmei no Futari (DS) - 18,000 / NEW
06. Fantasy Golf Pangya Portable (PSP) - 13,000 / NEW
07. Pro Yakyuu Famista DS 2009 (DS) - 11,000 / 55,000
08. Musou Orochi Z (PS3) - 10,000 / 205,000
09. Mobile Suit Gundam: Senjou no Kizuna Portable (PSP) - 9,000 / 144,000
10. Deca Sporta 2 (Wii) - 9,000 / NEW
[source kotaku.com]
Comments (17)
That was a pretty steep drop-off in sales figures.
I wonder if the Japanese finally figured out that these games stink...or that they're not very different from each other...or that this isn't Platinum.
Maybe they want our games.....HAHAHA!!!!
Well it surprising to me it that it sells as I didnt find anything special in blue rescue team.
Then again the version of mystery dungeon that is straight out mystery dungeon didn't sell too well.
Then again if you slap on a popluar title on anything no mater what it garantess to sell.
That worked with the 5/6 pokémon mystery durngeon & the 3 Chocobo mystery dungeon.
I guess Chunsoft are happy with the deals with both Nintendo & Square Enid
Look at those sales figures every week and it's pretty clear the Japanese aren't buying as many games, period, regardless of whether or not Pokemon is in the title.
When Nintendo commented on the Wii facing difficulty in Japan they were actually saying that the video game market in Japan is generally going through difficult times; not just the Wii.
If North America and EU continue to buck the Japanese sales trend it may benefit gamers who in the past have had only a few Japanese exports whilst seeing other titles of interest never get localised. Hence Capcom apparently serious about trying to promote Monster Hunter Tri and Square-Enix buying Eidos to get a bigger publishing foothold in Europe. I would expect Namco to make a similar move in Europe since presently their local arm only deals with distribution and promotion of arcade machines.
Isn't pokemon primarily aimed at weaker RPG players (especially kids)? I don't think Mystery Dungeon really works for those and I'm surprised they even tried to make those games.
Sean: Well, on the HD systems it looks like the japanese devs are already going for a western style or complete niche. They probably figured out it's much more effective to appeal to the west.
...really?
I actually like Mystery Dungeon.
I've only played the first one, and it's pretty fun. I heard that Explorers of Time/Darkness just adds the next generation Pokemon to it. Is this one sort of a combination of the two new versions like Platinum is to Pearl/Diamond?
I might get this one, the first Mystery Dungeon was awesome, only being edged out slightly by Emerald, and much better than D/P. Platinum is probably better, but I have Diamond, but not the 2nd Mystery Dungeon.
I wonder if japan getting more digital nintendo offerings is because retail is down
Mystery Dungeon titles are great. The japanese seem to love roguelike games (which are where these come from) and to me it's just fine I've been playing Rogue and Nethack since the mid 80's and I'm happy that those kinds of games are still alive
I prefer the Rescue series and dont care for explorers
Guys, this is a 3rd version of MD2 you know.
@KDR_11k I am inclined to agree. Mystery Dungeon is definitely a kids game, it was far too easy to finish the game and complete the Dex. That said there is something compulsive about Pokémon and catching 'em all whatever age you are.
Oh, and forget the Pokémon Ranger series, I'm not scratching up my screen again. Roll on Platinum!
Is there a possibility that WiiWare and VC may actually be hurting Nintendo's sales elsewhere? I say this because I'm not especially well off and I can very rarely justify buying a Wii game when I could get 3-10 decent games for the same price from the Wii Shop. For example, I quite liked the look of the new Wario Land but when I saw how many good 2D platformers are on VC it just didn't make sense to buy it. I think there are a few people like myself who just have Brawl, Galaxy + VC. Maybe this is why Nintendo seem reluctant to put VC on the DSi?
Really CowLaunch? There are now far more high quality titles on the Wii than there were year ago such as Metroid prime,mario strikers, mario kart, the soon to be relesed PunchOut!!, The Conduit, little kings story, excitebots, and boom blox bash party. maybe you just aren't seeing the the good game on the wii? Though they should relese vc on the DSi with you know really old gameboy color titles and some hard to find gameboy advanced ones.
I like these games, I'm going to get this new one when it comes out the 23rd.
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