There are still some that argue smartphone games don't suit dedicated gaming portables such as the 3DS, and vice-versa; Puzzle & Dragons Z perhaps shows that some titles can succeed in both worlds. A phenomenon on smart devices, this amended version arrived on Nintendo's handheld in Japan late last year and stormed to early sales success, as it incorporates the popular puzzle RPG formula with balancing to form a solid adventure, removing the emphasis on micro-transactions.
GungHo Online Entertainment has announced that it's now shipped over 1.5 million copies of the retail title in Japan, an impressive achievement considering original targets of roughly one million units. That will have contributed further to GungHo's remarkable success, with 29 million downloads of the smart device version — which is free but has extensive micro-transactions — in Japan alone. It's evidence that, with a powerful brand and some effort, titles popular on phones and tablets can also achieve success on Nintendo's hardware.
This title has long been confirmed for the West, though release details have been elusive. While we wait, you can check out our Matters of Import assessment of the game and a host of videos, below.
[source destructoid.com, via 4gamer.net]
Comments 11
I wonder which one made the most money - 1.5 million full price sales or 29 million phone/tablet users potentially buying micro-transactions?
@C-Olimar Well considering a while back it was told they were making 3 to 4 million a day on the micro-transactions I would say not the game!
@Spoony_Tech I see.
At the very least the real game must have been highly profitable for them, justifying the time and effort in releasing it for 3DS.
@C-Olimar Without a doubt! Even if they just made a mere 30$ off each copy times 1.5 million. That's not chump change. Sure it's not 3 million a day but that a ton of money none the less.
The problem lies with are they cutting into micro-transaction money by releasing a full version. Some of those people are no longer doing micro-transactions. The best time to release would be when profits start dying down.
I dont play this anymore but I they still update the Andriod app on a regular basis so they havent abandoned the handeld version and I cant imagine this not releasing in the west. They better beat Yo-kai watch though
@TruenoGT - Well not "Z", the original P&D that came out about 2 years ago on Android in the US.
I SO want that game already! Get a move on, Gung-Ho! There's lots of cash to be had from us Europeans - we don't even have the Android version, after all! Bring it here, and then release the Android version 5-6 months later!
@TruenoGT There's an official US version on Google Play, so you have free access to the game - note, however, that Puzzle & Dragons Z is 3DS-exclusive, the Android version is different on certain aspects.
EDIT: ninja'd by @rjejr. ^_^"'
@TruenoGT yes the game is available in the android market.https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jp.gungho.padEN&hl=en
@TruenoGT If you're willing to let go of the Z, it's on the Android Market as Puzzle & Dragons. In the US & probably Japan.
how was that a boss?
That's good and all to see Puzzles & Dragons sell well, but I've also heard good things about Radiant Historia and Xenoblade, and now that they're both sitting on my shelf I can play them whenever I want, and being long RPG's it's still likely I won't finish them anytime soon. I feel the same will apply to here if I buy P&D. :/
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