Those of you versed in video game history will be aware of a story relating to the astonishing popularity of Dragon Quest, one of Japan's most beloved RPGs. Back when the series was just starting out on the Famicom, kids and adults alike would bunk off school or work to buy it and spend an entire day playing. The resultant "sick day" epidemic was apparently so bad that it actually had an adverse effect on the Japanese economy (or so the legend states).
Things became so dire that a law was passed in Japan which forbade Enix from releasing a new Dragon Quest game on a weekday - and that tradition continues to this very day. Many have since accepted the "Dragon Quest law" as solid fact, but here's the rub - it's a myth, although some elements are true.
Enix did begin to release Dragon Quest games on a Saturday, but not because it was told to by the Japanese government - it came to an agreement with Nintendo and decided to shift the release day voluntarily.
So there you have it - another urban myth is squashed.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 25
Speaking of Dragon Quest, I just saw that the 3DS version is not getting localized, and the PS4 and PC versions have a release date on September 4 for NA, but that the Switch version is still a long ways off
Too bad the 3ds game won't be localised, it seems.
Damien, why are you posting this meaningless article when the 3DS DQ XI version for the west is cancelled and the Switch version isn't coming out until probably holidays 2019 (distant future).
@Dark_aap Kind of weird since it was the best selling version, by a fairly large margin.
@getyourak Need some lightheartedness before the s***storm.
i am disappointed by not releasing DQ11 on 3DS in the west, but we have a PC and Switch version instead, but ....the 3DS one looks so amazing
I also thought the article had something to do with the delay of DQ XI and the cancellation of western 3ds release
Sad this was a myth, haha. I’m still going to tell people it is true... no sense in letting the truth get in the way of a good story!
@getyourak Er, because it relates to the ORIGINAL Dragon Quest games, which were released on Nintendo consoles?
“it came to an agreement with Nintendo”
But why?
@Damo ...ok. Anyways, great work on the copy past reporting that IGN did.
All I know is that the NEW one is here on September 4th. And on Steam!
Thanks for the text part. Not always want to watch a video for so small information.
Reminds me a while back when a Call of Duty game coming out on a Presidential Election Day raised concerns it would keep younger voters at home.
Of course, today, none of this is a problem, since now when you buy a game you have to spend the whole first day downloading Day One patches, or sometimes the rest of the friggin' game! The servers now required for this game to function may have crashed due to all the sudden activity, or in Metal Gear Survive's case, Konami forgot to turn them on.
@Ernest_The_Crab They were implying they were going all out and pushing the Switch tech hard, make the port super great, and then ONLY push this really pretty version to a western audience in hopes of growing it. Think they're thinking of it along the lines of what Capcom did with Monster Hunter World on PSXBOX. But unlike what Capcom did with Monster Hunter XX, they don't want a portable audience to blow their load on an inferior portable version, before buying another portable version. Yes it's gonna be on Ps4, but am imagining they think they can really grow the audience thru a really pretty portable version on a hot system.
I wished it was true. I always liked that story
@Dang69 Wouldn't that harm sales of the Switch version? The 3DS version has already been sold in Japan and anyone with more than just a Switch (like a PC or PS4) probably wouldn't wait that long considering how far away Square Enix is implying the release date will be.
@tigermask My Nintendo News - https://mynintendonews.com/
But Nintendo Life is pure joy. I hope they continue posting whatever the f**k they think it's good and funny.
I appreciate this article.
Ironically, I had forgotten about this rumor. But why did Nintendo want the release dates moved? Maybe it affected their own profit margin somehow.
@Ernest_The_Crab THE THEORY would be and has been among some internets people, is that a handheld gaming experience, when there's enough of a delay between a PS4 launch or whatever, is that the portability of the Switch is enticing people to double dip and buy the game again, even if they bought it a few months prior. Having a 3DS version released in the west, sort of nips that in the bud a bit. I can't substantiate what I said, but this is the constant chatter from every level of pundit, podcaster to message board commenter, I've seen for months. Like if a game is good and you didn't finish it months ago and got distracted, or played it thru once and have an itch to play it again, having it as a portable version is appealing. Guess that makes sense...like I'm really starting to get an itch to play Mario Rabbids again, if the first time I played it, it was a typical console style experience, I'd rather reply it this time around "on the go". Does that make sense? I think it's a real thing.
...I don't remember hearing that it was a law, I always thought it was requested of them. But I guess it's good to know they have the sense to keep it to a Saturday. These Tuesday/Friday release dates are kind of a pain, IMO, if only because I don't have a car, and can be really busy during a weekday...
I knew it was too good to be true. I'm kind of sad about it.
Do you guys think that they are not localizing the 3ds version for the west to make as much as possible off of the Nintendo fanbase? I really cannot think of why they wouldn’t localize it...
The first (and still only) Dragon Quest game I’ve played is Dragon Quest Builders.
Side bar: WHEN WILL THEY BRING THE ORIGINAL THREE DRAGON QUEST GAMES TO 3DS?? 'Twould be a day one buy for me.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...