Sales, etc: Support group for Sakura Taisen addicts

[androvsky]

American Chart on VG Chartz says :

PS2 Version
22nd position with 20 575 units

Wii Version
Not classified with 6 110 units

Total : 26 685 units on week one !

That's almost certainly the "questionable source" from the OP. The reason it's questionable is that they do very little polling of retailers themselves, they mainly just guess at numbers. And when a company that does poll retailers releases numbers, VGChartz edits their numbers to match, so they look more accurate when people look at older releases. NPD had to stop releasing sales for games outside the monthly top ten because they were tired of VGChartz stealing all their numbers. And worst of all, VGChartz tends to do worst with low-selling games, as in anything that doesn't sell 100k the first week.

NPD does do much broader-based retailer polling, so their numbers are pretty solid. But they haven't released their March numbers yet, we'll have to wait until April 15 for that. And like I said before, we'll still have to hope for a leak.

Older article about VGChartz:
http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2008/06/ana ... d.php#more

[PunkerQC]

Thanks for the information ! I didn't know about that...

[androvsky]

Thanks for the information ! I didn't know about that...

It's okay, a lot of people make the same mistake, including Square-Enix once.

And for the record, NPD isn't perfect either; I know they were pretty far off on the sales of Working Design's RPGs on the Sega Saturn. The president of Working Designs mentioned recently that they sold at least twice of what NPD says they did. If a company that polls about 60% of retailers is that far off on niche titles, how well is a company that polls maybe 5% of retailers going to do?

Honestly, VGChartz numbers at the moment look like "hmm, NISA PS2 game sales minus the fact it's 2010 now" plus "hardcore niche game on Wii not being sold at Wal-Mart" sales. They might not be that far off aft.... oh, looks like Buy.com ran out of copies now.

Annoying thing is since the game came out at the end of the month, any leaked March numbers won't look that hot, and I doubt it'll get noticed in April. We probably won't really know anything until NISA announces something about the future of the series.

[DingoEnderZOE2]

I blame the rabid fanbase.... Most have bought out most of the major retailers. I've checked a couple of smaller stores and they're all running low. I'm sorry, but I think Sakura Taisen "fever" has reached the west, and it seems people can't get enough.

All from one game too. And on top of that... one that most fans would consider the worst in the series(whatever that means, because I enjoy it all the same).

....I believe you're confusing this game with Sakura Taisen 4. While it's true that this is also not that high up there with Sakura Taisen fans, Popular fan opinion is that Sakura Taisen 4 was the worse in the series and No I'm not counting the DS game.

The reason for it being the worse is mainly due to how extremely rushed(Dreamcast was close to death they didn't have time to make it better),lacking(No mini games, and the length), and short it was(3 episodes short.),I mean the game it self was still playable but it doesn't change the fact that compared to the others including Sakura Taisen V it felt like 30% of a game....

[Snatcher2047]

I personally loved 4 for pretty much wrapping everything up from the first three games. Add on top of that, it's pretty tough to follow the greatness that was SW3 with anything even close to that. Add in over a dozen possible endings and possibly the best art in the entire series, and you've got a pretty good entry into the series.

[RedCoKid]

Supposedly up to 37,000 cumulative sales for both versions now. I am hoping for an NPD leak.

[Magitek]

I have a question. If this ends up selling well, would NISA consider bringing the PSP ports of Sakura Taisen 1 and 2? Maybe even the Sakura Taisen DS game?

[Snatcher2047]

We've been speculating that since the day NISA announced they were bringing SWV here. All we can really do is wait and see. It's reasonable to think that if the game is a financial success on some level for NISA, they'd probably at least consider it. But I think the bigger question would become just how NISA would release the other game(s) in the series (as in more Wii ports, PSP releases, or some other option).

[odinfan]

I'm pretty sure they've already thought of this at some point. Looking at it from NISA's view, I'd say it met their sales numbers(bat an eye to the possibility of understocking even Amazon! ). This probably wouldn't have done as well if it wasn't such a known title. For them, this should mean a lot.

Now the possibility of releasing another entry would be entirely up to them, there are times when sales don't necessarily dictate a company's decision.

[RedCoKid]

That's almost certainly the "questionable source" from the OP. The reason it's questionable is that they do very little polling of retailers themselves, they mainly just guess at numbers. And when a company that does poll retailers releases numbers, VGChartz edits their numbers to match, so they look more accurate when people look at older releases. NPD had to stop releasing sales for games outside the monthly top ten because they were tired of VGChartz stealing all their numbers. And worst of all, VGChartz tends to do worst with low-selling games, as in anything that doesn't sell 100k the first week.

NPD does do much broader-based retailer polling, so their numbers are pretty solid. But they haven't released their March numbers yet, we'll have to wait until April 15 for that. And like I said before, we'll still have to hope for a leak.

Older article about VGChartz:
http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2008/06/ana ... d.php#more

Here is another example:
http://www.siliconera.com/2010/04/14/de ... -expected/

Atlus planned to sell 75,000 copies of Demon’s Souls in North America. The critically acclaimed game surpassed three times that number with 280,000 units in sales by the end of their second fiscal quarter, February 28, 2010.

http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.php? ... region=All

0.54m
Americas

That said, Amazon needs to restock Sakura Wars already.





off-topic:
http://www.siliconera.com/2010/04/14/de ... -expected/

101 in 1 Party Megamix ...sold 189,000 units

[perrandy]

i'm pretty glad that nisa is doing well with this title. i just hope, like the rest of you they'll continue the series.but something tells me that they are done with the ps2 platform.so, i guess if we are going to see anything we might be able to see it on the psp,wii,psn avenues

[odinfan]

I'm just waiting on any news for ST6.... that's obviously the next logical step this series needs to revitalize itself. I'd say a PS3 release is not too much to ask for.

[Snatcher2047]

Agreed, a high-def Sakura Wars game would be beyond awesome to see. It's amazing that it's been so long with the only related games being the DS game and that Sakura Wars CR game released a few years back.

[androvsky]

Here is another example:
http://www.siliconera.com/2010/04/14/de ... -expected/

Atlus planned to sell 75,000 copies of Demon’s Souls in North America. The critically acclaimed game surpassed three times that number with 280,000 units in sales by the end of their second fiscal quarter, February 28, 2010.

http://www.vgchartz.com/games/game.php? ... region=All

0.54m
Americas

Nice find, thanks.

[shymel94]

I think your 100k-200k is a pretty good estimate Red. I find NPD numbers to be better than anything vgchartz could make up. And now that Sakura Wars is out in Europe, we can expect sales from there too.