[Discussion] DW7XL PS3 exclusivity.

[sakichi.livejournal.com]

I'm sure most of you have read about this by now: Dynasty Warriors 7: Xtreme Legends is being released for the PS3 only in the west.

The original Dynasty Warriors 7 was ported to the Xbox 360 for its US and European release, where generally, Microsoft's console tends to sell better than the PS3 with copies of its games ranking higher on sales charts. Sales of DW7 seem to be divided between both with no console fully dominating the other*. But one must wonder why Tecmo-Koei has decided to only allow the release of the game on one console in the west as opposed to both when it's obvious that there are many, many people who bought the game for their 360s as well. Some may point to the reason being that the Xbox 360 is being gradually phased out in Japan due to extremely poor sales of the American console and nearly all current DW7 titles in Japan being exclusively for a Sony console as it was for many years (even though a lot of titles ended up being ported to PC, the original Xbox, and the 360 as well.) Some may theorize it's because the PS3 version sold better to begin with and releasing the expansion would not be profitable.

So Warriors, what's your opinion on the matter? Express your excitement, utter disappointment, whatever. But please, and I'm saying this now: DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT turn this discussion into a console war!

I mean it. No one wants to hear your reasons why you think one console is better than the other, okay? Save it for where it belongs, like 4chan. No flaming someone because they bought the game for one system and not the other. All I ask is you guys be mature about this. Now that that is out of the way... Personally, I'm a bit upset at their decision. I'm hoping there will be a Live Marketplace DLC release of the game in the future like there was with Samurai Warriors 2. I find it extremely unfair, to be honest. =\


*=By fully dominating the other, what I mean is, I don't see a huge difference between sales of the two. While I'm at it, let's compare them. Keep in mind that the game was only for the PS3 in Japan, so I'm not counting those sales to determine which version sold better in the west. I've read two different things from many souces, including referencing VGChartz. As for approximately how many copies sold for each version of the game:

—The Xbox 360 version sold about 87K worldwide. This version was not released in Japan.

—The PS3 version sold about 89K worldwide, not including Japan. Not a largely significant difference until the Japanese sales are factored in.

—In Japan alone, where the series is pretty popular, the exclusive PS3 version sold a whooping 457K alone.

I believe using the Japanese sales figures with the worldwide ones is a very poor way to determine how well the game sold in the west, since sales were divided between two consoles and not one. Also, I'm not saying that VGChartz and the like are fully reliable, but it's definitely something to consider.

Comments

[sakichi.livejournal.com]

I was going to get the special costume DLC, which costs a lot to obtain the entire set, but now I'm glad I haven't yet. Also, I've completed the game 100% on the 360 (if getting all the achievements counts as that lol.) We used to get all of the expansions back in the PS2 era. I'm grateful we're getting this one, because it seemed like the western branches had to beg them to let them localize it, but it just seems odd that they did not allow it to be ported as well. That's like... half of their sales gone and down the drain. Unless they have something planned secretly..? I think the 360 version of DW7 was revealed to be in the works a month or so after the game was originally announced for western territories. I'm still hoping against hope we'll see a release in some form. I'd rather not make the switch, but if this is a sign that DW7 Empires will also be PS3-exclusive, then... I may have to rebuy the game afterall. u_u

For real! I mean, the 360 got a bunch of exclusive RPGs (I'm a huge RPG fan, by the way) that the PS3 never saw the light of. Later on, the PS3 got some of them. Granted, they were supposed to be enhanced versions, but still... Both consoles have their strong points and I'm glad they're on equal footing now, though it seems if you're a Japanese game fan, the PS3 is the console to get. I guess it really is because they're beginning to phase the 360 out over there. Heck, even all the new "Tales of" games are going to be PS3-exclusive from now on, it seems.

[tehseto.livejournal.com]

I do remember getting a lot of the expansions back when they were on the PS2. But you do have a point about DW7 on the 360. Though I do believe it was revealed not too long after the PS3 announcement, so I have no idea. I'm just not going to get my hopes up anyway.

I'm with you on the RPG thing. And it does seem like the JRPGs are slowly becoming PS3 exclusive. I've definitely noticed that with the Tales games since I'm a Tales fan. Graces and Xillia are two games that I want. And apparently they're only bringing the PS3 Graces overseas too... Then again, I really should be used to RPG expansions being PS3 exclusive. Eternal Sonata for example. Sob.

[sakichi.livejournal.com]

I think we got pretty much all of them, if I remember correctly. Like I said, I'm hoping, but not expecting much to come of it. x_x

I wanted to play the expansion of Vesperia so bad (so many extra things omg *_*), but it was never localized. I think we may have Microsoft to blame for this one because of licensing rights. Same was with the enhanced version of Symphonia as well; Nintendo owned the translated script in the west, so no better PS2 version for us. I've had my eyes on those games and I'm pretty excited. I hope Xillia sees a western release, too. I played Eternal Sonata for the 360 and loved it. I think what they added to the PS3 version was costumes, extra cutscenes (to make certain parts in the game more clear, but personally, I understood it fine as it was), and two extra characters in the form of Princess Serenade and Prince Crescendo. And someone told me the way they level up is different. Like... it takes your party longer to level up, but they learn skills much quicker. Some people thought it was worth another purchase, but I was satisfied with my 360 version. =)

[ETA] Actually, I had forgotten about Sonata's extra dungeons. And there was some extra cutscenes that went along with these. Sorry. XD;