Why Dragon Quest for DS makes sense
by Ross Miller 
{ Dec 13th 2006 at 1:25PM }
When Square Enix announced Dragon Quest IX as a DS exclusive, many people turned their heads -- ours included. That's where Wired's resident gaming expert Chris Kohler comes in, explaining why these two commodities, announced at this moment, make perfect sense together.From fiduciary interests to demographic compatibility, Kohler makes a sound argument in favor of the decision. It's a fascinating read, especially for those who want some insight into where Square Enix might go next.
What remains to be answered is just how many zillions more DS units will be sold from this announcement.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
silkylove @ Dec 13th 2006 1:41PM
I agree with this article. Dragon Quest on the DS spells major trouble for Sony in Japan. It's the nail in the coffin for the PSP. And if Square Enix contiues the Nintendo love I would not be shocked to see the Wii maintain its lead over the PS3 in Japan for good.
GlitchCog @ Dec 13th 2006 1:47PM
I wonder if less people will take off work in Japan for the launch now that Dragon Quest is on a portable.
John @ Dec 13th 2006 1:48PM
the DS is really kicking ass in japan so it seems, and I can see why, its truly an awesome console compared to the homebrewsp (terrible pun lmao) all i use my psp for is the multimedia features, web browser and homebrew (2.80 xloader ftw lol)
if only the japans would overcome their distaste for microsoft and recognise a good thing when they see it, I did! I would never have brought an original xbox and never saw myself with any future ms consoles but the 360 is gr8!
lol
Sizer @ Dec 13th 2006 1:59PM
I think this is fantastic. First, DQ is finally leaving the tired, pathetic old conventions behind (random encounters, line up and take turns to fight) for something closer to FF12. Second, it means I can play DQ on a system that gives you much more fun per dollar (the DS). No PS3 for me for at least a year or two.
digitalFrequency @ Dec 13th 2006 2:03PM
dq versus ffcc for 2007 handheld supremacy.
hopefully leaving the old battle system will be a good thing. it wasn't bad for ffxii.
VanGuardian1 @ Dec 13th 2006 2:12PM
John, the problem with Japan is that their taste in games varies greatly from Americans and Europeans. They don't care at all for first person shooters or sports games, this is why the Blue Dragon launch was so impressive in Japan, it's pretty much the first time since it's launch that the 360 sold reasonably well. Like it or not, it's appealed to more people in Japan than Halo ever will. I think it looks kina piss-poor, myself...... Lost Planet looks cool though. :)
Some of my tastes are similar to the Japanese market, about 90% of my PS2 games are lite-RPG's, strategy-rpg's, or mech games. ;)
VampireHunter Z @ Dec 13th 2006 2:23PM
This was an easy decision for SE execs. The DS is selling like crazy in Japan so naturally they release DQ IX on it. If you ask me it's just a $$$ making move. That's why I must respect Capcom and Mistwalker (and of course Tecmo's Team Ninja) for supporting MSFT even though the 360 will be far from #1 in Japan. SE only moved to Sony in the first place because of how many consoles they were selling.
It's still Dragon Warrior to me, dammit @ Dec 13th 2006 2:23PM
Thank god for this article. Prior to it being written, I was staying up all night, unable to sleep. I'd just sit there in a rocking chair silently screaming to myself "HOW DOES DRAGON QUEST ON THE DS MAKE ANY SENSE?? AAUGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
driven2sin @ Dec 13th 2006 2:24PM
@ 3 the Japans?? are they already cloning? no wonder they sell so many DS Lites...
Chris @ Dec 13th 2006 2:25PM
So basically Square Enix's strategy is this: Put Dragon Quest on the highest selling system, and the Final Fantasy on the prettiest system.
So therefore unless Blue Dragon really lights some fires, Sony will always have Final Fantasy. They aren't doomed they just have to learn how to share.
It's a shame about 360 though, I mean really Blue Dragon is basically a total fusion of Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy. How is that NOT the biggest thing in Japan ever?
dvnt @ Dec 13th 2006 2:27PM
Dragon Quest for DS makes perfect business sense.
- Millions of DS units are already in people's hands.
- Handhelds are where the money is at for developers now. Mostly because of the next point.
- Low development costs: They can literally bring over assets from DQ8.
- And the sheer popularity of the franchise in Japan (It's bigger than Final Fantasy over there) makes it a guaranteed multi-million seller.
David @ Dec 13th 2006 2:28PM
I for one like the whole random battles and (true) turn-based play of the old RPGs. I like leveling up and the suprises that random battles brings about. The turn-based aspect allows me to drift a bit and not remain so focused on a game. Those games tend to be relaxing to me.
I am a huge fan of tactics games for the same reason.
That being said, this is a big reason for me to finally go out and get a DS. Fire Emblem and DQ will be enough for me. I can easily see a new FFTactics and Ogre Tactics rear their heads soon too.
I just hope they make these games for all audiences and not just the kids. Relaxing games do not have to be too simple. FFT on the GBA was highly dissapointing.
burninhell @ Dec 13th 2006 2:38PM
Just as an historical aside/point: shouldn't the DS be recognized as the first handheld to ever pull a canonical, numbered episode in a major videogame franchise off the consoles and onto a portable system,
or has this happened before?
Back_Lit @ Dec 13th 2006 2:44PM
Burninhell: Yes it has happened before, ever heard of Metroid II: The Return of Samus for the original GB?
I'd like to argue the same with the Shinobi series for the gamegear, but that went from the GG to the Genesis so I suppose that doesn't really count.
OrganicShadow @ Dec 13th 2006 2:55PM
That article was meaningless. It still boiled everything down to ONE THING......SALES. I know, they need to sell the game to make money, and make money to make more games. It's the fact that he completely disregarded the movement of the game series FORWARD.
Regardless, if this is the way SE is deciding to handle the DQ series then I guess DQVIII is as far as I go. DQVIII showed a lot of promise for the future of DQ, but if im going to be hacking and slashing slimes with a stylus OR WIIMOTE FOR THAT MATTER then count me out. The old school gameplay mixed with awesome graphics/sound/characters/story/quests is what really sucked me in.
Now all im getting is hand cramps and a sore neck, NO turn based gameplay, NO big fantastical worlds, and another year or so to wait and see if the NEXT DQ game will bring any of the good times back.
No thank you.
samus lover @ Dec 13th 2006 3:00PM
Metroid II FTW!!
Shagi @ Dec 13th 2006 3:23PM
What is Dragon Quest IX? Does that really mean there have been 8 versions of a game I've never given a shit about before that?
Willo @ Dec 13th 2006 3:57PM
People have different definitions of forward, OrganicShadow. Don't confuse your definition with something objective.
ackmondual @ Dec 13th 2006 4:23PM
@ #3 John
The Jap version of 360 isn't the same as in Euro or US. Backwards compatibility with orig XB games is < 15%. I hear there are plenty of other Jap version specific reasons to not like it. I suppose japs feel they got the short end of the 360 stick
.
@ #15 OrganicShadow
If the DS and Wii take off, better embrace it. Some people were never too happy with the way FF's battle, item, storyline, and gameplay elements evolved from FF6 to 7, 8 X, etc., but it ended up being for the better.
burninhell @ Dec 13th 2006 5:25PM
Back_Lit: Thanks for the clarification, Metroid II definitely counts...
ackmondual: Unless you're channeling the spirit of John Wayne from 1943, please stop saying "japs" for
Japanese people, it makes you sound like an asshole.
Eagle @ Dec 13th 2006 5:43PM
This guy DID know what he was talking about until the last paragraph. The DS FF games becoming the REAL continuation of the series? Yeah, and I presume the Cubs are winning the world series this year, too? What a joke...
For as long as people on Earth still breathe, the MAIN SERIES (the numbered ones) will be the TRUE continuation of FF, and as far as I can see, that experience is to be had on Sony systems, and Sony systems only. These people need ot get their heads out of their asses.
Miniboss @ Dec 13th 2006 6:22PM
@ 21.
"For as long as people on Earth still breathe, the MAIN SERIES (the numbered ones) will be the TRUE continuation of FF, and as far as I can see, that experience is to be had on Sony systems, and Sony systems only. These people need ot get their heads out of their asses."
You mean the series that started on Nintendo consoles?
FF doesn't "belong" anywhere. It'll go wherever Square Enix wants it to go. Including the 360.
DiahrreaMan @ Dec 13th 2006 7:03PM
It's a great time to be a Nintendo fanboy. I've never played a DQ game in my life, but seeing how its from SE, and being a huge fan of FF games (I'm still playing FF-III), I'll be looking forward to picking this up when it's released.
Also, I don't think that just because it's gonna be released on the DS it means the controls are going to be entirely stylus only, but rather, something optional like in FF-III, it's there to use whether you want to or not.(Most times you don't want to)
montee @ Dec 13th 2006 7:27PM
i am extremely dissapointed in this decision. though i have the psp and ds, i rarely play them. and though i would like to have a killer app on the ds, i would much rather be able to play the game on my new shiny Wii, Xbox 360, or ps3 (whenever i get one). that way i would be more inclined to not only buy, but completely enjoy the game. i do think i will be getting this....
Reeve @ Dec 13th 2006 8:30PM
Best Square Enix-related article I've read in some time. Thanks for the link.
And to anyone with doubts about what DQIX's new battle system may bring, check out Level-5's own action RPGs some time (I personally recommend Dark Cloud 2). The company handles the genre very well, and I'm sure they'll bring some great gameplay to DQIX.
Moe @ Dec 13th 2006 9:21PM
Although I understand that quite a few people are in love with their DS handhelds, this article, and most of the arguments on this page look at it from a marketing perspective. Yes, putting it on the DS will make them the most money. But how will it affect the actual game?
The fact of the matter is that a handheld is nothing like a console. There are technical limitations such as screen size, sound, graphics, controls, etc. that make it inferior to a real console. As a spin off I could accept this game, but as the real sequel?
Look at gaming history for an example. Let's pick a very famous and entrenched series for comparison: Zelda. Now ask yourself a question. Is there any comparison between a console and a handheld Zelda? Can you say that Zelda: the Minish Cap or any of its other excellent handheld installments have ever been as good as the console versions? Of course not! Link's Awakening doesn't hold a candle to A Link to the Past. The Minish Cap doesn't compare to Windwaker. They're different experiences but it's clear that the handheld experience could NEVER replace the console experience.
So for those of you trumpeting this announcement and praising SE. Well, just wait. If the next Zelda, Metroid or Final Fantasy sequel were exclusively handheld just so that the respective companies could make the most money, well I'd like to see your bloody reaction then.
DiahrreaMan @ Dec 13th 2006 9:59PM
Actually, I wouldn't mind it at all. Are you suggesting that the handheld games are inferior in gameplay simply because of graphical differences? I thought everyone was on the same page about graphics not being ALL that makes a game fully enjoyable. Yes it is a major part of the whole immersion bit, but it involves other things like audio, game difficulty, ect.
And yeah, Minish Cap was as good as A Link To The Past, only with a different coat of paint. Link To The Past had the light and dark realms, while Minish Cap had the normal and "minish" sized world. :)
Reeve @ Dec 14th 2006 8:05AM
#28 - Sorry, couldn't resist:
Why would a spinoff for DQIX be announced before the game itself? And you've never played an RPG on a handheld, have you? The single best game I've played all year (Phoenix Wright, not an RPG, but with some similar elements) is a deeply engrossing DS game with good graphics-- and largely a GBA port at that!
If Sony and Squeenix are so tight, then what's up with all the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games coming out for DS and Wii, not to mention that original game (It's a Wonderful World) being developed for the DS? Sony does own a chunk of Square (IIRC), but they largely let the company do as they please.
And "cut with the fanboy crap"? I could say the same to you ;)