Lost Planet and Dead Rising haven't broken 100K in Japan

24 Comments by Alexander Sliwinski Jun 6th 2007 7:58PM
Filed under: Culture, Microsoft Xbox 360, Action, Adventure, Business

This info is definitely not lost in translation with the universal language of numbers. According to Capcom's own sales records (chart after the break), neither Lost Planet nor Dead Rising broke 100K units sold in Japan. This isn't really the most shocking of news given the sales of the Xbox 360 in Japan, but it does show the game resonated with North American and European audiences more. Despite tepid sales in Japan, both titles sold outside the Land of the Rising Sun to the tune of 1.4 million copies each, signs of Capcom's growing global focus.

Now, before you go pointing at cultural differences -- highlighted by Monster Hunter Freedom 2 for the PSP selling 1.2 million units, while the PS2 versions of RE4 also couldn't break 100K -- here's some fun info: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which was published by Capcom in Japan, sold 430K units. So, frozen tundras don't resonate with Japanese gamers, neither does a mall full of zombies, but playing a gang-banger bent on ghetto domination sells 200% more than Dead Rising and Lost Planet combined. Ah, good times.

Tags: Capcom, DeadRising, japan, LostPlanet

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Jon: Jun 6th 2007; 8:06PM

At first I thought the RE4 numbers look odd. But then it is probably for the platinum version (the release dates don't match up with the original PS2 RE4 release dates) and also this is only for 2006 fiscal year.

kingofwale: Jun 6th 2007; 8:08PM

with 300K+ xbox install base on Japan, what makes you think it will go over 100K copies sold?

Bring it to PS3 and we will see if the game actually sells. Although I doubt, we all know how much Japanese loves FSP games. 110K Halo 2 sold in Japan? That says it all

AoE: Jun 6th 2007; 8:18PM

Alexander, perhaps you should look at the number of gaming consoles that had been sold that could play said games? Neither game may have broken the 100k mark in Japan, but they had a higher attach rate than in the US/Europe... So I guess it depends on how you define success, eh?

zwarrior: Jun 6th 2007; 8:19PM

I think GTA's success in Japan is possibly due to the attention it had over in the West; it must have reached Japan's shores and as they may have anticipating its release to see what all the fuss is about. Not only that but it's on the PS2, the best selling console at the time.

Rob Accomando: Jun 6th 2007; 8:22PM

I wonder if the main character had long blonde or insanely spiked hair if they'd sell more.

embassy: Jun 6th 2007; 8:43PM

actually the GTA numbers are pretty low when u factor in the ps2 install base in japan...extremely low even.

with that said.
i didnt even know their were 100k 360s sold in japan.

Gausser: Jun 6th 2007; 8:47PM

@kingofwale
The PS3 has only sold about 460 000 more units than the 360 in Japan. Releasing either of these games on the PS3 there probably wouldn't make that much difference.

Spitkicker: Jun 6th 2007; 9:03PM

Ahhh I love Lost In Translation...Bill Murray is one of my favorites. Great pic.

Matt B: Jun 6th 2007; 9:06PM

So less than 20% of the install base bought each game in each region. Maybe the games sucked.

Ironhide Delta: Jun 6th 2007; 9:19PM

Game reviews say otherwise Matt (assuming you are talking about DR and LP), including Famitsu one of the most respected Japanese game mags.

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/931114.asp?q=lost%20planet

http://www.gamerankings.com/htmlpages2/928326.asp

John: Jun 6th 2007; 9:48PM

Sony distrubuted lies

Dead Rising sold out in Japan

EihBeir: Jun 6th 2007; 9:55PM

-- Why the Japanese do what they do --

This is way, WAY up there on the list of things I'll never waste time trying to understand.

mushiking: Jun 6th 2007; 10:34PM

you forgot Gundam Musou sold 100,000 in it's first week.

Evan: Jun 6th 2007; 10:48PM

I'm honestly surprised that Lost Planet outsold Idol Master. When I visited Japan recently, what little attention the 360 got was entirely focused on two games: Blue Dragon and Idol Master. And while visiting the famous Yodobashi Camera store, it really seemed like Idol Master was the "normal" game and Gears of War looked like the weird "niche" title. The game scene really is that different! But I guess the sales numbers make sense... Idol Master is competing against selves full of similiar looking PS2 games, while Lost Planet and Gears or War have their niches all to themselves.

kingofwale: Jun 6th 2007; 10:49PM

>The PS3 has only sold about 460 000 more units than the 360 in Japan.

translation: Sony sold twice as many consoles there in less than half the time. :)

Antonio: Jun 6th 2007; 11:13PM

@kingofwale,

You are right. PS3 is outselling 360 in Japan. Funny thing though, Wii is outselling PS3 by a 4X or 5X factor everyweek. Here in the US, 360 is outselling PS3 by 50 to 100K units a month.

I'm still looking forward to buying a PS3 for some of their exclusives (Wipeout, Lair, Drake's Fortune, etc.) but PS3 is not a draw to me or a lot of people right now.

Geist: Jun 7th 2007; 12:35AM

I love that little side note:
"Japan includes Asia".

Of course it does.

t_m: Jun 7th 2007; 1:22AM

the japanese are really into gamgsta shit right now.. its rather strange to observe.

Jason: Jun 7th 2007; 11:32AM

Meanwhile, Train simulators and dating simulators are exploding, right next to tentacle porn and eating horse and dog! Whatever, Japan.... freaks.

Muu: Jun 7th 2007; 11:52AM

Japan has a much, much, MUCH bigger used games market compared to the US. There's much biger profits for the game stores when selling used too, so sell-to-store prices for new releases may net you as much as 75% of the original retail. Games with little retail value therefore go to the bargain bin at the speed of light. RE4 was probably also victim to that.

14) If I remember right the Xbox area was confined to some little corner no one went to anyway, so is there really a difference? ;) In any case, Blue Dragon has some recognition from a TV series and comic running a the same time, and Idol Master is still attracting customers from Japanese Youtube clones where users are mass-producing music videos to the game's dance scenes. I don't think anyone really knows about GoW...

S101: Jun 7th 2007; 3:19PM

What do you mean Jason? Tentacle porn, eating horse & dog? How small portion people watch that? It's not like America doesn't have freaks, ever heard of SCAT? Not to mention there's some Americans also buying tentacle porn crap too.

Otter: Jun 7th 2007; 4:22PM

If they really want to sell in Japan, all they need to do is add blue spiky hair and tentacle rape.

okenny: Jun 7th 2007; 8:05PM

Geez... I guess they (Japanese) must be stuck on an Island or something. So many of the Japanese developer's games do so well here. Well the message is clear to Capcom... defect.

Odawg: Jun 12th 2007; 7:32PM

We all know that Japanese have different taste. Japanese like RPG games. IF japanese PS3 can sell better in japan even though X360 has better games, what makes u think they'll go buy foreign games for foreign system?? it all comes down to the fact that 360 is us Made and Playstion is Japanese made.

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