This week's Ask Joystiq: Monster Hunter 3, our tip line, our comment system and, most importantly, our soda preferences. If you have a question you want answered, drop us a line at ask AAT joystiq DAWT com. Let's get down to it:Q: Joystiq! I need some new info about Monster Hunter 3!!! Seriously, there is nothing out there. I know it is coming to Wii, but please tell me it is coming to the US.
-Mike
The Monster Hunter series in Japan is quite a sales phenomenon -- one in five PSP owners have a copy of the game, according to Capcom. The same can't be said for North America, whose enthusiasm for the title has been noticeably less.
Capcom gave us a rather lengthy statement on the issue (which we've printed after the break), but in a nutshell: the publisher is planning "a significant marketing program" for the Monster Hunter brand over the next two years in the west. "While we have not made specific announcements regarding Monster Hunter 3 in North America (or Europe, for that matter) to date," said the statement, "you can bet we'll be talking more about it in the future."
The full statement:
It's no secret that, in Japan, Monster Hunter is a phenomenon along the same lines as Pokemon or Yu-Gi-Oh; One in five PSP owners in Japan has a copy of one of the Monster Hunter games! You can see people playing it everywhere; on street corners in Akihabara, on the train, waiting in line to get into the Capcom store at TGS, on school campuses (not during class, mind) and on and on. The publishing company that puts out Famitsu released a Monster Hunter strategy guide that was over 1000 pages!
Outside of Japan, the series hasn't really caught on in the same way. We've done respectable business with the games we've released so far on PS2 and PSP. We certainly haven't posted numbers in North America as they have done in Japan – Monster Hunter Freedom 2 for the PSP has sold in excess of 2 million units there – but the games have done well.
That being said, Capcom is going to be making a major commitment to the Monster Hunter brand over the next two years in the west. Expect to see a significant marketing program dedicated to educating and enthralling gamers of both casual and hardcore natures. We're not going to let up until there are as many people playing here in North America as there are in Japan! While we have not made specific announcements regarding Monster Hunter 3 in North America (or Europe, for that matter) to date, you can bet we'll be talking more about it in the future.
Q: How many email Tips do you get a day?
-Andrew
We decided to do a proper count yesterday, and came up with over 75 tips submitted in 24 hours. Of course, this number could drop on what some would call a "slow news day," or rise dramatically to well over 100+ when something "OMG MEGATON" occurs.
What's important to note, though, is that we read through each and every tip we receive, no matter the quantity (or, uh, quality). If you ever have a scoop on something newsworthy, or even just something game-related and fun, don't hesitate to send it in. The tip system is our bread and butter!
Q: What's up with the comment system?
-Anonymous
We notice one-off errors, but we'll look into more endemic issues with the comment system. Feel free to sound off on your technical issues right here.
Q: Coke or Pepsi? More importantly though, Cherry Coke or Wild Cherry Pepsi?
-Izzy
Soda is bad for you ... but that said, the official Joystiq drink of choice, according to our GDC podcasts, is the Cherry Chocolate Diet Dr. Pepper, for its uncanny resemblance to a liquified Tootsie Roll. Regardless of your soda choice, we advise against ice. Said Scott Jon Siegel, "Whether I'm drinking Coke or Pepsi, I never use ice. It melts and waters down my beverage. And I don't like that."
