Street Fighter IV sells 86k copies first day in Japan, Capcom says it's sold out
by Griffin McElroy 
{ Feb 13th 2009 at 9:00PM }
Capcom seems to be just as surprised as we are -- a community manager for the company recently reported that they were "overwhelmed by demand", and that the game had completely sold out in Japan. The only copies within the country's confines rest in a few boxes in Capcom's basement -- they'll apparently be sent out to retailers on Monday, and then snatched up with avarice usually associated with Turboman dolls.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Fuze9 @ Feb 13th 2009 9:09PM
In my opinion, what surprising is that Capcom would have only made 86,000 copies. I would imagine they'd expect significantly higher demand than that.
Strategy_Panda (Pot & Spoon 4 Life) @ Feb 13th 2009 9:28PM
SF4 is an odd position in Japan at this point, as if has been in arcades for quite some time now. There is also a huge following for the arcade game as rankings unique unlockable items, and other such things are associated with people's arcade accounts.
So if the game has a huge following in arcades, has been out for a while and is important for the arcade business, I can understand why Capcom would be apprehensive about printing a large number of copies. That being said, 86,000 copies seems like a small number.
Strategy_Panda (Pot & Spoon 4 Life) @ Feb 13th 2009 9:39PM
at this point, as *it* has been in arcades for quite some time now
StalkerX7 @ Feb 14th 2009 2:26AM
@ anonim1979, dude who cares about a little difference?
David @ Feb 14th 2009 2:41AM
The Arcade Stick has a joystick, so why don't you just use the joystick on the 360 or PS3 controller?
BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Feb 14th 2009 2:45AM
@anonim1979
just pop off that dpad, use a dremel to shave the unnecessary corners off and TADA!!! no more shitty dpad. i'm just glad it's not something else about street fighter 2. sooo sick of that game and its endless iterations.
Megadanxzero @ Feb 14th 2009 7:17AM
That's what I was thinking... How the hell could they possibly think that's all they needed. 86,000 isn't even that much...
Also, why the hell do people complain about the D-Pad when there's a fucking analogue stick right there...
Matt @ Feb 14th 2009 9:49AM
@anonim1979: Did you even read what the guy had to say in that article? The only bad things he had to say about the ps3 version was the rope and headband. He liked the colors and color depth of the ps3 version better. And at the bottom of the article:
"Since there's not and real distinguishable visual quality between the different platforms, this discussion will center around controller preference."
Temple @ Feb 14th 2009 9:50AM
You're not going to be pulling off combos with the freckin' analog pad. If you don't buy an arcade stick, the second best thing is a d-pad. You need sharp, precise movements, and the 360's d-pad doesn't offer that.
AirIntake @ Feb 14th 2009 11:21AM
The analog stick is closer to an arcade stick than the d-pad, depending on sensitivity levels. Fighters have always been designed for arcade sticks, so both the analog stick or a d-pad are still a compromise.
Temple @ Feb 14th 2009 11:46PM
>>The analog stick is closer to an arcade stick than the d-pad, depending on sensitivity levels.
No it isn't. A joystick has a click, and reads input closer to a d-pad, not mushy mess that is the analog stick. The analog stick does have its uses, but playing SF is not one of it.
Fernando Rocker @ Feb 13th 2009 9:17PM
Nice week...
Good software sales in Japan across all systems this week... Mario & Luigi RPG 3 sold also 150,000 in the first two days... and with 86,000 copies of SF4, it was a very healthy week for software sales.
slycooper_rocker (The Agent of Orange) @ Feb 13th 2009 9:29PM
just what we need.
Mr Khan @ Feb 13th 2009 10:18PM
How in the fuck was this downvoted?
Feh.
heyo007 @ Feb 13th 2009 10:18PM
Dude, from one latino to another, did you really have to slip in some Pro-Nintendo news? I mean, really, man. Stick to the topic at hand...which is Street Fighter IV and its sales numbers.
Talking about buttermilk pancakes is an exception. There's always room for spontaneous buttermilk pancake discussions...as long as you don't bring up any Nintendo Pancakes.
Xta Large, Unfanboy Extraordinaire @ Feb 13th 2009 10:25PM
"How in the fuck was this downvoted?"
People don't think before they downvote Fernando, remember? We're talking about the Hivemindstiq, a conglomeration of pure stupidity. It can't be helped.
ExMcCloud @ Feb 13th 2009 11:02PM
How was that down voted? Fernando is the DOPEST!!!
flanker22 @ Feb 13th 2009 11:12PM
i approve the devoting.
DangerMouse @ Feb 13th 2009 11:14PM
His post couldn't wait two more days?
SirFishouse @ Feb 13th 2009 11:33PM
I agree with the downvoting. "Watch me as I flex i knowlege game sales in japan" is what he is basically saying. F**k that man. F**k that.
SirFishouse @ Feb 13th 2009 11:35PM
The crooked English was intentional...
Noshino @ Feb 13th 2009 11:53PM
"How in the fuck was this downvoted?"
uh, Pro Nintendo propaganda once again in an article that has nothing to do with it?....
Personally, I don't find it annoying enough to downvote him, but some people do.
Courtney @ Feb 14th 2009 12:05AM
@ Xta,
I always think before I downvote Fernando. I think, "I'm about to downvote Fernando, this is the right and proper action to take now." Then I downvote him.
:P
dronesensor @ Feb 14th 2009 12:24AM
"pro-nintendo propaganda"? christ, what a bunch of fucking pussies. someone merely *mentions* a game from a system that isn't your preferred platform, and it gets downvoted? pathetic.
heyo007 @ Feb 14th 2009 1:27AM
Hey, don't get me wrong. The Mario & Luigi games are great (and I'm absolutely going to buy it), it's just out of topic. Like raspberries performing fellatio on blueberries.
I, for one, am a happy citizen of the Neutral Planet of consoles.
--If I don't survive, tell my wife "Hello."
Vcize @ Feb 14th 2009 12:48PM
I didn't downvote it, but it's easy to see why it was. It was a horribly disguised, thinly veiled attempt to brag about the sales of a Nintendo game. It wasn't even a clever disguise, so don't act like you don't know.
Fernando gets voted down plenty just because he's Fernando, but this would've been voted down anyway. It's gotten to the point where the Fernando Defense Force is just as bad as the people blindly voting down Fernando for no reason, as they just pretend every time he was voted down it was for no reason. I swear he could post "haha PS3 is for homos" and you would all reply with "wtf why was THAT voted down?".
J.Goodwin @ Feb 13th 2009 9:18PM
Yeah, this is shocking that they only pressed 86k.
How many US copies of Panzer Dragoon Saga were pressed? Had to be more than that, and that was a crazy low print run.
Orex @ Feb 13th 2009 9:19PM
This is why i have mine pre-ordered, just in case lol (as well as killzone) this has happend to me a few times, my local ran out of gears 1, metal gear 4 and i expect the same for street fighter & Killzone lol,
PRE ORDER EVERY ONE, PRE ORDER.
Ben @ Feb 13th 2009 9:29PM
Oh, hey Gamestop! What are you doing on here?
Orex @ Feb 13th 2009 9:31PM
rofl
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Feb 13th 2009 9:32PM
After Halo 3 I never did a pre-order most of the time they lied about not having more units or that you only had certain time to Pre-order.
For example in the case of Gears 2 the day of the launch a newbie working in the local game store told me they ran out of LE everywhere and that it was going to be impossible to find. I said “sure” and I went to the store downstairs they had like 10 extra LE, hell they still do.
I still hope I can fetch a x360 version but I’m pretty sure the Ps3 LE version is going to be tricky to get.
I think only Kojima Productions stay true to the word Limited.
Orex @ Feb 13th 2009 9:37PM
ROFL, same thing happend to me kinda, i was phoning in on gamestation for a wii classic controler and they said they never had any, i decided to go down there any ways, i got there and as he said, there were none, but as i was leaving i saw one tucked behind some othe items on a display case, i took it to the guy and he seemed dissapointed to sell it to me, of course all i was doing was lol'ing in my head LOL
i just pray the fools dont do the same with my killzone or streetfighter
samfish @ Feb 13th 2009 10:18PM
I've never had to preorder a game. Best Buy, if nothing else, will always have it, I've found.
Except when I pre-ordered Banjo Kaziie...and those douches at Gamestop gave my BK1 download away...at which point I canceled the pre-order and demanded my money back. Someday I might buy Banjo...someday...
giantenemycrab @ Feb 13th 2009 10:51PM
I really don't understand pre-ordering. It just locks you into one store. Even if you can get your money back, it's a hassle. It's not like it guarantees you the game, either. I pre-ordered Halo 3 but it still sold out..
Strategy_Panda (Pot & Spoon 4 Life) @ Feb 13th 2009 11:47PM
some times I use pre-ordering to spread out my game purchases. For example, if I know that there are three games I want all coming out some time in the future and all in the same month, and I am not interested in buying games in the month I am currently in, I will pay for one or two of those games in full. When the release month actually comes around I will only have to pay for one game, pick up the others, and still have cash left over.
JagoMidnight @ Feb 14th 2009 3:03PM
screw pre-orders unless they give you something extra with them. support your local gaming shops instead. they'll always have copies when the clowns at gamestop are holding theirs for those who pre-orders, and if you get in good with the local shops, they may give you free stuff and are much cooler than any gamestop clerk.
Orex @ Feb 15th 2009 1:17AM
@ Everyone: for everyone information, im not from america so i dont even shop @ gamestop LOL, and when i say pre-order this DOES NOT MEAN ONLINE, i am talking about my local, i support my local which is a gamestation down the road for me and they are holding a copy for me due to high demand, why does that get me a negative???
Im pretty sure what ben said was sarcasm, people im not gamestop rofl...seriously come on.
Yakul @ Feb 13th 2009 9:20PM
Kewl
Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Feb 13th 2009 9:20PM
I'm sure most were sold on the PS3 in Japan. I can't wait to get it myself on the Xbox 360.
I will be purchasing that Mad Catz controller for Street Fighter as well since the 360's D-pad is unforgiving on the thumbs.
I wish MS was able to fix it. Even the original Xbox D-pad was better than the 360's version. I loved playing Street Fighter 2 Anniversary Edition. I think it's probably one of the best versions along with SSF2HDRemix
Copland @ Feb 13th 2009 9:31PM
The PS3 version sold 58,000 copies and the 360 sold 28,000.
28,000 is pretty good for a 360 game, because Ninja Blade which was released recently, which is a 360 exclusive, only sold 5,000 the first day.(Not 50,000, 5,000.)
Smoke_Dawg_187 @ Feb 13th 2009 9:34PM
Yeah 28,000 is a pretty good number considering that's Sony's home turf.
Thanks for the info Copland.
WINterfang @ Feb 13th 2009 9:22PM
What the hell? why Capcom just shipped 86K copies?
I think they are going with the wii Strategy.
Xta Large, Unfanboy Extraordinaire @ Feb 13th 2009 10:26PM
"I think they are going with the wii Strategy."
I'm hoping you're joking (I mean jesus, any idiot who took high school business could tell that that whole 'supply in demand' idea isn't what's keeping the Wii selling)
in case you are, they only produced 86k copies because the game has been out in arcades there for a while
Lee @ Feb 13th 2009 9:26PM
You're kidding right? Dude, every arcade I went to in Japan had lines to play SF4 and most places had at least 10 machines. Keep in mind there is an arcade on every other block too.
I Could see you being oblivious to it, not being in Japan and all, but Capcom not realizing the demand is just moronic. Someone should be fired.
shane86 @ Feb 13th 2009 9:27PM
Arnold Schwarzenegger stole my Turboman doll and now he's after my copy of Street Fighter IV!
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Feb 13th 2009 9:33PM
He is quite chubby nowadays so it shouldn't be to hard to outrun him.Now that the psycho postman well that's another tale.
m3nphls @ Feb 13th 2009 9:28PM
please, remake Marvel vs Capcom!!!
rov947 @ Feb 13th 2009 9:30PM
This thing is storming japan like godzirra
Kodros @ Feb 13th 2009 9:34PM
Heh heh, you said snatch.
Copland @ Feb 13th 2009 9:35PM
To straight things out, its not completely out of stock.
Amazon.co.jp still has it and big electronic stores like Bic Camera still have it in stock.
So its not sold out.
But the versions with a limited "SF IV Animation DVD Disc" are already sold out every where, as long as I know.