First day Japan sales - Star Ocean IV does 131k

This was the best ever opening for a 360 game in Japan, surpassing The Last Remnant which did 79k day 1.

First Day Sales (02/19)

[360] Star Ocean 4: The Last Hope (Square Enix) - 131k

[PSP] Idolmaster SP: Perfect Sun (Bandai Namco) - 33k
[PSP] Idolmaster SP: Missing Moon (Bandai Namco) - 28k
[PSP] Idolmaster SP: Wandering Star (Bandai Namco) - 24k

[NDS] Shining Force Feather (Sega) - 19k
[PS2] Sacred Blaze (Flight Plan) - 14k

[Darkseider]

Not too bad at all. Now the question with all other games that release in Japan to big release numbers. Will this one have legs? My guess is yes simply due to the fact that it is an established name. The other question is will it push 360 hardware sales?

[Cwalat]

This goes to show how HUNGRY japaneese audience is for a true RPG.

I just wished Squae Enix weren't that stuborn and foolish when taking soo much of their manpower on these lacking RPG's.
Instead, focus 100% on the upcoming final fantasy games... And perhaps, if they could... Release it before i become a grandfather.

Or ... perhaps.. in my lifetime plz.

:P

[NaiNaiNai]

@Cwalat

SE didn't make SO4, TA did, so as of now, SE is working with its best teams on FF13.
-nai-

*edit* everyone knows that they just sold to like 1/10 of there entire market down there, thats actually rather good.
-nai-

[gaffyh]

Very nice, this game deserves good sales, compared to the other crap that has been released by Square Enix lately

[thats_just_prime]

I think you'll see a huge increase in sells of 360 for at least the next month in japan with SO4 selling 300-400k copies

[1ikedamaster]

Keep in mind that SE is huge now, they have so many employees even after the merger to put out many titles and still have a dedicated team to work on the high and mighty FFXIII rpg of rpgs. ;)

[CID]

That should dampen SOIV sales.

[Sitdown]

.

[SprSynJn]

I have seen a trend where a 360 game will do well in its first week then disappear off the list shortly afterward. I am thinking all who want it get it when it debuts, and then move on to the DS and PSP games with the rest of the crowd. It appears White Knight Chronicles went that route as well. Let us see if this actually helps Microsoft in the long run.

Yakuza 3 will knock it off, that much is certain. It will most likely sell just as well, if not better. The Japanese really like those Dynasty Warrior style games, even over Star Ocean.

[AllseeingEye]

Yakuza is going to sell a ton better then Starocean. I would rather have Yakuza 3 then Star ocean any day.

[KingME]

I bet when Yakuza comes out, you won't even buy it. (Another talking head)

Wow, WKC did about the same numbers and the are 3 times more PS3s in the region. Great job SO4.

[KingDizzi]

Yakuza 3 releases next week which will be very interesting, huge advertising has been going on in Japan for that game.

[Says you]

"By the way, often batting title
PS3用新作RPG「白騎士物語」の初日販売本数は約13.2 万本。 For new PS3 RPG "white knight story," First day sales of about 13.2 million"

and XBox 360 fans say it fails considering it sold 13 million if I read that correctly Star Ocean IV would have sold more if it was on PS3 which it will since it doesn't have "only on XBox 360" logo

kodiak you failed considering White Knight Story sold 13 million.

[she00win99]

what are you talking about, the ps3's install base in japan is only 2 million or maybe close to 3 million units, how can WKC sell 13.2 million units..

[Foxgod]

Is that sum babelfish ?

[kodiak]

IN YOUR FACE PLAYB!TCHES
ITS 360 EXCLUSIVE AND WILL SELL BETTER THAN WHITE KNIGHT FAIL

[Power_Of_Flops_]

So what ? 360 is still dead in Japan with only 900k sold from the beginning vs more than 3 millions for the PS3.

Yakuza 3 sales on PS3 next week will kill this total with one hand.

By the way, SO4 is still a flop (like any other 360 JRPG) according to reviews.

The only good JRPG this gen is Valkyria Chronicles and it's only on PS3 (but still inferior to Persona 4 on PS2).

[Foxgod]

oooh, awesome, it sold 3 million, wew, mindblowing numbers.

[OmarJA]

WKS is a new IP you little whore & it sold better...

[Foxgod]

again, awesome numers, 1k difference with 3.3 x larger install base.
And its from Level5, the studio considered to topple SE in rpg making.

Just AWESOME!

[Queers of War]

LOL foxgod...1k difference? didnt WKC sell something along the lines of 200k the first day?

[Bazookajoe_83]

It´s an established franchise unlike other jrpg that has come to the 360...

[kewlkat007]

Didn't WKC do the same amount?

The most important thing should be moving consoles..

[Da One]

surprised that Star Ocean is still this popular in Japan, but your right will it move console................cause LR didn't do that

--edit--
WTF a disagree...............

[Chris399]

In any event, good for MS. This is a big hit for them. I'm still debating whether to get the game or not - the 'switching discs' bit every time you want to backtrack sounds annoying.

Bah, who am I kidding? I'm a JRPG slave. I'll probably pre-order it after work today. I don't expect it to be mind-blowing, but it seems flashy and melodramatic and I'm sure that it will pass the time.

[Kushan]

On a sales-to-consoles-sold ratio, that's pretty good for SO4, but then again I'd imagine that most people who own a 360 in Japan do so for the JRPGS.

It'll be interesting to see how the Console sales are affected.

[kewlkat007]

even better if it manages pushes consoles...

[Ryo-Hazuki]

I know some of you guys want to make comparisons with WKC.....but WKC is a whole new IP...SO is a huge series in Japan. They both did the same in the first day sales....but you can help but wonder how much it would of sold if it was on the ps3.

[chidori666]

this no help 360shi* in japan you stupid!

HAHAHAHAH

[Sevir04]

I'm gonna try it out on my friends 360

[NaiNaiNai]

it may have done just as good, but it sold to a much larger ratio. which shows that the game is still massive popular, and rather good to boot.
-nai-

[Sevir04]

I want to see some reviews before i commit to trying it out still it's got me more interested now than i did before

[NaiNaiNai]

fine let me reword this for you.

if the 360 had the same number of ps3s, you could have seen SO4 sell around 400k first day, not what it is now, thats all im trying to really point out.
-nai-

[ActionBastard]

When is the 720p version releasing on PS3? Any word yet? We all know it's coming...

[KingME]

You guys are funny.

"Who the hell cares about ratio. leave the console war out of this. 131K is still 131k on what ever the console saturation is on a market. it sold well far better than any other RPG on the 360 and thats great."

Remember that you said that. Perhaps we can also leave the 1 year head start, and other "bigger fan base" arguments out of future conversations right?

I'm cool with that.

[Sevir04]

I dont care how much it would have sold f it had the PS3 install base in japan. I care that it's selling well. Japanese gamers are buying games.

I'm simply stating that i'm happy it's selling well, regardless of it's ratio....

So again, Who the hell cares about ratio. leave the console war out of this. 131K is still 131k on what ever the console saturation is on a market. it sold well far better than any other RPG on the 360 and thats great.

So nai. keep the what if statements to a mum. It sold great and i'm happy it did.

[militant07]

impressive.

few more days left =/.

lucky Japanese they got the beet game first >>JRPGs

i guss its best selling xbox360 game in day one

[I Win]

Japan is false aswell for XBox 360

"I hate to tell the XBox 360 fans but since the RROD
Happens in Japan this is a false userbase as well considering nobody would know what the real numbers would be in Japan 900k please how would they know what the real numbers are in Japan? considering the same thing happens here and for the rest of the world for that matter and counting the same people that had there's broken many times and count the same people!?! over there!."

[Foxgod]

if your 360 dies, you can trade it in for a new one.
The whole rumor about MS counting returned consoles as sold is a stupid rumor that has been proven false.

[gametheory]

"if your 360 dies, you can trade it in for a new one.
The whole rumor about MS counting returned consoles as sold is a stupid rumor that has been proven false. "

Lies. My first 360 got the RROD in a month. When I got the second one, the second day it RROD on me. LMAO @ Microsoft apologists and "western corporations" supporters.

[Foxgod]

what does that have to do with the fact that fixed consoles are not counted as sold ?

[Baba1906]

pls bring this to ps3 -.-. dman u square i hate u.

[Chubear]

It's on the PSP too but it's still obvious to me it'll come on the PS3 later on. You'd be kinda naive to think it won't.

[Foxgod]

holy moly, pretty good, best first day sales so far for any 360 rpg.

[green]

Actually for any 360 game in Japan.To be honest i was not expecting this game to beat TOV numbers and i am glad i was wrong.Will be getting my copy in a week and i simply can't wait.

[deividpaulo]

sorry, but your "imformation" is not correct

the RPG most "wanted" in Japan today is Demon's Soul...FACT

xbox360 is already dead in Japan! FACT

[Brodiesan]

Saying FACT at the end of a sentence that is not actually backed up by any facts just makes you look like a lunatic. FACT!

Congrats to MS. A good showing by any accounts.

[Foxgod]

you losing bubbles because you post this in the gamer zone, fact.
If you want to spare you bubbles youre better of posting stuff like this in the open zone.

[Da One]

Fanboyism is not the way.............

[GiantEnemyCrab]

"xbox360 is already dead in Japan! FACT"

Did you not read the article and just click comments and post your lameness?

The game sold 131k first day sales. This is better than any other 360 game has debuted first day. That to me points to the fact that the 360 has a market in Japan. Yes, it's a pityfully small one but not dead.

The install base isn't even 1mil and this game matches White Knight Chronicles first day with the PS3 having a 3:1 install base.

[dale1]

nice sales,now this will have to hit 400,000 min japan only not to go multiplat, with yakuza 3 next week hitting japan and resi 5 the following month this could slow down sales.anyone know how demon souls is doing there was a sell out first week.advent children when does that drop

[Foxgod]

you have some chrystal ball that specify's how much a game has to sell in order to NOT go multi ?

[Counter_ACT]

Pretty good, but as with most Japanese releases I wouldn't even expect half of that next week. Yakuza might make an impact on that too.

[I Win]

You think there's alot of people doing this please you sir fail you think people in Japan traded in there's to get a new one give me a break there's alot of people buying more then one XBox 360 or there XBox 360 is stolen or the warranty is expired

I bet there's been more of the same people that bought instead of trade and plus even if they did trade that still doesn't count as the original userbase considering they got a new one instead of keeping the first XBox 360.

[GameGambits]

I'm a long Star Ocean fan. Star Ocean The Second Story for the original playstation is still my favorite game to date.

Star Ocean till the end of time butchered the series to death for me because you find out everything ever going on in any of the star ocean games is just a virtual world---Videogame. HUGE let down.

Star Ocean though isn't so much for the story, although they are solid. It's really all about the depth of battles, leveling, item creation, and the challenge of side quests/dungeons/bosses.

If you want a game that goes for miles per dollars, you can expect this to be a very long game. Star Ocean the second story I think on my first time through neted me close to 200 hours? That game had HUGE replayability, because the game was a totally different experience if you picked the other lead character. Two lead characters, tons of extra dungeons, the max level was like 300, and the game scaled to keep it challenging. Too bad the remake on PSP butchered the voice acting to death and added cheesy anime cut scenes.

[bobdog626]

That's ok because you guy's have killzone2.that should keep you busy until it come for the PS3 i hope.

[skip2mylou]

what are u even talking about? nobody even mentioned Killzone2 besides u. and japan is getting Killzone sometime in December so dont act like you know whats going on in japan

[Godmars290]

Depends on if the game has legs on the 360 past launch its launch week.

[B4st10n]

Its laughable if you ask me. Still its one of the best launch for a 360 title in Japan.

Star Ocean is a HUGE IP. For it to do less then 150 K first day is unbelievably disastrous.

This is a flop in Japan. SE, you are a bunch of morons.

@FoxGod
You want some research ? What About 400k+ first week sale for the last SO on PS2 ? Feed on that and get your bubbles nuked.

[Foxgod]

WKC sold the same amount on the first day, with 3.3 x larger install base.

Also, Star ocean 3 sold a million in japan during the entire lifespan of the ps2.
Do some research next time.

[J@D]

^ but @ launch SO3 sales like the double or the triple of this sales. Good sales enough if u ask me: a new IP vs. a nknow IP sales it means good to me but it could be better.

I really hope for a PS3 counterpart that's all.

[Rampant]

Compare first day sales to first week sales? That's just dumb.

Best showing of a jrpg on the 360 yet in japan. Maybe it moved some consoles?

[B4st10n]

I will be surprised if this sold > 250K first week, or even 500K over its LIFE ! Come back here next week and let's have a chat :)

My point is that SE are killing their own franchise by playing the single platform card. You can disagree all you want but numbers are solid proof.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

What was the install base for the PS2 when the last game launched?

Look at ALL the jrpgs launching in Japan and none of them are doing 400k first day. Stop basing the results of this game on a time that no longer exists.

To me it looks like the hunger for JRPGs is at a low point in Japan and not only JRPGS but consoles in general. They seem to be moving to handheld gaming.

[dale1]

do you think it will not be multiplat with its main focus being japan,even sony welcomes MS into bringing hd gaming to the country because handhelds are taking over just look at the software sales on ds and psp.if it doesn,t sell in big numbers and cost a fortune to make why would you keep it exclusive,what exclusives have ms had in japan this year,ninja blade 7000 sales do you think this won,t go multiplat either.that wouldn,t may for the advertising.anyways a little wager of 20 english pounds if it dont by mid 2010 at the latest hows that.

[NaiNaiNai]

ace combat 6 says hi.
-nai-

[Stryfeno2]

900k 360s sold in Japan.

130k Star Ocean 360 First day sales.

Those are some good numbers for Star Ocean 4.

[kodiak]

CRY ME A RIVER PLAYB!TCHES... ITS 360 EXCLUSIVE AND ITS BETTER THAN WHITE KNIGHT FAIL 29/40 70/100

[Power_Of_Flops_]

Still worse than Valkyria Chronicles, sorry.

[skip2mylou]

i was expecting it to do a lot better in japan then that

[free3sixty]

I expect good sales for the 360 in japan. SE maybe wants to see if this game also moves some hardware.

I bet SO4 will also be released on the PS3 later this year. I also think this game is only time exclusive.

[KingItachi]

It's funny how people keep bringing up the install base, the game did well on its first day that's all that matters.

[free3sixty]

lol saying 360 is dead in Japan is something like SELFOWNED??

Cause the PS3 has only 3 times more units sold there.. if you look sales back to PS2.. then you will see, that the difference was 20x.. and not 3x.

Really.. SOny should ALREADY have something like 10 Million in Japan after 2 years. Its really sad for the PS-brand to see so bad sales in their own country.

What would PS3 boys say when the 360 would sell only 15-20k/ week in the USA?? DEAD 360??

selfowned, really.

[Imallvol7]

so essential everyone who has a 360 in japan bought it? JK

Thats great news.

[Dread]

i am not sure if u r trying to be synical, but for the record there has been 900K 360 sold in japan as of today. So if they sold 130,000K games it is roughly 14.4 percent of the isntall base on the first day. SO this are pretty good numbers and there is always tomorrow ;)

peace

[tudors]

regards install base I would have thought the PS3 would be double what it is now (3 million), this is after all it's home turf, PS3 and Xbox-360 sell great in the US and europe, I wander why the Japanese don't buy the PS3 more?

[Grandreaper9999]

So it's selling about the same amount as WKC? Is that actually a good thing? WKC is by no means an established name, whereas the SO series is very much so. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it continues to sell before we make any judgments.

If it generates hardware sales I can see it selling consistently, but if not, it'll most likely take a sharp downturn. That's all I can really say.

[Baka-akaB]

It's ...well quite frankly weird .

Everyone is kinda right here ..

On one hand , SO is a mega popular franchise in japan that sell millions of units , only below the likes of FF and DQ in sales , so for it to do the same as a Level5 new ip isnt really good news .

On another hand , 360's install base isnt good over japan , and it's hardly as if even half of it cared about jrpgs .

Both arguments are true so far , So4 should have and should crush White knight chronicles , "only" a new ip from a less popular rpg maker Level5 . Install base is meager , but big enough to warrant at least twice the sales at launch . After all didnt 360 sales quite slightly augmented due to the recent avalanche of jrpgs ? Where the hell are those people ?

And yet again on the other hand , it's only a first day figure , and it's still the best or one of the best 360 launch so far .

On my end , the jury is still out . I guess verdict with future sales figures .

[Dread]

very good points

i think it is very important to consider that there has only been 900K 360's sold in Japan. So this is about 15% (aprox) of install base. That is not bad at all.

Also even if it is a new IP WKC is made by Factor 5, who are hugely popular in Japan, and the playstaiton 3 install base is about 3-1 on 360.

So for me anyway u look at it this is very good for MS.

peace

[jackdoe]

Well, you also have to consider the fact that Famitsu blasted White Knight Chronicles and the game still sold well in spite of it. And also need to consider the fact that while Level 5 is popular, it doesn't reach anywhere near the popularity of Square Enix.

[KKanjiAnkh]

Finally, that's good cause we need successful RPG's, to continually show thier value. I liked VC, TOV, and LO, these and SOIV, DS, and WKC, are the stepping stones, needed to create the ripples that become waves. I don't bring guns to a sword fight, I just hope they have the option to set your character avatar, to its original anime counterpart.

Good Job Star Ocean

[Baka-akaB]

Indeed regardless of one's personal feeling about a console and the others , if you're a jrpg fan , this game and the following needs to succeed period .

[labwarrior]

If 360 was at PS3 numbers, it could have done 450.000 day one !!!

I am sure Square will support 360 and its vast attach rate even more now

[Dread]

very true

impressive numbers no doubt.

peace

[Lucreto]

Considering there is nothing else on the 360 the Japanese want no wonder the game sells well.

[jackdoe]

Er, no, Labwarrior. Higher attach rate means nothing when there are fewer consoles, because attach rate doesn't mean copies sold. To any company, 130,000 copies sold is still 130,000 copies sold, regardless of attach rate. However, Tri-Ace will continue to support the 360 as they have developed a working engine and can pump out new titles rather quickly.

[Lucreto]

Very good sale for the first day.

Now all the 360 exclusives are out SE should be changing tack and be more Mulitplatform.

[jackdoe]

Actually, my guess is that any Tri-Ace game from Square will be 360 exclusive while any console game from Tetsuya Nomura will be a PS3 exclusive. Anything Dragon Quest, will be Nintendo exclusive.

[Lucreto]

Tri-ace said a number of times SO4 is on the 360 because the dev kit was out first but we need to see what happens in the future.

[jackdoe]

Hm, pretty good for a well established franchise (which also shows how well of a launch WKC had, as that was a new IP that got trounced on by Famitsu). Of course, DQIX will sell more than quadruple that on the first day and FFXIII more than double based on brand recognition alone.

[JOEdANGEL]

Thats a considerable number seeing as how there are fewer than a million 360s sold in japan.

[Charlie2688]

Those are some pretty sweet numbers :D

[XDF]

You guys can Spin anything. For a system about 900K, it sold about 15% of the total installed base, that is fantastic.

A few weeks ago Sony Fanboys were celebrating that WKC is a great success with the same amount sold one a consle with 3x the installed base.

As always PS3 fanboys will always use another game to Spin in their favor *cough Yakuza 3* cough.

Just admit that this game is a great success in Japan for the X360.

[jackdoe]

Not too shabby at spinning yourself! Forgot to mention that one franchise was established and DIDN'T receive a beating from Famitsu. But it is pretty successful, nonetheless (though we'll have to wait a couple of weeks to know for sure how successful).

[labwarrior]

And also considering that SO4 has huge competition, from Blue dragon, Lost Odyssey, tales of Vesperia, Infinite Undiscovery, Last Remnant and even WRPGs like Fable 2, Fallout 3 etc

While WKC on PS3 had no competition at all, since all it had was Strategy JRPG's util WKC

[jBat17]

just got an 8 from ign.. one complaint is that you need to swap to go back to dungeons in the other discs.. i just hope that does not kill the 3fixme disc tray

gaylo wars LOL rts on a console LOL also an 8..

noby noby boy had a better score than both