kswiston said:
I don't see how you can say that for sure. It's not like other S-E rpgs on the DS have had extreme legs (excepting Final Fantasy III years ago). Kingdom Hearts 358/2 days is the latest example of a S-E rpg failing to double its first week. The second week percentage drop for DQIX is almost the same as DQVIII's. Less than a percent better. It has already fallen behind DQVII leg-wise. If it mirrors DQVIII next week as well, then I don't think even 4M is guaranteed (without a budget release).
Kingdom Hearts hasn't stop selling and when it's all said and done it can very well double its first week.
Now let's see previous Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy titles on DS. Media Create and not famitsu numbers just for change.
TITLE / RELEASE DATE / FIRST WEEK / LTD / FIRST WEEK to LTD RATIO
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime / 01/12/05 / 45.810 / 296.569 / 0,15
Final Fantasy III / 24/08/06 / 503.051 / 1.052.882 / 0,48
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker / 28/12/06 / 593.994 / 1.486.979 / 0,40
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings / 26/04/07 / 274.004 / 520.058 / 0,53
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Rings of Fate / 23/08/07 / 177.845 / 374.409 / 0,48
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift / 25/10/07 / 142.191 / 296.332 / 0,48
Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen / 22/11/07 / 597.301 / 1.288.085 / 0,46
Final Fantasy IV / 20/12/07 / 287.697 / 648.907 / 0,44
Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride / 17/07/08 / 643.764 / 1.237.125 / 0,52
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time / 29/01/09 / 101.718 / 155.894 / 0,65
The number for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time is just for the first 3 weeks, but at the Famitsu 2009 half year chart its LTD is 230.000 so the ratio is well below 0,50.
I could add and the rest Square Enix RPGs for DS but with the exception of Chrono Trigger, which was extremely frontloaded, the ratio would get even better.
Now taking into consideration everything Jonnyram said about DQ IX used sales, the one save slot per cartridge and the fact that this is the biggest DS 3rd party title to date I still think that doubling the first week (4,5 millions) is the worst case. Like I said before next weeks until Pokemon will show that. If you want a prediction DQ IX's 3rd week will be closer to DQ VII's than DQ VIII's, and the following weeks it won't have the sharp declines the others two had.
Regardind Monster Hunter 3 I'm with those who support it will reach the non game status and it will become the first million seller 3rd party for a Nintendo home console since Super Famicom.