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[Gaia Theory]

Y'know, game companies are truly mind boggling sometimes. You've got to wonder what goes on in their heads sometimes.

Namco is expect big sales for their PS2 Tales game, Tales of Rebirth (source: ps2.ign.com)

So 800,000 copies ready for day one? Pretty good, no argument from me. It's smart to be prepared. A large RPG userbase on the PS2 probably means many will purchase this beautiful entry in the Tales series.

My question is why Namco could not have had the same foresight for Tales of Symphonia for Gamecube. In North America, the game was simply made unavailable for those who did not preorder for more than 2-3 weeks. I'm aware that the GC has a substanially smaller userbase, and that I'm comparing the Japanese to North American markets here, but Tales represented the first major RPG effort developed for the Cube (Skies being a port and one that was not marketed at all to consumers). If you're first to bring the goods, and Namco knew they were, you've got to deliver the goods. Namco did, the game is amazing, but they failed to deliver an appropriate amount of units for sale during the games peak selling time (first month).

Eh, I'm not really sure I care that much actually... I preordered mine afterall... and this took too damn long to write.

 

[Amir0x]

I never had any trouble finding Tales of Symphonia... hours, days, weeks or even months after launch. It was almost always in stock :|

Anyhoo, everyone knows how I feel on the Tales series soo... *runs*

 

[BobbyRobby]

I think its because unlike in America, the Tales series has already proved itself. (I think ToD2 sold about 800k).

I'm not sure your idea of shipping a ton of copies in untested water would be such a hot idea, unless the game is really spectacular, and something totally revolutionary.

You're right that they didn't ship enough though.

 

[kiryogi]

one of those 800k copies is mine! Coming in this friday

 

[john tv]

I highly doubt it's going to sell 800,000 copies, but perhaps after DQVIII, the RPG market may have opened up a bit. We'll see.

 

[lexi]

A friend of mine had a hell of a time finding it in Toronto shortly after its launch, so I'll believe it.

 

[kiryogi]

A friend of mine had a hell of a time finding it in Toronto shortly after its launch, so I'll believe it.

online ordering!

 

[ferricide]

I highly doubt it's going to sell 800,000 copies, but perhaps after DQVIII, the RPG market may have opened up a bit. We'll see.

didn't the last PS2 one sell that much? or nearly? TOD2 i mean.

 

[vireland]

My question is why Namco could not have had the same foresight for Tales of Symphonia for Gamecube. In North America, the game was simply made unavailable for those who did not preorder for more than 2-3 weeks.

Plenty in stock everywhere I've looked for it. In fact, Target here appears to have almost the same amount of copies left that they were originally shipped.

 

[jiggle]

didn't the last PS2 one sell that much? or nearly? TOD2 i mean.

841,602 as of June 29, 2003 according to the chart at magicbox.


It went over 900k eventually, iirc???

 

[ferricide]

Plenty in stock everywhere I've looked for it. In fact, Target here appears to have almost the same amount of copies left that they were originally shipped.

well, it's not like it can be argued this game isn't popular, though. come on now. according to TRSTs, it's sold like 250k!

and i know they've reprinted it from a friend at namco.

 

[Mercurial]

online ordering!

Should have gone to Shoppers World Zellers. We still have some of our first order.

 

[Broshnat]

TOD2 did indeed do 800k in Japan.

I can't see Rebirth doing quite as well though. It'll blow it's load first week and do 450k, but will drop to 50-60k a week over xmas and probably edge towards 700k if it's lucky.

 

[vireland]

well, it's not like it can be argued this game isn't popular, though. come on now. according to TRSTs, it's sold like 250k!

and i know they've reprinted it from a friend at namco.

Oh, I'm not saying it's not popular, just that it's not at all rare (around here anyway).