17
Apr
2009
2009 Is the Year of the PS3… in Japan
Throughout this entire generation, people have been making outrageous claims as to “This will be the year of the (insert random console here)”. Most of these claims are completely unfounded and are just people speculating based on their own assumptions. Even the term itself “Year of the”… What are people expecting? What does that even mean? Are they expecting the PS3 to outsell the 360 3:1 worldwide? It’s not going to happen! Both consoles are already too established in all three worldwide markets for that to happen.
However, there has been some very interesting data coming out of Japan in the first three months of this year. The PS3 is making fantastic strides, and has been the top selling console this year cumulatively in this market, even outselling the untouchable Wii. Why is that? Well, one reason is because everyone in Japan already owns at least one Wii, or at least it seems that way. It also helps they they had such blockbuster games as Yakuza 3 release this year, essentially a Japanese sandbox game similar to GTA.
As far as games go, the PS3 has the Japanese market completely in the palm of its hand for the rest of the year. Tales of Vesperia which was the 360’s claim to fame in the Japanese market has recently been “Bioshocked”. That is to say that it’s coming back with loads of more features including extra characters and more options. Additionally, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children just released on blu-ray in Japan. This was accompanied by a special FFVII PS3 bundle as well as FFVII being released on the PSN in this region.
The year is going to climax with the long awaited release of FFXIII in the winter. If anything is going to skyrocket PS3 sales, it’s this game. So, if you’re looking for a 3:1 ratio of sales for the PS3:360, you only have to look across the Pacific. Expect PS3 sales to continue to rise this year as Sony starts to really flex their muscles in their homeland.
10
Apr
2009
FFVII on the US and EU PSN? Not for months!
The announcement of Final Fantasy VII coming onto the JPN and HK Playstation networks today made me do a double-take. Then the immediate question is, when will this content reach everywhere else? This will not happen this week, not next week, not even in the next month! Here’s why:
- The release of the game on the Asian storefront coincided with the release of the FFIV: Advent Children movie on Blu-Ray. So, one Final Fantasy release can ride the coattails of another.
- This content has been highly demanded for months, if not years! There is no way that a news item of this magnitude would just come out spontaneously in the middle of April. My guess is that E3 would be the perfect unveiling of this download in America/Europe
But wait… Here’s the catch! Both of these are slated to happen at the SAME TIME! According to Amazon.com, the Blu-ray is supposed to be released on June 2nd, which is the same day that E3 2009 starts in Los Angeles. Coincidence, I think not! Look for FFVII to be downloadable onto the PSN and possibly even XBLA after E3 this year.