September US sales

Post by **drumlord** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 6:49 pm

This comes from NPD which isn't perfect. They don't cover every last retailer and I believe it's only US, not all of NA.

Lunar:DS sold 9,669 copies in September. Considering that and the Japanese numbers, I do not foresee another Lunar in the near future. But I'm guessing they probably only need to sell 30-40k worldwide to make up costs (except for Ubi's ads perhaps). So if they at least break even, there's at least a chance we'll see another one.

Angelalex242 · Post by **Angelalex242** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:00 pm

Can't say I'm shocked this one didn't sell well.

When a game annoys its hardcore audience, those who are not so devoted to the series won't even bother.

DevNall · Post by **DevNall** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:24 am

Maybe some people are waiting for the holidays?

Is that just through September 31st? Some places I looked said they wouldn't have in until October 1st or so...

That being said, what'd Legend sell?

Jyd3n · Post by **Jyd3n** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 12:27 am

Well maybe Lunar DS is a late bloomer, i mean it's only been out two weeks now. there's still plenty of time for people to find out that a new Lunar has been released, besides it's ratings weren't the worst i've seen. There's still hope for us all and a Lunar 3

Post by **Kizyr** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 2:03 am

DevNall wrote:Is that just through September 31st? Some places I looked said they wouldn't have in until October 1st or so...

Actually, it doesn't include September 31st. On September 31st, Lunar: DS sold 8000 more copies. KF

Post by **GhaleonOne** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 2:35 am

[spoilers]Actually, it doesn't include September 31st. On September 31st, Lunar: DS sold 8000 more copies. KF[/spoilers]

Huh? How'd you get this information?

Wait.

...

There was no September 31st. Still, 8000 more copies? Trying to play people Kiz?

DevNall · Post by **DevNall** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 2:46 am

I was about to say something about this and then I realized I'd written it...

I guess that's what happens when you're discussing Halloween plans in another window. But at-least it made for a good laugh.

Hm, I wonder how many copies Castlevania will sell.

Post by **Sonic#** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 3:16 am

I actually bought my copy of Lunar: DS in October, so it's not impossible that sales will pick up. Still... the numbers aren't encouraging. >_<

Post by **GhaleonOne** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 3:23 am

The downside of things are that those numbers likely included preorder sales. At least, I assume so. Rich, any clue?

Post by **Rune Lai** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 5:24 am

The game released... what... September 21st? 24th? I can't remember anymore. Just remember the 9000 copies are only a few days' worth of sales, not really a whole month's worth. I wouldn't call an end to it yet.

I would not bet on 30-40k sales worldwide being the break even point though. Those numbers are abysmal. If Lunar DS doesn't hit 30-40k just the US alone I would be surprised if Ubisoft didn't drop it like a hot potato. I think at 60k they might still consider doing another installment, given that the DS's install base is still young.

By the way, there is NPD data for Canada as well, but it's not mixed in with the US data. It's a separate set of figures.

DevNall · Post by **DevNall** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 5:26 am

Just saw the RPGamer review. Is it just me, or do the reviews seem notably worse than the previews?

Post by **GhaleonOne** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 3:04 pm

Rune, it came out on the 27th, but noone had it in until at least the 28th. It seems almost all WalMarts and Best Buys, among other places, didn't get it in until the 30th or 1st. Even later in some places. I think even some GameStops and EBGames didn't even get it in until the 1st.

Angelalex242 · Post by **Angelalex242** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 3:22 pm

The problems with the game are such that word of mouth is only doing damage, and not helping the game at all.

Then again, I also firmly believe they have nobody to blame but themselves for the sales.

Would it have killed them to let you target enemies? Was it that big a bug in the code they just couldn't fix? Were they really that deadset on breaking equipment? Did it really add anything to the story?

These guys just flat out hanged themselves with bad choices.

Post by **drumlord** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 3:29 pm

Rune Lai wrote:I would not bet on 30-40k sales worldwide being the break even point though.

They may sound abysmal, but at 40k sales, that would be roughly $1.5M (the NPD numbers reflect that most places are selling it for $40). Take out a good chunk of that for retail, distribution, licensing, printing, and advertising, and you should still be above the average cost of developing a DS game, which is $344,000.

Post by **GhaleonOne** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 4:15 pm

How much is UbiSoft's cost though. That's the question. They did a lot of advertising online, and I know there's three magazine advertisements for it.

DevNall · Post by **DevNall** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 6:39 pm

drumlord wrote:you should still be above the average cost of developing a DS game, which is $344,000.

That's average cost. Considering this was likely biased towards early DS games, and looking at some of the other DS games that have come out, I wouldn't be surprised if Lunar: Genesis cost a good bit more than that to make.

MiaOne · Post by **MiaOne** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:47 pm

I'm not surprised...DS was freakin' annoying. But, I hope to god Ubi doesn't drop it and I hope we get a Four Heroes Story at least.

They made some very bad choices for this game though...very bad. I was at EB Game yesterday though and there was only one copy left of Lunar: DS so that looks promising...then again I don't know how many they had in...

DevNall · Post by **DevNall** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:52 pm

MiaOne wrote:I'm not surprised...DS was freakin' annoying. But, I hope to god Ubi doesn't drop it and I hope we get a Four Heroes Story at least.

They made some very bad choices for this game though...very bad. I was at EB Game yesterday though and there was only one copy left of Lunar: DS so that looks promising...then again I don't know how many they had in...

But on the other hand, how many sales did it get just because it was essentially the only DS RPG available?

I want Four Heroes Story too, but preferably with different battle mechanics.

MiaOne · Post by **MiaOne** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 7:58 pm

DevNall wrote:
I want Four Heroes Story too, but preferably with different battle mechanics.

Agreed. I hope they learned their lesson...what a horrible lesson to put us through.

Fangarius · Post by **Fangarius** » Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:32 pm

Personally, I hope GameArts and Ubisoft have learned from the error of their flaws in LDS and hopefully will remedy them if they make another Lunar game for the DS.

Currently I believe the game sold mainly because it IS the only true RPG game for the DS (until Mario & Luigi 2 and Xenosaga I & II come out). And I'm curious to as why they decided to eliminate the targeting system, because someone told me at E3, the demo version DID have a targeting system in it (but I'm only going by hearsay, so please don't hold me to this), and the only other thing I was annoyed with was the durability factor put on the armor and weapons, without offering some type of repair item or facility that could mend them or upgrade them in the long run.

But hey, Lunar did sell, despite some of its drawbacks and as I aforementioned, if GA and Ubisoft do decide to make another series, to remedy these flaws and focus a bit more on the storyline. :roll:

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