A bit late today guys. Been really busy with the new baby and the job, but here are a few impressions from this week. I usually try not to inject personal feelings in these but after looking over this post I feel it got a bit rant-y I’ll try to write a better one next week.
1. I was asked to look for Bravely Default. Well the game is at the front of the 3DS sections at stores and they have several empty boxes in a row signifying that it is a big release, also there was a small LCD TV at wanpaku showing some gameplay, but in general it was no big campaign. No posters in stores and no Kiosks. I know there is a television commercial (I saw it online) but in the 2 or so hours of primetime TV I and my wife watch everyday we have not seen it. I do not really watch Anime (at least not on television) and that might be the audience they are most targeting. Still, for a game announced and hyped at LAST Years TGS, I expected a lot more.
2. Kiosks, flyers and posters everywhere for Biohazard 6. Crazy amount of advertising. Saw 5 ads on TV for it this week and it was featured in some variety program. The movies have also been running on TV in the lead up to the game. I think they showed every one (one a week) except the newest.
3. Another retro store bites the dust. The Wanpaku in my town got rid of any game older that the PS2 and replaced the retro section with some tables so kids can play Yu-Gi-Oh. I died a little inside. That shop is where I used to buy all my PC Engine and Saturn stuff.
4. The amount of 3DS units available is above Vita in many stores. Lots and lots of launch colors are available. Still people are choosing to buy new rather than used. And of course casual fans and parents are not buying them from game shops anyway, but department stores that do not sell used units.
5. Despite the fact that the game is already out and by now off the charts, there is considerable advertising for Miku at every game store. Not sure why. Maybe just her smiling face is bringing people in? Just to keep the franchise in people minds?
6. My town must not have gotten the memo. Let me explain. I was not able to go to every game store this week but I did want to see how Wii U pre-orders were doing. As I said last week, I have seen zero hype for this thing outside of specialist publications (Famitsu and the like). But I saw picture on the Internet of posters and preorder kiosks in Tokyo and Osaka and it brought my hopes up. But it seems like my town didn’t get the memo…
Book-net: Still nothing in the way of advertising but the guy at the counter said he could take preorders if I filled out a form. The only way to even know this form exists is to ask for it…
Goody: Nothing.
Famicom Dojo (mom and pop): Too small to get in on the pre-order program and no advertising materials were sent to them from Nintendo.
Best Denki: It’s a chain so they can take pre-orders but the woman at the counter didn’t know if they had any. Maybe they sold out? Never had them? I’ll try that store again when I can talk to someone else. No advertisements in the store. But a weird hand painted calligraphy banner for Biohazard 6 hanging in the stairwell, I’ll try to snap a picture of it.
Wanpaku: Success! Sort of… No posters, no kiosk, but at the front counter there was a computer printed ad for the Wii U and the different bundles were listed. The lady at the counter asked if I wanted to pre-order. The ad said one of the bundle choices was the Monster Hunter Bundle. I asked if it was sold out and she said she didn’t know but I could fill out the pre-order for it anyway.
Jusco (department store with a game/DVD/misc electronics section): No ads. Asked the lady at the counter and she pointed to the Wii section. I said I was actually looking for the Wii U and she gave me a confused look. I loaded up a picture on my smartphone (my main communication method in general) and showed it to her. She asked me if it was a controller for the Wii. I should note at this point that she was 50-something and obviously not a gamer. She was also very nice about the whole thing and really did try to help me.
Yamada Denki: I was not able to get to this store, but the chain as a whole seems to be on the ball with Wii U stuff so thins might be the place to go in my town. I’ll try to check it when I’m on that part of town.
Mr. Max: This store doesn’t have many games but it was a great place to get a Wii or DS lite when all the other stores were sold out. No one thinks of looking there. Apparently not Nintendo either. Nothing in store about the Wii U.
Now my town is only 60,000 people (80,000 of you count the surrounding area) but I am still stunned at the total lack of.. well anything regarding the Wii U. The only explanation I can think of is that Nintendo really believe there will be an extreme shortage and they are focusing only on the big cities and will expand to dinky little towns like mine when more stock is available. Or I suppose maybe they think the system will sell itself and they don’t need to advertise until the thing is already out. Do any other JapanGAF members time outside of a major city? I would like more information. I am worried that I am living in some anomaly. Wii and DS were well advertised here. As was the Vita before it’s launch. Maybe I am expecting too much, too early?
7. I think I found a connection between the Vita and the 360. Both are considered otaku systems and both are often sold back after the otaku centered game is completed. PS3 and Wii are bought often by people who would never venture into a “game store”. If they stop using them they get put in closets rather than resell them. Take the mainstream hit the Famicom, while cleaning at my wife’s parent’s house I found a Famicom, a disk system and a bunch of games. I instantly saw a valuable discovery but to them it was just something they were not sure how to properly throw away.
8. And since the most commented on part of my last report was the Kirby Gumballs. I will close with a crowd pleaser. Here is a collage of the Dragon Quest slime flavored gum I bought. It tastes like lime with a hint of “s”.
Ok, time to sleep before the baby wakes up again.