Capcom discusses Darkside Chronicles sales, hardcore games, Monster Hunter 3, and more
Because a translation from Google is being used, not everything is perfectly clear. However, this is well worth reading, as Antoine Seux from Capcom France divulges a bunch of information concerning Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, Monster Hunter 3, hardcore games, the DS, and more.
Capcom on Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles sales…
“As for Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles, in absolute figures are not too bad, but it’s not going to lie, they are below what we hoped. After three weeks (the interview was conducted December 23, editor’s note), we are a total of 16,000 units sold. One feels that there is a problem very clear on this style of game on the Wii, where gamers are obviously moved on. There are two more years, Resident Evil: The Umbrella Chronicles had yet had a very very big success on Wii. Here we can see, the customer of this console has turned to something much broader audience. It is a disappointment.”
Capcom comparing sales of Darkside Chronicles to Resident Evil 4…
“Resident Evil 4 on Wii had worked well, but he was released in June 2007, when the market had nothing to do! This year the Wii was very difficult with an oversupply, and a gamer market that has radically changed. We note that the games called “gamers” are selling less and less on the Nintendo console, whether MadWorld, Dead Rising: Chop Till You Drop, The House of the Dead: Overkill … scores were not extraordinary. Compared to 140,000 pieces sold Resident Evil 4 on Wii at the time, it is very far away. There is clearly a concern to this level.”
Capcom discussing whether hardcore games won’t have as much support in 2010…
“Indeed, the Wii is becoming complex. What works great, and I rely on the GfK figures, the games are very heavily very public, like Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, New Super Mario Bros.. Wii and to a lesser extent Just Dance and The Rabbids. These securities are strongly supported, and I insist on it, by massive advertising campaigns.”
Capcom on the lack of support from retailers in France regarding Darkside Chronicles…
“Unfortunately, this is a game rated 18 +. The advertising campaign was not visible at peak times by the general public, and that’s what counts at this time of year. A campaign for Resident Evil: The Darkside Chronicles could not have taken place before 22h30/23h, and it is indeed very far from the target “classic” of the Wii today. Two years ago, there were still gamers on Wii, Nintendo loyalists who – prior – were diverted from this console in favor of the new generation.”
Capcom’s opinion of 2009…
“This is the year of the emergence of so-called new console generation. It feels a position clear of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in the market. This does not necessarily feel in the figures, because the Wii is still an important part of sales, but growth is on both platforms. The DS is declining, for reasons various and varied as market saturation and piracy. For these same reasons, the PSP is dying. The Wii console is very much a family commitment rates relatively low. So for us, Capcom, the future is the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.”
Why Capcom doesn’t support the DS better in France…
“Capcom has never been strong on DS. Our expertise is fully expressed on consoles, that is to say games in the third person, action games, a great atmosphere, a style to them that are not replicable on DS . Monster Hunter is a game whose biggest scores historically have made the PSP. Therefore, our historical successes were always made on specific developments. After that, we still present on the DS via Ace Attorney (Gyakuten Saiban), Mega Man – licenses that have a little trouble in Europe. There was no question of going Capcom for “ruining” his mark by trying to make the development at any cost.”
Capcom on the launch of Monster Hunter 3 in Europe…
“Monster Hunter has always performed reasonably well in Europe on PSP, even if it is light years ahead scores in Japan. There is a very strong desire for Capcom to make a permanent license in the West. Since it is a title that lends itself to multiplayer gaming, the Wii is adapted. It is, moreover, a title that can easily pass from the universe “gamer” to the general public. So yes, our ambitions are very high, but we’re still in the estimates. It’s hard to give you a precise figure, given the high elasticity of sales with marketing campaigns for the Wii.”
Capcom on 2010, noting that this year will be difficult for the DS…
“This will be a difficult year for the handheld in general, DS or PSP. We should see the rise of the PS3 and Xbox 360, with, hopefully, expansion of game styles, open to a wider audience. Even if it does not Capcom, is in the interests of this sector as new generation consoles seduce new audiences. This will allow a demonization of the recreation. In 2010, the video game software will return to growth in sales as higher installed base for PS3 and 360 will lifecycles longer for games, with price declines.”
