SEGA latest multimedia video game, Hero Bank for the Nintendo 3DS, debuted in the Japanese charts. Joining it last week was Phantasy Star Online 2: Episode 2 for the Playstation Vita, the retail version of the highly successful MMO with added perks. Both arrived at a time with a slew of new software reflected by the Japanese charts which holds 14 out of 20 new titles in the top 20. It was always going to be tough for both titles as they release at the same time as several big titles, so hit the break to find out how they fared.
MediaCreate Charts for March 03 – March 09 2014
15./00. [PSV] Phantasy Star Online 2 Episode 2: Deluxe package <RPG> (Sega) {2014.03.20} (¥5.229) – 16,152 / NEW
16./00. [3DS] Hero Bank <RPG> (Sega) {2014.03.20} (¥5.550) – 15,060 / NEW
I think it’s fair to say that neither software title are performing to how SEGA hoped. Phantasy Star Online 2 in particular has a massive decline from the previous game, which managed a respectable 55,879. Still, for a game that is F2P (The latest version is available for free) being sold at retail, any figure would be a good one but no doubt after the success of the original release on the Playstation Vita (Which went on to sell 108,000 units) it will be a disappointment for SEGA. What is interesting is another major expansion pack for the Vita, Soul Sacrifice Delta, has faced a similar decline (Original sold 105,863 vs 44,000 for Delta) so to me the issue is more down to Vita users unwilling to purchase further expansion packs in these respected games.
The bigger failure for SEGA however is Hero Bank. Whatever targets they had set on Hero Bank must have been higher than the paltry 15,000 they got for it and it follows up 575 Utemaki as another new IP failing in the market for SEGA. The only hope now for the title now will fall onto the anime series that will air beginning of April however I have been cynical about the success of the title since it was first announced. Wither the game follows Level 5’s new IP Yokoi Watch or flounders further such as Capcom’s Gaist Crusher may come down to how well received the anime is.
That’s it for this week, join me in next week’s chart when Hatsune Miku: Project Diva 2nd f/F releases for the Playstation 3 and Playstation Vita.
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I’m surprised these 2 releases ‘bombed’.
Do you believe Hero Bank’s chances of being brought to the west have diminished after this failure ?
I never thought Hero Bank stood a chance for Western release. However if SEGA America/Europe feel it can be successful here they can localise it, I just doubt they’d be interested in bringing it over.
Sega desperately needs to develop new IP that aim to appeal to a larger audience than a tiny Japanese niche.
Nagoshi doesn’t seem to have much of an interest in the Western market, unfortunately (the misguided Binary Domain aside) so I’m not sure how likely it is, but if Sega wants to have new IP take off, they need to aim bigger with them.
I’m not saying they need to Westernize their games or anything, but come on, something like Hero Bank was not going to be a major success. Japan’s a risky market to release new IP in, so when you’re developing games that are only likely to release in Japan, that greatly reduces their chances for success.
I do not think they are in desperate need of new IPs, not anymore anyway. Atlus’ products, coupled with their four major IPs in the West gives them a strong foothold in the consumer market globally.
I would not say Nagoshi has no interest in the Western markets, he was one of the execs who pushed forward the Relic deal. He just falls into the mindset that instead of making their Japanese developers make games that focus on the Western markets or tastes, they develop to their strength or whatever they wish to.
But aiming for a new IP in the Western market is just as dangerous as it is in Japan. The problem is the entry budget for a big Western IP is around $30 – $40 million and SEGA’s not going to invest that sort of money anymore. Something I agree with, the fact Sonic is sticking to a $20 million budget is good news and hopefully SEGA invests their money more wisely.
Not that Hero Bank was a wise investment mind you.
I didn’t think Hero Bank would be successful from the beginning, though I tried to maintain active interest. It’s hard for me to articulate exactly why it’s failed. It can’t be just the other big titles releasing, it probably wasn’t competing with Dark Souls 2.
As for PSO2:E2, ehh. I’m sure Nova will do better, but the degree to which that will be true remains to be seen. I’d like to think that if GE2 can do as well as it did in Japan, Nova can put up respectable numbers. Given the huge amount of development resources going into it though, I hope respectable cuts it.
Hero Bank released in the same week as;
Mario Party: Island Tour, Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes, Samurai Warriors 4, J-Stars Victory Vs and Pro Baseball Spirits 2014.
Of those titles, only two are in the same market (Children / family friendly) and one is on the same console. I think it’s hard to call Hero Bank at the moment, the anime might kick start it’s success. As I said I’m not hopeful but if it can follow Yokai Watch’s trend (Debuted to 55k went on to do over 600k) it could carve a respectable number.
As for Phantasy Star Nova, I think at the moment the Playstation Vita can support at least 300k worth of sales looking at the sales of GodEater 2 (354k as of end of 2013) but I can’t see SEGA not wanting sales of between 400k – 500k.
Kind of expected with PSO2:E2’s decline, but they are still not releasing the game in either Vita or PC form over here…which sucks.
Hero Bank….it seems that not even SEGA fans are excited for it.
I am in the mindset that SEGA do best making new experiences, but they need to do it on a budget and with the mindset of the franchise being a universal appeal (be it for kids or adults). I wouldn’t mind more 3DS output if they released more games for it, but Hero Bank didn’t seem very appealing.