460°

FF13 sells out on Amazon Japan; Profiteers charge $150 for spare copies

It looks like FF13 could be heading for some severe shortages in Japan and those who ordered early are set to profit from it.

A day before the game releases in Japan, Amazon Japan have closed down orders for Final Fantasy XIII, stopping anyone who hasn't already preordered from obtaining the game through them.

Already profiteers who ordered multiple copies of the game have seen their chance to sell the game for extra - and copies are selling for 13,500 Yen online. That's 4250 yen more than the standard retail price with tax.

That's 47 dollars more than the regular asking price and 150 US dollars! You can see the Amazon Japan listing here - those who speak the lingo will be able to see the game has been removed from further sale.

Square Enix is unlikely to have printed few copies of its biggest blockbuster, so it's likely demand for FF13 is far more than seen - meaning that FF13 could see PS3 sales rocket in Japan. Play-Asia recently told us it was their most preordered import title this generation.

rextyrann5245d ago

i only hope that SE did not print with shortage. if they did its going to be hell in japan before holidays. all the people brawling over ff13...
i can only imagine O_o

ff12 had an 2mil sold copies on an install base of 10mil++ in japan as far as i can remember. im still betting that ff13 will reach that within 2month mebbe even 1 although ps3 still is just scratching 4mil install base. curious how the hardware sales will end up for dec / jan ^^

jashwin5245d ago

haha,sony knows about ff13.im sure that they will have 10 million or something copies in stock.

iron_sheik5245d ago

so this is expected
i expect the game to sell 10m on 2 consoles

SpoonyRedMage5245d ago

Actually there is reports of SE only shipping 1.3 million copies to retailers which if true means they've either undershipped it or that the FF franchise is going into even further decline.

I hope it does great but I'm kind of concerned because Dragon Quest has the potential to overtake it as SE's franchises go and whilst I love DQ, I prefer FF.

AP5245d ago

Yeah, 1.3 million. .7 less than XII. Not much confidence in the PS3's smaller userbase, I guess.

Chubear5245d ago

lol, understatement of the century lol

Foliage5245d ago

So how long from now do you guys think Microsoft is going to admit defeat and jump to their next flopbox? We all know they are going to quit, and the fanbabies are going to pretend like the generation is over and that Microsoft won, completely overlooking the year/year and a half head start.

They are so predictable.

AP5245d ago

@foilage, let's see how the 360 version of ff13 sells in the west first.

CrazzyMan5245d ago (Edited 5245d ago )

It`s amazing, that finally this time has come.

Funny thing, FFXIII still will be a 1st JRPG million seller this gen.

sikbeta5245d ago (Edited 5245d ago )

We all know just from the beginning how Crazy Japan is going to be about FF13, except for the writer of this article

"so it's likely demand for FF13 is far more than seen - meaning that FF13 could see PS3 sales rocket in Japan"

And now, 2 days before FF13 release day, the writer realise about that

-_-

SpoonyRedMage5245d ago

'Funny thing, FFXIII still will be a 1st JRPG million seller this gen.'

On console's yes, overall, no.

WildArmed5245d ago

it'd be like the wii n ps3 rampage in which people were killed. =/

Sitdown5245d ago (Edited 5245d ago )

Geeez, did Microsoft kill one of your family members? Seriously...give it a rest...this article is about great news for ps3, and you come in here talking about Microsoft. We all know Microsoft is not strong in Japan, but apparently it is doing okay in the US...again I say, "SERIOUSLY"...move on, enjoy this article without having to bash the competition. Yeah Microsoft had a year head start this generation...but are you overlooking that Sony had a whole generation head start in establishing their Brand? So is life...

evrfighter5245d ago

"So how long from now do you guys think Microsoft is going to admit defeat and jump to their next flopbox? "

lol wow did Bill Gates take your lunch money some years ago? Hilarious

rockleex5245d ago (Edited 5245d ago )

There's only almost 4 million PS3s sold in Japan so far. Shipping 1 million means they expect one out of four Japanese PS3 gamer to buy FFXIII.

1 out of 3, or 1 out of 4 is an AMAZING attach ratio for a video game.

I wonder how much Square shipped for FFX in Japan when it released, and how many PS2s were sold in Japan by that time.

Saaking5244d ago

1.3 million is just not enough. Yes, FFX, XI, and XIII sold to a much larger install based; however, it seems the attach rate is much higher this gen compared to last. MGS4 has sold around 4.5 million on just 25 million consoles while previous MGS sold maybe 5-7 million on an install base of 100 million. See the difference? This gen, a lot of games sell a lot more than their last gen counterparts.

shawnsl655244d ago

I better pre-order my copy over here. Don't want the same thing to happen or maybe i do.. sell it back to my fellow rpger's for some $_$ j/k don't pop my bubbles pls.

Skip_Bayless5244d ago

This is the game that will make PS3 sell over 100,000 units every week consistently in Japan. Xbox 360 only sells 5,000 every week in Japan.

vhero5244d ago (Edited 5244d ago )

surprised its actually out tommorow I thought the game would never see the light of day I mean its been delay after delay with this game. Can't wait for this or Versus either.

N4g_null5244d ago

Just a thought multiplatform games have been better on the xbox360 so far. For what ever reason I have never seen a multiplatform game sell better on the ps3. Yet square was far to Sony and did not release this for the xbox360. The question is what if us and uk xbox ff sales beat the ps3? Just a what if, I've seen stranger things happen like nintendo winning this gen with almost no 3rd party help.

1million units is low and the scalper are causing an artifical sell out similar to what happened with the wii. Another question is what do the system sales reflect.

I'm not seeing alot of excitment in the current hd gamers over this game right now. It seems like we may have a case where the hype has simply expired. Also ff has to go up against ut2 killzone and gow for best looking grapics. I'm not sure ps3 fanboys won't to admit a multiplatform game looks better. If that is the case then ff has lost way more appeal than it had when this game was one of the sole reason many got ps3s because it was exclusive in the beginning of this gen.

It is getting hard to tell who is an actual fan of this game because most fanboys only care about bragging rights. Out of the fanboys claiming ps3 victory who is actualy going to buy this game?

I guess my point is excitement does not pay the bills niether does hype, genuine gamers where are you guys. Stop worrying over sales figures. Admit that if the xbox stays second that you will still hate it for actualy some very good reasons. Defetive products should not be a part of gaming. Luckly Sony doesn't have that problem this gen.

+ Show (17) more repliesLast reply 5244d ago
iron_sheik5245d ago

i am so glad i will be getting mine on a 1 BD disc with uncompressed sound and video on my ps3
i expect FF13 to sell the most on PS3 for obvious reasons-Jap exclusive, eu preference, 1 BD disc and uncompressed video at 1080p,uncompressed audio

densai5245d ago

lol, youre so wrong saying only rpgs worth it, but at least you got the version of ff13 to get right

iron_sheik5245d ago

i played dragon age, mass effect ,valkyrie,demon souls
The only real good one among them was demon souls

However no RPG comes close to FF. you may bribe reviewers to give out 10 for fallout 3 (a garbage game) but it wont be anywhere near FF

FF13 and FF13 versus are the BIGGEST and the BADDEST RPGS this gen like every other gen

densai5245d ago

so what youre saying is... youve got no taste. lol. ok. ff13 and vs will be good also, but w/e

Keowrath5245d ago

That's your opinion, not fact. I've always preferred Japanese RPG's but this generation, the western RPG's have blown the eastern RPG's away.

After so many disappointments with Final Fantasy since FF VIII, I'm not massively excited about XIII. I hope it and vs are good but you need to state your opinion as just that, not fact.

Somnipotent5245d ago

how can you even know that... have you even played them yet? it's an opinion at best.

NYC_Gamer5245d ago

Well its plenty of Wrpgs out there that i like to play..i'm not really into Jrpg but i cant take nothing away from them..

Johnny Rotten5245d ago

pffft I'll take a good dungeon crawler such as Demon Souls over this any day.

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AP5245d ago

Have the final countdown in my head now. Curse you!

Jsynn75245d ago

Yeah I know. I did it to myself too. Sorry!

densai5245d ago

xbox buried and wii catch up in japan begins here.

Show all comments (64)
70°

The 7 Best Final Fantasy Characters: Unveiling the Legends

While FFVII ranks highly, there's more to the series than one game. Here's Chit Hot's picks for the seven best Final Fantasy characters.

220°

The older it gets, the more I respect Final Fantasy XIII

Alex Donaldson: "Hindsight is a hell of a thing, however, and in the years since Final Fantasy XIII, my respect for the decisions its developers made has skyrocketed. In the two Final Fantasy titles since we see both the brilliance and the folly in alternative approaches - and in Final Fantasy VII Remake, we get a more nuanced understanding of what FF13 was trying to accomplish from many of the same development leads."

Einhander1972124d ago

FFXIII is actually one of the best Final Fantasy games.

I also sort of was disappointed at the time, never as much as the bandwagon. But really all the fantastic 3D rendered cutscenes and I actually liked the characters and the story though convoluted was actually fantastic and the ending was extremely emotional. So much budget and time were put into that game Square had such big plans, I actually have always felt kind of bad for how things played out.

I have been thinking for years how great it would be to get all three games on one disk for PS4 or 5.

Nyxus124d ago

I always liked this game, and I agree, a rerelease for current gen would be nice.

Shane Kim123d ago (Edited 123d ago )

Gotta take off the nostalgia glasses. It's the worst FF. Shiva as a bike, I mean come on.

Elda123d ago

Shiva as a bike is strange but saying FFXIII is the worst FF is not at all a fact, that's simply your opinion.

Terry_B123d ago

*One of the 3 equally bad FF's

DivineHand125123d ago (Edited 123d ago )

When I got my series X a year ago, I bought FF13 for nostalgia reasons but ended up being disappointed. When I first played it around the time it launched, I didn't have a lot of experience with final fantasy games, so I enjoyed it. Fast forward to when I played it again, I found that the game had many unnecessary filler moments instead of just giving us meaningful content.

The game is also very linear and a quote on the article said it best. "It is like a sewage pipe that leads to the ocean until it opens up on Grand Pulse."

The story didn't make much sense either and I believe it is my mistake as I played the FF7 remake on PS5 prior which is a night and day difference in terms of pacing, storytelling and likeable characters even though cloud is aloof.

FinalFantasyFanatic123d ago (Edited 123d ago )

Probably was a mistake to play any of the golden era FFs first (e.g. FF6 through FF10), it makes it harder to enjoy some of the FFs that aren't as good. I think FF12 was where major issues with the series started becoming apparent, and it just got worse from there.

FinalFantasyFanatic123d ago (Edited 123d ago )

I didn't really care for it that much, the only saving grace was that it had a better story than 15 (overall it was better than 15) and possibly 12, and even then, you had to read some of it through primers, like reading a book. Plus the battle system was reasonably fun for what it was, even if it was more the spectacle that was exciting for me (e.g. summoning). And to be fair, the 13 trilogy got better with every games, I still don't like Snow though.

Gamingsince1981123d ago

Ff13 is only good if you haven't played a ff before, or any other games that are decent for that matter.

-Foxtrot123d ago

It is in fact no way the best Final Fantasy game, it's one of the worst

Linear corridors, Cutscene, Fight, Cutscene...rinse and repeat

Dialogue and characters are pretty bad, especially Lightning as the main FF hero, they literally said they tried to make a "Female Cloud" and they failed.

Story was pretty awful

I could go on

I think the only alright thing that came from the game was the music.

Elda122d ago

That's not a fact that's your personal opinion. The game sold 11 million copies between its 2009 release up until 2014 including critically reviewed as an 8 out of 10 or an 80 out of 100. The game does have some issues but it's not at all a fact as one of the worst FF games.

-Foxtrot122d ago

Elda

Not just mine mate

A large majority

So….

Traecy122d ago

N4G commenters such as yourself aren't the majority. The game was well received.

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gold_drake124d ago (Edited 124d ago )

i liked the game alot but i didnt like how they handled the terminology.

i dont mind reading data logs but it had soo many.

but i always loved the music and how it looked. the battle system wasnt too bad either.

but i like 13-2 more :)

i still dont understand why we never got a remaster of the trilogy

Eonjay123d ago

Xbox kinda did. Besides the video files of course which are still best on PS3 due to bluray.

Snookies12124d ago

XIII is a pretty solid game, but XIII-2 is WAY better. XIII-2 was one of the few games I decided to go for a Platinum trophy in, early on. Had so much fun the entire way through getting it too!

Eonjay123d ago

Totally agree. FF 13 was okay but 13-2 is my favorite FF game ever.

shinoff2183124d ago (Edited 124d ago )

I hated this to when it released. I haven't much liked a ff game since ff10 as much , aside from ff7remake. I decided to give it another shot on my series x since it's not on a current ps and was liking it quite a bit(just takes me some time to get over things ) until star ocean 2 remake came out I was all over that.

Square should definitely remaster it or something for ps4 ps5

KillerB123d ago

my favorite jrpg trilogy ever

Show all comments (44)
70°

Interview: Making music with Masashi Hamauzu

Square Enix Blog: "How do you compose iconic songs that help define a legacy? We speak to legendary composer Masashi Hamauzu about his work on Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XIII, and Final Fantasy VII Remake, and how to make unforgettable music."

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