Gamers do not have taste: Valkyria Chronicles is selling very poorly

Today another proof surfaced that gamers do not have taste and are destroying the sales of every original game. Valkyria Chronicles is the next victim. Click on read more for the full story.

[kodiak]

its normal
this game is overrated

[thereapersson]

Yet another disgrace to gaming. You need to leave immediately.

[Information Minister]

Go back to your derivative shooters, would you kindly?

[AAACE5]

I believe it could be a really fun game, but people see the name "SEGA" and run the other way! I was hoping that this game would hit 360... but since it's not, i'll have another game to pick up when I get a Ps3!

I hope gamers do come around and embrace this one...

[hazeblaze]

Whatever, from what I played of the game it is the best strategy rpg out this gen. It's a shame that it's not selling better... I had to put off purchasing it b/c of all the other games I had to get this holiday. That's why developers shouldn't be putting out all their games on the holiday... This game would have sold better over the summer.

[gaffyh]

IMO, it's cos it is an SRPG. This game seems good (from what I played in the demo), but I am very reluctant to buy it because the only SRPG I have liked is Jeanne D'Arc (and Advance Wars to a certain extent, it got boring after the first game).

If it was just a standard JRPG it would probably have sold very well.

[va_bank]

I can't say wether this game is overrated, but it's definately not my type of game. I downloaded the demo and didn't enjoy it. I liked the art and presentation, but I'm just not into these type of games. This is something for more hardcore gamer I guess.

[season007]

its kinda recession proof but if you have got like 4-5 games to pick, you still won't get them all at the same time

Say for owners with only PS3
LBP, R2, COD-WAW, VC, Fallout, Rockband 2...etc. or if you are interested in particular stuff maybe you would get WWE or Naurto

Even if it is affordable to pay 300-400bucks for all these games
its not like you get the time to play it all

[facepalm]

The issue with this game is that it's extremely niche... And even within this niche they added game mechanics that pretty much drove away much of the players...

But especially with the US' case I think they timed everything poorly...

This game should not have been released on a day that had 60+ game releases which includes 2 other PS3 exclusive (Resistance 2, Naruto), proven franchises that people would bet their money on. Since this game is a new IP most people would hesitant to buy it.

(The original schedule release date in the US was actually a better choice since it didn't contain any PS3 exclusive games or even that many PS3 games in general... But NOOOOOOOooooo, they just had to push it forward a week earlier.)

Just like "Mirror's Edge", this is a game that should have been released around January or March of next year where there are a few or even no high profile releases...

SEGA made really bad moves when releasing this title and now it got lost in amidst the large pile of established franchises, sequels, and shooters...

I'm one of the 33K that bought this game in the convinced several of my friends who own PS3s to get this game...Since SEGA won't advertise here, I would gladly do the job for them!!

[JsonHenry]

I enjoyed this game, even though I thought it was kinds short. But I agree - this game is a **little** over-rated.

[thisguywithhair]

I'm sorry but it sounds like you are all saying that a game that YOU like should be selling better. Does it ever occur to anyone that just because you like the game doesn't mean that it will do well.

You guys also seem to think that just because a person doesn't like a game that you like that they are unenlightened gamers. Maybe they just don't like cartoony graphics with a simplistic gameplay and a mediocre story. A litle over-hyped? I just want the time I wasted the demo back, let alone renting the actual game.

[J@D]

@ kodiak.
Ur are an overated

@ Information Minister
Hahahaha, great Bioshock referred XD

[Bnet343]

This game has a very steep learning curve which actually turned me off from playing the demo longer then 5 minutes so I can see why others would give up and not buy it.

[prowiew]

I think it is because ps3 gamers do not buy games. I bought a copy of the game but with all the games this season, its there waiting to be played.

[Quickstrike]

WTF overrated? Have you played this game? its so great I don't think they invented a word do describe how good this game is

[B-Rein]

this game is sooooooo underrated sony hype it up a bit advertise it, its actually a very good game loads my friends and etc loved it after plying it around mine and bought their own copy. (by the way they aint even n4g users so the never knew it was out)

its actually a very good rpg, good gameplay (it may look akward at first)

and its the only rpg this gen that got over 9 by ign

cmon this is an exellent rpg thats unoticed, sony needs to advertise these good games i know many people that dont even know about this game but when tehy play it they love it

[Chester_B]

Well the gameplay might be great, but I think most people have a problem with the art direction of this game (myself included). Although the painted look is great, the characterdesign and the whole setting is quite strange and might not appeal to western gamers so much.

[ultimolu]

It is.

[JsonHenry]

This game is not an RPG...

[ChampIDC]

It does have some RPG elements. It's a very mixed bag of a game.

I think the sales will pick up once people are done with all the other huge releases from this season. Games like this really make me want to get a PS3. It sucks that I don't have the money for it right now.

[Homicide]

SRPGs don't sell very well. I did lower than I expected though. Still, it's a great game. One of the best this year.

[trpride]

It isn't Sony their job to advertise it, but it's the job of Sega. Sega should have advertised this game instead of Sonic Unleashed

[DarkRaverNL]

It really makes me sad that great games like Valkyria or Mirror's Edge are selling so bad, while games like Far Cry 2, Sonic and the new Need for Speed are selling much better.

Gamers... I'll never understand them

[Hagaf22]

because people like established ips, which is why you used sequels as your examples, trust me i would much rather play mirrors edge than need for speed, but in gaming familiarity goes along way.

[Ju]

See, I don't really care if they sell good or bad. I am happy they exist. Studios try to do different things, and that's good. I can enjoy a game no matter if it sell 10k or 1M. The only thing which would concern me, if the studios would stop making them because they go broke by doing so. Hope that's not the case. Its on my shopping list. But haven't had a chance to get it yet. I am so thru with my holidays budget, sadly...

[Johnny Rotten]

Since this game has come out I've only been able to find it at Blockbuster, I've never once seen it at EB or Walmart so I always just assumed it was produced in low quantities.

btw I live in Canada.

[pilotpistolpete]

Me too. I went to EB games and couldnt find it

[joemayo76]

took me a while but i found my copy in downtown toronto (Eatons Centre)and i friggin love this game, really hope (but realistically looks unlikely) this game sells better, if not i may have to snag another copy for collecting purposes,who knows it may be a future collectors game (ala valkyrie profile ps1 or legend of zelda NES)

[Doctor Strange]

I was wondering if people had the same problem as me trying to find the game when it came out. My Wal-mart, Target, Toys-R-Us didnt have the game when it come out and the Gamestop I got it from only had a limited number. Sega main focus was on Sonic when they should have split the attention and marketing for both.

[No FanS Land]

I found it in an EB. However I had it imported through Amazon.ca

[Jamegohanssj5]

Exactly. I haven't seen any commercials for this game at all! It makes me laugh how some people are like, "There are no JRPG's", then when one comes they just ignore it.

TGSI

[LarVanian]

I would absolutely love to buy this game. But I've got one problem: I'm broke!
I probably won't be able to play video-games as much next year since I've got my A-levels to study for.
Seriously game developers chose the perfect year to release a megaton of games. Especially a year where people around the world are trying to save money because of the economy f**k up!

[f789790]

What makes it even more stupid is developers never choose to release in the summer. Wow I'm on break and there is nothing for me to play. I would have bought anything had it come out in July. But all the developers seem so keen on getting a piece of Christmas that they crowed each other out in a recession.

[Ju]

But nobody tells you to buy a game when it comes out. Its not hot cakes, games don't get old. Now there is a library. In summer, buy what you like. The games won't disappear all of a sudden.

[Panthers]

Im going to pick it up. Hopefully this game will start selling better. There are just too many other games out.

[Lumbo]

not my fault, i got it at release day. The art style is stellar imho

[thereapersson]

Last gen it was Okami, ICO, Rez and other classic games. This generation there are already a few titles that are selling not nearly as well as they should be.

The more we progress, the less great games like this will sell. Why bother when we have Gears of war and Halo to mindlessly tide over 14 year olds everywhere? When crap like Wii Shovelware and Wii Shovelware: the Sequel dominate the sales charts?

Hell, who needs to think when they play games? Just mindlessly shoot stuff! Nobody needs to play strategy games like this anymore!

:-/

I think you can also blame SEGA for not giving this any marketing attention at all. Hell, if it weren't for this website, and the various previews throughout last year, I wouldn't have even known about the game.

[PureGamer]

nice sterotyping everyone who plays gears and halo as 14 year olds. Maybe some people dont like this sort of game, the world would be a boring place if we all had the same opinions.

[felidae]

sorry but i really don't see what's so special about this game. the look is unique but the demo left me disappointed.

i think it's not for everyone.

[Keowrath]

apparantly this game is available in the UK and has been a few weeks... I've not seen one copy of it anywhere.

I want to get it but with christmas looming right around the corner I'll be waiting till the new year in case a friend has picked it up for me.

[TrooGamer]

Open your eyes or broaden the places you shop. Sorry to be blunt but Gamestation have this for £19.99 on sale so maybe start there??

[Marojado]

What Troogamer said. I've also seen it in Game, HMV, and even Asda. Although i already have it so it doesn't really effect me :)

[Are_The_MaDNess]

tryed the demo and h8ed it lol
did look cool but i didnt like the hole run meter and sh!t
why cant they just make it a normal TPS lol

[thereapersson]

IT IS A STRATEGY RPG.

NOT GEARS OF WAR.

JESUS CHRIST, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?

[brycespitler]

now i gotta take it away

[TheHater]

I am buying this game early next month.

[Rs]

I am currently broke like most PS3 gamers but I'll be buying this game soon enough.

[dorron]

I'm planning to buy it when the price drops...

[TrooGamer]

Look at my above post for the price drop

[ifhd]

a very good rpg

[Are_The_MaDNess]

yeah i know
h8 GOW 2
i just didnt like the feel of it

[thereapersson]

Sorry, your statement just sounded really narrow when you said "why not make it a tps".

Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

[Are_The_MaDNess]

yeah sorry 4 the missunderstading lol
i like the hole anime part but not the war part u know

[kevin1112]

i love rpg's but I didnt like it from the demo. The art style and the game itself just seemed a little too feminine.

[Losstarot]

A breathe of fresh air, this in my opinion is one of the most original, unique and great games in recent years and none seems to give a crap about it.

We need more of Valkyria, Shin Megaten and Breathe of Fire.. but we the way things are...

[ifhd]

get a GF

[UltimateIdiot911]

I'm sorry but not everyone is like you. Some of us can
wait for it...
get a girlfriend and be a gamer.

@loss
Yeah, we need more unique RPG and more unique games.

[Alex_Mexico]

Bubbles to you for using a Barney quote from How I Met Your Mother.
Well played!

[TIKUP]

The game has dropped from £40 to £20 thats 50% off in the UK and the deals at gameststion so stop complaining that you are waiting for price drops or im broke!!!
Get the game from gamestation NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[miniduf1]

I'm sorry if I dont like JRPG's does that mean I dont have taste, wow excuse me. Im sure as a JRPG its a good game, but it has such limited appeal especially in the states that is bound not to sell well. This site has no right to say that I have terrible taste in gaming since I have no interest in JRPGs.

[GARBAGE LICKER]

I bought eternal sonataa and reistance...sorry if not everybody likes strategy rpgs games...

[NiteWarrior]

Never heard of this game

[miniduf1]

Exactly, its not gamers faults that sony doesn't markey its games.

[Araceae]

Hell, Sony barely advertised MGS4 and you think Sony is going to advertise this game... don't think so. However it isn't Sony's fault, as SEGA should advertise this game instead of more poor Sonic games.

[DA_SHREDDER]

They should have just made a new skies of arcadia. But thats just my opinion.

[Fanboy Slaughter]

This game is fantastic and I can easily see it becoming one of those "super-expensive hard-to-find" gems in the future that some hardcore collectors will pay out the ass for.

[PooEgg]

Yep, this is true, but that works for those of us who actually bought the game, doesn't it?

[Miraak82]

i'm getting this game soon, i'll prolly keep it in ym collection of rpgs, I have a feeling its gonna worth a pretty penny in 5- 10 year(not that I have a plan to sell any of them), it will be with the likes of star ocean ; valkyrie profile, vagrant story, , lunar, such great games yet so hard to find

[Yawnier]

I played the demo for this game and I couldn't get used to it.

[STARS]

I actually felt the same way, so you're not alone. While the art style in the game is simply gorgeous, the gameplay just couldn't reel me in. I'm more of a mindless shooter guy though to be honest, but I applaud SEGA for their effort on this game. Maybe sales will pick up down the road for VC, SEGA sure deserves it and so do the fans hoping for a sequel.

[kenjix]

It better be good!

[Losstarot]

I'm hardly an SRPG fan, but this game is the bees knees.

[panasonic23]

the game overrated plus it kinda boring too

[Tewi-Inaba]

We all bragged about how many awesome RPGs we had last gen -I.E Ps2
But now we're all focused on shooters, well not me, but most of everyone else is.

It's an amazing title, don't let it do to waste , buy it or atleast rent it and give it a try :D
then buy it if you like it heh.

[Information Minister]

Panzer Dragoon Saga --- Skies of Arcadia --- Valkyria Chronicles

All designed in part by the same team, all excellent games, all with poor sales. There's a certain poetic (in)justice here.

[Magic_The_Celt]

Although i dont enjoy JRPG's myself, my bud rich tells me it is awesome (he is a massive JRPG fan)

[kewlkat007]

Wouldn't know a great game even if it was right under their noses.

This game got great reviews but do you see it being talked about? NO!!

The games being talked about, are the ones, some feel like is technically gifted or can't be done on another console.

Yes another way to justify purchases..Too caught up in technical specs and feats.

[Tykis]

I have taste! VK is amazing where are all the JRPG fans? They should eating this up!

[kevnb]

there are barely any outside Japan, unless you mean Final Fantasy fans...

[kewlkat007]

after it went multi-plat the new games is WKC, so change that Kev. But after FF13 + Versus trailers, I think they are back to Final fantasy again.

I continue to say some just like one Franchise, unlike Japan that eats this stuff up..

[lelo]

SEGA made a bad move making the game exclusive, should of been multiplatform to make more money. Not really my type of game, but they were stupid and paid for it?

[ButterToast]

well if you really think about it, this type of game has a much better chance of appealing to the Japanese market than the western and PS3 has a much bigger hold on the Japanese market than the 360. From that perspective it makes sense that they would develop it for PS3 over the 360.

[dionnysus]

don't worry folks, i'll buy a copy, sales will improve. by one.

[Jecht]

If you want games like these to sell, and have some actual variety in gaming, then stop purchasing generic shooters that dilute the industry with so many clones, and destroy incentive to produce anything but more shooters.

[Arsenal4Ever]

I bought this game the day after release. I really loved it.

[anubis12]

i agree it was poor

[Araceae]

I just hope this game sells enough to warrant a sequel. This game is tied with MGS4 as my GOTY. Yes, I think it is that good. I know it is a niche market for SRPG's, but this game is so different then other SRPG's that I had hoped it would do better. Hell, it has TPS elements. I just don't see why gamers want more of the same, like the new COD, instead of new and fresh games. Its probably the same reason that really poor music sells a ton... oh well, at least I’m not missing out.

[UltimateIdiot911]

I don't mind if it doesn't have a sequel, I just hope Sega can continue to pump out quality titles like this.

[BoneMagnus]

Just haven't gotten around to trying it yet...

[Losstarot]

Can't say I enjoyed the demo either, but its a skirmish. I was blown away by the full game.

[name]

Serious? Shadow of the Collosus didn't even break 600,000 and you still expect good games to sell well? Good MUSIC doesn't even sell well. Good MOVIES don't even sell well. What makes you think good games will? People are morons.

[caffman]

the sales for some 360 games and a lot of the wii ones. Its just PS3 that has a problem with sales of games

[AriesFury]

I'm going to get it.

[Cat]

Valkyria Chronicles is a beautiful, deep, polished game - but it's also pretty genre-bending and I can see why it has trouble finding an audience. Not every game sells well right out the gate, I imagine Valkyria sales will be slow but steady in the coming months - especially with the critical acclaim it has received.

[stuntman_mike]

i think everyone whos played it has loved it, it definatley needs a advertising push because it was one of the best games of 2008.

[JD_Shadow]

The (current?) lack of trophies.

I know it may mean little to some people, but right now, the PS3 gamers want to have the trophies or else right now, and to many by now, if you don't have the trophies in the game or don't plan on it, after the whole issue with Namco lacking trophies in Soul Calibur 4 and some developers outright refusing to support trophies until the January mandate, then they take you as a lazy developer and boycott the game, regardless of how it is. It's because the PS3 gamers have had to put up with a LOT of sh!t this gen and this is one of their ways of fighting back, even about something as small as having trophies in the game.

I mean, if they skipped trophies, what else did they get lazy on? That's what they believe. It's sad, but it IS what it is.

Not sure if Sega is planning a trophies patch for VC or not, though.

[Raoh]

the game is great.

[ifhd]

PS3 users just don't have a brain

[Gambit07]

Would be a bit hard to type this without one.

[Gun_Senshi]

And not play this game?

Its Okami all over.....The best RPG (I know its SRPG, but its the best from JRPG WRPG etc) I played this generation.

BUY IT NOW!

Support Great Developers that make original and very good games (Skies of Arcadia, Panzer Dragoon Saga) instead of buying generic games which develpers just shove another number on it.

[Losstarot]

+1

[PistolPumptMonk]

Ok honestly the reason why this game is not selling well is very obvious. How much did this game get hyped? None. And how many other hyped games came out just weeks before it? A lot.

It doesn't matter how good a game is, if it comes out right after gamers wallets have just gotten owned by yearly goodness, its not going to sell very well. Now I think Valkyria Chronicles is a great game and I think I will get it when the price drops.

I'm not saying I like how this whole hype thing works, because its kind of lame. I'm just giving the obvious explanation as to why this game isn't selling well. It has nothing to do with gamers not having taste. It just arrived at the wrong time.

[Foxgod]

Hey, the title is an insult, us 360 owners do buy games, and we do have taste.

Its not our fault that ps3 games don't sell very well.

[Gambit07]

This will be a classic in a few years, it's value will sky rocket. Unfortunately, it is a hard game to market, I'm not sure if Sony or Sega could have done more.

[bviperz]

Too many other options to spend the money on (like my ISP for example) but to those that did, as long as you enjoy the game that's all that matters.

[ReubenSala]

The game is set in a fictional version of Europe in 1930, in the country of Gallia. Because of its abundance of ragnite ore—which can be refined into a powerful fuel—it has come under attack from the East European Imperial Alliance, which itself is engaged in war with the Atlantic Federation.[5] Players take control of an uprising of Gallian nationals, dedicated to repelling the invasion.

Sounds like a turn based Command and Conquer, lame.

And of course after reading the character profiles, it's pretty much another ragtag team of over-the-top typical Japanese designed of androgynous he-she teenagers with a few older pedophiles.

Yup, more hashed out Japanese turn-based junk.

[LokMessier]

Their are also those who are unable to find it in stores ^__^, for example it became a lot harder to find over here for some reason.

[Hades-]

I hate mangas and animes,thats because I didnt bought this game.I hate mangas with passion.

[FantasyStar]

I played the demo and while it does sound fun: I just can't wrap my head around the game. Back that up with a stereotypical anime-plotline (romance, evil lady, Welker) and I just can't get into it. I don't dislike Anime-plotlines but I've watched enough anime to be able to predict some serious plotholes and those do destroy the story for me aka. the game. I'm sure anime lovers of the demo will definitely pick up VC, but I just can't get into it. I will however praise this game for the originality and art-direction. It is a shame that gamers would pick generic gamers over this masterpiece but well..there are people like me that just can't get into it. No total disrespect to VC-lovers.

[ifhd]

the number tell you how many gamers above 14 years got the PS3.

[DJ]

And though the story is like whatever, the strategy + FPS gameplay is awesome. Instead of moving in a pre-tiled world like every other strategy title, you actually get to move your characters around as if it were any other action game, and then aim their weapons at enemies/strategic items.

Maybe people aren't buying this because it requires at least some intelligence to play through. I know I'm picking it up after Christmas.

[Brixxer600]

Too many "Big name" games released at the same time, certin titles have paid the price for their release dates. A lot of gamers have stuck with the safe choice and bought titles that are follow ups to previous games, with money being tight for most people taking a gamble on a new IP was not an option.

I do like the look of this game and will get it at some point.

[Jikla]

The game isn't out here yet (norway). 15.12.2008 was the release date for the site I order from. Lucky me I ordered it from Canada some weeks ago, and I got to say that I like it very much.

[Arcturus]

i don't like JRPGS, nuff said. that doesn't mean I don't have taste, I just prefer a different style of gaming.

[ceedubya9]

Its a strategy RPG. Not too many of those things sell well period. its about as niche and niche can be. But, at least you can say that the people who did buy it are probably pretty happy with their purchase.

[Asurastrike]

It was #1 on my Christmas list.

[DARKTRINITYxxx]

Take SONY DEFENC FARCE bubbles away so we dont have to see his butt ugly face on his avatar. Honestly if i looked like that i would be in hiding. Oh and i brought valkyria chronicles as im a big rpg and anime fan :)

[Run_bare]

I really enjoy all kind of JRPG, but i find this game very different in all aspects, it remind me of a favorite game Ring of Red on PS2. No other game like it. It really tested my patience and brain at the same time.

Granted, this game is not for everyone, but i should say this, give it a try, it's actually very rewarding.

[Obama]

fcuk off, jrpg do even worse for the 360. At least we get the best jrpg this gen, exclusive to the ps3, unlike unfloppy and blueflopgen.

[Foxgod]

ummmm..... Blue dragon sold 200.000 copies in japan in the same month it was released....

And that was in 2007...

Besides that Blue dragon features countless manga's and a running anime with over 100 eps.

[PS3Freak]

Oh? I'm sorry if my taste doesn't include boring RTSS'

[PS360PCROCKS]

Wouldn't play it if you payed me too

[Alex_Mexico]

I did my part. I bought my VC and Im loving every minute of it. 24 hours in and on chapter 13. Sega and Sony have some blame for not advertising this game enough and releasing it in November the same day Resistance 2 came out and so many holiday titles are coming out. They could've relesed it earlier during the summer dry days or something. Such a shame to see Wii music effortlessly selling nearly 300k and VC, which cost 10x more to produce, sold a fraction of that.

[Tryst]

Gaming has become more mainstream now, and we have a problem that is going to get even worse with clueless families simply buying the annual release games (i.e all EA sport games, and CoD etc).

Those who bought CoD5 and forked out full cash for it should be embarrassed. Gamers should expect originality, but instead we buy rehashed games year in year out.

I had been one of these zombies, I would buy Pro Evo every single year, but this year I haven't bought it for the first time in, probably 10 years. I will give none of my money to incompetent programmers who can't get the online aspect correct and lag free.

We all need to get out of this annual rehash buying mentality since it is the developers and publishers who are taking the piss out of us.

[ifhd]

I had been one of these zombies until i got cod5 or was it cod4waw.
people do not want to try new games the want to buy there old games with better graphics.