Yakuza 3 ships over 500,000

/throws Sega through a noodle stand

Half a million sold in Japan alone. It certainly seems to be the biggest Yakuza game thus far, so I think a worldwide release is looking increasingly likely.

The previous games did 750k and 800k in Japan, respectively. So it’s certainly on a good track for success.

On the flip side, I see Yakuza 2 only managed 40,000 copies in total in America. Which sort of goes some way to explaining why they’re not so bothered about bringing it to the West any more.

this needs a english release as i have just finished YAKUZA 2 and loved it

why do we need this? we have gta4!!! DDDD
/sarcasm (gta4 is boring)

Stop taunting me with the fact that I may never play this! ;_;

“On the flip side, I see Yakuza 2 only managed 40,000 copies in total in America. Which sort of goes some way to explaining why they’re not so bothered about bringing it to the West any more.”

What exactly did they expect by releasing the game over a year late on a format that was basically on its last legs?

It’s a poor way to judge consumer’s interest in a sequel, and there seems to be more than enough outcry to see this in the west, so they’re really only shooting themselves in the foot by not releasing it.

The trouble is, there was a huge outcry over Yakuza 2 not making it to the West. And then they brought it, and nobody bought it. Internet people like moaning about not getting stuff a lot more than they like actually buying stuff when it finally gets brought across.

The people who moan and then don’t back up that moan with an actual sale are worse than the people who decide we’re not worth bothering with.

Yes, this is true.

The difference is that Yakuza 3 is on a format that’s actually still being supporting properly.

But with a much smaller user base.

“But with a much smaller user base.”

You seem to underestimate just how quickly people move on from their old formats. The fact that the second title only shifted 40,000 units is proof enough of that.

Most gaming store don’t even stock new PS2 games anymore, and haven’t done so for quiet some time; they’re just offloading their excess stock at this stage.

You can’t compare a format that’s been essentially dead for nearly a year to a current, properly supported format with a substantial userbase. There’s no reason this game wouldn’t shift half a million in the west, at the least.

Absolutely no chance of it coming anywhere near half a million. I’d put real-world money on it.

I picked up Yakuza 2 for £6 from Game because they were clearing out their PS2 stock (none of the stores near me stock PS2 anymore, other than pre-owned).

How much would it cost to translate and subtitle a game?

Yeah Blerk, I understand what you mean, but it’s true that a format like the PS2 on it’s last legs was an awful place and time to release.

Those who support games, especially hardcore titles like this, will be moving onto newer hardware already, and PS2 games aren’t for sale new anymore, and haven’t been for quite a while. Apart from the annual FIFA.

The PS2 ‘being on its last legs’ doesn’t explain why the original Yakuza performed equally dismally though, does it? And that was fully localised and even had marketing and stuff.

“The PS2 ‘being on its last legs’ doesn’t explain why the original Yakuza performed equally dismally though, does it?”

It did? Can you present me with some figures for that?

I have no figures but it bombed. Which is why Y2 ended up being a subbed affair rather than receiving another Hollywood voiceover treatment

How do you know it bombed? Simply because the second game was subtitled?

That’s not proof that it bombed. That’s an assumption.

It’s not an assumption, it’s a recollection of something I read that I can’t get back to because I’m at work (where gaming sites are blocked).

Anyway, lifetime sales of Y2 in Japan seem to have only just topped 200k. Are they really saying that even though this has sold 2.5 times more already that it’s not coming to the West?

nomoreanassumptionthanoconnersincomment11lol

Sorry, I didn’t see your earlier post until just now.

It was fairly widely reported that it was a ‘failure’ in the West. They spent a lot of money on it and it barely even registered on the charts.

Yakuza 2 has done 800k in Japan, Rhythm. Are you just looking at the figures for the budget re-release or something?