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Capcom's Monstrous Wii Prospects
Capcom has high hopes that the upcoming Wii-exclusive Monster Hunter 3 finds the same monstrous success in the West as it has in Japan.
During the Osaka, Japan-based publisher's earnings call for the December quarter, Capcom stated "...We plan to release our leading titles overseas to acquire game users, as the overseas market for Wii is extensive.
"One of our leading titles is Monster Hunter 3. ... If we can gain recognition of this product in the European and North American markets, our market strategy will see a noticeable change."
The Monster Hunter action role-playing franchise is a big hit, primarily in Japan, selling over 8.5 million units as of December 2008, with Monster Hunter 3 for Wii slated for release later this year. Previously, the series had only appeared on PS2 and PSP.
Capcom Entertainment communications director Chris Kramer elaborated on Capcom execs' comments in an e-mail to Edge: "Monster Hunter is huge in Japan, but not as big in the U.S. and Europe. There is a desire on the part of the company to export this huge hit to the rest of the world at the same level it is received in Japan.
"If we can sell a few more million units, the company’s market share will definitely change."
Originally, Capcom planned to develop Monster Hunter 3 for PS3. However, in light of the Wii's popularity and exploding installed base, Capcom announced in 2007 that it would be moving development of the title away from Sony's platform in favor of Nintendo's.
Updated sales-to-date figure.
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the initial reviews of MH1 on the PS2 complained about difficulty such as using items in the middle of being pounced on by raptors, or that hitting one of those raptors with a 10ft tall sword was too clumsy, I don't think any even played as a team, just solo. I hope reviewers are willing to learn the game this time around.
Seeing the Lost Planet 2 preview, the movement and weight of the characters has a similar feeling. I hope grappling onto monsters is included in this game too.
I thought the exact same thing when I saw Lost Planet 2. Feel very heavy like Monster Hunter.
I did play Monster Hunter as a part of a team of different ones. The biggest problem was communication. I actually bought a USB keyboard for that purpose (and because I wanted to review it more fair).
This is In reply to E. Zachary Knight. I managed to miss pressing the "reply" button.
And Monster Hunter was not a big Success on PS2 in the west. Now was it? I own it myself. And why are you dragging in PS1 into the equation when Monster Hunter or online play on consoles didn't even exist? The Wii has a way worse online/friend system then PS3 and Xbox 360. That's a fact.
Microsoft did one really smart move with the Xbox 360 and that was to include a headset with the package because it made it the norm for communicating online on their console. I still miss this on PS3 and on Wii it's even more limited.
In Sweden where I live WiiSpeak costs 400 SEK. That's a bit more than half a game. I don't really expect it to get bundled but it would improve sales. Not everyone is ready to buy a 400 SEK headset (or speaker/mic) for their Wii that have very limited amount of online games where you can communicate with others. it's such an important part of Monster Hunter and I really believe that if Nintendo helps Capcom push Monster Hunter it can reach sucess in the west but by making the jump to online co-op play and communication an annoying and "expensive" step they are eliminating potential buyers.
I'm not speaking about myself here but rather about the idea how this game can make it big in the States and Europe. Not everyone is as hardcore and will buy what is needed.
Therefore Wii is a worse plattform BUT it's still a good plattform because of it's big userbase.
My question was in regard to multiplayer. I thought the first Monster Hunter was on PS1 and it seems Iam wrong. But the PS2 had no online play without the expensive network adapter. Did the first 2 monster hunter games have online multiplayer? that was what I was after.
The game does look great and I look forward to buying it, but I don't think that the Wii's online capabilities are as bad as you think. Sure they don't have all the bells and whistles of PSN and XBL, but it does allow you to connect and play with other people if the developers are willing to go that route. Isn't the conneting part the most important? But the Wii speak add-on is only US$20. For someone dedicated to playing with other people online, that is a drop in the bucket. A decent wireless headset for the 360 or PS3 is going to run the same.
I still don't like the Wiis online system. it works but we are used to better stuff.
When you say multiplayer. What do you mean? You could play Monster Hunter offline but that was like playing Phantasy Star Online on Dreamcast offline - quite boring. Monster Hunter from 2004 (The first game in the series) had multiplayer or the ability to hook up with others players in different villages and then go out on missions/instances together. It was the games main selling point - online team work.
But yes, you could not play online without buying an adapter but the PS2 game still had support for it, you just had to pay to take advantage of it. It was only the Xbox that had built in broadband functions by that time.
It seems to me by reading what you write that you believe that Monster Hunter is a much older game series. Is that wrong to assume?
In short. Monster Hunter 1 had online play.
And yea, Capcom how about releasing Monster Hunter 3 as part of a double pack? (with disk 2 having part 1 and 2 on it?) Not having played those games before i wouldnt like to get into a gaming series on the third installment without "getting into it". Just how many people would pass over it Just because they aint played the previous game? Part one and two Could be straight ps2 ports...for development cost, and then 3 could be all singing dancing Wii visuals functionality ect! Games sells several thousands more, opens up the west to the monster hunter craze,Capcom wins, gamplayers win EVERY ONES HAPPY...YEAY!
I do value game play over other aspects of game mechanics(graphics,physics ect) but...I would really like to see more games created from the ground up by third party developers for the Wii WITH its graphical capabilities in mind,instead of lazy ps2 standard visuals. If Capcom bear in mind what they got out of the Gamecube, and with their creative prestige, maybe they could influence other developers to follow suite. I actually avoid "party" games BECAUSE of the lazy mentality of the developers, If they dont have the passion to even make a game "look tha part" how can i trust they have passion to make a game even fun to play! Truth is they just belt out a game with substandard visuals taking advantage of the new gaming demographics on offer, but how long before they cotton on to the fact that the games they are new to, are in fact substandard? High Voltage (the conduit)and Capcom i commend thee!
I really want Monster Hunter to take foothold in the West but with Wiis limited online/communications capabilities I feel that it may not be the right plattform for a game that relies on team work. Are they willing to sell it with a WiiSpeak? Then mabey it's disscusible.
Why would they need to sell it with the Wiispeak? Its not that expensive to buy separately.
Also, why is the Wii's online capability make it not the right platform? Last I checked neither the PS2 nor PS1 had very good if any online capabilities.