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PS3 exclusive White Knight Chronicles has launched in Japan and is turning out to not be quite the wonderhorse Sony was likely expecting. If initial sales estimates are to be believes, Level 5's new game has sold 130,000 copies. Not awful, but not fantastic.

These figures are not yet official, but it would continue a seemingly new trend of PS3 exclusives doing well without doing fantastic. Both LittleBigPlanet and Resistance 2 have certainly sold copies, but unlike exclusives on the Xbox 360 and Wii, they have unfortunately come up short of chart topping positions and sustained sales. White Knight Chronicles will likely do the same when it hits the West.

It's still good going, but it seems that, despite having a bevy of quality titles, Sony is still lacking its Halo or its Mario. It doesn't have what the mass market is considering a "system seller" and it shows. This year Sony can unleash Killzone 2 and God of War. We'll see if it's enough to put the PS3 on the map in the eyes of the mainstream.








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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28 comments | showing # 1 to 28
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ChronosWing's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 09:10
ChronosWing
So wtf is this game? Watching that video it looks like generic mmo #9000.
Half left's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 09:11
Half left
GENERIC RPG-chronicles. goty '09
Drach's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 09:12
Drach
It's on the map..it's just like that elaborate vacation that you can't afford! I think it's the price that's killing the games of today.. $60? I'll wait until I can find it used. GoW should be a good seller.. and I'm not too sure about Killzone.. but judging by the popularity of the first couple of games (gow)... I would say it should do well.. maybe even sell a couple of consoles. Hell, Jim.. YOU bought one to play MGS4! =P Just kidding Mate!
Coltronathon5000's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 09:20
Coltronathon5000
Final Chronicle Chronicles: Chronicled: 2

It must be pretty frustrating for Sony. They've been releasing quality exclusives all year...just nothing anyone seems to really want. Since getting my PS3 last year I've been very impressed with it and only switching to my 360 for a brief Gears2 hiatus. Still...Xbox live is a better service, and just like shitty AIM most of my friends are on there giving the xbox an advantage for online-focused multiplat games (cod4) and people who can only choose one.

and $60 is definitely way too much. $50 was way too much too but at least it was at that pricepoint for years. I've gone from 3-5 games per year to 1-2
Scrixx's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 09:20
Scrixx
Only thing going for this game is the graphics. What a shame.
ashtar's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 09:28
ashtar
Check your facts dude. The game sold 130,000 copies ON THE FIRST DAY, which is a pretty good release for Japan. Not stellar, but solid.
moshakirby's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 09:47
moshakirby
Hehehe, giant enemies with wobbly arms :3
Krow-Kupo's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 09:58
Krow-Kupo
Heh, yeah. There's no way that Level-5 is capable of making a good RPG, and the long battle demonstration is obviously the only thing this game is about, or something. Blah.
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 10:08
Darren Nakamura
I'm with Coltronathon; this game is selling poorly because it's got "Chronicles" in the title. Why don't more people listen to the Reverend?
GuitarAtomik's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 10:10
GuitarAtomik
That's really not that bad for a 1st day's sale. Not super great but not flop worthy either. I'm pretty sure Killzone 2 and God of War 3 are going to be pretty big sellers too.
Drack48's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 10:37
Drack48
God damn it, why can't any current-gen RPGs come around that I want to play?

Where is the be all end all current gen RPG? Lost Odyessy is close..the Square stuff has been very weak..Guess it's time to give one of the Namco games a spin.

PS I tried Valkarie chronicles and while it's amazing, I can't due the strategy thing.
ParaParaKing's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 10:39
ParaParaKing
Actually it's the 9th best first week sales for the PS3, so it isn't bad at all.
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 10:40
SephirothX
Wha? I never even heard about this game
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 10:53
Qraze
i read psxextreme.com too jim, lol. but as they said that mgs4 sold 476,000 and dmc4 had 212,000 sold and those were the two ps3 heavy hitters there, so 130,000 in the first week isn't bad. in Ben's words anyway.

i look extremely forward to this game.
-PL-'s Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 11:07
-PL-
This game looks great. I was reading the preview of it on 1up (yeah, someone actually previewed the game by playing it rather than making assumptions about the quality based on japanese sales), and they thought it was pretty damn good. I suggest you guys read the hands-on preview at 1up if you want an actual preview of the game.
GaveUpTomorrow's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 11:08
GaveUpTomorrow
"Heh, yeah. There's no way that Level-5 is capable of making a good RPG, and the long battle demonstration is obviously the only thing this game is about, or something. Blah."

Level 5 is a great developer of RPGs. Look at Dark Cloud 1 & 2, Jeanne D'Arc, and Rogue Galaxy...these are some of the better RPGs to come out in the past generation of RPGs. I'm expecting White Night Knight to be very good as a worse case.
-PL-'s Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 11:12
-PL-
Let's not forget about Dragon Quest 8. Level 5 developed that. They totally can't make a good RPG.


Psh.
dip's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 11:13
dip
I think the game looks quite fantastic. I know we're in the minority but there are a number of us out there who like RPG's like this.

And really, those sales aren't bad. Really disappointed in the sales numbers for another certain PS3 exclusive with "Chronicles" in it's name, however.
SephirothX's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 11:33
SephirothX
@brainderailment
Is it also the same reason why Halo 3 tops Xbox Live?
Mr Wrighty 987's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 11:40
Mr Wrighty 987
meh ill dust off my ps3 when KZ2 comes out
The Black Smoke's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 12:15
The Black Smoke
Wow i didnt realise a week consisted of 3 days now. The 130k is actually for its first day sales from what i hear which means it has already sold more than last remnant and infinate undicovery in total since they have been released, putting it on course to be the highest selling next gen rpg in japan.

TOTAL SALES (LAUNCH DAY TILL PRESENT DAY) IN JAPAN)

Blue Dragon 203.740
Tales of Vesperia 155.477
The Last Remnant 118.842
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 13:00
Dan CiTi
Sony didnt hype this at all. I'll still get it because it's level 5.
funran's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 13:11
funran
You guys are all acting like idiots, seriously, go read some reviews instead of just reading what Jim thinks regarding DAY ONE SALES ON CHRISTMAS. The game has been out for a day, released on a THURSDAY, IN ONE COUNTRY. The users here are starting to get disappointing, seriously, dtoid is awesome, jim is awesome, but they are not reviewing the game, they don't have a hands on preview, and just because famatsu says a game is mediocre (gave haze a near perfect score) is not the end all be all of game reviews. You guys gotta think outside of the box.
-PL-'s Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 13:11
-PL-
ITT: Sarcasm goes over my head. :(
-PL-'s Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 13:22
-PL-
But... but... Famitsu is japanese! Their opinions on games mean more than other magazines! 'Cause they're japanese!
pedrovay2003's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/29/2008 15:50
pedrovay2003
@Heretic

This is actually like the ONLY RPG the PS3 has, unfortunately. And it actually is doing well.
JustLikeBuck's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2008 06:53
JustLikeBuck
Updated stats show that White Knight Chronicles in its first week (3 days), sold 212k copies. Beating all of the 360 RPGs (as first posted by The Black Smoke):

Blue Dragon 203.740
Tales of Vesperia 155.477
The Last Remnant 118.842

Games can be released any time of the week, however in Japan they only measure Sunday to Saturday.

Can we have a little less propaganda, Jim? I know you're in the states now, but there's no reason to go all WMD on the PS3.
Demtor's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/30/2008 09:31
Demtor
Well the game certainly looks cool. A mix of western looking medieval setting with eastern character design. Hopefully the rest of the game holds up well. I haven't read too many details about it yet.

Has anyone played the game? Does anyone have any suggestions on where to read a good preview for it?
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