It surprises me that so many PS3 and 360 minds are so calm about the announcement of Dragon Quest. I would be dead scared. The game will cut the lifespan of the HD Bros. It's not crazy to think that this game will create a snowball effect for Wii 3rd party.

Everyone knows how big Dragon Quest is in Japan. It's a monster. They can't release it on workdays if I remember correctly. This game will do successfully, and it is what will set the snowball into motion. Already, we are seeing the Japanese publishers supporting the Wii more and more. With Dragon Quest 10 doing well, other JRPG makes will start making Wii games. With DQ10, the system will be come the haven for RPG players in Japan; it will spill over to JRPG fans in the Western world.

This will begin to catch the attention of the Japanese publishers. Many big publishers have at least one RPG franchise in their library, so they will begin to put their RPGH on the console. With sales of the RPGs doing well on the Wii (they will), the publishers will move more and more franchises to the Wii. This part will happen almost over night. The PS3 and 360 are simply under preforming in Japan. This is the reason the DS has always received strong support in Japan (and the PSP to some degree). This is the same reason why American developers make 360 games. They make what ever sells in their homeland. With the Wii having a strong foothold in the country, the boost from DQ10 will open the door for other third party games. The Wii will become like the PS2 for them, the one stop shop for games.

The first phase will defiantly happen, and we'll see effects soon after it's release. The second phase might not happen until too little too late. Eventually with all the Japanese publishers focusing on the Wii, the western ones (those in the US and Europe) will get the wake up call and move to the Wii. While some are supporting the Wii, they are under supporting it. Many may hate me for saying this, but if a publisher is putting less then 50% of their resources into the leading consoles, they are under supporting it. Many third parties in the west are doing this, and they will pay for it. The Wii demands support like the PS2, but the publishers aren't giving it too them.  However, they Wii will not wait; it will leave them in the dust. This may be why the Japanese aren't losing their title to the Western developers despite popular opinion.

Simply put, the winds of fortune are turning into the Wii's favor. But this is not some big accident. The Wii was the best system for the game. Square-Enix was not throwing them a bone or anything. This was for their best interest, not Nintendo's. Everyone loves DQ over there. So it would be practical to release it for the best selling console. This is why the DS got (or is getting) DQ9. The Japanese has just realized this before we did over here.

This is what should have been happening. I find it idiotic that third parties neglect the Wii the way they do despite it is the best selling console. Do not fret those who prefer the HD Bros. This was destined to happen. I am just surprised it is taking so long, but this was the fate of the Xbox and Gamecube last generation. It all comes and goes.

Inb4 you for the e in Quest

I think it will have a bigger impact on early next generation. The thing is, this generation is half over and development takes longer than ever. So you can't really change your directions now. However, you can change them for next generation.

While you can see console sales as a crapshoot, what you can see is if the big RPGs (like Dragon Quest, the biggest in Japan) are coming out for which console. And that tells you where to send your titles.

?
All of Japan's biggest RPG series are on Wii. Enix is about to release it's 2nd Dragon Quest game, a 3rd will surely come. Capcom is going to release 2 Monster Hunter games. Square is going to release it's 2nd Final Fantasy game on Wii in a couple months and surely another will be released. Pokemon already has a couple Wii releases. There's already a couple Tales games on Wii and another one is coming. Surely Kingdom Hearts will be on Wii.

I don't get what you are talking about. All of the biggest Japanese series are either already on Wii, announced for Wii, or both.

Bahahaha, the way you made it sound so routine and simple was funny.

But yeah, the one big huge flaw with your argument for me, is that you think the RPG genre is still anywhere near as relevent as it used to be, or that Japanese developers still focus mainly on the Japanese market. At the moment it still makes more sense for most RPG's to be on the DS or PSP, as they are now where the Japanese market holds its strength.

Japan's developers will obviously be putting more resources into the Wii but the way you made it sound... no chance, especially with the way nearly every third party game has sold on the console thus far in Japan minus a few established franchises.

I think the real trend in Japan is how they're now focusing more and more on the Western markets - the first and best signs were Capcom producing software like Dead Rising, Lost Planet, Dark Void, Bionic Commando. Konami and SEGA are both heading more into a western lead developement, even Square Enix are trying as they realise that's where the biggest market is going to be.

Dq10 really doesn't change anything. Publishers will support Wii cause they can make money on it, they'll support PS360 cause they can make money on them.

I'd say a much more reasonable argument is RPG's which are tailered to just the Japan market should head to Wii, but for a company like Square Enix who want to get a big piece of the American / European market, they need to keep supporting the PS360 and build on the inevitable success of FFXIII.

you left out the west though.

Just becuase there is huge sales of something in Japan doesn't mean OMGZ GUYZ!!! TEH 360 AND PS3 ARZ DOOMDZ!!

Sure third party support for the Wii is growing and will continue to grow as a healthy console should. Look at how big games like Halo 3, Gears of War 2, and others are in the West and not in Japan. Do these games create snowball effects in which the Wii suddenly dies? No

Japan snowball effect, I agree. West will not follow put, though.

bla bla bla wii will destroy the competition bla bla bla same as usual

It's not a matter of my argument is flawed, but the fact you misjudge how everything works.

You say RPG aren't as importaint, I say you are dead wrong. What do you think the DS has been for? What do you think the PS2 was for. RPGs are a driving franchise in the business becuase they do well across boarders. FPSs are not becuase they sell in the western countries and can not break into the Japanese market. FF and DFQ were always good games to have as they are killer apps.

The problem with YOUR arguement is you eat up the Industry wisdon (an oxymoron at best). Take a look at the italics. It's obvious you didn't comprehend anything I wrote. Why else did I write "snowball". Why do you think I made mention of the movement to the Wii? Why? Becuase DQ will make Japanese developers more to the Wii DURR. You did not focus on the fact that I already mentioned what you said I was wrong about, a flaw in your argument.

Now look at the bold. It's obviouse you don't understand the business or business in general. It's not about making monye. It's about making more money. Even if developers can make money on the 360/PS3, it is more viable to make a Wii game. It's cheaper to developer for and has a larger install base. It's the obvious choice. "Oh, but 3rd parties don't sell on the Wii." Yeah, becuase no one is putting their resources into them. The 3rd parties want Sony and Microsoft to win, not Nintend. Sadly, they can't control it. Like many have said, the treand is already starting. They can not help the HD Bros. They will support the Wii or be left in the dust. This is why many development studios have been failing.

Japan gave the Wii major support before this announcement... now they will only give more, add to what already is a lot. The West is almost unaffacted by it. Does it change anything? no.