TO legend11 and leo-j:
"One of the major ones (and certainly not the only one), as we saw it, was where Okami arrived in the PS2 lifecycle. Having done the analysis in the past of in which years new IP performs best (and worst), it’s not surprising that it’s not later in the hardware lifecycle, where the active consumers tend to be more price and brand sensitive."
It's right there in the OP. Okami came out in the middle of the 7th gen transition. A new IP on the 6ht gen was unlike to sell well at that point. That's also why the Ace Attorney games were ported to the DS before they were localized here. They wouldn't have sold as well just on the GBA, despite the DS playing them anyway.
A flashy-first game is awesome when it comes out. A great-first game is awesome forever.
Plus, just for the hell of it: Kelly Brook at the 2008 BAFTAs
