when they talk about preorders in japan they always are talking about retail preorders. I've never seen them actually speak about consumer preorders but we get a ton of information about retail preorders. The retail preorders in Japan extremely important. A shipment way below demand could actually cripple the sales of a game. Usually they are a good judge of what the demand is for the game.
currently playing: Skyward Sword, Mario Sunshine, Xenoblade Chronicles X







