That's what I keep telling people.  Games that are made using the Unreal Engine cost a lot less than games that are developed using engines built from the ground up

So? Look at Final Fantasy 12. It wasn't turn based, and it sold even worse than Final Fantasy 9. Sure, it did come out when the PS2 was waning, but the numbers still disagree with your first statement. As for Shenmue, it's only one example. Do you want me to name some games with bucket loads of hype that sold equally as well? There are quite a few on the 360, and plenty more I could name on some other consoles.

And why should I blame Japan? 100k is pretty decent for a 360 game in Japan, and Blue Dragon had incredibly cheap bundles to help its numbers. Perhaps LO took part in bundles as well, but I blame nobody for the sales.

Back in the PS1 era most people didn't care if an RPG was turn based are not. In fact, turn based RPGs sold better than the real time RPGs back then, even in the West. Also, Final Fantasy is one of the most popular franchises in gaming while Lost Odyssey is a new IP.

@Riachu

Your right about the development costs of Lost Odyssey. However you have to understand your wasting your time. Your logic is flawless, the anecdotal evidence massive, and applied perfectly. The thing is that for your wisdom cannot shine in comparison to the epic stupidity displayed by many community members. All the points you have made have been made dozens of times by other posters with adequate linkage no less.

They are either intentionally facetious, or really do lack any form of cognitive skill. They are either knowingly spreading bullshit, or no matter how often the are set straight they will forget a few weeks later. Either way it is pointless to waste your effort on them. Better to just inform other readers that a particular posters is known for being the village idiot. Saves a lot of effort, and if they try to start something. Then bring down the hammer, and mention the fact that the idiot isn't going to respond after the pounding they just took.

Most of these loud mouths are after all in their heart of hearts cowards.

Eh, I don't know. Lost Odyssey had the dream team behind the game it's struggling to get to a million.

I really don't see Tales or IU doing that well. Both will get around 500k.

Most gamers(as in the ones that don't use the internet much) in the West don't even know that Lost Odyssey was made by Sakaguchi so that is not good reasoning for the sales of future RPGs.  Lost Odyssey audience was limited to an extent by the fact that the battle system was turn based.  Out of all of the turn based RPGs not called Dragon Quest, have many have sold a million copies WW in the last 5 years? Zero

I would flesh out my answer but I feel tired.

Errr no

This is true. My 3 freinds that have it had no clue it even had any relation to Final fantasy, or any pedigree at that.

I am with Montana and I want to add that they really put a lot of money into the game to make it a succes and it is made by two of probably the most loved JRPG workers. Sakaguchi and Nobuo.  I wonder if Sakaguchi was free to do with the game what he want or that he got to do some things MS wanted.  I mean he worked on the greatest JRPG's ever (FFIX, Chrono Cross, FFIII on DS, Kingdom Hearts). And Lost Oyssey feels so non sakaguchi. Very Western.

I am going to ask to Fishie if he is going to interview Sakuguchi or not so he can ask Sakaguchi if he is pleased with the games but he we will hear more about it on the future he only promised MS to make 2 exclusive JRPG's so we are going to see how the next games of Sakaguchi going to be like.

It was Sakaguchi's idea to make LO more Western and to make the focal point of the game to be emotion.  I read somewhere that Sakaguchi was very happy with LO's sales.