a milion WW, not in japan me thinks

Eternal Sonata would not be a good example because:

1. ES was never as hyped or as high profile was WKC

2.ES is a port of a year old 360 game

WKC just screams AAA JRPG.  Also, if there really are non JRPG elements in this game, this game's appeal will expand beyond the JRPG crowd.  Levek 5 seem to be making this game as mainstream friendly as possible without alienating the hardcore JRPG fanbase

No. That assumption couldn't be anymore wrong. Theres far more places than just Europe, theres australia, Asia, South America and more. Europes sales would be much lower than  what you wrote. I predicted that FFXIII will draw 2-3 M sales in Japan. Thats one of the few games that Japan will support in a stronger fashion.

Australia, South America, Africa, Russia, the middle east etc. are all very small markets (asian sales are listed in the Japanese charts)

WKC will be lucky to sell 300k in Europe (look at Crisis Core, IU, poor sales compared to Japan). And it won't sell 500k in all those small markets.

Edit: about FF XIII, it might sell 2 million, but it probably won't. Please remember there currently are less than 2.5 million PS3 owners in Japan. When FF XII launched, there might be 3.5 million owners. I can't see a game selling with a 60 % attach rate.

I expect it to be > 2.37 million.

Didn't everyone buy the PS3 just to get white knight story originally?

or was that just me.

I thought MGS4 is what got everyone to get a PS3.  WKC is, however, a game that many PS3 owners are looking forward to

Yes, but by the end of the 4th quarter Japanese sales should rise for the PS3. This is why I stated 2-3 m. Perhaps 3 million was too much. Maybe somewhere about 1-1.5. I get you now. The sales will still rise though.

hmm, playstation always been rpg king,.... but lacking rpg's this gen.... and WKS could be the first BIG jrpg for ps3, IT HAS TO SELL 1 MILLION!

I was talking strictly about Japan here (hence the 10x userbase). Can't really speak about the "hype" in Japan but the starved thing.. there are still less than 2.5 million userbase, I doubt that all of them are waiting for an rpg to come out, contrary to popular belief the majority of people buy a console based on the game that are on it, as such, most japenese probably didn't buy a PS3 to play rpg. Second, L5 is a popular company yes, but gamer follow IP not comapny, case in point DQ 8 and some of the new IP developed by Square Enix for the 360. Look at the difference, DQ still sold a whole lot even though it wasn't developed by the same company and sold more than any original IP of L5, original IP by Square didn't sell really well which is probably why they are milking FF for all it's worth. A new IP on a small userbase which may well not be the most RPG enthusiast don't really represent the most ideal condition for a big sucess.

I agree 100%. +1