How popular is PSO2 in Japan now?

[the_importer_]

I don't think it's the most popular one, but did any Japanese website took any polls as of lately to see the popular of Japanese online games?

[starwind75043]

i dont know but i see that wont the web money award 2 year in a row now

http://www.webmoney.jp/award/

[Morgan Fumi]

Well...its getting an anime, if thats any indication.

[The Walrus]

more popular than it should be :3

[TaigaUC]

A few years back, I saw JP people complaining that PSO2 had no competition.
I haven't heard of anything better since then, so I guess the situation is still the same.

Dragon's Dogma Online already sounds like it's going to fall flat. Enrage timers, ugh.

The other two popular online games I'm aware of are Kancolle and its female equivalent with the samurai guys.
Also, Splatoon sounds like it's doing well.

[wefwq]

There's ain't any competition worth mentioning for F2P PC online game over there AFIK and is the main reason that PSO2 going pretty strong.

[the_importer_]

Good stuff

[Kondibon]

Good stuffIt sounds good on paper, but no competition means they don't have to try as hard to keep players, which is part of the reason they can get away with a lot of stuff they wouldn't otherwise. :/

[the_importer_]

It sounds good on paper, but no competition means they don't have to try as hard to keep players, which is part of the reason they can get away with a lot of stuff they wouldn't otherwise. :/

Also true

[Zorafim]

It seems like less of a case of them being the best at something, and more a case of them being the only people doing something. Having no competition as a caterpillar tickler isn't very impressive.

[xBM]

I would say PSO2 is popular in Japan.

But quite a lot of reviews here for PSO2 is kind of bad: http://onlinegamech.com/contents/review/reviewlist.html?gameID=138

Most of them are complaining about lag, at level 75 all you do is grind and rare drop grinding, game balances, bugs, etc.

The complaints you would see from any other online games.

[[Ayumi]]

I would say PSO2 is popular in Japan.

But quite a lot of reviews here for PSO2 is kind of bad: http://onlinegamech.com/contents/review/reviewlist.html?gameID=138

Most of them are complaining about lag, at level 75 all you do is grind and rare drop grinding, game balances, bugs, etc.

The complaints you would see from any other online games.

So... PSO2 their 1st online game?

[Hysteria1987]

To be fair, I don't feel like it even does the grind part all that well. There's not a lot of options- you can buy basically everything you'd want, so you end up with a lot of people soloing, or a lot of missions going un-run, because outside of a select few missions there's just no real impetus to run stuff. Opinions and all, sure, but I feel the original PSO did that better.

I don't know how well PSO2's doing, but my ship's numbers haven't really changed, so that's got to be a good sign. PSO2 came in towards the end of the F2P bubble- they're less popular than they were before, and Sega's in a bit of financial strife, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn they're still making a lot of money from this.

The bad reviews don't really surprise me either- this game really feels to me like it's just designed to make money, rather than focus on engaging gameplay. Don't get me wrong, I have some fun playing it, but it does have that feel to it.

[Lumpen Thingy]

;3280610']So... PSO2 their 1st online game?

Sounds like it to me since every fucking mmo has those issues lol

[[Ayumi]]

Sounds like it to me since every fucking mmo has those issues lol

What I meant is, if you're going to complain about lag, or the grinding it seems at capped level, or the rare drops and so on and so forth, then PSO2 has to be their 1st game.

PSO rare drop was much harder as you needed to be the right ID and then PRAY for the damn thing to drop.

The grindfest of FFXI as(or was... haven't touched since PSU came out) well is worst than PSO2.

Lag been an issue in MMOs from time to time since... ever?

[landman]

Lag hardly affect gameplay unless you are TAing and you need those spawns as quick as possible, it's not like you will be blown away 5 seconds later after receiving a hit and in the middle of your PA like PSU did, or that your damage to the enemy will be cancelled because another player hit it with an aoe weak attack at the same time like in PSO and PSP2i.

[[Ayumi]]

Lag hardly affect gameplay unless you are TAing and you need those spawns as quick as possible, it's not like you will be blown away 5 seconds later after receiving a hit and in the middle of your PA like PSU did, or that your damage to the enemy will be cancelled because another player hit it with an aoe weak attack at the same time like in PSO and PSP2i.

I've seen horrid lag on Magatsu that because of the bombardment of the servers, people that usually never have a problem getting wiped out by Magatsu due to the server lag and the inability to stay on him due to him teleporting everywhere.

[TaigaUC]

Lag still messes up stuff like, enemies becoming immortal until their death registers on your client.
Or not being able to change weapons.

Then you have server lag like Elder dying and then he just keeps on attacking everyone throughout the congratulation scene, or Luther getting lost and flying away.
Server has been laggy as shit since boost week.
Earlier I had Elder die, throw out around 3 attacks, then get shocked. All long after his death.
Was taking like 10 seconds to change weapon too. Laggy as shit.

[ShinMaruku]

Sega lost some revenue. Let that be as you will.

[dingophone]

Sega lost some revenue. Let that be as you will.

That's also cause Sega sucks at the whole business thing :P

[Achelousaurus]

It sounds good on paper, but no competition means they don't have to try as hard to keep players, which is part of the reason they can get away with a lot of stuff they wouldn't otherwise. :/
Yeah =/
I wonder if pso2 gets a strong competitor, will Sega actually make an effort for once?
Not just add new content and maybe tweak that a little, but do something about all the real problems?

I hope and therefor I hope there will be a strong rival soon.

[Touka]

I thought the rival was supposed to be Monster Hunter.What with the MH elements they added to the game which is stupid imo,PS is PS.

[yoshiblue]

Maybe if Kingdom Hearts went online, since I feel KH is the closest in combat system.

[strikerhunter]

I thought the rival was supposed to be Monster Hunter.What with the MH elements they added to the game which is stupid imo,PS is PS.

Both games aren't really competitors since they both come out on different platforms thus the different targeted audience. PC/Vita for PSO2 and Wii U/DS for MH (ignoring Frontier and MHO since they're not apart of the main games).

One could say they're indirect rivals.

[landman]

Monster Hunter moved fans to the 3DS, Phantasy Star Zero did not... In fact I wonder how many Vita pso2 players are compared to PSP2 players... Nova didn't do too hot either...

[[Ayumi]]

Monster Hunter moved fans to the 3DS, Phantasy Star Zero did not... In fact I wonder how many Vita pso2 players are compared to PSP2 players... Nova didn't do too hot either...

I can tell why Nova didn't do well.
I really want Nova. Badly.
But it and PSO2 are the only 2 games I want on the Vita and I'm not owning a Vita just for 2 games.
I'm sure there might be some people like that out there as well or just didn't like the Vita at all and got rid of theirs.

[Du1337]

I've been in Japan in march this year and in the bigger cities PSO2 is promoted on large scale. There's PSO2 booths in stores where they have big LCD screens that play the trailers. Also on tv they have allot of PSO commercials.

Even though I've seen allot of it around me, I don't know how good it does on the market...

[ShinMaruku]

That's also cause Sega sucks at the whole business thing :P

Sega has 2 billion dollars in the bank. These losses are recent.

[Sizustar]

Sega lost some revenue. Let that be as you will.

And Konami rose in profit by 160% after getting rid of their console gaming department.
Take that as you will.

[TaigaUC]

SEGA losing revenue probably has something to do with the long string of super boring AC scratch that almost nobody cared about.


they have big LCD screens that play the trailers

Which look nothing like the game itself.


And Konami rose in profit by 160% after getting rid of their console gaming department.
Take that as you will.

That makes me sad.

[landman]

Sega lost what they expected to lose, nothing wrong here, you can't get profit all year, some months you will only invest (and we are not talking just PSO2, we are talking ALL SegaSammy, pachinko included). In comparison, they lost less than last year's same period.

[Sizustar]

SEGA losing revenue probably has something to do with the long string of super boring AC scratch that almost nobody cared about.



Which look nothing like the game itself.



That makes me sad.

Well, Sega knows they are in the entertainment business, it's better to have come out with something, even if it's terrible, then have nothing to show.
Because it shows the core audience that they still "care".
As it's these audience that will be the repeat buyer, if you can come up with something they like.


Beside taking a hands-off approach to their bought third party (Atlus, Creative Assembley, etc)
PSO2, they are relying on the collab and AC scratch, similiar to what the Mobage is doing, and they also got the right to publish Closers in japan, quite a few of my PSO2 player joined in the CB, and had fun in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CD5ectWnp4"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CD5ectWnp4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XsaN8wJkaU"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XsaN8wJkaU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN8mwcWvGhM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN8mwcWvGhM

So Sega game itself, is focusing on Mobile and PC gaming it seems, which in their last report, I believe they had...30? mobage and PC game sltated for release in 2015 and 2016?

[TaigaUC]

Closers looks like my kind of a game. Thanks.
Enemy placement feels a little sparse though.

[[Ayumi]]

Well, Sega knows they are in the entertainment business, it's better to have come out with something, even if it's terrible, then have nothing to show.
Because it shows the core audience that they still "care".
As it's these audience that will be the repeat buyer, if you can come up with something they like.


Beside taking a hands-off approach to their bought third party (Atlus, Creative Assembley, etc)
PSO2, they are relying on the collab and AC scratch, similiar to what the Mobage is doing, and they also got the right to publish Closers in japan, quite a few of my PSO2 player joined in the CB, and had fun in it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CD5ectWnp4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XsaN8wJkaU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JN8mwcWvGhM

So Sega game itself, is focusing on Mobile and PC gaming it seems, which in their last report, I believe they had...30? mobage and PC game sltated for release in 2015 and 2016?

I think If/When they release RAmarl outfit, I'm never buying another outfit again unless I really truly enjoy it.

[Sizustar]

Closers looks like my kind of a game. Thanks.
Enemy placement feels a little sparse though.

Well, OBT should be starting soon(Late August is what they said)
And if you have a PSO2 account, then you should have a Sega account, you can sign-up and get 3 stuff for the OBT.

Just click on the right button to join the OBT with your Sega ID
https://cls.sega-online.jp/entry/


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK4LK2C3t6o"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK4LK2C3t6o

And Sega's Kancolle Arcade, seems pretty intersting take on the webgame, beside improved graphic, they also added in actual movement and formation it seems.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-CLwMhpffM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-CLwMhpffM

[TaigaUC]

Thanks.

Closers is supposedly already out in English? By Nexon, so I won't be touching that.
Had enough run-ins with Nexon in the past.

[landman]

So Sega game itself, is focusing on Mobile and PC gaming it seems, which in their last report, I believe they had...30? mobage and PC game sltated for release in 2015 and 2016?

Last month Sega Games president Haruki Satomi declared they expect to have a big project for consoles announced soon, and in fact it was leaked some time ago Sega had some exclusive new franchise in the works with Sony, AND the Ryu Ga Gotoku studio is supposedly showing some non Yakuza game this TGS. Sega intentions seem far from Konami's, luckily.

[Sizustar]

Last month Sega Games president Haruki Satomi declared they expect to have a big project for consoles announced soon, and in fact it was leaked some time ago Sega had some exclusive new franchise in the works with Sony, AND the Ryu Ga Gotoku studio is supposedly showing some non Yakuza game this TGS. Sega intentions seem far from Konami's, luckily.

Well, Halo Wars 2 is by Creative Assembly, which is owned by Sega, like Atlus is owned by Sega.

But Sega seems to be doing what Square Enix is doing, using Mobage to earn money, but not relying on it solely, and not forgeting their core audience of console gamer.

[landman]

True, I doubt the Sonic Team has only worked on Sonic Runners for mobile since they finished the last DLC for Sonic Lost World (and again, leaked big plans with Columbia's Sonic Movie and next year is 25th birthday so...). If only they ported Shining Resonance to PS4 and localized it... at least they are bringing Dengeki Fighting Climax and.... Miku games... Yakuza 5 is finally releasing this fall in the west, but that's not thanks to Sega, Sony is localizing it (let's hope Zero is next).

[Sizustar]

Closers Japan OBT is 08/18

Here's the thank you video for participating in the CBT, it introduce the stylish adult character coming i n OBT, and a preview trailer for OBT, with new antagonist introduced...that looks like a twin brother and sister, and a masked person.

Thank you video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr0IaTAzdQo"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mr0IaTAzdQo

Open Beta preview video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXHhtUVpjDg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXHhtUVpjDg

[Ezodagrom]

Sega lost some revenue. Let that be as you will.
Most of the lost revenue was from the pachinslot/pachinko segment.
The digital games part of entertainment contents business segment had a positive operating income (though far from enough to make up for the losses of the other parts).

[000111]

It seems like less of a case of them being the best at something, and more a case of them being the only people doing something. Having no competition as a caterpillar tickler isn't very impressive.
:disapprove: ...I would be impressed...

[Zorafim]

SEGA losing revenue probably has something to do with the long string of super boring AC scratch that almost nobody cared about.

I'm not sure a lack of revenue from PSO2 means that much to them. How much do they get from this game, compared to their other sources of revenue? I thought their best moneymakers were pachinco machines.
...I just made myself sad...


:disapprove: ...I would be impressed...

Then you're in luck! Go out, and be the world's best caterpillar tickler! The future is in your hands!

[Sizustar]

I'm not sure a lack of revenue from PSO2 means that much to them. How much do they get from this game, compared to their other sources of revenue? I thought their best moneymakers were pachinco machines.
...I just made myself sad...



Then you're in luck! Go out, and be the world's best caterpillar tickler! The future is in your hands!

PSO2 and Divine Gate(Mobage) is their best money maker in digital game, along with the total war for PC game.

[RibbonSoft]

So people can see for themselves, here is an article on SEGA's recent financials.

Sega-Sammy Posts Loss for Q1 2016 Due to Lack of New Titles (https://www.segalization.com/2015/08/02/sega-sammy-posts-loss-for-q1-2016-due-to-lack-of-new-titles/)

Chain Chronicles, Puyopuyo! and Phantasy Star Online 2 are their big money makers right now. However, they haven't released any new good video games in a while and their pachinko business, which by the way is how SEGA usually stays afloat, is taking a beating. As long as SEGA doesn't go under, PSO2 is probably here to stay.

[ZynischQ]

They probably grabbed CloserS so they can continue to capitalize on gaming profits.

This also makes me a bit apprehensive on how they plan on dealing with the cash shop on CloserS, since the KR version's cash shop was absolutely ridiculous, even by nexon's standards.

[ShinMaruku]

Most of the lost revenue was from the pachinslot/pachinko segment.
The digital games part of entertainment contents business segment had a positive operating income (though far from enough to make up for the losses of the other parts).

Sega will be fine. The patchislot issues is why Sega has said "We lost faith" If they right their ship they'll be back to usual. If only they'd nuke the pso2 team...

[TaigaUC]

I miss when people used to make money from releasing amazing works, instead of relying on lottery and gambling systems.
Or maybe it just seemed that way when I wasn't as aware of how screwed up the world is.

[landman]

I miss when people used to make money from releasing amazing works, instead of relying on lottery and gambling systems.
Or maybe it just seemed that way when I wasn't as aware of how screwed up the world is.
Sega used to loss money in the Saturn and Dreamcast era, the periods with most creativity with tons of different franchises, that's why they were bought by Sammy in the end (after the previous president died and forgave them of the debt, he was putting his own money for the company).

[TaigaUC]

Yeah, SNK went splat too. I miss when they were awesome.
Be creative, go bankrupt.

I remember that previous president putting in his own money. Nice guy. R.I.P.

[Zorafim]

Being creative means taking risks. Taking risks means many of your projects won't be successful. Unsuccessful projects run the risk of bankrupting a company, considering how much resources each project needs.
It's just a matter of how much time and money is needed to make a game nowadays. Old games had a lot of creativity in them, because everything was new anyway. The indie market has a ton of creativity in it, because not everyone is looking to maximize their profits each game. But if you pour millions of dollars into each game, you want to make sure you get that money back. And that leads to creative minds being held back.

[the_importer_]

Being creative means taking risks. Taking risks means many of your projects won't be successful. Unsuccessful projects run the risk of bankrupting a company, considering how much resources each project needs.
It's just a matter of how much time and money is needed to make a game nowadays. Old games had a lot of creativity in them, because everything was new anyway. The indie market has a ton of creativity in it, because not everyone is looking to maximize their profits each game. But if you pour millions of dollars into each game, you want to make sure you get that money back. And that leads to creative minds being held back.

True, and some companies can afford to takes risks (Nintendo) while others can't (SEGA).

[neilp4453]

Being creative means taking risks. Taking risks means many of your projects won't be successful. Unsuccessful projects run the risk of bankrupting a company, considering how much resources each project needs.
It's just a matter of how much time and money is needed to make a game nowadays. Old games had a lot of creativity in them, because everything was new anyway. The indie market has a ton of creativity in it, because not everyone is looking to maximize their profits each game. But if you pour millions of dollars into each game, you want to make sure you get that money back. And that leads to creative minds being held back.


That is 100% true. Look at the cliché shooter market.

Sometimes, companies that can handle some risk take it upon themselves to play safe (or rather cash in on an existing model) just to see them fail.

During the PS3/360 era, I saw a lot of shooters take existing IPs just to transform them into some CoD clone.

Late 2015/Early 2016 is going to be a game changer. So many shooters coming out and many seem to be doing their own thing.

[Sizustar]

http://i.imgur.com/dByRTgR.jpg

[Rakurai]

I'm surprised I never heard of Fantasy Earth Zero until now when it was actually a thing in the west for a time.

[RibbonSoft]

http://i.imgur.com/dByRTgR.jpg

I hear SEGA is claiming they have over 3.5 million unique user IDs for PSO2 as well. I wonder what the numbers are for the other games. But yeah, it does appear that PSO2 is one of the biggest things in Japan right now so it isn't going anywhere.

[Sizustar]

OH yeah, Closers OBT starts today, and the 4th playable Character J<Voiced by Tomokazu Sugita>


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQQNPQaRrVE"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQQNPQaRrVE

[Dragwind]

Let's keep this thread primarily about the subject of PSO2's popularity levels in Japan folks.

[the_importer_]

http://i.imgur.com/dByRTgR.jpg

That's pretty impressive considering that Japan was never a country I've associated on having a huge passion for Online gaming compared to other Asian or Western countries.

[Sizustar]

That's pretty impressive considering that Japan was never a country I've associated on having a huge passion for Online gaming compared to other Asian or Western countries.

Ragnarok Online and Mabinogi were really popular Online game that Japanese people played.

[the_importer_]

Ragnarok Online and Mabinogi were really popular Online game that Japanese people played.

Were these Korean games as popular as PSO2 is at the moment?

[Touka]

Being creative means taking risks. Taking risks means many of your projects won't be successful. Unsuccessful projects run the risk of bankrupting a company, considering how much resources each project needs.
It's just a matter of how much time and money is needed to make a game nowadays. Old games had a lot of creativity in them, because everything was new anyway. The indie market has a ton of creativity in it, because not everyone is looking to maximize their profits each game. But if you pour millions of dollars into each game, you want to make sure you get that money back. And that leads to creative minds being held back.

Well said couldn't agree more.This is why SNK kept shoveling out KOF games,using another IP would be too financially risky.The same goes for SEGA with Sonic,it's a more safe bet for them to put out a new Sonic game(regardless if it's bad or not)rather than reviving a old IP like idk......Alex Kidd?

Being creative is fine but profits>creativity sadly.Even moreso if you're a huge company like Sega.

[Sizustar]

Were these Korean games as popular as PSO2 is at the moment?

Both of them are still active
http://mabinogi.nexon.co.jp/
http://ragnarokonline.gungho.jp/

And RO is considered an era, like DQ and FF, if you draw a Poring, a Novice or the assassin, people will recognize it from RO, and it's still remembered fondly, so a lot of people are watching Tree of Savior.
And although Gungho's current top property is the Mobage Puzzle and Dragon, it's collab with Ragnarok Online brought in alot of new player, because people still remember RO, it's popularity can be compared to Kancolle, since it also got it's own anime, and it's still a popular subject at Comiket.

[hoangsea]

OH yeah, Closers OBT starts today, and the 4th playable Character J<Voiced by Tomokazu Sugita>

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQQNPQaRrVE

closer is an boring game, why you need to list here ?

btw
lineage 2 is popular in jp too

[Sizustar]

closer is an boring game, why you need to list here ?

btw
lineage 2 is popular in jp too

Because it's published by Sega in Japan.