North American Sales Data Resource for PSX/N64/DC Shmups (March 2001)

[Light1000]

Happened to come across this recently: https://archive.gamehistory.org/item/3f ... 496cbf673d
I think the numbers are pretty interesting. Japanese (famitsu) sales in parenthesis to compare:

N64
Star Soldier Vanishing Earth - 38952

DC
Gunbird 2 - 7042 (7147)
Giga Wing - 6602 (13346)
Bangai O - 2782

PS2
Gradius III and IV - 23441 (84703)

PSX
Einhander - 75134 (78914)
Raiden Project - 48564 (120651)
Viewpoint - 34223
G-Darius - 32458 (35222)
Raystorm - 31341 (124519)
R-Types - 28850 (12614)
In The Hunt - 28428 (48870)
Philosoma - 24489 (147267)
Thunder Force V - 22656 (6,772)
R-Type Delta - 11202 (19794)
Xevious 3D/G+ - 10168 (93581)
Raycrisis - 4307 (10237)
Strikers 1945 - 1298 (9704)
Sanvein - 140

[Nahar]

Really surprising numbers in PSX. I always heard that Einhänder sold poorly.

[SavagePencil]

Those are terrible numbers, which would reflect why publishers would be gun shy about giving adequate budgets.

[Nahar]

I mean, yes, if you compare outside of shmups those are bad numbers. But I had this understanding that even for shmups Einhänder did not fare well, and well, at least in NA that was not the case.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

I mean, yes, if you compare outside of shmups those are bad numbers. But I had this understanding that even for shmups Einhänder did not fare well, and well, at least in NA that was not the case.

Sony Computer Entertainment of America went out of their way to include a playable demo of Einhhander in the Official U.S. Playstation magazine -- I recall playing the demo numerous times that I managed to pre-order it through Funcoland and cancel it (since it was $5.00 usd cheaper through Target on the initial American PSX launch day of Einhander).

My local Software Etc. joint had gotten in demo discs of Einhander "free for the asking" and snagged a demo copy as well. Of course back in those PSX gaming days of lore, the American video game speciality retail stores such as Babbage's, Funcoland, Software Etc. and Electronic Boutique all paid money for those PSX game demo discs indeed to be distributed to the general public "free of charge."

It was well-worth the hype and wait for it as it was marketed as a "high-profile" big-budgeted PSX stg title from Squaresoft USA "no less." Too bad there wasn't a sequel, a prequel nor a re-mastered edition for the PS2, PS3 or even the PS4 consoles as it would've easily sold on the well-established "namesake/pedigree" just alone. There was even a 100 image Einhander gallery presented in 480i format -- how cool was that?

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Even Squaresoft USA didn't release "iS: internal section" a graphic designer's revisionist-take on the classic Tempest tube-shooter for the American PSX console back in 1999-2000 either -- it has a game tagline of: "Welcome to the Devil's Kaleidoscope." With the highly-touted Dual-Shock vibrational effects, it was truly worth it's weight in gold due to the gameplay and game mechanics thus making it a soley JPN PSX release at best back in late 1999.
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PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Light1000]

I had this understanding that even for shmups Einhänder did not fare well, and well, at least in NA that was not the case.

The JP numbers are in the post. It sold about the same, 75k, which is good albeit not the best for Japan, but completely exceptional for America.

[PC Engine Fan X!]

Only 140 copies of Agetech's budget games division of A-1 Games' "Starfighter Sanvien" sold in the USA?

I recall that my local Costco had gotten in a bunch of brand new A-1 Games budget games for the USA PSX console and priced to move at $9.99 per game including "Starfighter Savien", Star Sweep, etc. Savien was easily well worth the $9.99 + tax spent on to acquire it indeed. Even Kay-Bee-Toys had a bargain bin of A-1 Games' PSX game titles priced at $9.99 each as well. This was back in 2001-2002.

Heck, even the PSX stg title of "Gekioh: Shooting King" was sold at Toys-R-Us for a mere $9.99 per copy as well.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

[Light1000]

Only 140 copies of Agetech's budget games division of A-1 Games' "Starfighter Sanvien" sold in the USA?

By March 2001, which is the date of the report. (game released Feb. 28 2001)