mugicha wrote:akai katana is also upcoming for euro realease too I believe.
In the likely outcome of AKS being locked to PAL region I think it will hurt sales. There are surely a significant number of sales coming from people in the States buying the thus far semi-region free games that RSG have released.
AKS has the potential to sell quite well regardless, but it is dependent on price and promotion. Some people are obviously already sold on it, but the extra sales available from casual shmup enthusiasts is potentially quite large for a game of this artistic style. I think it fits into the western conception of what a shmup is stylistically.
Price will be key. The common selling price cannot be above £25. I actually think pricing DDP:R at £25 with most retailers was pushing it a bit; not because the game isn't worth that, but because casual players can't see the value in it. The number of times I have heard people say "seems more like an 800 point arcade game rather than a retail release" is priceless.
Promotion is important. The game has tons of intriguing artwork that can be used to splash pages of gaming magazines. If people know about the game, there is a reasonable chance they will buy it.
Deathsmiles was well promoted considering the sort of game it was. DDP:R I saw less promotion for. I hope that RSG can at least get AKS promoted and advertised in some mainstream publications if they believe that the cost is justified.
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