Quote:

I think that if bombaman sold 160 copies, 1000 is not unrealistic for a new version of one of the best MSX games ever.

I dunno. I think this could've been true 20 years ago, when Konami would be the road roller and British msx1-singlecolorsprites-speccyconversions companies would be the road. Then us young people could choose to get the 1337 stuff and let the rodents be what they are: small and insignificant. But today? I actually think the difference between 'bad' and 'good' is way smaller, not just from the developers side, but also from the buyer's interest side. If you have a good game on a fair and still have it available after a fair, then more people would buy it. It's a bit like Prodatron visiting every MSX fair whether it's small or big (near or far or *very* far).. So, as Bombaman and SM2 are equally good (or at at least it's expected so), I'd say the 160 number from sunrise is not that unrealistic.. maybe 200. But I'd be surprised if it'd be much more.

Perhaps sunrise could reveal how many games were sold in the golden scene years? (like from '92 and on) For example during the game subscription. Those years might give a better indication of expected sales.

My guess is that Sunrise has most customers in Europe. And I don't think SM2 will sell better than bomabman in Europe. But if you can get into the Japanese market (perhaps it does require localization which may not be possible) I think you can get much more sales. Especially if the game gets endorced by the bigger MSX sites there.

One difference between bombaman and SM2 is that SM2 is based on a real MSX classic. bombaman is otoh also based on a very popular game but I think SM2 will bring out more emotions of old MSXers which most likely leads to more sales.

About selling in Japan: would you step into a zoo's lions cage, dressed up like a tasty sheep? I somehow think it feels like that when *selling* SM2 in JP ^_^

@wOLF you take the words right of my mouth
@dvik, Bombaman is also not sold in Japan and is also a classical

I'm not the sheep though. I'm just a spectator enjoying the show Of course it would be a whole different deal to promote the game in Japan but I believe the potential is there if someone dares to.

Maybe the reason for the game delay is that norakomi is working on a deal with Konami Until he says something different I'd say thats the case

Well, 'dare'.. SM2 contains the Konami title, and -afaik but don't hold me on it- Konami artwork. Legally speaking it's quite illegal. While I can't confirm, I recall someone saying that Konami isn't even happy with fanstuff made using Konami content -which SM2 could very well be-. So, just *who* would dare to promote/sell SM2 in Japan in the first place? Let one sheep step forward please!

Actually, didn't Konami join the MSX revival or what? They might keep an eye on any JP MSX scene.. let's say that the lions are at least awake!

Well, they do their marketing well. The game is highly anticipated. A lot of people are talking about it, you can watch videos from the game on mytube etc. etc. Compliments for that ^_^

Yeah, but to sell 1000 copies? If it was made by Konami, maybe, because their name has power - even the game being the same it is

See, from all my games sold, the one which sold best was Profanation MSX2... with 12 copies sold

But I cant complain... with (all) the MSX games I sold, I renewed my hosting for another year

I just want to see how well Jungle Hunt will do... since it will be on ROM format (*hint* *hint*) - and yeah, the arcade version was one of my favourites, and now so the MSX version too

If Bombaman sold 160 copies, I have to say that, all things considered, it did extremely well and if Space Manbow 2 would wield similar or even better results, that would be stunning in itself.
1000 copies seems quite unrealistic.

well, japan does have OCM's available... and it wouldn't hurt sticking a new gamecartridge in it
though I would severly doubt konami being involved in it, they're not going to bother producing
1) something for an obsolete platform and 2) I guess they'd sue your ass for even tampering
with the game concept, title etc.
Commodore for instance won't mind you using the commodore logo for non profit use,
but then again they're not japanese

My opinion: Don't bother to produce cartridges. Konami won't be pleased (IF they find out). Distributing it as a free ROM-image can only result in Konami asking to not distribute it anymore. Selling cartridges though... could end up in destroying stocks and financial hassle.

This game could end up to be a great UNavailable game

Konami is the typical corporate company that just would kill any attempts we make to distribute a nice game for our platform?

Iirc Konami is rather picky on that, I think other companies care less about it. Otoh, that's just what I think, it's best to consult someone who knows for sure.

Best ofcoz would be to wipe the name, the ripped gfx and such, so that a 'new' game remains. But iirc it was norakomi's specific wish to make a sequel to Space Manbow back then.

then again, how many homebrew games exist with ripped konami sprites ?
did they ever find out ? naaah...