Nintendo have announced that Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies has sold over 50,000 units in the UK since its launch, with some retailers selling out. Nintendo say one of the main selling points for the game is its story and that it's even keeping children involved in the game.
Press Release
LONDON, August 25, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Dragon Quest, the gaming sensation that became a phenomenon in Japan, has been the summer holidays hit for school children in the UK.
The Nintendo DS role playing game was launched at the start of the school holidays with a major fanfare at London's Westfield shopping centre featuringBritain's Got Talent winners Diversity.
Since then it has sold more than 50,000 copies with some retailers selling out.
Gaming experts are attributing the success of the game to its involving story.
Dragon Quest IX: 'Sentinels of the Starry Skies' allows players to put themselves in the role of the game's hero or heroine - a guardian angel fallen to Earth who must embark on an epic adventure in the mortal world, protecting mortals, battling foes and ultimately completing a Quest which will return them to the Kingdom of Angels.
James Honeywell from Nintendo UK said: "We've seen a lot of research which suggests keeping children entertained on long car journeys or on rainy days is a real challenge for parents. Dragon Quest IX is a real epic game that provides more than enough entertainment for the long summer holidays.
"And we're sure the game will be the talk of the playgrounds when the first wave of players return to school having mastered Dragon Quest IX," he said.
About the Dragon Quest phenomenon:
Queues a mile long formed for the launch of Dragon Quest IX in Tokyo with sales of 2.4 million in the first weekend - a world record launch in a single country.
Such is the impact of Dragon Quest in its native Japan, the latest launch was even held on a Saturday morning, when games previously always launched on a Wednesday, in order to stop mass truancy by children and adults missing work in the race to get their hands on this immersive role-playing game.
In one district of Tokyo the local authorities have roped off special zones for Dragon Quest players so they don't wander off the pavements or collide with other pedestrians while immersed in the handheld game on their Nintendo DS.
The nine games in the Dragon Quest series have sold a total of 53 million games in Japan alone, beaten only by gaming icons Mario and Pokemon for sales. And in Tokyo there is even a restaurant devoted to Dragon Quest where diners eat off screens showing the game. The first eight games were aimed almost exclusively at a domestic audience, but with Dragon Quest IX it has been aimed at a more global audience.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii(TM) home console and Nintendo DS(TM) family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System(TM), Nintendo has sold more than 3.4 billion video games and more than 565 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi(TM) and Nintendo DSi XL(TM), as well as the Game Boy(TM), Game Boy Advance, Super NES(TM), Nintendo 64(TM) and Nintendo GameCube(TM) systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario(TM), Donkey Kong(TM), Metroid(TM), Zelda(TM) and Pokemon(TM). A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of Europe, based in Grossostheim, Germany, was established in 1990 and serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in Europe.
Nintendo has announced that they are an exhibitor at this years Comic-Con, the first time since 2006 Nintendo has attended a Comic-Con. They are offering hands on demonstrations of Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies and Metroid: Other M. People who bring their Nintendo DS and their copy of Dragon Quest IX will have access to a special downloadable map called Mortamor, available for the first time in the USA. To get this map, simply have the game set to tag mode .
Press Release
Attendees at the upcoming Comic-Con International 2010 will have an opportunity to experience two of the summer's most anticipated video game releases. For the first time since 2006, Nintendo of America will be a featured exhibitor at the annual Comic-Con expo, scheduled to take place July 22-25 at the San Diego Convention Center. Visitors will be invited to enjoy hands-on demonstrations of DRAGON QUEST® IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies for the Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems, which launched on July 11, and Metroid™: Other Mfor the Wii™ system, which launches across North America on Aug. 31. Both games will be available at the Nintendo booth, #2944.
The latest installment in the popular DRAGON QUEST franchise, DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies features deep customization options and remarkable wireless features that let players of all kinds embark on an epic hand-held adventure. Players can choose their own appearance, occupations, companions and special items to aid in their quest, and even connect with friends for cooperative multiplayer fun.
In addition to live demos of the game, Comic-Con attendees who bring their Nintendo DS systems and copies of DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies to the show will have access to a special downloadable treasure map called Mortamor, available for the first time in North America. The map will be available at the Nintendo booth for the duration of Comic-Con International 2010. To access the map, players must have their Nintendo DS system running the DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies game and set to “Tag Mode.” Once players get to the town of Stornway, they are able to access Tag Mode at the Quester's Rest inn.
The highly anticipated Metroid: Other M is a dramatic new chapter that brings the Metroidseries back to its franchise roots. Starring the iconic bounty hunter Samus Aran, the game is the result of a dedicated collaboration between the director of Super Metroid™, Yoshio Sakamoto, and renowned game development studio Team Ninja. This joint effort blends expert level design, gripping visuals and a cinematic storyline with seamless third-person and first-person game play controls. For the first time, players will learn the story of Samus™ inside the suit. Comic-Con attendees will get a chance to play portions of the game in advance of its Aug. 31 launch date.
For more information about Nintendo, visit http://www.nintendo.com.
Nintendo recently held a launch event for Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, the newly released Nintendo DS game from Square Enix. They have released photographs from this event as well as providing a caption for each of the photographs taken, you can view each caption by pressing the speech bubble icon in the Picasa viewer.
Photographs
Press Release
And here is the rest REDMOND, Wash., July 12, 2010 – One of the biggest games ever to launch for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems has arrived in North America, giving U.S. consumers a chance to experience the hand-held gaming phenomenon that has already attracted more than 4.2 million players in Japan. With unique features that let players customize characters and connect with friends via a local wireless connection to take on epic adventures, DRAGON QUEST IX®: Sentinels of the Starry Skies™, developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., gives people of all ages, backgrounds and gaming experience levels a remarkable way to combine imaginative game play and social fun.
Players begin by creating fully customized heroes to guide on their quest, choosing from different face, hair and even eye color. As they journey forth, characters are further developed and enhanced as they choose from more than 1,000 items and pieces of equipment, change jobs and abilities, and join up with new customizable companions. Using a local wireless connection, up to four players within range of each other can band together at any time to explore mysterious dungeons and tangle with fearsome monsters throughout a spellbinding world of adventure.
In addition to a wireless multiplayer mode, DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skiesincludes an interactive Tag Mode that allows players to keep the game active even while their Nintendo DS system is stored in their pocket, purse or backpack. When two players come within range of one another, Tag Mode enables them to wirelessly – and automatically – exchange character information, customized greetings and treasure maps. These treasure maps allow players to find otherwise inaccessible dungeons called grottoes featuring special boss monsters and even rare items.
"There's no limit to the fun of DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "The ability to create your own characters and enjoy the game with friends makes every adventure as unique as players themselves. Better yet, the Nintendo DS family of systems makes the game easy for people to enjoy anytime, anywhere."
Interacting with different characters will unfold the story and point players toward their next quest. Players might be asked to find a missing item or to defeat a monster in a particular way. All quests come with a reward, which might be anything from a rare item to a new, unlocked occupation. During their journey, players will encounter mighty monsters in fast-paced battles. The more foes players defeat, the stronger they become. Players who get the urge to upgrade their characters can visit an in-game online shop (broadband Internet access required) to acquire new items using in-game currency they have collected while playing. The selection of items changes daily. Players can also connect online to download new weekly quests for about a year from the launch of the game, each with its own challenges and rewards.
For more information about DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, visitwww.dqnine.com.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.4 billion video games and more than 565 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company's website at www.nintendo.com.
©2009, 2010 ARMOR PROJECT/BIRD STUDIO/LEVEL-5/SQUARE ENIX All Rights Reserved. DRAGON QUEST, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. SENTINELS OF THE STARRY SKIES is a registered trademark or trademark of Square Enix Co., Ltd. it.
Nintendo have revealed that Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies has a UK release date of 23rd July. Nintendo had already released new screenshots for Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies today which i have included below.
Screenshots
From Nintendo UK
Nintendo have announced that Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies is coming out in the USA on 11th July. This game has already sold over 4.2 Million units in Japan. This game features a robust character creation, with over 1,000 pieces of clothing, armor, weapons and more to add to your character. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies also features a multiplayer mode, called Tag Mode, where you and up to three other players can team up via local wireless and take on dungeons and monsters together.
Nintendo have also released new screenshots and character art for Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies. the screenshots all appear to be in-game, either showing in-game battles, the over world, and some in-game cutscenes. in battles, the bottom screen is used for commands, with the top showing the battle. whilst in the over world, the bottom screen appears to be used to control the characters whilst the top shows the map.
Screenshots
Press Release
REDMOND, Wash., May 19, 2010 - Launching in the United States on July 11, DRAGON QUEST® IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies™ for the Nintendo DS™ family of systems lets players enjoy an adventure that is entirely their own, yet can be shared with others anywhere, anytime. Developed by Square Enix Co., Ltd., this game has already become a phenomenon with players of all ages and backgrounds in Japan, with more than 4.2 million units sold.
Before setting off on their adventure, players can create their own heroes, deciding how they would like their face, hair and clothing to look. As the story unfolds, players become stronger, smarter and more powerful, and can customize companions who join their group. Players will have fun discovering more than 1,000 pieces of clothing, armor, weapons and other items that will provide them with a unique appearance and special abilities. Players can also change the class of their character at any time, choosing from a variety of vocations that will affect their abilities and strengths in the game.
In DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, players begin their adventure as a city guardian who is sent to retrieve a sacred tree's fruits, which have the power to grant wishes. Players travel the world, conquer fearsome monsters and unravel an epic storyline. During their journey, players will encounter mighty opponents in fast-paced battles, and also interact with a colorful cast of characters.
DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies contains special modes that let players share their adventure with others, allowing up to four players to team up via a local wireless connection and experience the fun of tackling challenging monsters and dungeons cooperatively with their own characters. Players can even leave the game active in their backpacks, pockets or purses and still interact with other players via an interactive "Tag Mode." Information about players' characters can be wirelessly transmitted to others, and treasure maps and customized greetings can be exchanged automatically by players who come within range of one another when their games are set to Tag Mode.
Players looking to enjoy a variety of different game activities can take on special side quests. Some of these quests will be earned by progressing through the game, while additional quests will be made available for free download for players with broadband Internet access after the game launches, providing hours of additional content for virtual adventurers to enjoy either on their own or with friends. Some downloadable quests will continue the main storyline of the game, while others offer standalone missions.
"DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies is one of the biggest games ever to hit Nintendo DS, with an incredible amount of content for every kind of player to enjoy," said Cammie Dunaway, Nintendo of America's executive vice president of Sales & Marketing. "This new game has all of the elements of an instant classic: customization options, a great story, and the ability to share a nearly limitless experience with friends."
For more information about DRAGON QUEST IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, please visitdragonquest.nintendo.com.
About Nintendo: The worldwide pioneer in the creation of interactive entertainment, Nintendo Co., Ltd., of Kyoto, Japan, manufactures and markets hardware and software for its Wii™ home console and Nintendo DS™ family of portable systems. Since 1983, when it launched the Nintendo Entertainment System™, Nintendo has sold more than 3.4 billion video games and more than 565 million hardware units globally, including the current-generation Wii, Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi™ and Nintendo DSi XL™, as well as the Game Boy™, Game Boy Advance, Super NES™, Nintendo 64™ and Nintendo GameCube™ systems. It has also created industry icons that have become well-known, household names such as Mario™, Donkey Kong™, Metroid™, Zelda™ and Pokémon™. A wholly owned subsidiary, Nintendo of America Inc., based in Redmond, Wash., serves as headquarters for Nintendo's operations in the Western Hemisphere. For more information about Nintendo, please visit the company's website at www.nintendo.com.
Nintendo And Square Enix have announced that Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies is going to come in Europe. the game, that has sold over 4.15 million copies in Japan, is currently set for a Summer 2010 release.Press Release
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
In a unique partnership with Square-Enix, Nintendo of Europe will publish Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies when the game arrives in summer 2010. Dragon Quest IX has sold over 4.15 million copies in the Japanese market. Nintendo and Square-Enix will now work together to bring this title to the Nintendo DS consumer base in Europe.
Nintendo have announced that they will be publishing Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies in the USA. this Square Enix game has already sold over 4.15 Million units in Japan and is now set to come out in the USA this summer.Press Release
In a unique partnership with Square-Enix, Nintendo of America will publish Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies in the Americas when the game arrives in summer 2010. Dragon Quest IX has sold more than 4.15 million copies in the Japanese market. Nintendo and Square-Enix will now work together to bring this title to the Nintendo DS consumer base in the Americas.
Nintendo Announce Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies Has Sold Over 50,000 Units In The UK
Nintendo Have Released Photographs From The Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies Launch Event
Nintendo Release New Character Art And Screenshots For Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies
Nintendo Announce Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies Is Coming Out In The UK On 23rd July
Nintendo Have Announced Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels Of The Starry Skies Is Coming Out In The USA On 11th July
