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April 30th, 2011

The first shipment of Ocarina of Time 3D will be “extremely small” in Japan

38 Comments

According to a trusted source, the first shipment of *Ocarina of Time 3D* will be “extremely small” in Japan, with Nintendo not allowing retailers to place orders for the game. Instead, all shipments will be small, no matter the size of the retailer. I doubt this will affect shipments elsewhere though as it’s supposedly designed to prevent what happened with *Spirit Tracks* in Japan, as larger shipments landed the game in many bargain bins just a few months after launch. And I can attest to that as I picked up a copy of *Spirit Tracks* in Japan myself for about $12 AUD. Nevertheless, an interesting strategy from Nintendo.

  1. ...

    i dont think OoT will have any problems selling because its a good game whilst ST was onli ok

    1. Justiceflares

      youtube.com/users/3dsconnectAUS

      youtube.com/users/justiceflares

    2. skywardsword

      @Justiceflares

      no one cares…

    3. PK-Gaming

      @Justiceflare

      God, can you please just advertise on another site?

  2. ptalecz

    What happened with Spirit Tracks in Japan??

    1. Spanone

      larger shipments landed the game in many bargain bins just a few months after launch

    2. Holonboy

      Basically, Nintendo shipped too many units at the same time, so stores had too much supply. Since they had too much supply, they had to drop the prices so they can manage to sell it all.

      This is why it’s better for the company to have a lot of preorders rather than shipping a ton.

    3. S.T.K.

      might have been everyone brought it and finished it to quick :p

  3. Yes Man

    Japanese boxart is similiar to European version. So unfair.

  4. Vincent

    what to happened spirit tracks in japan?

  5. abujaffer

    I hope they ship US versions to where I’m going over the summer….. oh who am I kidding, I won’t be able to play this game until after summer….. well, might as well exercise that patience of mine….

    1. nick nack

      just import or export it to where ever your going?!?! that may work. play-asia should sell the US copy I think.

  6. JMAN

    as long as i gets my us copy without any delays, or shortages, im ok

  7. KnightRider25

    I think this is why: http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2010/04/16/zelda_for_cheap/

    500 Yen = $6.10

    WOW! That’s crazy cheap.

    1. KnightRider25

      My bad, it’s 480, which is still like $6

    2. PwnzerofZelda

      Lol Monster Hunter tri sold really well there in japan but it’s beside spritit tracks too

  8. tHe sOmEoNe

    Its Like A Race to get the game like there is going to be lines maybe is some kind of limited edition game that there is a limited amount mhmm… interesting

  9. lizzie1238

    How could this game possibly NOT sell well?!

  10. matthew

    Dawn of the first day…

    1. PK-Gaming

      BEN DROWNED shot

    2. Soeroah

      You shouldn’t have done that.

    3. E.L.

      I never knew Zoras could drown….

  11. Sam3ds

    I was gonna preorder…..ohwell…… I think its abit Odd.

  12. FacestabMan

    OoT will sell well, but anyways the shipments for the 3DS were awfully large and even if it sold well, preordering it would have been a stupid idea if they didn’t gift you something with it. Because you could literally go to any store right now and buy whichever you want.

    1. Nintendofan

      Yes but we are talking about OCARINA OF TIME and that is well worth the extra money.

    2. Jake

      and take into consideration most people didnt buy the 3ds because the lack of software released-oot remade? yes things will change dramatically

  13. ABKAR

    “with Nintendo not allowing retailers to place orders for the game.”

    What did you mean by this? Did you mean the retailers don’t get to request how big their orders are? Or that they aren’t allowing them to take pre-orders from customers? Because I live in Japan and have already pre-ordered my copy at my local Bic Camera.

    1. David Turnbull

      The first thing. They can’t specify the numbers of games ordered. :)

  14. Jesus

    Lol, a kind of useless.
    The US release is only 2 days after the jp, why should anyone preorder it in japanese?

    1. Ryu Shoji

      I think the article was mainly talking about people in Japan pre-ordering it.

      So wait, the UK get Ocarina of Time ONE DAY after Japan?

      JP: 16th June
      EU: 17th June
      US: 19th June

      Still, using my GAME reward points, I pre-ordered this game for £9.99 xD

  15. SuperYoshiBoy

    It’s clear what’s going to happen. People are going to go insane trying to get copies. They’re (Nintendo joke in 5…4…3…2…1) going to be shooting each other with Koopa shells, Deku Nuts, Waddle Dees, and so much more. I hope no one has any Blue Koopa Shells….we’ve all been there. Admit it!

  16. Marquis

    Well, Zelda’s never been quite as popular over in the Jap as it is in the other markets.

    1. sammy

      Very true and the fact that 3DS is not going well in Japan.

    2. d'oh

      Yeah, people will consume all their money to the video games after tsunami hit them >_>

      ?

  17. not XDLugia

    There is a difference between Spirit Tracks and OoT. SS is a great game, but OoT is the best game ever, IT WILL SELL!

  18. Ny Jets

    I hope there is lots in america cause i ve been waiting for this game and also the late may update :D

  19. Trololo-Guy

    i can’t understand what this means… D: my english is not that good…
    so there won’t be much games in the stores?
    I preordered it, so do i have to be afraid? :l

    1. Joseph

      “Bargain bin”… i don’t understand.