Quote:
Originally Posted by risingstar3110
I don't know why they didn't stick to the popular formula of Sengoku? It did not sell well or something?
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No, it sold very well. Its their best selling game actually. It and Kichkou Rance really earned them cash big time.
In fact Kichikou Rance saved Alicesoft from closing down. Back then in 1996 the company was about to close down as their Rpg's and other games just were not selling well.
Bear with me as this post will be pretty long. I will also use EGS ranking scores as it usually reflects popularity and sales as well of the game.
As you know first game out was Hiroko-chan (unranked) in 1983 basic game, wasnt very big on market. Then during the four years they didnt release great games. They all were pretty meh, but because at that time game market was small it helped to keep them afloat. Then in 1987 came Little Princess (EGS - 50). Miki and Kentarou were the main characters in that game. It was pretty decent game. Cant say they hit the jackpot but it put their company on the highier tier eroge companies. For us, Rance fans, its important as the start of the Rance series even though Rance isnt present in it, its the start of Rance universe.
Then in 1988 came out Little Vampire which was continuation of Miki story. It had 48 score. So another of those poor games but again important to Rance universe.
In 1989 Alicesoft released its first game that first time gained 60 score. Its name? Rance 01. Was ok because of its main character - Rance but otherwise, rather poor game, yet the best of Alicesoft games at the time. In same year came DPS (a long lasting series had score of 30).
Another big game from Alicesoft came in 1990 - Rance 02, this time scoring 65 and becoming most popular Alicesoft game to date. And then it started rolling.
Toushin Toushi 01 was released in 1990 and Rance 03 in 1991 both games scoring amazing 70. For alicesoft at that time it was amazing scores.
DALK in 1992 and ProstudentG in 1993 scored allso big in 65 and 70. Between these titles they kept on releasing DPS which rarely scored over 30.
They needed more cash though so in 1994 came out their cash cow - another Rance title. Rance 04 had a score of 72 and was again a popular tittle. In same year came Toushin Toushi 02 with score of 85.
Alicesoft allowed those titles success get into their heads and started baking titles that cost plenty but didn't earn enough. Out of them Only You was decent enough. So suddenly, company, due to not distributing their resources well enough found close to going bankrupt.
So they decided to go out with a bang in 1996 and release Kichikou Rance which had all Rance ideas mixed into one because they didnt think they will release any other Rance game or any game for that matter.
It clicked. Was a massive success popularity and finances wise. It was, like sengoku Rance, a conquest srpg. Saved their company. Its scored fucking 90 too. (only Sengoku scored as highly).
The company was about to close and suddenly cash started to flow again. It sold like crazy. Then came Panyo (score 65), Type-0 (score 70), Atlach-Nacha (score 80) and Diabolique (scored 80). Pastel Chime 01 (scored 70) and Mamatoto (78), helped to keep the good wave going. in 1999 came Darcrows with a score 75. So yeah after KR Aliecesoft pretty much stopped producing below 60 score games. Even 65 were getting rare. Usually it was 70 or higher. Persiom in 2000 was alos 70 score tootle. SeeIn came out same year and was a bad game, scored poor 60. 2001 Square of the moon, SRPG game, with score 75 fixed it in.
Tendency is that SRPG saved Alicesoft and classical RPG or adventure games dragged it down. Not always though. There were some good RPG's that gived them big bucks Rance series or TT.
In 2001 the company realeased another SRPG - Daiakuji and scored 85. Beat Angel Escalayer that followed it with 75 score was almost a let down.
In 2002 they released Rance 5D it wasnt a very good game and scored 70. Mamanyonyo in 2003 scored higher with 72.
So in 2003 Alicesoft decided to earn some cash. So what did they do? Release another SRPG of course - Daibanchou came out and of course scored high with 82.
Following it in 2004 came out Rance 06. Though it was a classic RPG it was one of those successful Rpgs's with score 87. in 2005 they did Pastel Chime Continue with score 77 and Galzoo island with score 80. Yokubari Saboten scored 72.
in 2006 it didnt seem going taht well, three releases taht didnt break 70 scores and Tsumashibori with 80. So to make profit they once again released a SRPG. It was Sengoku Rance.
It like KR was massive sucess. Sales going wild, score is 90. Becoming Eroge of the year. Everything is going smooth.
After it came some drops. Few 70 titles, BAHaruka with 80, AliveZ with only 60 and TT 03 that alicesoft planned to be their bog tottle but it didnt make a splash with a score of just 72.
2009 was a bad year for them as releases mostly scored 63-65. In 2010 Shaman's Sanctuary scored 65. So yeah. After SR Aliecsoft had some bad aftertaste. 2006-2010 is pretty big period to go without great selling games when the game production cost is high.
Luckily Alicesoft was big company by now. And they also planned on releasing their big cash earner - another SRPG game. In 2011 came out three game production cost game Daitekoku. And boy it flopped. Hard. While score 72 isnt that bad you need to take into account that the game costed 3x times normal game would and it didnt feel like the game was that that good. Mostly because they planned it to be RTS but when halfway done they released that RTS is too sucky (again as I said its the problem with all eroges - RTs is just too risky) so they had to redo it. But it cost money. Lots of it and dint earn enough.
If Alicesoft werent that big this game would have ruined them.
But behold same year Rance game was coming out. Rance 08 cannot be bad? But oops alicesoft fucked up again. Rance Quest didnt sell well and scored 76. Now, it was becoming bit heated for Alicesoft.
So they decided to improve half-baked Rance 08 by releasing Magnum which instantly raised the games score to 85. Really, dont play Rance Quest without Magnum. It sucks.
Oyako Rankan and Pastel Chime 03 scored 78 and 71 respectively. So Aliesoft decided while preparing for Rance 09 to re-release Rance 01 as it was better than risking with new titles. It worked - game scored 75, but didn't cost much to produce.
So this year came Rance 09 finally and it scored 84. A good game. Better than Rance Quest without Magnum.
Not massively great like RK or SR but still works.
Now all that is left is release Rance X so that TAMA can finally leave the industry. He wants to finish Rance as he is getting older and now has more and more health issues.
My guess is if Rance X will be a RPG in classic sense it wont score higher 85. If innovative it will depend on how good innovation will be.
But since it wont be SRPG my guess is that Kichikou Rance and Sengoku Rance will still be much better game at the end. The only SRP that Alicesoft failed with through all these years was Daitekoku and that was only because it was originally planned to be an RTS and had to be redone.