Kotaku: hirokazu hamamura

Famitsu Editor-In-Chief Makes Lofty Dragon Quest IX Sales Estimate

Brian Ashcraft — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:00:00 MST

Famitsu Editor-in-Chief Hirokazu Hamamura has looked into his crystal ball and has opinions about how Dragon Quest IX will do in 2009. And it'll do mega, he forecasts.

According to Hamamura, "March [DQIX's launch month] will be bigger than the year-end sales war. Even side-stories (such as Dragon Quest Monsters) have sold a million copies, and the previous title in the series (DQVIII) sold 3 million plus. It [DQIX] should be expected to sell from 4 million to 5 million copies."

Dragon Quest cuts through such a wide range of gamers in Japan — from casual to hardcore — that Hamamura's prediction doesn't seem like he's pulling numbers out of thin air.

And the DSi definitely looks like it'll benefit from the DQIX juggernaut. Hamamura explains: "During the first half of 2008, DS sales were starting to drop, but then the DSi came out. And with Dragon Quest IX, it was terrific timing on Nintendo's part."

０８～０９ゲーム展望：ドラクエ５００万本で業界を引っ張る　浜村弘一社長に聞く [Mainichi]

Famitsu Boss Says PS3 Penetration Will Accelerate

Brian Ashcraft — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 23:00:00 MDT

Famitsu editor Hirokazu Hamamura isn't just an editor. He's a pundit! And he's got a bag full of opinions with him to share. Hamamura thinks the PS3's "slow penetration" is improving. Nice and slow, that's how Sony does it. According to Hamamura:

The PS3’s penetration pace has been slower than I expected. Its higher price tag and software development difficulties have been major causes for stalling the growth of its installed base. However, these problems are gradually being resolved.

If the console gets another price cut by the year-end shopping season, I believe its penetration pace will become accelerated.

Don't blame Hamamura for the "penetration", blame the translator.

‘PS3’s problems are being resolved’ [MCVUK]

New DS Coming To E3 2008?

Mark Wilson — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:40:00 MDT

According to Bloomberg Japan, Enterbrain (Famitsu's parent company) honcho Hirokazu Hamamura has said that Nintendo might unveil a new DS model at E3 2008. While Ash is asleep and our Google Translate only takes us so far, there doesn't appear to be any other information of note other than Nintendo declining to comment on the rumor.

Since it took about two years for the DS to become the DS Lite, the timeline for the DS Lite to become the DS Liter seems right on track. What would you like to see in the updated handheld if Hamamura's prediction comes to fruition?

Nintendo DS possibility of a new version [Bloomberg via NeoGAF]