I realize that this is my second post in this thread, but why are the sales considered dissapointing? Capcom didn't put a sales number on this game like they did with REmake (3 million), and RE:Zero (3 million), so unlike the RE games, there was nothing for stockholders to fuss about if it didn't live up to the number. In Japan, a bunch of people who bought the original, also bough revival, so I don't think Capcom expected to sell the same game 3 times and make more just because it's on PS2. In America, the GCN is cheap as shit and most people have one. Chances are, if they wanted the game, they would have bought it when it was $40, then $30 (when I bought it), then $20, the first time around. Not only that, but look at the game's competition. Madden, Burnout 3, Gradius 5, Hot Shots Golf Fore, Phantom Brave, Ghosthunter, Monster Hunter, Star Ocean 3, Sly Cooper 2, Street Fighter: AC, Silent Hill 4, Mega man X: Command Mission and many other new huge games just for the PS2. That's not even getting into games that just turned GH. This last month has been insane and it's doesn't look like it's going to slow down much till after Christmas (and then we have Devil May Cry 3, Final Fantasy XII, Kingdom Hearts 2, Dragon Warrior VIII, etc.). What's so suprising that PS2 owners didn't pick a game that's 1)over a year old, 2)cheaper on GCN, 3)2-D (i'm referring to casual gamers, not myself), 4)graphically superior on GCN, 5) a game that didn't even sell well on the GCN despite being amazing and exclusive for quite some time ... for another game that's brand new and just as critically acclaimed? I don't even think a game like Metroid Prime would sell all that well right now if they converted it to the PS2.
Was porting Viewtiful Joe a waste of time? No, many gamers will still pick up Viewtiful Joe 2 (for both consoles) and they'll want to have the original to go with it. So, overtime the game will sell enough to justify it, but at $30... it's going to be a while.