The previous title shipped over six million copies worldwide, reports Reuters. The target Square Enix is setting for upcoming role-playing-game FFXIII is over six million.

The company has shipped four million copies of DQIX and has targeted five million copies sold domestically of the game. “I think we will be able to do that this year,” says Square Enix honcho Yoichi Wada.

スクエニが中国市場へ本格進出：現地パブリッシャーと提携を協議 [Kotaku Japan]

The businessman claims to have spent 30 hours over the course of four days after Dragon Quest IX was released this past July. But for Wada, it’s not simply a matter of “I like videos games”. The exec wants to see how gaming and gameplay has changed, what makes a hit and to think about how titles are made.

That means besides willingly taking a pay cut, Yoichi Wada claims to actually play the games. So imperial. So hot.

スクエニ和田洋一社長「ドラゴンクエスト９、発売日から4日間で約30時間を費やした。」 [オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃]

The game moved 79,000 copies—making it the first time it fell under 100,000. The game has already sold 3.7 million copies, so who cares, right? 3.7 million is plenty!

Square Enix is apparently hoping to sell 5 million, that’s why. Always put your goals high, that’s what I say. That way you’ll never been disappointed. You know another thing I always say? Brush your teeth.

Gamasutra – News – Japanese Charts: Dragon Quest IX Sales Drop Off

You ready for the what the Japanese internet is called an “unbelievable” question?

To which the game designer replied, “I don’t know what that is.” The so called bald-headed dance is a gag that is reminiscent of summer festival dancing, but the joke is that you flip up you hand like a comb-over that’s been flipped over by a gust of wind.

テレビ朝日の番組が堀井雄二さんに信じられない質問をした様です [オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃]

When asked how the game’s creators felt about that, Square Enix boss Yoichi Wada offered this, “Because it’s the internet, well, that’s the internet for ya. We were telling the game creators ‘Don’t worry about that.’” Take that, internet!

“Regarding likes and dislikes, there are good opinions and bad opinions,” Wada continued. There’s no choice but to separate them. It’s not so simple as getting horrible reviews means horrible sales or getting great reviews means great sales. Customers are calmly looking at this from above and making their decision.”

売れ続ける「ドラクエIX」Amazonの不評は「そういうもんでしょう」と和田社長 [IT Media] [Pic]

Going on sale July 14th, the game is the latest entry in the Dragon Quest series and was developed by Fukuoka-based studio Level-5.

As of August 2nd, 3.39 million copies of the game have been sold in The Land of the Rising Sun. A Western release date for the title has not yet been announced.

『ドラゴンクエストIX』の出荷本数が350万本を突破 [ファミ通.com]

Still, the totally unannounced Dragon Quest X hit Famitsu’s top three of most anticipated games. DQX, like we said, has not been announced. It’s listed for the Wii, but this is pure speculation.

Stuff like this always makes us wonder: Is it the wait that gamers like best or actually getting and playing the final product?

読みゲー DQ10が 遂に期待の新作TOP3に [読みゲー]

Japanese website Gpara surveyed 99 gamers in Tokyo’s Akihabara, Yurakucho, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro with these three questions:

1. What are your feelings about purchasing DQIX?
2. Out of DQs I-VIII, which is your favourite?
3. What other games are you playing at present?

And here’s a diverse sample of answers:

Male, 26 years (Model):
A1. I’ve been playing DQIX whenever I go to my friend’s house, so I’ve seen it as an example, and so I just kind of lined up to buy it. As such, I think my anticipation level’s a bit different from the people around me (laughs).
A2. I haven’t played any other ones before.
A3. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G on PSP

Female, 63 years (Author):
A1. I’ve been playing the DQ series since the first installment, so i’m looking forward to this release, too.
A2. I like Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen.
A3. Ace Attorney Investigations, 3D Picross and Shin Sangoku Musou.

Male, 18 years (High school student):
A1. I’m happy to have bought it. I look forward to battling with monsters.
A2. Dragon Quest III and Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride.
A3. I’m not playing anything else at the moment.

Female, 25 years (Apparel store employee)
A1. I want to enjoy it during break with everyone at work. As a side note, my coworkers are all getting DQIX, too.
A2. I like Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King.
A3. I’m in the middle of playing Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G on the PSP.

Male, 51 years (Office worker)
A1. I didn’t think I’d be able to buy it, so I’m happy I was able to.
A2. I love Dragon Quest III.
3. Currently, nothing.

Old and young, male and female, everybody in Japan loves Dragon Quest. (Well, not everybody, but still!) Feel free to answer the survey yourself.

どの作品が好き?「ドラクエ アンケート」『IX』購入者99人に聞きました [Gpara via Siliconera]

But Square Enix isn’t stopping there.

Square Enix president Yoichi Wada told the Japanese press, “We’re looking at reaching over 5 million copies of Dragon Quest IX shipped.” Wada went on to say that he hopes this will correspond to breathing life into the entire Japanese game industry.

In spring 2008, the exec hinted that it was possible to ship ten million copies of DQIX.

オレ的ゲーム速報＠刃:スクウェア・エニックス和田社長 『ドラゴンクエスト９』 の出荷は５００万本以上に達する見通し [オレ的ゲーム情報]

Since Famitsu has been doing its 40 out of 40 reviews, the DQ titles have been rated:

Dragon Quest II 38/40
Dragon Quest III 38/40
Dragon Quest IV 38/40
Dragon Quest V 36/40
Dragon Quest VI 34/40
Dragon Quest VII 38/40
Dragon Quest VIII 39/40
Dragon Quest IX 40/40

So by this number logic, Famitsu thinks the newest Dragon Quest IX is the best one ever made — better than all the others. It’s the pinnacle. Aren’t reviews with numbers just great?

読みゲー ドラクエのファミ通クロスレビュー歴代得点一覧 （新記録追加） [読みゲー]