Topic: Official Sales Thread

[Adrock]

Quote
Luigi Dude wrote:
Companies never wanted to support the Gamecube and so looked for any reason they could not to support it. And so by making sure their crappy games sold like crap, it allowed them to use the BS that was M rated games dont sell on Nintendo consoles.

3rd parties didn't support Gamecube because they didn't need to and it wasn't worth the effort or money to do so. Almost everything sold better on PS2 and Xbox. Instead of bothering with a Gamecube version, they could use those resources to support PS2/Xbox more and gain more profits that way. It just made sense not to support Gamecube.  

[UERD]

I'm personally pretty sure that within three years' time, there'll be at least one out-of-the-blue franchise or game that is so well-received that it becomes a killer app, and people ask 'why wasn't this obvious to us before'?

Take Smash Bros. for example (although this isn't the best example, it's the first one that comes to mind). There wasn't a lot of hype when it first came out on the N64. There weren't enormous expectations or a planned world-wide launch. But the game was fun, and sold a lot. Smash Bros. was just begging for a sequel, and we got one that was even more successful. Melee is probably one of, if not the best selling game on Gamecube (and the numbers are quite respectable even when compared with games across all different platforms). And now everyone's waiting with bated breath for Brawl, which is the third installment in what has become a flagship franchise in its own right.

Yes, the example above is a first-party game. But still, with all the support that the Wii is garnering from third parties (esp. compared with last generation), it's more likely than not that something is going to emerge. And even if it's developed by Nintendo, in the end, it'll still drive sales and provide a compelling reason for people to buy the system.

I know that making a killer franchise isn't a formulaic, or even predictable process. You don't make the next monumental game by following a secret recipe. But I'm still inclined to believe the best, especially with so many people working on designing games. There have to be at least a few talented folks within the crowd, with their own super cool ideas waiting to see the light of day.  

[BlackNMild2k1]

Media Create March 19th - 25th

The rest of the software:
31. (DS, Konami) Survival Kids: Lost in Blue 2
32. (PS2, Hackberry) Pachinko Hana-oh: Misora Hibari
33. (DS, Nintendo) Picross DS
34. (PS2, EA) The Godfather
35. (PS2, Spike) Kenka Bancho 2: Full Throttle
36. (DS, Spike) IQ Supply
37. (DS, Sega) Puyo-Puyo!
38. (DS, IE Institute) Kanji Brain Test 2M
39. (DS, Rocket Co.) Kanji Test
40. (PS2, Taito) Rozen Maiden: Gebetgarden
41. (DS, Nintendo) Wario: Master of Disguise
42. (DS, Nintendo) 1000 Recipes
43. (Wii, Nintendo) Fire Emblem: Goddess of the Dawn
44. (DS, Nintendo) Kirby Squeek Squad
45. (DS, Hudson) Bomberman Story DS
46. (DS, Konami) Tokimeki Memorial: Girl's Side 1st Love
47. (DS, Square-Enix) Seiken Densetsu: Heroes of Mana
48. (DS, Nintendo) Hotel Dusk: Room 215
49. (PSP, Sega) Puyo-Puyo!
50. (DS, Konami) Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters: World Championship 2007

DS - 14
PS2 - 4
Wii - 1
PSP - 1

3rd party DS titles bolded - 9 of 14

Hardware - This Week | Last Week |       YTD |        LTD
1. DS   -   130,684 |   121,630 | 1,850,279 | 15,855,958
2. Wii   -    75,571 |    67,070 |   990,710 |  1,910,353
3. PSP   -    41,546 |    43,769 |   645,474 |  5,177,603
4. PS3   -    20,459 |    21,635 |   336,934 |    794,492
5. PS2   -    16,961 |    13,321 |   240,914 | 20,395,773
6. 360   -     3,492 |     2,910 |    75,124 |    339,826
7. GBA   -     1,394 |     1,293 |    28,305 | 15,326,384
8. GC   -       270 |       367 |     5,309 |  4,174,777  

[Arbok]

The PSP and PS3 decline, while the DS and Wii increase in sales... just what I like to see

The PS2 also saw a nice increase... closing the distance between it and the PS3.

[Taija-Herbal]

Those figures are quite relaxing....

Interesting to see how well the wii is selling considering there only seems to be wii sports and wii play as the main titles at the moment sales wise anyway, this bodes well for when more diverse games start to appear in Japan. The DS train cannot be stopped........  

[nitsu niflheim]

Wii closing in on 2 million while the PS3 only more recently passed the 3/4 million mark.  Price be damned, I think the Japanese have spoken.  They love innovation.

[Smash_Brother]

Quote
Originally posted by: UERD
I'm personally pretty sure that within three years' time, there'll be at least one out-of-the-blue franchise or game that is so well-received that it becomes a killer app, and people ask 'why wasn't this obvious to us before'?

Take Smash Bros. for example (although this isn't the best example, it's the first one that comes to mind). There wasn't a lot of hype when it first came out on the N64. There weren't enormous expectations or a planned world-wide launch. But the game was fun, and sold a lot. Smash Bros. was just begging for a sequel, and we got one that was even more successful. Melee is probably one of, if not the best selling game on Gamecube (and the numbers are quite respectable even when compared with games across all different platforms). And now everyone's waiting with bated breath for Brawl, which is the third installment in what has become a flagship franchise in its own right.

Yes, the example above is a first-party game. But still, with all the support that the Wii is garnering from third parties (esp. compared with last generation), it's more likely than not that something is going to emerge. And even if it's developed by Nintendo, in the end, it'll still drive sales and provide a compelling reason for people to buy the system.

I know that making a killer franchise isn't a formulaic, or even predictable process. You don't make the next monumental game by following a secret recipe. But I'm still inclined to believe the best, especially with so many people working on designing games. There have to be at least a few talented folks within the crowd, with their own super cool ideas waiting to see the light of day.

Excellent post.

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

TP was knocked off the top 50.

Legs were much shorter than Frogo Baggins.

[couchmonkey]

Zelda as we know it now is on longer prosperous.  That's why Aonuma is talking about Four Swords and WiFi in Phantom Hourglass: Nintendo knows the series is in a decline...at least in Japan.  I believe the rest of the world would follow, but as with DS, Nintendo is disrupting the market worldwide before it even has a chance to deteriorate like it did in Japan.

This is a bit depressing for the sentimental gamer as Zelda is one of the best franchises of its era, but I think it's the way things are going.  The next Wii Zelda will (probably) be quite different from the other 3D ones.

I'd argue that Wii Sports is the first killer app for the system, or else it's the prototype for the first one...Wii Health or Fitness or whatever it winds up being called.  

[Kairon]

I don't know... as a sentimental Zelda gamer, I can't abide how every Zelda from OoT to TP have felt essentially the same with different story themes.

Zelda's about exploration and adventure. I DON'T want tor retread old ground.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[couchmonkey]

Well...you got exploration and adventure in all of those games...so...what's it missing??  Wind Waker in particular changed the exploration up a lot.  I admit, having written that, I love all the 3D games but TP in particular did feel a little "been here done this".

...Getting off topic though...

How about those sales?  Honestly, they're pretty predictable this week.  Waiting for a big PS3 release to shake things up...oh wait, there are none.  

[Kairon]

I'm eager to find out what the next major Wii hit will be. We've already got million sellers in both Wii Sports and Wii Play, but the next step up is to get some solid middle-performing games on the charts. Realistically, most games only expect to sell 100k units and call that a success, but I'd like to see a couple more 200k or 300k unit game sales up there, and more Wii games in the top 50 overall.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[Ian Sane]

"Nintendo knows the series is in a decline...at least in Japan."

My solution to this would be f*ck Japan and continue making great Zelda games because they're still popular in American and even if the rest of world no longer likes games with challenge, depth, or, you know, quality Zelda has a big enough fanbase to be profitable.  It's like how new Iron Maiden albums don't get mainstream airplay (at least not where I live) but they have a strong enough fanbase that the albums sell well anyway and the tours sell out.  Not everything has to be targeted at the mainstream.

Plus I only found TP to feel similar because Nintendo made it so.  I didn't like the art style or the big sea of nothing in Wind Waker BUT it at least felt new.  TP is way too similar to Ocarina of Time to the point that the areas are pretty much exactly the same.  That was entirely in Nintendo's control.  There's no rule that they had to do that.  They can make Hyrule as different for each game as they want to.

But then I just personally don't want Zelda significantly altered because of flakey Japanese game market groupthink.  If you don't like Zelda you're an idiot so screw off and play the sh!tty games you do like.  This goes for anything I like.  If you don't like the TV shows I watch or the music I listen to or the games I play I don't care.  Go find something you do like instead of changing what I like.

[Sessha]

Of course the series does not sell as well since the tastes are vastly different then the U.S.  but being narrow minded enough to say "Since you don't like Zelda then you must be off playing a crappy game" Some people simply do not like games in that genre.  As long as you can give an objective view to a game if it's good or bad and cite reasons then your opinion is valid.  

But of course Zelda is going to change but because of "flakey" japanese game market groupthink" is so unlikely
Most games have an underlying formula and of course Zelda has one.  If it ain't broke don't fix it comes to mind, Some things may be tweaked to appeal to certain gamers.  The game sells best in the U.S.  I doubt Nintendo would be stupid enough to pull a "New Coke" manuever.  "Attention Link is now Korean" (I'm korean and worried about potential racial backlash used my own as to not offend anyone else"  Nothing short of an act of god would change something in the series so drastically it does not feel like a Zelda game.  

Having your own tastes and opinions is what make us human but belittling someone else for not having the same mindset is ignorant.

[Kairon]

Agreed Sessha. That's a remarkably alienating and isolationist view there Iansane, and not business savvy or mass market at all. Especially since you've accused Nintendo of having exactly that same mindset, except in the opposite direction with traditionalist gamers like you as the people being told to "screw off."

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[NinGurl69 *huggles]

Good to see we're still fanning the flames of gamer civil war.

[Adrock]

Quote
couchmonkey wrote:
The next Wii Zelda will (probably) be quite different from the other 3D ones.

Finally...

[Galford]

I agree the current Zelda gameplay is getting a little long in the tooth and the next Wii version does need to do something different.

I have to agree with Ian about the Wii.  Just look at the history of how the Wii came into existence.  
I can't shake the nagging feeling that Nintendo's entire mindset was to retake Japan even if it ment losing
other markets.  The Wii is the epidome of Japanese "groupthink".

How many people know story behind "New Coca-Cola"?  Time for a history lesson in the next post.

[NWR_pap64]

Quote
Originally posted by: Galford
I agree the current Zelda gameplay is getting a little long in the tooth and the next Wii version does need to do something different.

I have to agree with Ian about the Wii.  Just look at the history of how the Wii came into existence.  
I can't shake the nagging feeling that Nintendo's entire mindset was to retake Japan even if it ment losing
other markets.  The Wii is the epidome of Japanese "groupthink".

How many people know story behind "New Coca-Cola"?  Time for a history lesson in the next post.

Oh yeah, the Wii's SO Japanese that it isn't selling around the world. Nintendo's losing A LOT of market because they decided to go towards the Japanese market first and foremost. What was Nintendo thinking?! Paying attention to their HOME MARKET?! THE NERVE! I mean, they care so much about Japan that they didn't even bother doing a worldwide release for the Wii!

They are doomed!....DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!  

OK, now that I got the sarcasm out of my system, its time for some REAL feedback.

Yeah, its true that the Wii was created in order to attract more gamers in Japan, but to say that Nintendo was willing to lose other markets is rather extremist.

In anything, the Wii is perhaps the most UNIVERSALLY appealing system on the market. Not to mention that Nintendo provided a worldwide launch and has gotten support from all sorts of developers while still keeping in touch with what that region wants (Japan=more casual, lighthearted games, US=more games period).

And finally, Nintendo want to change gaming PERIOD. Gaming in terms of creativity was in a bad slump. Sure, games were selling but in terms of creativity and evolution they were severely behind, stuck in the mentality that "graphics=next gen evolution". Nintendo want to TRULY move the industry and thus both the DS and the Wii were born, and thanks to them the industry is flying higher than ever.

And don't think those "casual" are only selling in Japan. Nintendogs, Brain age and many other games took off in other areas greatly. So again, the games may have been created with a Japanese audience in mind, but the final result is something that EVERYONE can understand and enjoy. THAT'S what Nintendo wants with the DS and the Wii.

I'm sorry, but that claim of yours is very ignorant. And I agree with what everyone else has said. Ian, I know you are known as the 'doubter" of the forums, but do you HAVE to belittle everyone who doesn't share your views? Maybe YOU doubt the Wii and Nintendo so much that you don't care about some of the stuff, but that doesn't mean the rest of us follow the same mentality. So, be the better man and LEARN to control that angst of yours.

[Smash_Brother]

To get this thread tragically back on topic...

I'm going Wii hunting AGAIN. Wally-world will have at least 7 when they open at 6 on Sunday.

A local nightclub owner who runs 360 tournaments is interested in the Wii (and would very likely hold Wii Sports tournaments). Also, my mother wants one.

Just when I thought that I was out they pull me back in...  

[Kairon]

The Wii's outselling the XBox 360 in America because it's such a Japanese console.

~Carmine "Cai" M. Red
Kairon@aol.com

[NWR_pap64]

Quote
Originally posted by: Smash_Brother
To get this thread tragically back on topic...

I'm going Wii hunting AGAIN. Wally-world will have at least 7 when they open at 6 on Sunday.

A local nightclub owner who runs 360 tournaments is interested in the Wii (and would very likely hold Wii Sports tournaments). Also, my mother wants one.

Just when I thought that I was out they pull me back in...

You are too soft, you know that? Just don't bitch about it if you fail to get some Wiis on Sunday .

And didn't your parents had one already, the second one you got at launch? What made her want to get one again?

[ShyGuy]

Pap, does Smash_Brother have a large disposable income? According to my estimation, he has purchased $63,000 worth of Wiis for friends and family.

[NWR_pap64]

Quote
Originally posted by: ShyGuy
Pap, does Smash_Brother have a large disposable income? According to my estimation, he has purchased $63,000 worth of Wiis for friends and family.

Well, I know that he has been working since he was 11 or something. Supposedly, he has some money saved up for any future emergencies or plans (which I hope he isn't using to buy all these Wiis). I can't tell you how much he makes in a week (since I never dared to ask), but my estimate is around 300 dollars minimum - 400 dollars maximum a week, depending on how his family business is doing (again, I may be severely wrong).

When he was living with his parents, he didn't have any personal budget. But after he moved out with the other friends, he had to pay for part of the rent (which is around 1,000 plus a month), internet, water, heat, Gamefly subscription and electricity as well as buy food, clothing, entertainment (going to bars for drinks, the movies and dinner) and such, so I am guessing a sum of his paycheck goes toward that.

Believe me when I say that I too am baffled with the amount of Wiis he has bought (especially since the last time I came to visit he was somewhat upset about the budget and we had an argument about it). However, take into consideration this:
- The first Wii he reserved (at Gamestop) was paid for by selling ALL of his Gamecube/GBA collection (including extra games, controllers, consoles and such). So you can subtract some money off the total tally.
- His younger brother bought the second Wii he got at launch
- I'm SURE he asks for payment if the person asked him to buy a Wii as a favor. Him being Italian, I'm SURE he demands the payment
- Again, since he's Italian, I'm sure he beats the crap out of the store employees and forces them to give him the Wiis
- He isn't afraid to spend extra money for friends and family
- He might be using his savings to buy the Wii (which I hope he isn't)

Once again, I may be severely wrong. SB's my best friend and all, but I simply don't like to ask people about personal income and their spending fees. Feels rude, honestly.  

[Smash_Brother]

Yes, I'm reselling these Wiis to other people, not just handing them off.