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NPD Sales Results for March 2013 [Up5: BioShock Infinite]

ascii42

Member
So why did Zelda Twilight Princess sell much more on Wii vs GC?

Different situation. A lot of Zelda fans are going to be the sort of Nintendo fans who will buy a new Nintendo console at launch, thus getting the Wii version.

There's no parallel between Resident Evil and GameCube versus PS2.
 
I don't understand this thought that Wii U games are going to have long legs(i.e. Lego City). Wii games had long legs because the Wii was selling a shitload of hardware every month. New users pick up games with those consoles along with the huge install base that already existed.

Why would a current Wii U owner interested in Lego City not have already bought the game? It's not like they have a backlog to work through based on software sales numbers.

Because there's a huge population of consumers that would buy Lego City if the system was more compelling. Once they get the incentive to buy the system, they also pick up Lego City.
 

Ridley327

Member
Didn't MH3U get very small shipments? I wish we got sellthrough numbers.

Our store got just 4 copies of the Wii U version in (the 3DS version seems like it had substantially more limited shipments nationwide), but I honestly don't know if there should have been more, as we haven't even sold out of the ones we got in yet.
 

bananas

Banned
It's really amazing how appropriate this gif has become:

ienfvbvwl4xti.gif
 

AniHawk

Member
I don't understand this thought that Wii U games are going to have long legs(i.e. Lego City). Wii games had long legs because the Wii was selling a shitload of hardware every month. New users pick up games with those consoles along with the huge install base that already existed.

Why would a current Wii U owner interested in Lego City not have already bought the game? It's not like they have a backlog to work through based on software sales numbers.

if the system starts selling better, even double what it is now, it's a good family-friendly title that came out early in the system's lifecycle that could hit upwards of a million in sales. that's basically what happened to sonic adventure 2 battle on the gamecube.

lego city is getting the sort of attention rayman would have received, albeit on a greater scale thanks to a television campaign. 100k is actually pretty good, all things considered.
 

EDarkness

Member
That happens when people look for any minor excuse to rationalize poor sales.

Look at PS2. It was by far the weakest console and in practically all the head to heads against XBox and/or Gamecube at the time, it's third party games were almost always gimped graphically in comparison, lacking AA or some other things. Yet they sold circles around other versions almost always.

Missing a DLC here or there or some goofy feature is practically meaningless. It's looking for an excuse. The games aren't selling, not because people are sitting on message boards comparing every little thing, but because the userbase just doesn't buy those games.

We're not talking about graphics. We're talking about features. Graphics people can ignore a lot of the time. Features people can't.

How can you tell someone to buy the Wii U version of Injustice when so much of the game is based about getting new costumes and no one has any idea if the Wii U version is going to get them? It has no connection to the iOS app as well. Only a hardcore fan would pick up the Wii U version, while everyone else will go with the fully featured version on the other consoles. Hell, the Wii U version doesn't even have private matches. You saying this not a problem when people are trying to choose which version to get?

Why would anyone wait 5-8 months to play a game when it's available now on other systems?

These are not excuses, but simple fact. EA royally screwed up Mass Effect on the Wii U. But you're saying that people should just ignore that and buy the game anyway?
 

Kimawolf

Member
Trying to pass the idea that the problem is that it's a late port is what's disingenuous. That doesn't explain sub 10k at all.

Well lets be real here. it's a game that launched last year on three other platforms. how many sales do you think a game like that will get after that. I think it's disingenuous to try to make it like launching so much later after the other THREE versions is not an issue.
 

Skiesofwonder

Walruses, camels, bears, rabbits, tigers and badgers.
I'm sure Capcom was ecstatic that RE4 PS2 sold a little less than twice the GC amount on a system with over 7x the fanbase. Surely the GC version was the failure in that case!



So basically you're going to ignore the "everything else"? If you think only kiddy 3rd party games sold well on the Wii you're clearly not looking at any more than kid friendly titles...pretty sure all the CoDs were million sellers. The RE games sold well too

COD Wii each sold a small portion of what the HD counterparts did on a much larger install base. Even though they were inferior versions, selling a million on one console compared to tens of millions on the HD twins is hardly some huge success. And I said "not so much" as meaning their is always an exception to the rule. Yes, Red Steel, Resident Evil 4, etc. sold well even though they were mature titles. But the large amount of successful third party titles on Wii (Just Dance, Epic Mickey, De Blob, Lego titles, Skylanders, Boom box, etc.) happened to be kid friendly.

Going froward as a third party developer, I would have to question putting anything on WiiU but titles that could resonate with kids (or everyone if that makes you feel better). Titles such as Batman, Rayman, Lego, Madden, Sonic, Fifa, Skylanders, etc. Now, once again, there can be exceptions, such as Watch Dog which has a concept that fits very well with the WiiU pad, but those will continue to be exceptions with the current WiiU userbase (IMO).
 
Yikes at NFS Wii U.
From the console hardware graph, here's what people have posted, so far.

Since Road and Durante's 1) match and 2) are closer to what I came up with, will go with theirs for the consoles, unless better data comes up. Just need a real handheld number, then ..."
Their methods are probably more accurate, I just went for speed and ease really (proportional area measurement.)

There's also jvm's numbers.
 

rdrr gnr

Member
I wonder what the Ascension team is going to do next. Seems like the game was largely a success -- but I wonder if there is impetus to reboot the IP or move onto something new but similar.
 
Different situation. A lot of Zelda fans are going to be the sort of Nintendo fans who will buy a new Nintendo console at launch, thus getting the Wii version.

There's no parallel between Resident Evil and GameCube versus PS2.

If you follow the discussion, the problem first was release date, then install base. Now you say the problem is that it's not a Nintendo game.

And I agree, the problem is neither install base or release date, it's who buys this system. Making it a very legitimate move for EA to simply cut their losses on the Wii U because unless they are making games that are specifically aimed at that market (like the Lego game was) then it's a hard sell. The lack of Nintendo games was supposedly gonna be the big opportunity for 3rd party software to sell better.

I wonder what the Ascension team is going to do next. Seems like the game was largely a success -- but I wonder if there is impetus to reboot the IP or move onto something new but similar.

I don't see how GOW A can be considered a success. Specially when it sold worse than Gears of War Judgement, and that one certainly doesn't look like a success story.
 

prag16

Banned
Trying to pass the idea that the problem is that it's a late port is what's disingenuous. That doesn't explain sub 10k at all.
It was a late full priced port going head to head with two exclusives with a hell of a lot more press and hype, on a system with a small install base. I don't even know what you're trying to argue at this point.

As for Twilight Princess, it was the headliner (barring Wii Sports) of a brand new system with all Nintendo weight behind it while the gamecube version came late in a low install base consoles life. It's not that hard to understand, so at this point I think you're just being deliberately obtuse. So I think we're done here.
 
So it's OUR fault for not buying full priced several months late ports? Noted.

To put it bluntly, yes.

NFS is supposed a superb port with better graphics compared to the PS3 and 360 version, IIRC they called it the definite version (I might be wrong though). If that port is not worth $60 when there are no new games coming out for WiiU, then that's a very discouraging sign.

I think a good analogy is Bioshock, Mass Effect 2, and Oblivion do on PS3. How did they sell when they originally released on PS3? Those are all year old + ports that were originally priced $60 on PS3.

I don't remember, but obviously better than 10k considering Bio2, Infinite, ME3, Skyrim, Fallout 3, NV all came out day and date with the other versions.

EDIT: Also it's not like NFS is similar to SO4 where the PS3 got an old port but everyone knew the game sucked. NFS is a great game.
 
When they say Live, is that just sub fees, or do they mean sub fees and download sales?

Live revenue would include both, but it's mostly download sales leading to the revenue increases at this point. We can tell that from how they single out Xbox Live content in the cost of revenue increase.
 

TheNatural

My Member!
We're not talking about graphics. We're talking about features. Graphics people can ignore a lot of the time. Features people can't.

How can you tell someone to buy the Wii U version of Injustice when so much of the game is based about getting new costumes and no one has any idea if the Wii U version is going to get them? It has no connection to the iOS app as well. Only a hardcore fan would pick up the Wii U version, while everyone else will go with the fully featured version on the other consoles. Hell, the Wii U version doesn't even have private matches. You saying this not a problem when people are trying to choose which version to get?

Why would anyone wait 5-8 months to play a game when it's available now on other systems?

These are not excuses, but simple fact. EA royally screwed up Mass Effect on the Wii U. But you're saying that people should just ignore that and buy the game anyway?

Keep telling yourself that. Need for Speed doing under 10,000 last month wasn't because some nerds were sitting on the internet whining about not being able to buy a car pack for 20 bucks.

It doesn't take a genius to see for years now the difference in demographics between a Nintendo system owner versus their competition. There's a reason why games with Angry Birds, Sonic, LEGOs, Just Dance, etc are big third party sellers for Nintendo systems while Call of Duty, Assassins Creed, Need for Speed, NBA2K, etc aren't. And it doesn't have to do with meta analyzing some dumbass features the game may not have.
 

Somnid

Member
I don't understand this thought that Wii U games are going to have long legs(i.e. Lego City). Wii games had long legs because the Wii was selling a shitload of hardware every month. New users pick up games with those consoles along with the huge install base that already existed.

Why would a current Wii U owner interested in Lego City not have already bought the game? It's not like they have a backlog to work through based on software sales numbers.

People are buying Wii Us, even if it's only 50k a month 50k people probably picked at least one of about 5 primary titles. As new games come out, prices decline and the library broadens sales will probably improve (or at least cumulative userbase will) and those users will likely reach into the back catalog as well. It's the general progression of consoles.
 

Plinko

Wildcard berths that can't beat teams without a winning record should have homefield advantage
I have no doubts that he was right at the time, but given that he mentioned he was ex-EA, the main question in my mind is if that has changed after all the cuts EA has done.

I don't expect it to appear.

I mean, if the Wii U takes the same path as 3DS and picks up steam over time it's possible, but I don't see it happening,
 

sense

Member
I wonder what the Ascension team is going to do next. Seems like the game was largely a success -- but I wonder if there is impetus to reboot the IP or move onto something new but similar.

probably new ip and a different team within the studio will do a new number gow with a new setting or well atleast that is what i hope. i would rather they give it a rest for 3 or 4 years before the next game to get people excited again with a new setting and gameplay as well.
 
Will every release that bombs get this level of rationalisation as to why it bombed?
if the system starts selling better, even double what it is now, it's a good family-friendly title that came out early in the system's lifecycle that could hit upwards of a million in sales. that's basically what happened to sonic adventure 2 battle on the gamecube.

lego city is getting the sort of attention rayman would have received, albeit on a greater scale thanks to a television campaign. 100k is actually pretty good, all things considered.
Same query as in the MC thread though: If the system starts selling better, presumably it will be for reasons other than Lego City, or any of the games currently out for it, so why would these software suddenly spike in sales?

The only situation that I can really see suddenly boosting these titles is that a price cut causes more system sales in the near term.
 

donny2112

Member
There's also jvm's numbers.

Thanks, added him in.

Edit:
On Wii U, Nintendo really jumped the shark for pricing. They'd been $200 for every launch since the NES, hit $250 with pack-in for Wii (and struck gold). Then jumped to $350 (as shown by reports, the Basic is generally passed over for purchase). It wouldn't be unreasonable, to me, to consider $350 for people coming off the Wii being a similar affect as $600 PS3 was for people coming off the PS2.
 

rdrr gnr

Member
I don't see how GOW A can be considered a success. Specially when it sold worse than Gears of War Judgement, and that one certainly doesn't look like a success story.
From the numbers we have now? They are definitely not bad considering how the game reviewed. The brand has some juice left. There were people predicting <300k -- so there's that.
 
The premise that 95% of Wii U owners are Nintendo fans who only buy Nintendo software on Nintendo hardware is the root of the problem.

Hence the problem isn't that the game came later, it's that they would never buy the game on a Nintendo system anyway, because they have the other systems for that.

You're making way too many assumptions for me to even entertain discussing this at all.
 
PS2 GOD OF WAR II 833K

4 GOD OF WAR Sony | $ 10,612,730 | 214,028
Thanks!
Ascension still holds up more-or-less alright to GOW II's numbers, given the same release date (March 12, 2013 and March 13, 2007) and considering installbase and mainline/spin-off factors.
It's not a flop I somehow thought it would be. It did ok, I think.
 
I don't think there's been any noise in Japan regarding the Wii U at all. Whatever happened to the 3rd party Wii u game announcements? I really hope they have it together by E3.
Vita has higher chances of garnering third party Japanese support than Wii u does.most 3rd party support will go to PS3 exclusively in Japan.
 

ascii42

Member
Thanks!
Ascencion still holds up more-or-less alright to GOW II's numbers, given the same release date (March 12, 2013 and March 13, 2007) and considering installbase and mainline/spin-off factors.
It's not a flop I somehow thought it would be. It did ok, I think.

Yeah. It did fine, but word of mouth won't be strong, whereas it has been for GoW games in the past.
 
The simple reality is that the addressable audience for a game like NFS is already on the PC, PS3 and 360.

The Wii U doesn't expand that addressable audience significantly, whether it's a late port or day-and-date this will likely be the case.

And that's why publishers aren't bothering to put their titles on the system.
When EA gives the system an on-time, fully feature-packed, not gimped version of a title, then there's no reason it shouldn't do okay.
Except it won't. And certainly not enough to justify the opportunity cost. So EA won't bother.
 

BlackJace

Member
When EA gives the system an on-time, fully feature-packed, not gimped version of a title, then there's no reason it shouldn't do okay.

What we've seen from EA is barely an effort. Thanks for making a port that doesn't actually suck, Criterion, it's a shame that EA is tied to your ankle.

@Shinra
The game's been released a while ago, and the PS360 versions can be found for way less than the $60 EA was asking for for the retail version. Why the hell would this have any reason to do any better when the majority of Wii U owners likely own a PS360?

Mass Effect 3 on Wii u shows just how little faith EA has.

"Here's a $60 port of a months old game you've likely played already, with no DLC"

"Oh, by the way, we've got a trilogy set coming out in a few weeks that ain't on the Wii U"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT DIDN'T SELL?"
 

sense

Member
I don't see how GOW A can be considered a success. Specially when it sold worse than Gears of War Judgement, and that one certainly doesn't look like a success story.

from what creamsugar posted it seems gow a sold more than judgement when adding the hardware bundles but it doesn't matter anyways because the difference seems to be around 10k. anyways it can be a success because it was purely a cash in at the end of a generation and it wasn't even a numbered sequel and a lot of assets were probably reused from the previous game with just the multiplayer tacked on for testing the waters. with so many games releasing this month those are actually pretty good numbers and I highly doubt Sony expected it to sell more than gow3 considering the above.

From the numbers we have now? They are definitely not bad considering how the game reviewed. The brand has some juice left. There were people predicting <300k -- so there's that.

yea i am surprised by the numbers. from the way the game reviewed and the general lack of enthusiasm i was expecting it to be less than 500k but yea i bought it anyways and it was pretty good just that since it was a prequel i had less enjoyment than the previous games.
 

DaBoss

Member
maybe at the time they had no idea it would result in the same sales that it did, and it took them a bit to come up with a new idea? i dunno i just don't see how releasing a new handheld every year is bad. it seems like common sense business with the market that is out there right now, cellphones every year and stuff. i think you could slim down this OG 3DS that I have quite a bit and make a nice sexy device out of it.

but i have no idea how the other factors like retailers would react to that, so i'm not sure if there was anything else like that i'm missing out on.

Cellphone market is different than the dedicated handheld market. Especially when considering all of the subsidized plans available for the cellphone market.

MH3U:
3DS: 3/5
Wii U: 2/5

Wii U ver is 13th of all Wii U SW LTD.

Yes, go 3DS version. Thanks for the splits.

Pretty alarming that the Wii U version is 13th...

The simple reality is that the addressable audience for a game like NFS is already on the PC, PS3 and 360.

The Wii U doesn't expand that addressable audience significantly, whether it's a late port or day-and-date this will likely be the case.

And that's why publishers aren't bothering to put their titles on the system.

This.

Ha, I got laughed at when I said the 3DS version would outsell the WiiU one.

I don't see why anyone would think otherwise.
 
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