The original topic was locked as I was writing this
I will say this, it is my feeling that is far easier to peddle shovelware on both the XBX & PS2 than it is on the GC. (I'm sure publishers would agree) As they both cater to primarily the same userbase. Is the GC's smaller userbase a contributing factor? Yes. But even if the GC's NA userbase was equivalent to that of the XBX's, the corresponding software/shovelware sales would not be significantly higher. GC elitism? Or simply a Nintendo-centric software preference? I would even venture further to say that the majority of Nintendo adopters in general are not mainstream gamers, who will purchase & play basically anything on the market. While many times overlooking the truly good, or even great software IMO. (PD:Orta, ICO, JSRF, Otogi, etc.) Nintendo's consumer base doesn't usually suffer from the same fate, as quality exclusives & in-house developed software are rarely overlooked, even if some are mediocre at best.
They simply "prefer" the type of games that Nintendo produces/publishes. Is it a wonder why no Nintendo published software, whether it be GBA/GC has sold under 100k? Whether it be through initial sales or some titles going Player's Choice, this is quite an accomplishment considering the volume of titles Nintendo produces comprehensively. As there are plenty of Platinum Hits, & budget bin software to compete with. The sales legs of Nintendo's titles will see SMS, LOZ:TWW, MK
D, & LM selling 2 million copies a piece unbundled by the end of '05. And a host of others eclipsing platinum status like AC, MP4/5, PC, (once PC hits Player's Choice) etc, as well as some select 3rd party titles.
How convenient it is to neglect to mention RE:Code Outbreak's sales when it suits your argument. Or that the PS2 was in dire need of any semblance of decent quality software when this was ported back in 8/01. (which it wasn't imo)
Edit: My apologies mods if this is out of line.
Back on topic, RE4 selling the amount of copies it did in January was indeed quite a feat. Looking back at the massive software sales dropoffs from Dec. '03-Jan. '04 should give you some indication. (credit to Sonycowboy at GAF) EA's PS2's NFL Street still holds the Jan. sales release record AFAIK, though given the installed userbase differentials you'll understand why I called it a "feat." GTA:SA was also posting some impressive sales during this dead month as well, & not as front loaded as many would have believed given its initial sales.
Format Title Publisher listed Rel Date January Dec- to Jan-04 numbers
PS2 EA NFL STREETS 331,266-Jan. 9
SEGA OF AMERICA GCN SONIC HEROES-Jan. 3 199,032
PS2 NEED SPEED: UNDERGRND ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Nov 1,120,576 177,917
XBX NFL STREET ELECTRONIC ARTS 3-Jan 140,916
XBX GRAND THEFT AUTO PACK ROCKSTAR GAMES (TAKE 2) 2-Oct 402,201 106,819
GCN MARIO KART: DOUBLE NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Nov 729,797 106,424
XBX HALO MICROSOFT 31-Oct 338,712 104,123
PS2 TRUE CRIME:STREETS LA ACTIVISION 2-Nov 607,315 100,295
PS2 MADDEN NFL 2004 ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Aug 784,347 99,798
PS2 BALDURS GATE:ALLNC II INTERPLAY 3-Jan 90,746
PS2 SOCOM II: NAVY SEALS SONY COMPUTER ENT. (SONY) 2-Nov 477,257 82,056
PS2 FINAL FANTASY X-2 SQUARE ENIX USA 2-Nov 554,300 78,514
PS2 DRAGONBALL Z:BUDOKAI2 ATARI 2-Dec 649,708 69,654
GBA MARIO BROS 3: MARIO 4 NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Oct 333,971 63,906
XBX NEED SPEED: UNDERGRND ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Nov 308,989 63,097
GCN NFL STREET ELECTRONIC ARTS 3-Jan 59,281
PS2 NBA LIVE 2004 ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Oct 390,144 59,048
PS2 PRINCE PERSIA: SANDS UBISOFT 2-Nov 218,554 58,222
XBX T. CLANCYS RAINBOW 3 UBISOFT 3-Oct 232,232 58,213
PS2 SOCOM W/O HEADSET SONY COMPUTER ENT. (SONY) 2-Apr 241,461 56,211
GBA SONIC BATTLE THQ 3-Jan 56,177
XBX BALDURS GATE:ALLNC II INTERPLAY 3-Jan 55,213
PS2 LORD RING:RETURN KING ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Nov 446,490 54,483
XBX T. CLANCYS SPLINTER UBISOFT (CORP) 2-Nov 109,341 54,022
PS2 TIGER WOODS PGA 2004 ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Sep 242,624 53,292
PS2 GRAND THEFT AUTO:VICE ROCKSTAR GAMES (TAKE 2) 1-Oct 170,382 52,260
PS2 GRAND THEFT AUTO PACK ROCKSTAR GAMES (TAKE 2) 2-Oct 242,375 50,073
PS2 FINAL FANTASY X SQUARE EA (SQUARE ENIX USA) 30-Nov 159,875 50,025
PS2 THE SIMS: BUSTIN' OUT ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Dec 185,530 49,562
PS2 MEDAL HONOR FRONTLINE ELECTRONIC ARTS 1-May 151,240 49,327
PS2 KINGDOM HEARTS SQUARE EA (SQUARE ENIX USA) 1-Sep 204,201 48,093
PS2 MEDAL HONOR RISING ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Nov 587,360 47,528
PS2 RATCHET & CLANK:GOING SONY COMPUTER ENT. (SONY) 2-Nov 268,385 47,183
GBA NAMCO MUSEUM NAMCO 31-May 288,281 46,561
PS2 MANHUNT ROCKSTAR GAMES (TAKE 2) 2-Nov 192,027 46,386
XBX TRUE CRIME:STREETS LA ACTIVISION 2-Nov 206,906 45,117
PS2 TONY HAWK UNDERGROUND ACTIVISION 2-Oct 707,522 45,042
GCN MARIO PARTY 5 NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Nov 329,331 43,650
GBA POKEMON RUBY NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Mar 227,652 43,324
XBX PRINCE PERSIA: SANDS UBISOFT 2-Nov 128,580 42,833
GBA YU-GI-OH! SACRED CARD KONAMI OF AMERICA 2-Nov 279,213 42,737
PS2 T. CLANCY'S SPLINTER UBI SOFT 2-Apr 53,346 42,465
GBA POKEMON SAPPHIRE NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Mar 188,616 41,874
PS2 RATCHET & CLANK SONY COMPUTER ENT. (SONY) 1-Nov 148,969 41,060
GCN SUPER SMASH BRO MELEE NINTENDO OF AMERICA 30-Nov 215,340 40,035
GBA MARIO & LUIGI SAGA NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Nov 426,594 39,697
PS2 MAFIA TAKE 2 INTERACTIVE 3-Jan 39,675
PS2 WWE: HERE COMES PAIN THQ 2-Oct 295,082 39,535
PS2 MIDWAY ARCADE TRSURES MIDWAY 2-Nov 121,611 38,338
PS2 NAMCO MUSEUM NAMCO 30-Nov 143,313 37,071
Typically, as well as historically, (backed by NPD data) pocketbooks & wallets are still recovering from the holiday expenditures. *Oct. or Nov. or any other month just denotes the title's original launch date for clarification*
I will say this, it is my feeling that is far easier to peddle shovelware on both the XBX & PS2 than it is on the GC. (I'm sure publishers would agree) As they both cater to primarily the same userbase. Is the GC's smaller userbase a contributing factor? Yes. But even if the GC's NA userbase was equivalent to that of the XBX's, the corresponding software/shovelware sales would not be significantly higher. GC elitism? Or simply a Nintendo-centric software preference? I would even venture further to say that the majority of Nintendo adopters in general are not mainstream gamers, who will purchase & play basically anything on the market. While many times overlooking the truly good, or even great software IMO. (PD:Orta, ICO, JSRF, Otogi, etc.) Nintendo's consumer base doesn't usually suffer from the same fate, as quality exclusives & in-house developed software are rarely overlooked, even if some are mediocre at best.
They simply "prefer" the type of games that Nintendo produces/publishes. Is it a wonder why no Nintendo published software, whether it be GBA/GC has sold under 100k? Whether it be through initial sales or some titles going Player's Choice, this is quite an accomplishment considering the volume of titles Nintendo produces comprehensively. As there are plenty of Platinum Hits, & budget bin software to compete with. The sales legs of Nintendo's titles will see SMS, LOZ:TWW, MK
D, & LM selling 2 million copies a piece unbundled by the end of '05. And a host of others eclipsing platinum status like AC, MP4/5, PC, (once PC hits Player's Choice) etc, as well as some select 3rd party titles. How convenient it is to neglect to mention RE:Code Outbreak's sales when it suits your argument. Or that the PS2 was in dire need of any semblance of decent quality software when this was ported back in 8/01. (which it wasn't imo)
Edit: My apologies mods if this is out of line.
Back on topic, RE4 selling the amount of copies it did in January was indeed quite a feat. Looking back at the massive software sales dropoffs from Dec. '03-Jan. '04 should give you some indication. (credit to Sonycowboy at GAF) EA's PS2's NFL Street still holds the Jan. sales release record AFAIK, though given the installed userbase differentials you'll understand why I called it a "feat." GTA:SA was also posting some impressive sales during this dead month as well, & not as front loaded as many would have believed given its initial sales.
Format Title Publisher listed Rel Date January Dec- to Jan-04 numbers
PS2 EA NFL STREETS 331,266-Jan. 9
SEGA OF AMERICA GCN SONIC HEROES-Jan. 3 199,032
PS2 NEED SPEED: UNDERGRND ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Nov 1,120,576 177,917
XBX NFL STREET ELECTRONIC ARTS 3-Jan 140,916
XBX GRAND THEFT AUTO PACK ROCKSTAR GAMES (TAKE 2) 2-Oct 402,201 106,819
GCN MARIO KART: DOUBLE NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Nov 729,797 106,424
XBX HALO MICROSOFT 31-Oct 338,712 104,123
PS2 TRUE CRIME:STREETS LA ACTIVISION 2-Nov 607,315 100,295
PS2 MADDEN NFL 2004 ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Aug 784,347 99,798
PS2 BALDURS GATE:ALLNC II INTERPLAY 3-Jan 90,746
PS2 SOCOM II: NAVY SEALS SONY COMPUTER ENT. (SONY) 2-Nov 477,257 82,056
PS2 FINAL FANTASY X-2 SQUARE ENIX USA 2-Nov 554,300 78,514
PS2 DRAGONBALL Z:BUDOKAI2 ATARI 2-Dec 649,708 69,654
GBA MARIO BROS 3: MARIO 4 NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Oct 333,971 63,906
XBX NEED SPEED: UNDERGRND ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Nov 308,989 63,097
GCN NFL STREET ELECTRONIC ARTS 3-Jan 59,281
PS2 NBA LIVE 2004 ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Oct 390,144 59,048
PS2 PRINCE PERSIA: SANDS UBISOFT 2-Nov 218,554 58,222
XBX T. CLANCYS RAINBOW 3 UBISOFT 3-Oct 232,232 58,213
PS2 SOCOM W/O HEADSET SONY COMPUTER ENT. (SONY) 2-Apr 241,461 56,211
GBA SONIC BATTLE THQ 3-Jan 56,177
XBX BALDURS GATE:ALLNC II INTERPLAY 3-Jan 55,213
PS2 LORD RING:RETURN KING ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Nov 446,490 54,483
XBX T. CLANCYS SPLINTER UBISOFT (CORP) 2-Nov 109,341 54,022
PS2 TIGER WOODS PGA 2004 ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Sep 242,624 53,292
PS2 GRAND THEFT AUTO:VICE ROCKSTAR GAMES (TAKE 2) 1-Oct 170,382 52,260
PS2 GRAND THEFT AUTO PACK ROCKSTAR GAMES (TAKE 2) 2-Oct 242,375 50,073
PS2 FINAL FANTASY X SQUARE EA (SQUARE ENIX USA) 30-Nov 159,875 50,025
PS2 THE SIMS: BUSTIN' OUT ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Dec 185,530 49,562
PS2 MEDAL HONOR FRONTLINE ELECTRONIC ARTS 1-May 151,240 49,327
PS2 KINGDOM HEARTS SQUARE EA (SQUARE ENIX USA) 1-Sep 204,201 48,093
PS2 MEDAL HONOR RISING ELECTRONIC ARTS 2-Nov 587,360 47,528
PS2 RATCHET & CLANK:GOING SONY COMPUTER ENT. (SONY) 2-Nov 268,385 47,183
GBA NAMCO MUSEUM NAMCO 31-May 288,281 46,561
PS2 MANHUNT ROCKSTAR GAMES (TAKE 2) 2-Nov 192,027 46,386
XBX TRUE CRIME:STREETS LA ACTIVISION 2-Nov 206,906 45,117
PS2 TONY HAWK UNDERGROUND ACTIVISION 2-Oct 707,522 45,042
GCN MARIO PARTY 5 NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Nov 329,331 43,650
GBA POKEMON RUBY NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Mar 227,652 43,324
XBX PRINCE PERSIA: SANDS UBISOFT 2-Nov 128,580 42,833
GBA YU-GI-OH! SACRED CARD KONAMI OF AMERICA 2-Nov 279,213 42,737
PS2 T. CLANCY'S SPLINTER UBI SOFT 2-Apr 53,346 42,465
GBA POKEMON SAPPHIRE NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Mar 188,616 41,874
PS2 RATCHET & CLANK SONY COMPUTER ENT. (SONY) 1-Nov 148,969 41,060
GCN SUPER SMASH BRO MELEE NINTENDO OF AMERICA 30-Nov 215,340 40,035
GBA MARIO & LUIGI SAGA NINTENDO OF AMERICA 2-Nov 426,594 39,697
PS2 MAFIA TAKE 2 INTERACTIVE 3-Jan 39,675
PS2 WWE: HERE COMES PAIN THQ 2-Oct 295,082 39,535
PS2 MIDWAY ARCADE TRSURES MIDWAY 2-Nov 121,611 38,338
PS2 NAMCO MUSEUM NAMCO 30-Nov 143,313 37,071
Typically, as well as historically, (backed by NPD data) pocketbooks & wallets are still recovering from the holiday expenditures. *Oct. or Nov. or any other month just denotes the title's original launch date for clarification*
