wii
Wii Hits 5 Million In Japan (Bonus: Top 5-Selling Games)
Posted by Luke Plunkett at 3:20 PM on January 23, 2008
Japanese publisher Enterbrain have announced that the Nintendo Wii has just sold its five millionth unit in Japan. As of January 20, 5,019,337 had been sold, which translates to an average of 385,000 every month. Also announced were the top five-selling games for the console, which look a lot like this:
1. Wii Sports - 2,663,938
2. Wii Play - 2,139,084
3. Mario Party 8 - 1,153,648
4. Wii Fit - 1,113,626
5. Super Mario Galaxy - 843,961
All the best to Nintendo for all the money they're making, really, but I can't help but look at that list and shed a quiet tear or two.
Wii breaks five million mark [MCV]

Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
TheIrishNinja (PSN), IrishNinja2099 (XBL)
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Callidux: now that makes me sad...sadder.
wii sports is fun though.
TheIrishNinja (PSN), IrishNinja2099 (XBL)
seestoff
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
And I still can't FIND the damn thing.
seestoff
DefenderShip
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
God, Mario Party's presence on that list just makes the bile rise up in my throat. It is such a tired franchise now, and it's unreal how easily Nintendo gets away with it.
As a fun little investigation, I went to gamerankings.com to see what the composite scores for each of the Mario Party games was. The following may shock and alarm you...if you've lived in a cave on Mars for the past 10 years.
Mario Party 1 - 76.6%
" 2 - 75.9%
" 3 - 73.6%
" 4 - 74.1%
" 5 - 70.8%
" 6 - 73.0%
" 7 - 64.5%
" 8 - 64.3%
So it looks like we get about a 10% drop from an already average score over the 7 iterations. I didn't include the Mario Party Advance record low of 57.2% or the Mario Party DS's surprising 70.7%, but when a game's 8th edition comes out - largely unchanged save a few lazy wii-mote additions - and makes the top 5 when games like No More Heroes don't even make a dent, there's something wrong in the House of Nintendo.
DefenderShip
SSJPabs
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Uh disclaimer: Don't click if you have seizures, cuz you'll die.
SSJPabs
Killtacular
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Kinda surprises me that Kotaku isn't behind No More Heroes a little more than it is. The daily hand-job for Zak and Wiki now seems a little much in hindsight when a great Wii game like NMH drops and there's no "please readers, buy this game" post.
You can 'shed a quiet tear' for the vapid sales charts all you want but it's useless without getting the word out about the quality, non-casual games.
Killtacular
SSJPabs
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Witzbold:Witz, you mean ilke this?
SSJPabs
atomos
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
^there.
atomos
atomos
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Super Mario Galaxy sold a lot, but considering how many Wii's their are the numbers are kind of low.
atomos
syl1985
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Trowble (XBL/PSN): MP8!
syl1985
Sixtail
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@NPlace: I think the biggest issue is the fact that they do not have enough marketing and the liner path of thought here lately is Nintendo should be paying for marketing to help them out.
Third parties also do poorly on Wii because most third party games are total crap save for a select few.
Sixtail
evslin
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Terrosaur the 56killa(SteamID, C4L 56KILLA is XBL): The Land Of the Rising Wii sounds like a title for a porn flick.
evslin
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
If you look really hard you can see a non-first party title on the Top 5. Tell me when you find it... I'll wait.
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
thaKingRocka
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
wow, and i wouldn't even consider the top 4 games in the list to be proper games.
wii sports felt like a tech demo. wii play was a controller with tech demos packed in and should not be calculated with software sales. mario party 8 is, well, i have yet to figure out what the mario party games are really, and wii fit looks like eyetoy stuff on a balance board. by my (highly subjective) calculations, the number one selling game is yet to reach a million despite the fact that it's the only decent title in the list.
thaKingRocka
NPlace
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@mossberg: That pretty much sums up my feelings about the Wii. To me, it's pretty much my friend's Smash machine.
NPlace
syl1985
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Witzbold: DAMN YOUUUUUU!
I actually don't mind, I am finishing off Zack and Wiki and I have soooo many DS titles to catch up on...
syl1985
NPlace
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Sixtail: Dude, I was going to stay out of this one because I really don't like what the Wii has to offer, and I didn't want to say something trollish or stupid, but come on. You really think the reason why third parties are unsuccessful on Wii is because Nintendo won't pay their marketing budgets?
NPlace
UltimatePancakeSensation
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
I'm not surprised to see any of those games in the list. The key selling point of the Wii is the Wiimote - every commercial advertising the system tends to have two people excitedly moving around with it. It's nothing revolutionary at this point, but it certainly is a new and often goofy way of just laughing and having a good times with friends.
Plus the Japanese (and, well, most people not living in America) would tend to be more fit, and I'd venture that that means they're more inclined to enjoy an experience that incorporates movement instead of just sitting there.
..and of course, it's no surprise that Super Mario Galaxy made the list. :)
UltimatePancakeSensation
Witzbold
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@syl1985: Yes that too.
NOW WHARZ OUR SMASHBROTHARZ?!?!?!11111
Actually mine is next week. ;D
Witzbold
haadim
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Nice "flag of imperial Japan" motif there.
Wonder if history does indeed repeat itself?
Wii go "kamikaze" on gamers' wallets!
haadim
syl1985
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Witzbold: And further to that - over half of us here have Wii's too :D
syl1985
syl1985
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@brello: It's shit... pure and simple.. YAY for me I have a copy!
syl1985
okenny :)
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Manjikengo: Don't forget the Wii will also suck one day when they get around to releasing a vacuum peripheral; this way it wouldn't just be metaphorical. I think the Wiimote has done more good than bad for the gaming industry at the end of the day but it's just not many gamers preferred method of input.
okenny :)
brello
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
The only game in there I ponder is Mario Party. I played it and was severely unimpressed.
brello
Futurexrisen
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
hmm...Hopefully I'm not alone on this but... Now, when I think of the Wii, I think of Gene Simmons :/
Futurexrisen
Witzbold
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@zerokoolpsx: We here = Gamers
Everyone else = Casual Gamers
hope that helps answer your question. ;D
Witzbold
ampillion : Will comment for money.
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@goldwings: That's in Japan though. Galaxy's sold closer to 4 mil outside of the land of the Rising Sun.
Japan is a strange, weird, scary place.
ampillion : Will comment for money.
zerokoolpsx
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
How many casual gamers can they be? There isn't a third party game on that list. I'm just waiting for the Wii to loose all it's steam so either Sony or MS can take the lead.
zerokoolpsx
ampillion : Will comment for money.
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Manjikengo: Well there's a real difference between a good, interesting way to use motion control, and an annoying, why am I doing this as opposed to pushing a button way. Zelda has a bit of both. Sword attacks mapped to a flick of the wrist? Annoying, at the very least, especially with how much you swing. That quick-draw attack, much better. RE4Wii's knife movement was good too. There's just good ways and bad ways to implement motion control into core gaming concepts.
ampillion : Will comment for money.
Zerbrechen
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Hmm, although SMG isn't selling as well as it should it's still doing extremely well relatively...
The only downside is that the Wii's success, coupled with the top 4 games in Japan only reinforces that (at least in Japan) games like No More Heroes will become more and more scarce...
Damn.
Zerbrechen
mossberg
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Manjikengo: in all honesty NMH looks like a lot of fun and i've only played zelda for the first 20 minutes and i have played and enjoyed super mario galaxy BUT in terms of putting cash down for a console i'd put it down for a PS3 or a 360 first there games are a little bit more geared to me. even if there are a few too many shooters.
mossberg
hansamurai
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Manjikengo: You just made No More Heroes sound a whole lot less appealing.
hansamurai
dicedime
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
only one real game in the top 5 and its not even getting the 1million unit mark, considering its been release a quarter ago
well, not too disapointing anyway
dicedime
goldwings
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
I'm with you on shedding a tear. Galaxy behind Party? I know it's marketed to another group (casuals), but the world is just not fair.
goldwings
Manjikengo
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@mossberg: Swinging your sword and shield around in an action rpg doesnt make you want to play Zelda?
Swinging the wiimote around and viciously shaking it to recharge your lightsaber in no more heroes isn't appealing?
Perhaps you should try it for more than the uncomfortable first 10 minutes because you didn't want to feel like a goober.
Manjikengo
Callidux
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Zero_: Mario & Sonic at the Olympics I believe.
Callidux
Manjikengo
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@skelator316:
I'm in the middle.
Manjikengo
mossberg
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@okenny :): but thats the thing i don't hate the wii, i just don't really like it. the system doesn't really appeal to me
mossberg
ampillion : Will comment for money.
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Raidei: Just as the PS2 was a fad last generation because it was popular?
ampillion : Will comment for money.
okenny :)
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@tocatl: They designed the balance board so you can sit on the couch and play it. It's kind of hard not to eat when your hands and mouth aren't busy.
...@mossberg: It's ok to hate on the Wii. It's like Satan... everyone hates Satan :)!!
okenny :)
skelator316
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
wow, shows that gaming has become two highly segragated groups these past few years. we have the casual gamers that love to play the wii for the games like wii sports and wii play. then we have the so called "hard-core" gamers who play nothing but their spastic shooters and waste away playing WoW. Im just saying that there isnt alot of middle ground any more.
I suppose theres some people who are in the grey area.
(including me, i own a wii and am a self proclaimed PC shooter nut)
skelator316
Mit
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
How did Wii Fit get into the top 5 selling games for Wii when it was only released a few weeks ago, and Wii has been out for two years? I wasn't aware it was selling that well, or that they were even capable of getting that many units to stores in that amount of time. They must've closed a Wii factory down and changed it to Wii Fit.
Mit
mossberg
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@okenny :): it acually was a bit of disappointment with a hint of a shrug then me hating on the Wii. it great to see video games becoming more main stream and the Wii is playing a huge part in that but i'd hope they can get some better games on it or atlest the good games it has start selling a lot more
mossberg
Raidei
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Sixtail: I wasn't equating the two, Iwas simply making a statement on the nature of FADS. Whateva, everyone loves Nintendo, they can do no wrong, etc....
Raidei
Terrosaur the 56killa(SteamID, C4L 56KILLA is XBL)
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
The land of the rising Wii.
Terrosaur the 56killa(SteamID, C4L 56KILLA is XBL)
One_Way_Mule
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Zero_:
Probally GHIII
One_Way_Mule
ajay42
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@ImBigBob: The revisionist history on Wii Sports blows my mind. Face it, its a really really fun game and EVERYONE knows it! What were those casual Moms and grandmas lined up around the block 6x over at e3 2006 to play wii sports?
granted, a lot of terrible games (Mario Party 8 is a great example) are doing great on the Wii but, come on now, people have gotten at least as much if not a lot more out of the Wii Sports experience as pretty much any top notch game.
ajay42
Sixtail
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Raidei: You can't compare CD sales and game system sales. And the biggest reason for MC Hammer vanishing was the fact that he bankrupted himself trying to give all the ghetto rats he grew up with jobs and money. That and every early 'gangster rapper' hated his guts and all but bullied the producers to kick him to the curb.
Had he had more brains about how he spent his money, he very well could be doing what P.Diddy does today, but that's a whole other subject.
Sixtail
Komrade_Kayce
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Well that settles it.
You were right guys. The wii is not a video game system. The wii is a toy.
I officially give up. The Wii is a friggen Aibo robotic dog.
Komrade_Kayce
tocatl
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@okenny :): eating less help a lot ;)...
tocatl
Callidux
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
My god that's a lot of Wii Sports.
Callidux
Zero_
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
I am curious to see what was the highest selling 3rd party game on the Wii was...
Zero_
okenny :)
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@mossberg: Still, if you need a Wii to stay in shape, the problem lies elsewhere. You can avoid this type of judgmental statement by being a happy fat person :)
okenny :)
FunKrusher
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Not surprised. I really wish other devs besided Ninty would step their game up (pun intended). Ninty is doing it's job (above an beyond if you ask me). But others? lacking.
But Wii is pretty much establishing itself as king this round
FunKrusher
Raidei
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Green-clad Gamer Dude: The fact that it's regarded as THE casual gamer machine right now just enforces the fact that its a gimmick and a fad.
Remember: MC Hammer released at least 3 CD's before he disappeared from the music charts and those Skids pants were around for a couple of years there...
Raidei
okenny :)
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
OHz NOs!!1! What about the 360... close second right?!!!
...
As always, a solid win in Japan for Nintendo. I killed enough chickens... it seems nothing I do can stop its success. Damned if I let them have my $250! (Truth be told, I tired buying one twice D: ).
okenny :)
Sixtail
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
In before a ton of hater, trolls and basement dwelling so called 'hardcore' gamers screaming curses at Nintendo for not spending millions of money to buy ads for third party games.
Also followed up with a sprinkling of trolls spewing dead memes and banhammer evaders.
Sixtail
SuperMaxZero
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Green-clad Gamer Dude:
Don't worry, It'll die even faster than that "DS". 2 screens? Stylus? Pfft, what a lame gimmick!
SuperMaxZero
Mpalm.
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Well... at least one good game made that list.
Mpalm.
Sparx88
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
I thought I'd actually consider getting a Wii last year but the only thing I really seem interested in is Wii Sports so it seems funny to plop down 200+ for 1 little game. Nintendo is good at what they do but I've kinda grown up and dont feel like any of the games really apply to me anymore
Sparx88
MidnightScott17
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
You know thats the sign for the Japanese Imperial Navy isn't it? You should probably take it down as to not offend...>>
MidnightScott17
soccerdrew17
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@fyren: well, unless ur in love with the game, no. i personally love ssb, so im buying my first nintendo console ever (ive had them, just never personally bought one). i would buy it with no games other than smash.
soccerdrew17
Gouki4u
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
The only thing I find surprising about any of this is that Wii Sports was not packed with the Wii in Japan. It's fun, but I'm not sure I would buy it separately. Of course I'm also not Japanese.
Gouki4u
Green-clad Gamer Dude
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Lol, Wii is just a gimmick and fad. It'll die any day now...
Any day, now...
Green-clad Gamer Dude
Witzbold
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
*head aesplodes*
Luke if you only had animated the lines of the "sun" on the imperial flag imagine the seizures you could have caused! :D
Witzbold
dexterk03
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
@Xephos: Suddenly? Were you expecting to be surprised? I wasn't.
dexterk03
fyren
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
eh.
I am really debating whether to plunk down and buy a wii hardware come SSBM release.
Its always listed +50USD craigslist.
I am not a huge fan of the SS series, but you think its worth it enough to buy the hardware?
fyren
mossberg
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
........
mossberg
Earthslide
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Physical fitness over gameplay & graphics baby!
Earthslide
ImBigBob
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
I'm fine with health games and all, but Wii Sports and Wii Play just don't have any substance. Wii Fit sounds a bit better...
ImBigBob
Xephos
Posted 4:44 PM 23/1/08
Why am I suddenly not suprised?
Xephos
Sixtail
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
@Plan303e: I know. It brings a tear of joy to my eye, along with a giddy high i've not had in years, other then that eight hour stint in the dentist chair.
Sixtail
Plan303e
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
... and the hardcore gamer weep as video games mainstream even further, beyond the safety of their bigotry.
Plan303e
NPlace
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
@Sixtail: I see what you're getting at now, but I see the lack of marketing as a side effect of the most third-party titles' craptacular nature. There's a lot of shovelware going on to the Wii (a lot of it from high-profile publishers, too), and if you're not going to put much effort into the game, why put much into the marketing when you can still turn a profit?
That said, No More Heroes isn't getting the media/ad play it should.
NPlace
dowingba
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
@bigapple: I have repurchased some games on the VC just because it's a hell of alot easier/more convenient to have them all in one place. I've gotten to the point where I can't hook enough things up to my TV to keep my retro gaming habits alive.
Also, any N64 game is worth having on the VC simply because the number of working N64 controllers is dwindling rapidly and soon there won't be any left.
dowingba
PlayerX
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
So, the Wii doesn't come with Wii Sports in Japan? What kinds of packages do they get?
PlayerX
Sixtail
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
@bigapple: Once again i'll point out that hardcore games don't make anyone any money, only by having a mix can you turn a profit.
Nintendo knows what it's doing and sucking hardcore gamer taint sure won't make them much, if any money.
Sixtail
DefenderShip
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
@Koji Otaku: something tells me a survey of that type off of the Kotaku website would lean towards the "You're not hardcore unless you live hardcore, and the Legend of the Wii was way hardcore!" faction.
DefenderShip
Nyago
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
One way to look at it is that only 50% of Wii owners purchased Wii Sports, despite it being so closely associated with the system. What exactly were they buying?!
Wii Play??
Nyago
bigapple
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
The sooner Nintendo fanboys get over the fact that daddy's deserted them, the better.
The Wii is a cool idea. But Nintendo is neglecting longtime users for market expansion and profit. Virtual Console is a cop out to keep the herd together, but it's a vapid idea. Who the fuck doesn't have Mario Kart 64 already? C'mon.
bigapple
Koji Otaku
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
I wish someone would do a chart as to show how many gamers compared to non/casual gamers buy the Wii. To help start it up, I'm on the gamers side.
Koji Otaku
Ryumeka
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
What happened Nintendo?
You used to be cool ;_;
Ryumeka
Witzbold
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
@SSJPabs: Excellent!
Witzbold
Zerbrechen
Posted 5:45 PM 23/1/08
@SSJPabs: Damn you, Pokemon Shock, damn you!!
Zerbrechen
PlayerX
Posted 1:22 AM 23/1/08
@Lezard: "They don't get any sort of special bundle in Japan. No games come packaged with it. Why that's the case, I have no idea."
Yeah, I remember being disappointed when I realized that I hadda buy Mario 64 separately when I bought my N64.
Incidentally, I think I was the first person in the part of Montreal I lived in who bought one... I went to the Toys R Us to buy it, and they had a giant pile of them inside the little pillbox they used to have back when they had that ticket system. They didn't have the ticket, tho, and I hadda ask some guy if they had any in stock, and he said, "No." So, I says to the guy, I says, "What about that pile over there?" and he goes, "Oh, yeah!" and I got one. The game choices were Mario 64 or Pilotwings 64. I never bought PW, but I loved the fuck outta that game.
PW64 and Blast Corps: two games that need to be on VC RIGHT NOW.
PlayerX
PlayerX
Posted 1:16 AM 23/1/08
@Koji Otaku: "I'm on the gamers' side."
Me too!
PlayerX
onomeister
Posted 1:04 AM 23/1/08
I still can't understand why there aren't many more high quality 3rd party games being developed as we speak... SMG has been out for a while now, and has set a high standard in what the Wii can actually do with its limited specs. Other studios should "steal" as many ideas as possible from SMG (as well as MPC3), and create their own blockbuster titles...
If 3rd party dev's are developing games in the same caliber as SMG, I bet that they would be announcing these games sometime this year... I expect a LOT of 3rd parties working on a LOT of high quality games, mainly due to the high install base of the Wii.
I'm excited to see what the top 10 best selling Wii games will look like for 2008 and 2009... (more non-Nintendo developed games!)
onomeister
zenfoldor
Posted 1:00 AM 23/1/08
No More Heroes is a AAA mature game. You could always play that till Brawl.
zenfoldor
Aiwokote
Posted 12:34 AM 23/1/08
@zerokoolpsx: Don't bet on it. Especially not anytime soon. Nintendo have heavy hitters in Smash Brothers Brawl and Mario Kart Wii out this year. The Wii is still a hot commodity.
@chillblain: I completely agree. I find this whole casual gamer vs. hardcore gamer thing stupid. Who cares if someone's been playing longer than others. Who cares if someone plays a game with more "depth" (which is very much subjective) compared to a mini-game haeavy game. The fact is that people have fun playing different games. People should embrace the fact that the gamer fanbase is *growing*. At this rate, gaming may become a widespread hobby (moreso than it already is). Games will always be made that are geared for different audiences. Labeling yourself is pointless in my opinion.
Aiwokote
ampillion : Will comment for money.
Posted 12:09 AM 23/1/08
@kidnicky: That's his point... Sure, Nintendo makes awesome quality games, but that doesn't mean everyone enjoys them on equal levels. I might find God of War an alright action title, some call it their favorite game of last generation. While I might love me some Smash, that doesn't mean everyone does. Each system always ends up with an awesome selection of exclusive titles for it, most the bickering comes from exactly how much value their system is (How many good games they actually end up with.) Fanboys or blind hardcore gaming idiots are the ones that can't understand that quality is subjective to tastes. The gameplay quality might be equal, but the aesthetics are what draw people to one title over another.
ampillion : Will comment for money.
kidnicky
Posted 12:01 AM 23/1/08
Aflack-that's just my point,who cares about the quantity of the games? Would you rather have 10 pretty good games,or the 3 games I mentioned?
kidnicky
Aflack: Likes slushies
Posted 11:54 PM 22/1/08
@kidnicky: I was with you until you said "what system's library could beat SSBB,SMG,and Mario Kart?".
Yes, no system could ever hope to compete with such a staggering amount of games. I'm sure you could scrounge up something that might be decente enough.*
*Except smash, nothing beats smash.
Aflack: Likes slushies
phinehas
Posted 11:49 PM 22/1/08
@bigapple: My daddy came back and gave me Metroid Prime III and Super Mario Galaxy. He left for awhile, but when he comes back this time, he promised to bring SSB:Brawl with him! Yay! I'm also holding out hope that daddy's going to get me Mario Kart Wii to play with by the time the year is out!
I'm sorry you hate my daddy so much.
phinehas
chillblain
Posted 11:49 PM 22/1/08
Bah, why do so many people think that casual games doing good are a BAD thing? If anything, it gets more people interested in games and leads to- guess what- more games being made. Yeah, likely there will be more casual games being made and the like, but it also means that the game industry as a whole will be able to spend more on development costs and production to make larger budget games with more people buying into the market.
Besides, I'm pretty sure once people have played more than a few casual games they'll begin to get more interested in other games and gaming on the whole thus keeping the balance between casual and more involving games. Casual games are a good thing.
chillblain
Lezard
Posted 11:49 PM 22/1/08
@PlayerX: They don't get any sort of special bundle in Japan. No games come packaged with it. Why that's the case, I have no idea.
Lezard
ssjmichael
Posted 11:48 PM 22/1/08
@PlayerX:
Just the Wii. But at a cheaper retail price than the US.
ssjmichael
kidnicky
Posted 11:47 PM 22/1/08
Why do I give two shits if any of the top 5 games are third party or not? I'm not in the business,I just want fun games. If every game I buy ends up being made by Nintendo,why would I care?
If the argument is that the Wii has a smaller library of quality titles,what system's library could beat SSBB,SMG,and Mario Kart?
And for everyone who feels the need to tell us how mature they are,state your age. I'm assuming most are still in high school.
kidnicky
MidnightScott17
Posted 11:47 PM 22/1/08
Japan = Casual
Hardcore = Rest of the world (well except for all those people who never gamed before are now part of the casual market)
~Scott
MidnightScott17
gcZanmato
Posted 8:45 PM 23/1/08
That's a real exciting list of games there...Looks like the Gamecube trend is continuing.
gcZanmato
One_Way_Mule
Posted 8:45 PM 23/1/08
@bigapple:
I don't i got Diddy Kong Racing instead.
One_Way_Mule
Irenicus-the one and only
Posted 8:45 PM 23/1/08
Hey atleast SMG made it top 5...
Irenicus-the one and only
Sabre_Justice
Posted 4:29 AM 23/1/08
The Wii isn't the perfect system, but it's still selling like nothing before. And I'll agree that it does have a shortage of good games... it's got a handful of AAA games, tons of shovelware and not much in between. And these casual games, which aren't really for us lifelong gamer types but are probably helping to convert others to our ranks, sooner or later.
I mean seriously, the grown-ups have Wii Fit, their friends have Mario Party, and the teenagers have Metroid and No More Heroes. At least you know what's good.
And I think Brawl is going to outsell Halo 3... maybe? Place your bets!
Sabre_Justice
maverickewu
Posted 3:09 AM 23/1/08
@DefenderShip: Actually it's simple. It's called casual gamers. They didn't play MP1, 2 or 3 on the N64, nor 4,5,6, and 7 on the Gamecube. However, if you've never played a MP game, or only one of the others, it's not that bad. For most people it's their first exposure to Mario Party. Had it been the 8th one on the Wii, it'd be a far different story
maverickewu
Karlott
Posted 3:03 AM 23/1/08
To be fair, SMG hasn't been out long, and Wii Play sold so much because it was almost like a free game for people wanting a second controller. And Wii Sports is a great intro to the system. Mario Party and Wii Fit, well, that's rather indefensible.
Karlott
KM91
Posted 11:45 PM 23/1/08
That is saddening. Galaxy doesn't even have a million copies.
KM91
Sloopydrew
Posted 11:45 PM 23/1/08
The top five games make me miserable to even look at. How could Galaxy be at number five way below garbage like Mario Party 8? I've played and, come to think of it, owned 4 out of 5 of the games in the top 5 and liked only 1 (Mario Galaxy). I guess bowling on Wii Play was alright -- unlike this depressing list of best-selling titles.
Sloopydrew
L_K_M
Posted 6:03 AM 23/1/08
@Sloopydrew: Bowling is not in Wii Play.
L_K_M
L_K_M
Posted 6:02 AM 23/1/08
"Top 5-Selling Games" as in "the best games selling exactly 5 copies"? :-)
L_K_M
KirbyMorph
Posted 2:45 AM 24/1/08
Surprised Wii Sports didn't sell more. It's still the best game on the Wii and the only one that really uses the remote for things other than gimmicks.
KirbyMorph
chaos242
Posted 2:45 AM 24/1/08
Japan's estimated population as of 2007: 127,433,494
Wiis sold there: 5,019,337
So...that means that about 4% of all people in Japan own a Wii. Jesus fucking Christ they like them some Nintendo.
chaos242
HAGE
Posted 2:45 AM 24/1/08
@Sloopydrew: Because people like Mario and have Parties? Believe it or not, that, in itself, has built up its own userbase, it's easy to go ahead and "upgrade" to something that's native on the Wii, no matter how many ZOMG NEXT GEN!!!1111 features it might lack. Combine that with the fact that it screams "get together game" for a system that established itself as the get together system from day one, it's no surprise that people swarmed to it.
The never-ending Wii Sports backlash is just as endlessly amusing.
HAGE
xpnet
Posted 2:45 AM 24/1/08
@Killtacular: Because NMH hasn't been proven to be a good game yet.. Everyone here sees is waiting for a few good reviews before backing it.. After today we will all know if it's what we are looking for. Honestly.. you only get the one nut that says Red Steel was a good game .. I hated that I couldn't kill those girls hiding behind the bar in that game. If it has some good gameplay and some nice killing then I'll be all over it like white on rice.
xpnet
EnigmaNemesis
Posted 2:45 AM 24/1/08
@L_K_M:
Wii Play / Wii Sports, same shit different package!
EnigmaNemesis
Jabbertrack
Posted 2:45 AM 24/1/08
In this case I really hate to say "I told you so" but I called this at E3-'06
Great that people are enjoying the Wii... but all those casual gamers who consume 1 or 2 titles a year are, in the end, a very small win.
Jabbertrack
thischarmingman
Posted 9:19 AM 23/1/08
Wii's software trend is seriously disturbing. First Gamecube hardware didn't sell at all, but we definitely got quality games. Now Wii hardware is selling through the roof and the top sellers are mini-game fests. Sigh. We just can't win.
thischarmingman
kidnicky
Posted 8:54 AM 23/1/08
Kirbymorph-
Really? The only one? What about the aiming in Metroid,Batallion Wars,and Red Steel? What about Mario and Sonic at the Olympics? Yes,that could have been a button masher like Track and Field,but I think the motion controls lend themselves to the game a lot more than rapidly alternating button presses.
Mario Party Bashers-
I've actually never played a Mario Party until 8,and I loved it. Had I played all 7,I'd probably be sick of it,but since it's new TO ME,I liked it. Obviously,for a lot of people Wii is their first console since 2600,or at least a lot of people own Wii who never had 64 or Cube. So the same thing applies. Saying you're disgusted by a Mario Party being top 5 is like me saying I don't understand why 21 year olds like booze so much. It's old hat to me,doesn't mean it isn't new and exciting to them.
kidnicky
valhum
Posted 8:47 AM 23/1/08
I am not surprised that Wii Sports has soo many copies sold, i mean, it is a given. Who would buy a wiimote for 39.99 when you can get one with a game for 49.99?!? I know that is the only reason why i got Sports ;o)
valhum
valhum
Posted 6:45 AM 24/1/08
@Shaoko: Nintendo of course, what else!!!! (Well said btw)
valhum
Shaoko
Posted 6:45 AM 24/1/08
@kidnicky: Oh my gosh! Someone who actually has a brain! Why can't everyone else have this mind set? I don't care whether a game is made by 1st 2nd 3rd or even 4th party, as long as it's fun who gives a crap? OMG ITZ NOT TIRD PARTIE TEH WORLDZ ENDING!
What did you guys possibly gripe about last gen? Was it the PS2?
Shaoko
funkrusher
Posted 6:45 AM 24/1/08
@kidnicky:
Wel said man well said.
funkrusher
Avinash_Tyagi
Posted 2:10 PM 23/1/08
@Ryumeka:
Who needs to be cool when you've got money flowing out your pores
Avinash_Tyagi
L_K_M
Posted 2:56 PM 23/1/08
@EnigmaNemesis: Except not. At all. But thanks for playing.
L_K_M
ST19AG_WGreymon
Posted 6:44 PM 23/1/08
Oh boy. That's an amazing game list. I shouldn't have gotten my PS3. *sarcasm*
ST19AG_WGreymon
chillblain
Posted 6:44 PM 24/1/08
@ST19AG_WGreymon: I agree, you shouldn't have, that was a waste of money :D
chillblain
L_K_M
Posted 7:44 PM 24/1/08
@ST19AG_WGreymon: It took you that list to figure this out? :-P
L_K_M
kftgr
Posted 6:45 AM 26/1/08
5 million Wiis, but top 5 game total is only 8M, giving an attach rate of 1.6. Liberally double that to 3.2 for a rough guess of all Wii games sold.
kftgr
Fugs
Posted 8:52 AM 30/1/08
If Microsoft and sony try to pull off that ''shitty console with gimmicky controls'' shit next generation in hopes of getting more causual gamer money, I swear I'll shoot someone.
Fugs
Fugs
Posted 8:52 AM 30/1/08
@L_K_M: He was being sarcastic, that's an hilariously atrocious list of games.
Fugs
Fugs
Posted 8:52 AM 30/1/08
I love how no one buys any real games for the Wii. Halo 3 sold over 4 million copies just in america, SMG barely sold 1 million.
Fugs