Madden-alysis

[shams]

BTW, I posted this in the US weekly analysis thread:

 

Too right with the Madden comparisons:

Week#1 sales --> '06, '07

PS2: 1.15m --> 546k (47% of '06 figure)
360: 625k --> 890k (145% of '06 figure)
XBOX: 284k --> 56k (19% of '06 figure)
PSP: 63k --> 39k (62% of '06 figure)
GC: 61k --> 5k (8% of '06 figure)

PS3 & Wii versions launched later, with these week#1 sales:

Wii: 52k --> 57k (109% of '06 figure)
PS3: 17k --> 204k (1200% - but PS3 sales were limited week#1)

So in other words, there was a huge fall in week#1 Madden sales from last year. Most of this was due to the PS2 version selling 600k less, with a little made up with the 360 selling 270k more. Sales also picked up on the PS3 version, although limited hardware sales (at launch) would distort this figure.

Total '06 (week#1): 2,252k
Total '07 (week#1): 1,797k

This represents a 21% drop in week#1 sales on last year - with more consoles available, and much larger Wii, 360 & PS3 install bases.

(DS version was missed, but should have a minimal impact on results)

 

I'm not sure how EA feels about these sales. In theory, they should have been 10%-20% higher than last year across the board - not 20% lower. I personally wonder if word-of-mouth about issues with the game has hampered it, and many a fan has settled for last years version.

This also reinforces by belief that "core" Ninty gamers won't buy something until the quality is really evident - which it isn't with Madden. Many of the people who purchased Madden also picked it up last year - so it was never in doubt which platform they would get it for (360 or PSx).

Its also a title where gfx are more essential than any implementation of mini-games or motion control.

Anyway - we'll see in the coming weeks how it holds up on all platforms.

(its also curious to see that is has had a minimal impact on hardware sales - esp. the 360)