LOL why would it not have legs? ME2 is tracking higher than ME1 at the same point in time. And if I remember correctly ME1 was released in November.

If you want to criticize the fact that you don't feel your getting the "richest possible experience in ME2 if you havent played ME1", just criticize that then and don't make a foolish statement that ME2 sales are in the toilet.

What RPG isn't : Load times, Slow? Glitchy yes the first was. But so good was the game, you didnt actually care. If anything, both ME1 and 2 are faster than any other RPG.

It would sell better if Microsoft was the publisher like the first one

I dont agree that the sales are poor. But I do agree with the OP in regards to placing too much emphasis on following the 1st game. I think the sales should and could have far exceeded ME1 but the advertising limits it to only a slight sales lead.

I've got 3 friends who have not played ME1 but played through ME2 and they loved it. Simply starting ME2 you can still get a default "this is the choices your character had made" style of game... really no different than any other game. Of my 3 friends who have played ME2, but not ME1, each of them have beat the game and two of them are trying ME1.... the one who is not trying ME1 is readdicted to Dragon Age (yay go bioware).

So, at least in my experiences here, ME1 is not at all hurting ME2. Sales are higher and word of mouth has been great. I played through it already and noticed no issues which would prevent me from playing the game. Hell, even the first one the only annoying parts were wandering eyes and loading elevators (great for loading bowls tho!). Anyways, I don't think that the sales have fallen like a "rocket," I think they are quite well :)

But even with the issues. ME1 is still one of the best games this gen has had. It just shows how good ME2 really is, and why with the problems fixed it is 96 meta score.

While that does show ME2 outselling ME1, you'll notice that it is actually now selling less per week than the original in the comparable weeks:

As you can see, ME2 has declined extremely quickly. I know sequels are generally more front loaded, but it is down almost 20k per week on the original after just 9 weeks.

+1 -_-

2 things to consider:

1. Despite launching on 360 and PC at the same time, the 360 version of ME2 so far outsold the at that time only on one platform available ME1 in the same time span.

2. ME1 came out in November and thus had better legs due to the holiday season.

Are they even that low?

its normal for an RPG

{goes to compare its sales with Fallout 3/oblivion}