So first week sales for WiiU games are not what people expected, everyone starts calling out that the WiiU is doomed, that 3rd parties are abandoning it, etc. WITHOUT ANY ACTUAL PROOF.  Yes we have yet to hear of new software for the system, and yes, it's frustrating not knowing what or WHEN such titles will come out.  But the jumping to conclusions doomsaying is REALLY grating on me.  I expect the sales for the multiports (AC3, NG3, Batman, CoD2) to gradually leg out, and maybe perform better digitally (digital sales) and it's also interesting to know that ZombiU fared the best of the 3rd party games.  And that is a core title, not a casual one.  So... everybody just relax.

So supposedly, the attach rate for retail sales is 1.2. As you point out though, digital sales are not mentioned at all, then there is the fact that a good number of these consoles have probably been bought as Christmas presents so new games probably won't be purchased until after Christmas.

I suspect digital sales boost the attach rate up massively.

Is that sarcasm, or reason?  Not a provoke, just curious.

People like to talk about something and WiiU gives a reason to do so.
Whether it be positive or negative.

Can't wait for the Japan sales ^^

Serious. Digital downloads and streaming is the future. Steam, PSN, Xbox Live, Apple app store, Google Play, Origin etc. have shown this. Then you have the Walking Dead game actually winning game of the year at the VGAs which further shows how digital downloads have hit the mainstream gaming segment. A download only game winning game of the year even last year would have been shocking.

I remember EA reps even mentioned (concerning NPD numbers on ME3 and Battlefield 3 sales I think) how NPD only shows a small part of the picture and that it's actually outdated to only use their retail numbers.

I expect a fair number of these people are people who were angry at the backlash the Vita got shortly after launch, and despite the fact I got one shortly after launch, and loved it, I also fell under this catergory. However, it's fair to say that despite also loving the WiiU (and everyone should get one), if sales do not improve somewhat then expect some more of these threads and articles from me.

BUT, this is the issue. It's literally one week in. That first thread was over 3 months after the Japanese launch, and the second one some 6 weeks later. I just think people are jumping the gun somewhat, and some people taking this too far when sales suggest otherwise. This is what frustrates me, and most others on this site (regardless of their brand loyalty; if they have one).  Just the downright wish and determination for people to take any shread of news, good or bad, rumoured or true, and rip it apart. 

I think that, in this case (as later happened with the Vita it must be said), things are starting to get out of hand. We shall see how things go from here with the Japanese launch, but I don't see things improving, regardless of the WiiU's situation.

...

...but it IS nice to be talking about sales again, as you say, be it positive or not-so-positive.

Well since the WiiU doesn't include a decent sized HDD I doubt that digital games ($60 ones) had any meaningful sales so far.
I know you can hook up every external HDD you can find, but no one is going to buy one at launch if he could just buy another game for it instead.

Furthermore many console games are being sold in stores first and come to digital shops a few months later.


We also haven't seen any reports about how $60 games are doing on PSN or Games on Demand (XBL). Therefore it's incredibly hard to tell. They must sell something but they're surely only account for 1/10 (likely lower) of retail sales.

(1) People usually analyse facts. FACT : to date, no major multiplatform game is coming to WiiU.

(2) Why should the WiiU audience for those games act differently from the PS360 audience? (i.e. strong launch, then decrease)

(3) ZombiU sold all of its units from bundles in Europe. It is not performing better than the rest of the core titles. Nintendo games are already choking the 3rd parties' business.

I expect the Japanese launch to go very smoothly, because they have a killer app there that will capture the JRPG audience:  Monster Hunter 3.  Having that at launch will definitely give it sales.  If anything, I expect the Japanese third parties to be on board with the system more so than the Western ones.  (The lack of Dark Souls 2 doesn't worry me; there's still time to get it on there.)