Like what variables?

Why isnt MK8 higher in sales than DKC Returns? Answer tht.

Are you telling me that this game depends on the userbase and was never going to move consoles in the first place, a fact you have always denied since the first time I stated?

Having a 1/6th drop doesn't make something a failure though, there's more variables to it.

Yes there are; the fact that Tropical Freeze likely had a budget that was quite a bit bigger, makes it even worse. And the fact that the installed base is this much lower just shows us that these titles haven't been up to the task of selling consoles, which is not a plus either.

There is a synergy effect in lower hardware sales and lower software sales but they both show a downward curve and it really can't be spun into anything positive regardless.

I remember how much flak I caught when I suggested that Tropical Freeze would sell less than 2-3 million, even going so far as suggesting it will sell somewhere in the 1.5-1.6 million region, such a thing was simply unfathomable to the seeming majority on the board and that shows that the expectation was that it would perform better, not to mention the tiny hardware bump it provided in a time when nothing else was releasing.

Super Mario Galaxy sold about 11.2 million on the Wii and Super Mario 3D World has sold 3.1 million on the Wii U on one tenth the installed base, installed base is not everything and under the right conditions, software can fly in the face of expected attach rates and sales projections, Galaxy was also the highest rated game, along with its sequel, in the entire 7th generation.

PS: Super Mario Galaxy 2 sold significantly less than the first one, despite releasing three years later on a vastly bigger installed base and receiving the same crazy reviews, which just shows Aquamarine's point; by 2010, the core fanbase of the Wii was clearly not as invested in purchasing software, the discrepancy when factoring installed base is enormous when viewed in context.

MK8 is higher than SSBB. What are you talking about? And I like to remember you how you were bragging about the high attach rate of the game, plus it moved consoles since release, something DK didn't do.

On top of that, that doesn't explain how SM64 sold almost the same as SMG with a third of the userbase.

I thought you have already understood.

Yes there are; the fact that Tropical Freeze likely had a budget that was quite a bit bigger, makes it even worse. And the fact that the installed base is this much lower just shows us that these titles haven't been up to the task of selling consoles, which is not a plus either.

⇒Never said it didn't make it worse, that said its not the fact of DK selling the console (or some other SW), rather other variables such as the WiiU being too expensive/By far the Worst Third Party Nintendo HC/HH/etc

There is a synergy effect in lower hardware sales and lower software sales but they both show a downward curve and it really can't be spun into anything positive regardless.

⇒ Not trying to exactly spin it into positive, more like saying it isnt as bad as some make it out to be. Look at MKWii to MK8 for example.

I remember how much flak I caught when I suggested that Tropical Freeze would sell less than 2-3 million, even going so far as suggesting it will sell somewhere in the 1.5-1.6 million region, such a thing was simply unfathomable to the seeming majority on the board and that shows that the expectation was that it would perform better, not to mention the tiny hardware bump it provided in a time when nothing else was releasing.

⇒Cant argue there, predictions will be off/on right/wrong. 

Super Mario Galaxy sold about 11.2 million on the Wii and Super Mario 3D World has sold 3.1 million on the Wii U on one tenth the installed base, installed base is not everything and under the right conditions, software can fly in the face of expected attach rates and sales projections, Galaxy was also the highest rated game, along with its sequel, in the entire 7th generation.

⇒SM3DW is over 4mil (SMG is actually 12mil, highest 3D Mario ever)

PS: Super Mario Galaxy 2 sold significantly less than the first one, despite releasing three years later on a vastly bigger installed base and receiving the same crazy reviews, which just shows Aquamarine's point; by 2010, the core fanbase of the Wii was clearly not as invested in purchasing software, the discrepancy when factoring installed base is enormous when viewed in context.

⇒ Usually Sequels go down in sales, i agree for something like LoZ SS, but SMG2 had SMG affecting its sales, if you notice SMG was still selling after 2010. An extra 2-3mil actually.

What are the games (in a mainline series) that had considerable drop in sales? I was looking at google. Interestingly none came up. Then I think I will take the help of VGC to make a list.

Can you help me out? Currently one game series comes in mind. Its mario kart 8. Despite being releasing in a small userbase sales of mariokart 8 is astronishing. But it doesnt help to avoid the fact it had the biggest drop in sales wise.

Mario kart Wii - 35.18 million to Mario kart 8 - 4.43 million.

Wii Sports and Wii Sports Club - 82.43 million to 0.19 million.

Pretty shocking number is we compare side by side. So what other game series have the biggest drop in sales?

Source: http://www.vgchartz.com/game/6968/mario-kart-wii/

Source: http://www.vgchartz.com/game/71408/mario-kart-8/