I agree, I actually don't think content ratings (at least in the US) actually have much of an effect on sales because they really don't do a good job of reflecting the amount of objectionable content. Think about this, both Manhunt and Halo are rated M for Mature. Seriously, they both have the same age rating. A game with minor swearing, nothing sexual, and a level of violence I would place only slightly above your average Star Wars movie has the same age rating as a another game about a convicted serial killer whose forced to help a psychopath make his own personal snuff films by murdering neo-nazis and sadists.

And for people trying to blaming this on the Wii, what system would this have sold better on?

Madworld is a black and white ultra-violent immature fuck fest made by people who use to be Clover, a studio whose unique games almost always sold poorly, even on the PS2. It’s incredibly short, even by modern standards, lack replay value, and only had a modest advertising campaign.

I know the HD consoles have a big install base for action games, but be reasonable here. It would also probably be $10 more and lack the Wii Remote controls on the HD twins, so how much better would really sell?

It is becasue Sega hasn't publishing/distribute the game as it should be.

 I have to disagree with this.  I thought Sega spent a ton of marketing dollars on this game with TV ads, viral web videos, all kinds of cool images (like my pic) and tons of hype.   I can't convince what more you'd have wanted for this game.

I agree, but I don't agree with the $30 price point thing.  I love "M" games.  Gruesome justice for bad guys/monsters of all forms is right up my alley.  I own dozens of these kinds of games -- no joke.  I will never buy MadWorld -- even I see it as senseless ultraviolence coupled with ridiculous swearing, and that just doesn't interest me.  I wouldn't buy it on the PS360 at $10, and I bought the recent Golden Axe at $30, and enjoyed it too.  I *might* buy MadWorld at $5 -- maybe.

You could claim this is anecdotal, and it of course is, but I think there's no justification for believing MadWorld will have legs at all.  Its a flop because of its presentation, to what would be it normal demographics, and because it doesn't try to appeal to anyone else either.

I only point this out because it will actually be interesting to see if MadWorld does have legs, and it would be pointless to discuss it after the "results are in", really.  I think you have to have general audience appeal to have legs.  MadWorld will be an extreme example of sales front-loading, just like its an extreme example of the action genre -- and those two concepts, I believe, are quite closely tied.  It will be fascinating to see the next few weeks, however.

I saw it marked for clearance @ $54 Canadian in the local Walmart. Can anyone confirm if this chain wide?

It launched at $55 Cdn.  $54 sounds like typical Walmart pricing not a clearance.

It's cheaper than that at Amazon.ca

Yup, and this one came right on schedule. Expect the next one in 3-4 days.

Total agreement.

Madworld will continue to sell for quite some time, as word of mouth spreads. Much like CoD5. I think it will outsell No More Heroes, and that game is getting a sequel. (Thank the gods.)

I'd be pretty amazed if MadWorld worked better than No More Heroes, seriously, which imho is bigger