mrstickball said:
Wrong. No console in history has ever proved it. The Playstation 2 (highest selling system of all time) has had a global attatch ratio of over 10 software units to 1 hardware unit. The Gamecube didn't even reach that. If anything, it's the inverse: A console that leads usually has the better attach ratio since software titles are more abundant, and as the system has a longer lifespan, it gets a better attach ratio, since users still have a reason to play on the old system. Even the DS is breaking away from the standard handheld mold thanks to the overwhelming support the console has received. Normally, handhelds move a mere 5.0 software units when they are lucky. According to Nintendo (and someone can correct me on this if I'm wrong), the DS has already moved 500,000,000+ units of software on 80,000,000 Nintendo DSes - which would be above a 6.0 attach ratio. |
In the long run... yes the console usually with the most hardware sold will also have the most software. Why? Well because it's simply out longer. But the reasons are the same. The consoles that sell the least early on will obviously die out quicker while still having more software sold. While the hardware increases of the best selling one will make it's attach ratios look less. So in the short term usually its the one that sales the least. I think 360 in Japan is a great example. Little hardware but every now and then some decent software making it seem as if it has great ratios.
However for the exact same reasoning in the long term it becomes the one who has the most hardware sold is going to last longer USUALLY. Meaning hardware will naturally start to slow over time but the users will still be buying software for it. Meaning attach ratios will grow. Thus we see another great example with the PS2 this time.
But he's partially right and would be fully right if PS2 died at the same time. But attach ratios are always going to be in favor of the console selling the LEAST hardware and enough software to make it count. This is why PS3 and 360 attach ratios I'd expect to be much higher than Wii because it's almost impossible for as much software Wii sales to ever affect its tie ratio that much because it sales just as much hardware.
However attach ratios mean little to nothing in my book as I see them as a way of nitpicking when really its the amount of sales that matter. Which is why comparing PS2 software to GC and Xbox is just hilarious.
Now this guy has single handedly picked out an odd week for software especially in the UK and Japan where usually Wii dominates the top 40 and 20 respectively. Now why does it seem 360 and PS3 can have such big software sellers despite userbase? Well it goes back to most of our users ignorance to what userbase means. Userbase is a feasible limit on how long a title can sell well... not a limit on how well it can open and sell in the early weeks. Which is why the PS3 and 360 versions of GTAIV can open in similar ways to GTA: San Andreas but NEVER replicate sales after that. Userbase limits it. It's why Super Smash Bros Melee could sell 7 million on the GC on a 20 million userbase but never replicate what Brawl will do an go higher with legs to probably 10 million plus.
Userbase never works by percentage but it works as limits. It limits how long a title can sell well as you run out of "potential" buyers. But it does not limit how well that title can open as compared to one on a platform with similar userbase. Well, let me rephrase that, it does as its doubtful it'll have a 50% sell through, but because most games hardly open to something larger than 4 million first week and most consoles have sold 10 million at least, then it's hardly worth noting.
Now hopefully with taht out of the way which many seem to be ignorant too what userbase means, why don't Wii games open like PS3 or 360 games. Well they do, but only the ones with the huge brand and mainstream, just like the PS360 ones. Unfortunately most of those have been Ninty games which is why SMG, Zelda: TP, Wii Fit, SSBB, and MK Wii own the the first week launches. Wii just hasn't got as many of those kinds of games that appeal to a wide majority of early buyers, or your core crowd. Wii needs a title that will get that kind of hype and appeal to do this. Now it'll eventually add a few 3rd party titles such as The Conduit and Monster Hunter 3 but it just doesn't get them as often as PS360 does. Instead it's titles tend to build off legs while the others build off openers which goes back to our understanding of userbase. As Wii games, ones that especially open weak, have a lot more chances to sustain higher sales over time than its PS360 counterparts. GHIII is a great example.
