Mario and Sonic will sell 4 million - Sega

[shams]

I still think you all miss the point. Remember its the sales at the start of 2009 that matter - not sales over this holiday period.

Some approx figures:

2007 holiday season:

 - DS: Europe 200k, Japan 200k, US 200k (600k)

 - Wii: Japan 400k, US 500k, Europe 300k (1.2m)

2008 (pre Olympics - Jan .. June):

 - DS: Europe 200k, Japan 200k, US 200k (600k)

 - Wii: Japan 200k, US 250k, Europe 150k (600k)

2008 (pre/during/post Olympics):

 - DS: Europe 400k, Japan 400k, US 400k (1.2m)

 - Wii: Japan 500k, US 600k, Europe 400k (1.5m)

2008 holiday season:

 - DS: Europe 150k, Japan 100k, US 150k (400k)

 - Wii: Japan 100k, US 150k, Europe 100k (400k)

 

Grand total:

 - DS: 3m

 - Wii: 3.7m

Total: 6.7m (to start of '09)

...

This is sort of what Sega will be hoping for. Whether it gets close to this - I have no idea. Also remember that sales/shipments have to be shared with Nintendo, and that this will involve a long and expensive advertising campaign. And try to imagine how much the Olympics license would have cost. 

(and for reference - Mario Party 8 has sold 2.3m to date. The holidays haven't  started. It doesn't have the Olympics license. Its on the Wii only. It doesn't have Sonic or friends in it. And its a flawed game. It is really that unreasonable to think that Mario&Sonic will sell 4m - lifetime?)