Some thoughts on Wii Game sales

[mike_intellivision]

Some quick thoughts

1. The only game on the list that I don't have is Red Steel. Should I buy it?

1a. Hopefully Red Steel 2 will not fall into the trap of worse sequels.

1b. Is Rayman Raving Rabids 2 really worse or just got a lower score for "more of the same?" (Sequel disease).

2. There are some stores marking Link's Crossbow up to $25. I fell for that (Target -- thinking it would be supply constrained, I went out the night before Thanksgiving in the US to buy one. I returned it after finding a $20 unit at Wal-Mart two days later.

2a. There have been some supply issues with the Link's Crossbow as the local Gamestop sold out before Thanksgiving. That might have impacted sales.

2b. Shelf space for such a big item has probably limited display and stock during the holiday shopping season.

2c. Nintendo has not pushed this product -- that I have seen. They can be faulted for that.

3. Mario & Sonic should get a second boost before and during the Beijing Olympic games (I am old enough to remember when this was Peking).

4. Nintendo cannot be faulted for not pushing third-party games. In other words, it is under no obligation to advertise Zack & Wiki.

5. Cooking Mama – third-party game still at $50 – has sold 500K units. So it can be done. Trauma Center also sold 500K units, but it got a late-life price drop.

6. Dragon Quest Swords is just short of 500K – and has only released in Japan. That’s the next third-party million seller as soon as it hits EU and NA.

6a. Speaking of which, does anyone know definitely when it is coming out in the US? I must have that game (though I need to finish DQ8 first).

Mike from Morgantown