Analysis
Points are generally up month over month, as we have exceeded 1,000 points for the first time since I took over this feature. Platforms that have seen major gains include the Wii U especially, but also the 360, PS3, and PC. The losers of the month were the 3DS, Wii, and iOS.
PS3
The PS3's biggest point earner continued to be the exclusive The Last of Us, even after a moderate drop from last month. In addition to this 66 point behemoth, the PS3 also had six games in the 20-30 point range: Grand Theft Auto V, God of War: Ascension, PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Assassin's Creed 3, and Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Of particular note is Lightning Returns, the strongest new title to debut in the charts this month. Despite the common complaints about FF13, it appears VGChartz members are eager to see the series continue. Also worth noting is that exactly half of these six games are exclusives.
The picture looks bright for the PS3 except for one problem: a lot of the games mentioned are not coming out until 2013 or later. The Last of Us is the most obvious example, but only two of the six titles are holiday releases, and only one of them, PSASBR, is an exclusive. On the bright side, this means that the PS3 will likely continue to dominate these charts after the holidays are over.
Wii U
The Wii U had its best month ever on this feature, with over 170 points, even discounting the Wii's pitiful showing. The most powerful title was obviously New Super Mario Bros. U, the second strongest exclusive title this month in general. However, even discounting this major game, the Wii U had a fair number of other titles to score well. Pikmin 3, ZombiU, and Assassin's Creed 3 all scored in the mid-20's, while Epic Mickey's Wii votes were all adjusted to the Wii U, making it another notable title with 13 points.
The Wii U has another month to build up momentum before launch. So far, a great launch seems likely, given that its lead title and chief 3rd party support are all coming out at that time. However, the Wii U is weak when it comes to games coming out in 2013 and beyond. Pikmin 3 is the obvious exception, but no other notable games exist or have enough information available to lure votes. Bayonetta 2, despite the attached hubbub, only received two points.
3DS
This is a notable month for the 3DS; possibly the last DS game to ever be featured here, Pokemon Black/White 2 (40 points), is coming out. That title alone compensated for an unremarkable month for the system. In the future, the 3DS will have to handle the weight of the Nintendo handheld legacy alone.
On the 3DS side of things, Paper Mario: Sticker Star was the highest scoring RPG of the month with 45 points. Fire Emblem Awakening, a title now confirmed for 2013, scored 31 points. Together, these games account for nearly half of 3DS points. Other notable games for the 3DS include Bravely Default, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, and Monster Hunter 3/4.
The 3DS has an obvious problem: too many eggs in too few baskets. Although the system is not lacking points, only one of the above mentioned titles above is coming out in 2012, suggesting a weak holiday season. Fortunately, 2013 looks strong, with Fire Emblem already a major power and other games in position to become powers.
360
The 360 had a better month than usual, with over 100 points. The dominant game was Halo 4, with nearly a third of the points. Other notable games include the multiplat titles GTA5 and Bioshock Infinite. The lack of 360 fans who vote, however, remains obvious.
PC
As usual, the PC was dominated by a wide variety of titles rather than one behemoth. Dishonored, the strongest PC game, was only in 15th place, behind seven PS3 games. That said, a total of 25 games still charted, making the PC the second most diverse system, after the PS3. The strongest exclusive was Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm.
Vita
The Vita its best month on record, with over 60 points not counting the PSP. Tearaway, Persona 4, and Soul Sacrifice all got over 10 points. However, the system still has less than half as many points as its direct competitior, the 3DS. Furthermore, key titles such as the handheld Assassin's Creed and Call of Duty games either did poorly or simply did not appear at all.
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