Activision may follow Electronic Arts lead (Wii U)

[Dodece]

@hsrob

I would not think it was a matter of expecting miracles. Just a matter of the reality matching realistic expectations on the part of publisher. When a publisher puts out a critically acclaimed title, or one that has a reputation for fairly high sales. They expect even a new platform to mirror that. Obviously it cannot mirror the volume on more established platforms, but they probably expect a roughly similar attach ratio, or actually a greater one given the lack of serious competition.

For Activision a three percent attach ratio for Skylanders, or a six percent attach ratio on Call of Duty. Probably would not have been in their minds when they produced the titles for the platform. They might expect such sales from their properties that were less recognized, or less profitable, but probably not for what would qualify as major franchises. Especially when Call of Duty is the sixth best performing title on the platform.

I honestly think that Activision would have expected to have hit the mark with at least one of those titles. Enough so to at the very least score a ten percent attach ratio, and it probably would be reasonable during any other launch. Except that Nintendo ate up well over half of the software sales. That of coarse brings to light the elephant in the room. The basic it is impossible to beat Nintendo on its console, and it is even foolish to actually try.

Which the numbers are actually bearing out for us. Activision on its very best game is seeing a attach ratio of about a tenth of what Nintendo is seeing with New Super Mario Bros. It wasn't the case being made in the original post, but it is really part of the problem, and should be pointed out. How do you think a good game that isn't Nintendos should perform on the Wii U?