Note: I would really like to get some more community involvement in the "Sales of the Day" threads and articles. So please vote in the polls, comment, and if you have any links to any relevant information about the games sales (things like a link to marketing budget, or a video of an advertisment that was representitive of how the game was marketed, etc.) I will include you in a thank you section at the bottom of the article when it is posted. Thanks!

Game of the Day

Article will be posted 10/1

Mortal Kombat II

Description: Mortal Kombat II released on the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo in 1994, and was well known by the general audience for the extreme violence featured in the game, including the "fatalities" finishing moves. Despite the controversy (or perhaps because of it) the combined platform sells for the game totaled nearly 4.5 million copies. So why do you think that is, was it because of the controversy from the degree of violence, was it because it was a good game or something else? Vote in the polls in the second post and then leave a comment letting us know what you think.

Previous Retro Sales threads

Sonic the Hedgehog (9/20)

Final Fantasy VII (9/15)

Super Mario Bros. (9/14)

Polls have been taken down as the follow up article has been posted. Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread!

Wow looks like Japan really loves Mortal Combat 2.

It HAD to be because of the violence. It was the only really notable thing about the game.

I mean, it was hard too, but even that seemed tied into the violence.

Well MK 1 was violent so i dont think it was that.

It was just a really good game to be honest. I loved it lots and lots. Saying that i might just go ahead and play in in a minute. Uncharted 2 be dambed

Kombat .. lol not combat .. why do people make this blatant mistake .. -_-

Mortal Kombat II improved everything from the original: better graphics, more characters, more varied gameplay, better controls, more secrets, more levels...just about everything you'd want in a fighting game sequel, although the lack of Kano and Sonia was a little annoying to fans of those characters. The game was highly successful in the arcade. Teenagers were attracted by the gore (those rebels!).

All those things certainly helped the game to be successful. A successful marketing campaign drummed up further interest in the home versions. MKII became known even outside of gaming circles due to its violence attracting attention from politicians and the cool factor of the fatalities (and hidden characters).

This game's sales are interesting especially when comparing Genesis and SNES. The SNES version has much better graphics and better controls, not to mention better music, mostly due to the SNES' superior technical abilities in these areas. However, we see the Genesis version sold better. Why is this?

Two factors:
(1) the Genesis audience was more into this kind of game compared to SNES owners;
and (2) the original Mortal Kombat on SNES was stripped of the gore (gray/beige "sweat" was put in its place), thus leading the Genesis version of that game to be far more successful...MK fans who probably had a Genesis for that reason alone were sure to get the sequel on Genesis, as well as anyone who knew about the censoring of the original and preferred the gore intact, even though Nintendo wised up the second time around and allowed the blood.

AFAIK, isnt it a commonly known fact that MKII sold better on the SNES because it put back the violence?

Nice post, elprincipe.
I don't like doing it, but because there are only 10 votes in the poll currently, I added the option in the sales poll of "sold well based on the existing popularity of the franchise", because it seems like an obvious omission (not saying that is what I personally think is the reason).

So does anybody else have any opinions? I need a lot more votes and comments before I write the article tomorrow.

good old mortal kombat series. The very reason we have the rating system.
*rips out someones spine* flawless victory.