Well, I know for goddamn sure that the World Cup is extremely popular in Ecuador (and most likely in ALL of South America) and that's because Ecuador actually ranked very high in the World Cup Semi Finals (or something like that). It's much more important than the Olympics, at least over here.

I am not so sure about 4 million. That would make this just about Sega's best game ever. If that is true, this game better have cost at least 10-15 million to make, have tons of TV ads, and actually be good.

It has to go up against some similar games like Rayman Raving Rabbits 2, Decasporta, Bomberman, and next years Beijing 2008 (most likely on Wii) which will have at least 28 different events, offer lots of competition on the Wii. Beijing 2008 is also coming to pretty much every platform (including the DS) and Mario Party DS is also coming out. Minigames on Wii do not always sell well. Madden 08 had a lot of minigames added to it and it didn't sell well at all.

I think 4 million is a pretty reasonable estimate, I mean it could easily be one of those games which has infinite legs, and if it starts racking up the sales of Wii Sports and Wii Play in Japan, we'll be looking at 2 million in Japan alone.

I reckon this will be the game Nintendo put the most into advertising, as it has that huge cross market appeal, the Wii Sports crowd will want it, gamers of all ages will love it, it has both Christmas to gain sales, and then the Olympics themselves.

I guess I just can't see why it won't sell, the one thing holding it back might be that RRR2 is better then it, but the whole 'casual' type market who go for this sort of thing probably won't even bother checking reviews, they'll get the game with Sonic and Mario.

This game is much more related to Wii sports than it is related to Mario Party. So in terms of sales it will beat Mario Party8 easily. Especially if it will have online and Mii's included! By the time the Olympics are here, Wii will have a userbase of roughly 24 million. It will appeal as much to casuals as hardcores. Add in online mode and it might even compete with Mario Kart Wii.

2.5 million atleast by the end of the year, and double that number by the time the Olympics are actually over. This game will have long legs... the legs of Mario and Sonic combined and longer than Dr. Robotniks legs!

I was about to make fun of Sega for this... but then I realized that I will probably buy both versions. Mario and Sonic together, in a game. It still has impact on me.

 I hope the Mario and Sonic formula works. I was slightly dissapointed that their first joint venture was a sports game. Hope to see a Mario and Sonic adventure someday or Sega vs Nintendo Smash bros kind of game some day and Sonic appearing in Mario Kart! But I fear a sonic and Mario RPG will always remain a dream.

Mario and Sonic are gonna have a tough time because of smash bros and Mario galaxy, but it's attainable. I think if 4 million is their goal they better not be upset if they don't reach it because that is quite optimistic. It will only reach those numbers if it is a really good game and has good word of mouth, which would translate into legs of steel.

Like Shams said, it will have legs through out the olympics. I see this as the most popular Beijing '08 game. 4 millions DS plus Wii is still pushing it though.

5 Million world wide for the Wii

2 Million for the Ds

This may have already been brought out, but wasn't the original Sonic a pack in game? Even if Mario and Sonic Olympics is wildly popular, it would have to get crazy for it to sell 4 million. The game looked fun, but will hardly have the impact the first Sonic had. I say this game is going to do well, but it will have to hustle to break a million.