Posted the daily update, this time just updated the numbers, with this week's sales. And since it now seems I'm just talking to myself (even though the thread got over 200 views yesterday), I added another poll to the original post to try to find out how to get people to comment (or find out if it is worth continuing to update this thread).

   Okay, I know I just made the previous comment a couple hours ago, as well as added the poll about how to get more involvement (which I've left up for now).  Now I have decided maybe it was because with how big the chart is, it is hard to know what to talk about.  So the first two posts are now separated.  The first post is conversation starters, things that I think might spark some interest, and makes the numbers easier to relate to. The second post now contains all the data, for individual games if your interested.  Of course you are still welcome to talk about any of the data, not just the thing's I've put in the first post.  I've also added a game of the day, to the top. Where I will single out a game from the chart, paste the sales date for it, and hopefully start a conversation about why the games sales have changed the way they have.  So to start it off here is the first game of the day.

Game of the Day

(Highlighting a game to talk about the change in sales)

8/21

Forza 2

Description: For the first game of the day, I thought it would only make since for it to be the game at the top of the biggest gainers list. Forza 2 has almost quadrupled the sales of it's predecessor.  Why do you think that is?

My opinion, I'm not really that familiar with the Forza franchise.  I know that Forza 2 was bundled for awhile, but I certainly don't think all of it's increase in sales can be contributed to that. The game got good reviews and good world of mouth, and did a great job growing the franchise.  If Forza 3 is able to see maybe a similar increase in sales, like Halo 2 saw over Halo 1 on the Xbox, it could be the next 360 5 million + franchise, and maybe really take away from some of GT5's thunder.  Your thoughts?

Very cool, I like the new format (again). I'm not sure why you are having a hard time getting people to participate in this thread, hopefully your game of the day idea will help with that.

On that topic, I think Forza 2's sales were certainly greatly helped by the bundle with the game. Still I think it wasn't bundled until after it had passed Forza's sells, and maybe was getting close to 2 million. It seems like there is starting to be a lot of hype for the game, so I think that if GT 5 does not release until next year,that your right it could take away from GT 5's steam. I think some people might be impatient to play a great racing sim, and instead of waiting for GT 5 they will go ahead and pick up Forza 3, and by the time GT 5 comes out, they won't feel the need to pick that game up as well. Although of GT 5 will still sell very well.

@Lester

Thanks, I'm hoping it will help too, but so far not much luck.

The Forza 3-GT 5 fight could be very interesting. Obviously I think GT 5 will be bigger, but that Forza 3 might be able to make it a little closer than a lot of people would guess.

I think Forza 2 is a difficult one. Its unfortunate that Vgchartz does not seperate the bundles from the unbundled games.

This generation shows a trend, especially with the HD consoles of increasing sales for franchises between generations. I don't think this has anything to do with a change in userbases, but more to do with fewer big releases being made and the resultant higher proportion of sales these titles have. With less competition from big titles, the titles which do release tend to do better than you would expect. I don't think this is important for the titles like GTA IV, but more important for titles which aren't released every year in the 750k -> 1.5M bracket.

@ Squilliam, It would be nice if they separated bundled sales in some way. I don't remember was Forza 2, bundled with all 360 models for awhile or just one?

That's an interesting theory, and your right it does seem like most franchises are increasing in sales this gen, which I've been surprised about. I'm not sure about about userbases not having anything to do with sales, the PS3 software sales are the only ones down (with the others all up over 50%),with 7 games for each platform, but I do think userbase has less impact than many people think. As for less big releases, obviously that would be a hard and time consuming thing to prove either way. But I feel the 360 is getting more big releases than the Xbox, and that Wii is getting more than the GC. The PS3 might be getting less than the PS2 (certainly less exclusives). That said for the specific example of Forza 2, that did release before the other big 360 games, so that probably did contribute to the increase in sales.

@09tarheel

forza 2 was bundled with all 360's along with marvel & capcom in the holidays

so its overall retail sales are very very inaccurate, some people have claimed it was at around 2 million before bundling began

it safe to say it atleast doubled sales from forza 1

@AkibaFan

Thanks.

I was thinking it was only included in one model, so that only part of those last 2 million sales were from bundles. Above, I speculated that Forza 3 would continue the franchises growth, and maybe break 5 million. But now I think unless Forza 3 is heavily bundled as well, it will probably get 3-4 mil lifetime sales.

@09tarheel

either way forza is a franchise more popular this generation

 While it wasn't the huge hit I hoped it to be, yesterday's game of the day got a few comments out of people, so I'll try sticking with this format for awhile and see if can't attract some more posters.  Today's game of the day has already been talked about a little in this thread, but hopefully we can get some new comments now (still free to talk about yesterday's game as well).

Game of the Day

(Highlighting a game to talk about the change in sales)

8/22

Metal Gear Solid 4

 Description: Metal Gear Solid 4 is the PS3's biggest selling exclusive, and will likely remain that way until the release of GT 5. The game only saw a ~12% decline from the franchise last gen, impressivie considering the huge decrease in userbase.  Did MGS4 sell that well because of a devoted fanbase and high critic reviews, or because of the lack of other compelling software and system bundles? Does the success of MGS4 foreshadow the success of upcoming PS3 exclusives like GT5, God of War 3, FFXIII (Japan), or was it a fluke? What do you think?

  My take: I think that the Metal Gear Solid franchise does have an extremely devoted fanbase, that is willing to follow the game to another console. The PS3 certainly saw a big spike in sales when the game was released, obviously from fans of the games on the PS2 moving on to the PS3.  As far as predicting the sales of upcoming PS3 exclusives, I think it is a good sign for God of War III which is a smaller franchise than MGS, but it is hard to say for GT 5 and FF XIII (Japan), which are both much bigger releases than MGS4.