Change in Sales Game of the Day

(Article to be posted 10/21)

Ratchet and Clank: Future Tools of Destruction

Description: Ratchet and Clank: Future Tools of Destruction has seen solid sales on the PS3 this generation, with the game's current total standing at 1.51 million. However; that is down by ~39% compared to the average of the franchise last generation. So why has the franchise seen such a large decrease in sales? Is it the smaller install base, a decrease in quality or something else? Vote in the poll then leave a comment letting us know what you think.  As always on the "Sales of the Day" series my picks for best reasoned user arguments will be posted in the article.

Update: Poll Taken down now that the article has been posted. Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread.

Today's Game of the Day, was the first game of reader appreciation, where you all get to pick the games we look at.  You can nominate games for the remaining series in this thread.

Previous Change in Sales threads

Need for Speed (article link)

Halo 3 (article link)

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (9/18)  (article link)

I would say it's mainly the decrease in popularity... which didn't start with ToD, every game so far sold less than the one before. There was probably just too little innovation to let the series grow, so even though ToD is a great game, it's not that different from previous iterations. The smaller install base is probably another reason, since it's a game that also many "casual" gamers enjoy - a userbase that the PS3 is still lacking compared to the PS2.

I just think with Modern Warfare, Assassin's Creed and also Uncharted, with the small user base, the game was crowded out, and so the series has failed to establish itself this gen, which is a great shame, and means I expect low sales from aCiT

Nice posts, both Munkeh and Vagabond, well thought out. Does anybody else have an opinion on Ratchet?

80% is lower install base

20% is lower popularity/less advertising

I agree with him.

Well for the first poll, I voted for "Smaller install base compared to last generation." I think that's the major factor that affected the ToD sales.

I wanna see a sales battle between Fallout 3 and Oblivion!

The Wii has captured the market that would have normally bought Ratchet and Clank. The PS3 does not appeal to this type of consumer and that's basically it.. I chose the 'lowered in popularity' in the poll because well, that's generally what lower sales mean.

I would say decrease in install base was the main factor. Ratchet and Clank was one of those series which made people think "Hey, this looks cool, I'll get it for the PS2 I already own!". It's not a huge franchise which would give people reason to own a console, like God of War or Gran Turismo, or like Uncharted will be next gen.

The install base is much smaller when compared to the PS2. And as proof, I feel that the new R&C will outsell tools.