To be more fair I think VGchartz and NPD have significantly undertracked MP3, and a lot of other Wii software. Neither has access to major mainstream retailers where I think most of these purchases are made. Families with 11-15 gamers and the casual audience probably buy from mainstream retailers like Wal Mart, Target, Sears (Depending on the region), etc.

No offense to either tracking organization :)

@fkusumot: the funny thing is you're probably right. They put less into development and have to get the word out to a larger but less savvy audience. Fun stuff.

Nintendo never markets its games that much, I have yet to see a Metroid Prime three or a Fire Emblem commercial

"Somewhere beyond the sea,
Somewhere, waiting for me,
My lover stands on golden sands
And watches the ships that go sailing"

Interesting soundtrack, but I liked the comercial... 

Here in Canada Nintendo has done a pretty good job in the past. Nintendo doesn't advertise individual games they always advertise the system in the system ads about 5-10 seconds is given to each game.

Many of the GameCubes commercials consisted of about 3-games each. These ads swamped television screens. But now all their is a couple WiiSports and WiiPlay and MarioParty ads I have only seen MetroidPrime3 advertised once. But back during the GameCube I saw dozens of MetroidPrime2 commercials as well as BattalionWars commercials.

I feel that Nintendo has lowered their game for the Wii. They advertised so heavily for the DS. They continue to advertise heavier for the DS then they do Wii for every 15 or so DS ads I see about one Wii ad.

Honestly I can see some of the reasons (Lack of quality software to advertise) but the Wii needs to be given another boost. Otherwise while hardware may sell software will not (Other then Galaxy)!

I'd agree BWII was never properly advertised. But it will still probably sell ok in its opening week, as I think the hardcore fanbase will defo go after that. But it's always about sales after the first week, that marketing really affects. BWII will probably not have strong weeks after unless we are missing something.

They do need to market there games more but come on. MS can throw 100's of millions of dollars right on the ground for marketing one game and not have any worries about it cause they are such a corporate giant. Sony and Nintendo don't have that same kind of luxury.

Nintendo needs to do a better job but they can't do what MS does, as they jsut don't have the backing support like they do.

 Sony doesn't??

Thats the first time I've heard anybody say Sony couldn't afford something. Fact is Sony is the worlds largest monopoly. protected by Japanese laws where it is not illegal to monopolize. In Japan Sony owns over 70 subsiduaries including power companies, cosmetic companies , cell phones ,food companies even toilet companies. Sony owns a couple different film publishers and studios. Three of the biggest music companies in North America as well as up untill now a very very profitable games division.

Microsoft may have the richest head but Sony has almost as much clout. That being said over the last few years Sony has been seeing a downfall in its many divisions. The games division has been hit the hardest over the last year but the I-Pod is killing the Walkman and their film division is also incuring many small losses. After Sony took over MGM they suffered a couple million in losses absorbing its debt.

Nintendo on the other hand has almost as much if not more money in the bank. Sony's wealth is entirely in its properties everything it makes is poured into growth. Sony makes 98% they invest in developing another product and the remaining 2% might be saved. Fact is Sony never stops growing constantly invading new industries and further monopolizing the world while Nintendo saves a crap load for a rainy day.

 So which company will last longer?, if things start going south in Sony's other divisions say Columbia records starts going in the Red and Sony's film divisions fail to turn a profit then it could be the end for Sony. Sony relies on its stronger divisions to fund the ventures where they are loosing money. Up untill now it has been largely their software , film and music divisions funding their other ventures. however increasingly their entertainment divisions are taking losses relying on Sony's lesser known ventures for cash!