Touch Generations sell 3.5M units, old people got game
by Blake Snow 
{ Oct 12th 2006 at 8:00PM }
From what was once just a rebranding of previous DS games for an older demographic, Nintendo announced yesterday that their Touch Generations series of "pick up and play" DS games has sold close to 3.5 million titles in the US, 63% of which are copies of Nintendogs. It appears that Nintendo is counting numbers since the release of the puppy simulator last October, however, rather than when the rebranding effort took place back in May of this year.We're guessing an additional 33% of the 3.5M units stem from strong Brain Age and Big Brain Academy sales which are also considered Touch Generations titles. So basically, an estimated 2-3 games are driving a majority of the nine title series market share. That said, does this mean the franchise is doing its job in bringing non-gamers into the portable fold?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mykie @ Oct 12th 2006 8:19PM
Maybe if they would sell Electroplankton in stores, rather than at the Nintendo store or online exclusively, they could add a few more sales to that number.
Paul Gale @ Oct 15th 2006 11:49PM
As a whole, the Touch Generation games have done a great job in establishing Nintendo's newfound philosophy for getting more people involved with videogames; even if the majority of the sales come from just a few titles.
Paul Gale
1up.com
rockintom99 @ Oct 12th 2006 8:31PM
What I dont get is why they rebranded Tetris DS as a TG game. I mean, there was only one mode that was touchscreen, and from what I have heard, it wasn't very good. Oh well.
MetaHuman @ Oct 12th 2006 8:45PM
While TOUCH is in the name, it accomplishes the same idea and goal all the same, in getting non-gamers interested in games. After all, the behemoth that is Nintendo's portable market was launched by Tetris. It belongs there.
Also, note that the 'G' Touch generations logo implies touch technology, the Japanese 'Touch!' logo implies that the product is for created with all ages in mind.
Tetris DS ROCKS, anyways.
The ZeroCorpse @ Oct 12th 2006 8:48PM
Now that Clubhouse Games is out, expect these numbers to skyrocket. I just picked it up, and CG is one of the very best DS titles out there. GET IT.
Babylonian @ Oct 12th 2006 8:54PM
Next week, Best Buy is having a "Five dollars off all Touch Generation games" sale. I'm totally down for some 20dollar Clubhouse Games after GGC.
metayoshi @ Oct 12th 2006 9:03PM
The touch generation games sold a lot of software, that's for sure... The touch generations sold to the senior citizens, women, girls, and anything stereotypically "non-gamer"... no proof of that.
I'm just saying... you never know, all of those games could have sold to an overwhelming amount of Nintendo fans. I'm NOT saying that the games didn't sell to non-gamers... I'm saying there's no proof that they did.
Ryuukuro @ Oct 12th 2006 9:34PM
metayoshi, we're thinking the same things. I wish someone would do a survey of Touch Generations games buyers to see what demographics they're pidgeon-holed into. (Did I say pidgeon-holed?)
I have the feeling that Nintendo isn't capturing "casual" gamers so much as they are capturing disgruntled gamers.
And, that said, I don't know if I want to pay 20 bucks for games I can theoretically download for free unless they're really, really, REALLY good.
K @ Oct 12th 2006 9:34PM
To #1, Electroplankton has been available in stores for quite some time now. I purchased a new copy from GameStop a few months ago, when the employee coincidentally mentioned Nintendo finally allowing the sale of the game in stores.
I seriously hate my Nintendo DS @ Oct 12th 2006 9:55PM
"I don't know if I want to pay 20 bucks for games I can theoretically download for free unless they're really, really, REALLY good."
I agree. Much of the DS library is filled with titles that are as vast as an interactive "catch the monkey" banner ad. The system is bunk and I highly doubt these "non-gamers" nintendo fantasizes about are at all titillated by the junk. Their philosophy for Wii-rld domination is on thin ice. Once the drones wake up to the gimick ridden shovelware they're being fed, Nintendo is dead. Maybe if Nintendo could put blinders on their users...
El Hajjish @ Oct 12th 2006 10:05PM
"Shovelware" or not, the DS is the fastest selling system worldwide at the moment, so lots of people disagree with the notion that the DS library is filled with garbage.
Myself, I'd go for "gimmicky" games that are at least trying new ideas over rehashed WWII games any day.
Veg @ Oct 12th 2006 10:24PM
You gotta love the FUD on this site. Fanboys do have the strangest ways of satisfying themselves.
Leo @ Oct 12th 2006 11:35PM
#10 is right; DS sales are making Nintendo very happy right now. And I don't think it's fair to a lot of the DS content to banner ads. The value of the games that I've played is far beyond that. Anyone who really owns a DS, can download a brief demo of Elite Beat Agents at a Download Station and see how much fun the "gimmicky" system can be. That, and tons of other great DS games like Advance Wars that are deep and addicting.
The H @ Oct 13th 2006 12:30AM
October? Didn't Nintendogs come out in August?
Adv2k1 @ Oct 13th 2006 3:08AM
9. THe gimmick system is the PSP. So you can play "PS2 calibur graphics on a handheld" so what. So what I say. SO FUCKEN WHAT! Vast majority of PSP games are watered down PS2 games that control WORSE. The gimmick that its a "multiuse" system when movie support is all but dead, and calling it an mp3 player is a joke when you can buy 10x bigger space with smaller device to play music.
The biggest gimmick in gaming is that people buy a PSP because it looks pretty. It's a cheap tactic, and that will also fail with PS3 when that doens't have quality titles behind it. Sony's gimmick is that its fooling masses of people with shiny graphics. Solid gameplay be damned shiny graphics is all that matter, now Sir that is the biggest gimmick of all.
gamerx @ Oct 13th 2006 4:40AM
Clubhouse Games totally rocks! you guys check it out! the more people on Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, the more to enjoy chess online :P
JRM @ Oct 13th 2006 8:23AM
I also have "True Swing Golf", so at least one copy of that 'Touch Generation' game sold.
:)
birdman @ Oct 13th 2006 9:17AM
Brain age and Big Brain Academy we're exciting titles. By no means do I believe it made my adrenaline running but instead they presented a healthy challenge and harden my brain by that much. I would recommend either game, Big Brain Academy more importantly and that is all I can say about Touch Generations.
"Those damn kids and their video-games!!!"
Abe @ Oct 13th 2006 9:47AM
I also agree on the fun-factor of Clubhouse Games. It's nearly impossible to find people to play online though. So everyone needs to go buy this game so I can actually play more than the 2 people I've only seen online so far.
boywundr @ Oct 13th 2006 12:46PM
I can stand up and say from personal experience that the DS and it's Touch Generation has crossed the bounderies in to the non-gamer realm. My father and his girlfriend, both above the age of 65, have a DS (thanks to me playing in front of them AND the AARP article Nintendo had!) with a copy of Brain Age. My father-in-law also has one with Brain Age. They play frequently and think it's a blast. My father-in-law is a Sudoku addict and plays daily (online or DS). My dad wants Clubhouse Games ASAP because he is a solitaire addict (plays a lot on his laptop) and wants something a bit easier and portable to play when he travels and stays in hotels. The point is, my dad has dealt with my video game obsession for my entire life and never once wanted to or asked to play a game of mine... until the DS.
Gimmicky or not, he has fun with his DS, his girlfriend has fun with her DS, my father-in-law has fun with his DS, I have fun with my DS and millions of others have fun playing with their DS.