August NPD: Madden and Wii on top, but not together
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Sep 13th 2007 at 8:12PM }
While August yields some noteworthy NPD data in terms of hardware sales, the games populating the top twenty spots in the software chart provide the most interesting commentary. Before we get to that, however, we should gaze at the gargantuan pile of cash that represents the U.S. game industry. GameDaily BIZ reports that total sales climbed to $993 million dollars, a 46% increase over the same month last year, with hardware sales alone reaching $302 million. Nintendo's Wii once again sold the most units, followed by the DS and a now cheaper Xbox 360. Microsoft had best hope the jump in sales extends to more of a protracted hover, as it seems the PS3 has already come down to Earth following its July "clearance sale."
- Nintendo Wii: 403.6K (4 million total)
- Nintendo DS: 383.3K (12.7 million total)
- Microsoft Xbox 360: 276.7K (6.3 million)
- Sony PlayStation 2: 202K (39.1 million total)
- Sony PSP: 151.2K (8.3 million total)
- Sony PlayStation 3: 130.6K (1.75 million total)
EA's 2008 release of Madden absolutely dominated software sales, with the Xbox 360 version falling just over 100,000 units shy of selling one million copies. However, the massively popular franchise fared the worst on the most popular console, with the Wii version of Madden bested by both the PlayStation 3 and original Xbox. This state of affairs must lead to some frustration in the halls of a third-party publisher like EA, so desperate to reach out to the Wii's alluring install base yet unable to grasp it.
Two of August's most anticipated games, BioShock and Metroid Prime 3, made strong debuts, with the former aquatic title shifting nearly half a million units. Similarly, Samus fared well in the final week of August, though it's uncertain if she'll stay in the top ten during the course of September. Either way, you can be sure that Metroid Prime 3's overall performance is being closely eyed and considered by Nintendo.
1. Madden NFL 08 (Xbox 360) -- 896.6K
2. Madden NFL 08 (PS2) -- 643.6K
3. BioShock (Xbox 360) -- 490.9K
4. Madden NFL 08 (PS3) -- 336.2K
5. Wii Play/ w remote (Wii) -- 256.8K
6. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii) -- 218.1K
7. Mario Strikers Charged (Wii) -- 147.4K
8. Guitar Hero 2 w/guitar (PS2) -- 145.4K
9. Mario Party 8 (Wii) -- 138.3K
10. Guitar Hero Encore: Rocks the 80s (PS2) -- 127.1K
11. Madden NFL 08 (Xbox)
12. Madden NFL 08 (Wii)
13. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day (DS)
14. Two Worlds (Xbox 360)
15. Pokémon Diamond (DS)
16. High School Musical: Making the Cut (DS)
17. Guitar Hero 2 w/guitar (360)
18. Madden NFL 08 (PSP)
19. Pokémon Pearl (DS)
20. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 08 (Xbox 360)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Jake @ Sep 13th 2007 8:18PM
And the Xbox 360's unholy attach rate marches on...
phattie @ Sep 13th 2007 8:18PM
lol .. xbox madden outsold Wii Madden.
vidGuy @ Sep 13th 2007 8:32PM
It should. Except for the new multiplayer modes and a few small changes in controls, Wii Madden 07 > Madden 08. A real bummer, hopefully they'll get things figured out. Online was a big promise that fell flat.
phattie @ Sep 13th 2007 8:44PM
Its also the top 3rd party game for wii; behind a pseudo sports game, a mini game, and Metroid... that comes once a year. What is EA suppose to do until Madden '09?
And as much as people are endured to metroid.. Halo3 will sell 6x more units on day 1 with less install base. 360 owners are gamers who buy games!
SoulBlade @ Sep 13th 2007 8:48PM
"360 owners are gamers who buy games!"
As long as you aren't implying that those who own the other systems aren't gamers. But, if that's what you gotta tell yourself to feel good, then go for it man.
Vegnagun @ Sep 13th 2007 8:49PM
Sad to see the huge install base of the Wii and see those numbers. Corruption is really good too.
vidGuy @ Sep 13th 2007 8:52PM
Well, you know, EA could work on the other games it has for the Wii. Might be a good idea.
Sure, Halo 3 is going to sell like nuts, hell of a lot better than Metroid did on day one. Zelda: TP sold more than Halo 3 will. I don't see your point here... somehow I think Wii and PS3 owners buy games too.
SoulBlade @ Sep 13th 2007 9:05PM
Don't know if Zelda: TP will outsell Halo 3... according to Wikipedia, as of 7/2007, the Wii version sold 3.6 million... Halo 2 sold 2.3 million in a single day.
That said, if Halo 3 sells more, it doesn't mean it's a better game... because if it did, then wouldn't the Wii be a better console than the 360? Or can I only use sales figures when they benefit the 360? Or does that go for the Wii? Or do casual gamers (which I'm beginning to believe are just considered those who don't care about graphics according to some folks on Joystiq) not count? So.. confused..
vidGuy @ Sep 13th 2007 9:17PM
Oh, I expect Halo 3 to sell 2.5 million on day one and another three or four million before it's done. Z:TP has sold between 4 and 6 million depending on where you look.
OoT sold more than 7 million. By default it must be a better game than Halo 3, right, since we care so much about sales?
SoulBlade @ Sep 13th 2007 9:33PM
Haha - OoT FTW!
Hello @ Sep 13th 2007 9:52PM
uh...Halo 2 sold 7 million in a year.
Richard @ Sep 14th 2007 12:45AM
As a die-hard Nintendo fan, I would like to further express how completely delusional vidGuy is. Twilight Princess hasn't sold anywhere near 6 million units, and it only surpasses 5 million if you count Cube sales. "Depending on where you look" sounds like a roundabout way of saying "if you don't care how credible the source is." Meanwhile, the numbers on Wikipedia are straight outta Nintendo's press releases. And then of course Halo 2 has sales over 9 million. And let me just reinforce the fact that I personally am not responsible for +1 to that number. BTW, no one ever said sales were important, merely that these were sad to see; you're the one who brought up some fantastical TP sales as if they were some beacon of hope to look onto.
vidGuy @ Sep 14th 2007 12:53AM
Awesome. Awesome to the max.
Korova @ Sep 14th 2007 4:47AM
SoulBlade, casual gamers are those whose attach rate is like 2 or 3, i.e. they dont sweat the joystiq and they dont buy games.
Slaziman @ Sep 14th 2007 6:42AM
Here is where we see why you Wii fans can expect another GameCube (as far as games go), third party devs won't invest in epic (a la MP3) games for the Wii, because the casual market will probably not care much and that's the overwhelming majority of the install base. A third party dev is better off making it a 360/PS3 game. So the best you should be expecting from 3rd parties are minigames and the rare quirky game (Zack & Wiki, Dewy's Adventure)
jodyanthony.com @ Sep 14th 2007 8:06AM
I played Peggle Deluxe for 2 hours last night.
HyperOnion @ Sep 13th 2007 8:19PM
Well... at least the PS3 managed to outsell the GBA. Two months in a row now!
Also, I love the Sony Defense Force take on it. They have a wonderful, wonderful graph.
jodyanthony.com @ Sep 13th 2007 9:17PM
hahahaha that graph is fantastic!
Mabui @ Sep 13th 2007 8:20PM
I suppose this is because I didn't pick up Madden 08 yet..! Only because I wasn't sure it would be worth it enough to buy the very next year of the franchise (Online.. not as much a draw as one would think!)
HaleysComet @ Sep 13th 2007 8:20PM
@ phattie
Personally both versions have their ups and down.
The Wii's version definitely has more FUN controls. But the online sucks IMO compared to Live.
The 360 version however has the same old controller scheme BUT the Online is BETTER and more interactive IMO.
I ended up getting the 360 version. While its more fun on the Wii I think Live adds SO MUCH to the game and I can't imagine not having that aspect in it.
Vegnagun @ Sep 13th 2007 8:29PM
I probably wouldn't want the game without live. Even if the controls are great live, achievements, and the graphics stack up against that.
Loki @ Sep 14th 2007 10:35AM
The 360 version has a lot more going for it then just online...
Myke @ Sep 18th 2007 11:07PM
oh man, the Wii is turning into DS number 2.
Calviin @ Sep 14th 2007 12:06PM
turning? It's already there. The Wii has officially sold more units worldwide in one year than the Xbox360 did in two years. No need to point out the comparison with PS3. I hope Sony gets things worked out soon. I really want to play LittleBigPlanet. Eventually they'll see they need to have at least one entry point that is under $300.00, like Microsoft and Nintendo have.
Joe @ Sep 13th 2007 8:23PM
*barf*
That's my reaction to High School Musical being on that Top 20.
Otherwise, go Bioshock! GODYAWMMN SPLOYCIERS!
How did Two Worlds get on that list?
Calviin @ Sep 14th 2007 12:10PM
Was there some other RPG on 360 that people would buy?
Arno @ Sep 13th 2007 8:23PM
So all-in-all I think we can assume that Madden 08, all together sold about 2 million copies.
That's fucking insane...
HaleysComet @ Sep 13th 2007 8:24PM
I hope you bought your copy...:)
Arno @ Sep 13th 2007 8:26PM
I didn't actually, not big on Football.
Arno @ Sep 13th 2007 8:27PM
But I'll contribute to MLB2k8 numbers when it comes out. :)
HaleysComet @ Sep 13th 2007 8:31PM
Good Stuff man!
Not a hockey fan but when it comes down to it...its SPORTS. Room enough for everyone.
Jackmouve @ Sep 18th 2007 4:16AM
Well I just say this, sure Wii is out selling everyone, console wise, but will they out sell the big boys in the software arena? Madden 08 is the answer to that question. People want to play stupid little fun games like Wii sports on it, not highly technical sports games and precision shooters on it. Who sold the most Madden software? Sony did! PS2 and PS3 (979.8K) out sold Xbox 360 (896.6) and it out sold Wii and DS, who didn't even post numbers. SOFTWARE is where these companies make their living and the company that sold the most copies of the most popular game was who....? Go ahead and say it, everyone already knows.... Also those PS2 buyers… are going to grow up to be PS3 buyers one day, people that are planning on buying an Xbox 360 are not still spending money on PS2 games.... and let's look at the install bases... Sony (PS3, PS2, PSP) 49.15 million, Nintendo (Wii and DS) 16.7 million, Microsoft (Xbox 360, Xbox didn't even make the list and I'll venture a guess that a big chunk of the 360 owners are Microsoft employees and their friends and Family) 6.3 million. Sony has more than double Microsoft and Nintendo combined.
But everyone loves to hate the Giant. Sorry, but the Wii and the Xbox 360 are NOT next Gen consoles. The Wii with its whack ass graphics and gimmick game play (motion sensors should enhance traditional game play, not replace it) is a novelty device at best, and 360, no HDMI ports and plug-n-play HDDVD, are you kidding me? What are they going to do when games don't fit on DVDs anymore 3 and 4 disc games and detachable DVD changer just to play GTA: Watts??? Sure you can jump up to the “Premium” version and have the HDMI and "Detachable" HDD, but you still have to buy the HDDVD separately for $200, on the ELITE, what the F......!
But alas there is no way the people that bought the Xbox 360 are going to admit their blunder, instead they will curse the PS3 with their last breathe in hopes of convincing even themselves that it is the better system with the better games. And they will continue to play the 3 or 4 games that don't actually suck until they break down and buy a PS3, "Only so they can play with their friends” Yeah right.... Xbox 360 owners remind me of the republicans that voted for Bush the second term and refuse to admit it was a mistake... Even though they know it was. Xbox live is the best thing about Xbox and soon Home will take that away, too… Please Microsoft; don’t bring a knife to a gunfight! Do like Nintendo, carve a little niche and get out of Sony’s way.
Singing out before I really get started. I now open the floor to all the Xbox owners who are itching to rebut.
And remember, if you can’t be with the system you love, love the system you are with….
Edog Lost @ Sep 13th 2007 8:27PM
I'm glad to see that Metroid sold well. I was worried about the lack of marketing
Paviel @ Sep 13th 2007 8:36PM
It's a hardcore game; it doesn't need marketing.
I think the hardcore section of Nintendo's user base has proven that...
That said, it was a bit of a gamble, and I'm also glad that it's paid off.
Mal F4cti0n @ Sep 13th 2007 8:38PM
Sorry, but I hope that was sarcasm.
I don't think 218K copies of Metroid Prime 3 is good for Nintendo or third party developers looking to support the Wii. That means roughly 5% of Wii owners purchased Metroid Prime 3 (based on the 4 million sold to date).
I bet you that 50% of 360 owners will buy Halo 3 within its first 30 days of release. Yep, expect to see 3.15 million copies sold within 30 days. It will probably be more b/c of all the people waiting until Halo 3 comes out to pick up a 360. I know four people that will be picking up a 360 this weekedn to get ready for Halo 3 next week.
Edog Lost @ Sep 13th 2007 8:40PM
Hardcore gamers have a lot of stuff to play in the next few months. I wouldn't have know it was coming out but I went to pick up bioshock LE at Gamestop and saw it.
I get your point. I was just worried and happy to see it do well.
cc123 @ Sep 13th 2007 8:46PM
Gotta agree with Mal here.
218k for the biggest "hardcore" game release of the year (so far) on a system with 4.5 mil install base really isn't all that.
Don't forget the sales for these kinds of games are extremely front loaded so even though it was only out for a few days those few days will most likely end up being the majority of sales.
I mean it's not bad but not all that good either.
Edog Lost @ Sep 13th 2007 8:56PM
Most people who have a Wii are not "hardcore". They really dropped the ball with plugging this thing. Most Wii owners need TV telling them what games are coming out. My girl friend's 11 year old brother doesn't know what is out on the wii till he drags his mom to the store.
But he knows Halo is coming out.
I know Metroid isn't the hype creator that Halo is but it's one of the best games on the Wii. I think they missed out because of poor marketing but not as bad as I thought they would.
SoulBlade @ Sep 13th 2007 8:57PM
Actually, Metroid did really well.
"Though Metroid Prime 3: Corruption comes out on top overall in this week's cross-platform results, BioShock remains a top seller on the Xbox 360, and has the sales strength to lead for weeks to come."
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/column_index.php?story=8740
Pretty good that it was a #1 seller at least for the week. Don't know how long it will keep selling though.
cc123 @ Sep 13th 2007 9:14PM
@SoulBlade
MP3's 1st week numbers beat out Bioshock's 2nd week numbers which just goes to show how much a particular games sales drop off after the first week.
Also the only other big releases that week were Warhawk which had it's sales split between PSN and retail and Blue Dragon which tanked. In other words not much competition that week.
Mr Khan @ Sep 13th 2007 9:22PM
@ Mal
The thing about percentages is that they can be deceptive. 360's insane attach rate is definitely going to insure its attention to 3rd parties, but a larger install base (Wii) is going to balance out those numbers eventually
GTA: San Andreas sold to ~10% of the PS2 userbase (although this is global), while Halo 2 sold to about 33% of Xbox owners, and Melee sold to about 33% of GC owners, but GTA outsold them both
SoulBlade @ Sep 13th 2007 9:22PM
So quick to hate on any kind of good news for the Wii..
Given that the title sold for only 4 days in the month of August and still made the 6th spot, I think it's hard to say it didn't do well. It's a good indication that Wii owners are interested in games like it.
Take it for what it is - I'm not trying to say it's a better game or Nintendo's better or what not. Those just lead to problems with fools, and I'd rather not deal with them. I'm giving Nintendo a pat on the back, and for those that have a real problem with it, I suggest you re-evaluate your priorities and get a life.
cc123 @ Sep 13th 2007 9:33PM
"So quick to hate on any kind of good news for the Wii.."
Uhm, I wasn't trying to hate on MP3 "good news" since I don't really see it as all that good to begin with. The numbers are OK for first week sales of such a huge game, that's all.
Anyway the important thing will be how Nintendo reacts to the numbers, not what we think of them.
Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 13th 2007 9:33PM
Who's whining about Metroid Prime 3's sales? This NPD data is for August, and MP3C was out for what, 3 days in August? How many weeks are in NPD's August anyway? The game did great, and being the best FPS on the Wii with no competition I'm sure it will have longer legs than BioShock, which will be replaced very soon by Halo 3.
SoulBlade @ Sep 13th 2007 9:54PM
@ cc
Apologies. I see your point. I think Nintendo will spin it in a positive light (obv). Perhaps more people bought the game over the weekend when it was September.. who knows?
It might be a little disheartening for Nintendo to see Wii Play outsell Metroid, but I doubt they'll have a problem with it. They'll still put effort into titles like Metroid before they don't have a solid answer for the question "what about your hardcore fans?"
Rubang B (NDF - Heart) @ Sep 13th 2007 10:02PM
Wii Play's sales numbers are pretty damn important, because it's the closest thing we have to tracking extra Wii remote sales. The fact that Wii Play is still selling this insanely well shows how huge Wii multiplayer is, thanks mainly to Wii Sports the party game of the century.
HaleysComet @ Sep 13th 2007 10:32PM
ccc123 = HATER
Mal F4cti0n @ Sep 13th 2007 10:47PM
No whining about sales or hating on the Wii here.
Metroid Prime 3 looks like a system seller to the hardcore gamer, so that is a good thing. I think sales should have been better for such an established Nintendo franchise, that is all.
I think the point CC and I were trying to make was that the sales don't look that good for a 4 million console base. Don't know what that means for the Wii and gaming in and of itself. I don't like it, 'tis all.
SoulBlade @ Sep 13th 2007 11:21PM
I think the figures look alright. Bioshock sold to about 7.7% of its install base, while Prime 3 sold to 5.4% of its install base. That doesn't seem too bad when looked at from that view, and Bioshock did have 10 more days on the market.
Of course, if Bioshock's numbers also look bad, then my point is invalid. Does anybody have Bioshock's first week sales #s?
hoagie @ Sep 13th 2007 11:29PM
You people saying Metroid didn't sell that well... are you on crack, not reading the other posts, or both? Prime 3 was released on the 27th, giving it a sell span of about 4 days.
You could just as easily say that Bioshock didn't sell well (it did though) considering the 8 - 10 million 360 install base, and whom the majority of are hardcore.
The Wii's install base, while just about on par with tte 360, is more diverse... it's not all men age 15 - 39 who play FPS'ers. Yet it still managed to sell 218K copies of an in depth adventurer/FPS in a very short window despite that.