Super Mario Galaxy soars with 500k units sold in US first week
by Alexander Sliwinski 
{ Nov 21st 2007 at 9:50AM }
The critical acclaim would seem to say that Super Mario Galaxy deserves all the sales it's getting. We also know that Galaxy sold 250k units its first week in Japan. Oh Mario, you just know how to print money.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Silent Xenocide @ Nov 21st 2007 9:53AM
The only thing that kills this game for me is the controls.
SoulBlade @ Nov 21st 2007 9:55AM
I like em - the camera can be awkward, but I think the controls are pretty good and actually make you play the game differently.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 21st 2007 9:55AM
So, analog for moving and "A" to jump is no good for you, eh?
Silent Xenocide @ Nov 21st 2007 9:59AM
Nope. Jumping doesnt feel as good and responsive as it did for the N64 version. And pointing at the screen gets sort of annoying to collect those star bits.
Vidikron (FU) @ Nov 21st 2007 10:01AM
I think the controls are fine, it's just the camera that blows.
samfish @ Nov 21st 2007 10:12AM
sI like the control just fine, but I hate that analog stick on the nunchuck. My thumb always slides off it and I accidentally kill myself.
vidGuy @ Nov 21st 2007 10:39AM
Bummer, I think the controls are the best part.
Zertoss @ Nov 21st 2007 10:58AM
I just beat it last night, and I still can't get the hang of moving Mario in a few places (like when he's upside down). I'm determined to get it, though, the game is just too much fun to let a little quirk like that get to me.
Dale @ Nov 21st 2007 11:02AM
I really don't like the tacked on Wiimote stuff - well, ray racing and the waggle to spin; the Super Monkey Ball-style tilting was do-able - but other than that, as everyone else says, the camera is much more of a pain than the controls.
pixelator @ Nov 21st 2007 11:09AM
The controls aren't perfect, but they're acceptable. It's a Mario game, worthy of the N64 edition in terms of scope and creativity.
It's also the first Wii game I've played in months.
d-pad @ Nov 21st 2007 12:07PM
Like I would accept the opinion of someone who has pedobear as their avatar.
Honestly, you're a fucking creep.
shivr @ Nov 23rd 2007 11:18PM
I dunno if you guys have played mario 64 lately... but galaxy controls are way smoother >_> personally, I'm lovin it. Got it on wednesday at already have 80 stars ^_^
SoulBlade @ Nov 21st 2007 9:56AM
Before some chumps come in and start spouting off Halo 3 numbers... yes... Mario didn't sell millions in a day. oh well such is life - please find something else to do with your time.
AirIntake @ Nov 21st 2007 9:58AM
You mentioned it first. Doesn't that mean that you should find something else to do with your time?
SoulBlade @ Nov 21st 2007 9:59AM
yes - you're absolutely right. though i meant do something other than compare this game to halo 3 sales. instead id rather just mention that this game is quite good.
jsn @ Nov 21st 2007 10:00AM
who has anything else better to do? I get paid to do this..
IMO this is just more proof of how hollow the Wii's hardware sales numbers actually are.
Cyro @ Nov 21st 2007 10:02AM
Hahaha. You make me laugh. But I still got to say it. Its got no way near the power teh Haloz 3 has! I guess is still a good number for a Mario game. Soccer moms have to be going crazy buying this crap !
*Puts on anti-flame coat*
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 21st 2007 10:04AM
"IMO this is just more proof of how hollow the Wii's hardware sales numbers actually are."
jsn, I'm puzzled as to how you came to this conclusion. Seriously.
Cyro, you can't be serious.
SoulBlade @ Nov 21st 2007 10:05AM
hahaha you get paid to do that? you should find some real skills.
jsn @ Nov 21st 2007 10:14AM
Crono:
The wii is an impulse/hype purchase for a lot of people. They saw Wiisports and the unique controls and clamored to get it. These people aren't gamers and they don't buy games. Those people make up the bulk of the Wii hardware sales to this point. Software sales are the real mark of success in this business and the Wii simply doesn't have the software sales that you would expect to see. Catering to the "casual market" is a double edged sword.
Soulblade: Skillz are what got me to a point that I can pretty much do what I want every day. Don't hate.
Cyro @ Nov 21st 2007 10:18AM
@ Crono:
In reality there is no possible way of comparing Halo and Mario. They are just too different. What I meant by power is the power of fast selling and addictive and competitive play it has. I bet Mario is a fun game, but it has no multiplayer aspect, and everyone knows this is what makes competitive play and extends the life of a video game. I would never say that Halo is better than mario for 2 reasons. First, Mario is the grand father of almost every video game. Second, they are just too different and appeal at two different types of gamers in general.
After saying that, I think you should not imply that Mario is a better game than halo because it isnt, they are too different to even mention on a same sentence.
If you can handle that, I guess we can be friends :)
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 21st 2007 10:18AM
jsn, I've heard that part of the argument plenty of times before. What I don't understand is how you can equate impulse buy for wii sports only, to 750k sales of mario in 2 territories in the games launch window. Mario is not a game that appeals to the wiisports casual crowd. Hence why I was puzzled.
SoulBlade @ Nov 21st 2007 10:20AM
I always thought profit was what determined if you were successful in the business world.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 21st 2007 10:21AM
Cyro, you underestimate the power of the biggest advertising campaign for a game since FF7. There was Halo 3 plaster all over everything from billboards to Mt Dew bottles.
I don't watch often, but in the few times I did (college football) I think I saw the Mt Dew Halo 3 commercial at least a dozen times.
Mario, by comparison, has no advertising. Halo sold like it did because of the add blitz. Mario sells like it does because of reputation.
That said, I agree. You can't compare the two games. I just saw you were being a fanboy and responded in kind.
Silent Xenocide @ Nov 21st 2007 10:23AM
Doesn't appeal to the casual crowd? I'm hearing old ladies talking about it in the next cubicle over right now.
megaStryke @ Nov 21st 2007 10:24AM
@jsn
Read again:
"Super Mario Galaxy has the strongest first week sales of any Mario game ever."
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 21st 2007 10:29AM
Silent:
Then Nintendo has just succeeded in what they said they would do: bring new gamers into the fold. You're witnessing the birth of 2 hardcore gamers in those old ladies.
Van Faulk @ Nov 21st 2007 10:30AM
I find it amazing that no matter what the topic, someone somehow will manage to work in a shot at halo.
Honestly what happened to enjoying games for their quality, instead of what system they are on?
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 21st 2007 10:31AM
jsn
Just a fad and hyped product?
250,000 Wii's sold last week.
http://www.vgchartz.com/aweekly.php
But if you want, we can wait for the NPD and I laugh in your face or I can do it now. You chosse.
Vidikron (FU) @ Nov 21st 2007 10:33AM
Halo 3 would have sold even without the advertising. After the first two it really didn't need the help.
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 21st 2007 10:34AM
jsn
Oh, and Wii owners don't buy games? How about PS3 owners: just 24,000 of Ratchet and Clank, a "just wait until..." title.
Cyro @ Nov 21st 2007 10:35AM
@ Crono:
Do you really believe that Halo 3 would have sold less than a million on the first week without any advertisement what so ever. I think you are mistaken. I believe more than 90% of people that owned halo 2 planned on buying it without even seen a single commercial.
Halo 3 woulde have sold like it did with or with out all the propagand. All that propagand probably only pushed no more than 300,000 units, which is not a lot compared to what it did sale the first week.
SoulBlade @ Nov 21st 2007 10:37AM
I still don't get the Halo craze. You can get a better experience on any PC. Not sure where else you can get the Mario experience.
Fernando - best not to question the professional forum poster. He must get paid to do an intern's task (if that) for a reason!
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 21st 2007 10:42AM
I'm not saying that Halo 3 wouldn't have sold without the add campaign, I'm just saying that advertising probably helped push the sales into the stratosphere. Without the add campaign, it would have done probably about the same as Mario Galaxy is doing now.
jsn @ Nov 21st 2007 10:49AM
Crono: Would you not expect a console with the highest hardware sales numbers to not post higher sales numbers of their largest single property? Honestly I expected Halo-esque numbers because it's a great game. The fact that we're not seeing them reenforces the notion that the high hardware sales numbers aren't the sign of long term success that they are often portrayed to be.
Fernando: You simply prove what I said. They sell hardware, not software. Selling hardware only needs to long term success IF you sell software to go along with it. Which, to date, the system simply isn't doing at the rate it's hardware sales would suggest it should. You should try reading before you drop down into your Defend Nintendo Horse Stance. One well placed kick and you're on the ground.
Megastryke: Yah I read the article too. As good as those numbers are for the Mario franchise, can you honestly say it's what you would expect from highest selling console of this gen? It's a great game and I expected Halo-esque sales. The fact that it isn't getting them suggests to me that there is a big flaw in the overall strategy that is the Wii.
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 21st 2007 10:54AM
jsn
"Selling hardware only needs to long term success IF you sell software to go along with it..."
How about Ratchet?
Vidikron (FU) @ Nov 21st 2007 10:59AM
@Fernando
Damn, what is your obession with trying to discredit R&C? It's a damn good game. Sorry if you can't deal with that.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 21st 2007 10:59AM
"Would you not expect a console with the highest hardware sales numbers to not post higher sales numbers of their largest single property? Honestly I expected Halo-esque numbers because it's a great game. The fact that we're not seeing them reenforces the notion that the high hardware sales numbers aren't the sign of long term success that they are often portrayed to be."
Then you have conflicting assumptions. First, you assume that Wii is an impulse buy and only casuals are buying it.
Second, you assume that casual gamers don't buy games, they only play wii sports and wii play because it came with a controller.
3rd, you assume that Mario should sell the same level of software its opening week as the game that BROKE ALL RECORDs FOR OPENING WEEK SALES IN THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY (movies, music, and games), despite Mario not having an add campaign anywhere near the level halo 3 had.
Your 3rd assumption flies in the face of your first two. They are mutually exclusive expectation. Either 13 million people who bought the wii are only casual gamers and don't buy new software, or they aren't purely casual and are buying up Mario as fast as they can get it.
People purchased a 360 at launch for 1 reason, Halo 3. People purchased a 360 at halo 3 launch for 1 main reason, Halo 3. The casuals purchased a Wii for 1 reason, Wii Sports. How is it that Mario Galaxy sells so well on a platform owned by people who don't buy games, with an add campaign that is pathetic?
samfish @ Nov 21st 2007 11:02AM
The thing you're missing, JSN, is that 500,000 is actually pretty darn good first week numbers. Halo 3 is the exception, not the rule.
I wouldn't be surprised if Halo 3 outsold Mario without it's ad blitz, but given the rabidness of the 360's market/the Halo fanbase, that's not surprising.
Fernando Rocker @ Nov 21st 2007 11:03AM
Vidikron
My problem is that Sony fanboys compare Ratchet with Mario, and keep sayign that it will sell millions, and it will be better than Mario.
It was one of the games that Sony fanboys said the famous line "just wait until..."
Vidikron (FU) @ Nov 21st 2007 11:05AM
@Crono
Your last paragraph goes completely against your statements that Halo 3's sales were largely due to the advertising campaign. Halo 3 would have easily sold more than a million in the first week without any advertising at all. Halo 2 had a big campaign, but not nearly as big as Halo 3 and it still pushed more than 2 million in the first 24 hours.
Anyway, who really cares? The two games are completely different. For one thing, I wouldn't expect a single player game like Mario to see as fast out of the gate as a MP focused game like Halo anyway.
Dale @ Nov 21st 2007 11:07AM
I'd really be interesting in seeing a comparison of total sales after a period of a few months for both titles.
I would say Halo 3 appeals more to the hardcore, "got to have it on launch day" crowd than Mario does these days.
Vidikron (FU) @ Nov 21st 2007 11:08AM
@ Fernando
It's YOU that keeps on making the comparisons. WTF is wrong with you?
jsn @ Nov 21st 2007 11:19AM
Crono: No, I don't think they conflict at all and they can be viewed exlusively from each other, though they are invariably linked by nature.
The wii isn't a casuals only system, there are hardcore/long term gamers who have it and that is reflected by the sales of non-casual games like Mario. Though Mario is a bit of a crossover, just not to the extent of a wiisports or wiiplay.
With that said, when we're talking long term success you have to look at both hardware and software. We're constantly reminded of how well the Wii hardware is selling, but long term success is, as we both know, about software. So when we're always told that the Wii is a raging success because of the hardware sales numbers, but then we see their biggest title to date putting up good numbers, but not the same numbers their hardware sales would suggest, it simple makes those cries of WII SUCCESS ring a little more hollow than they would otherwise.
That's all my original comment was getting at, though obviously long windedly. I have no dog in the fight. Despite being disappointed in the quality of games for the system to date, I still buy good games when they come out for it.
rv @ Nov 21st 2007 11:20AM
Why don't you go and play the game instead of discussing how much it sold?
I don't understand why a lot of people support a company when they should be looking out for #1. Competition increases the quality of products, which is better for the consumer. I believe that is better than the satisfaction (if any) received by saying "OMGLOLLLZZZ X OUTSOLD Y pwned" on the internet.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 21st 2007 11:22AM
Again, I never said it wouldn't sell without the add campaign, just that the add campaigned pushed the sales through the roof. I've never said Halo 3 wouldn't have sold a million its first day/week/whatever.
What I have said is that you can't really compare sales of Halo 3 on the halo 360... I mean the Xbox 360, to sales of Mario Galaxy on the Wiisports... I mean the Wii.
Either casuals bought a Wii because of Wii Sports and the console is just a gimmick, or casuals and core gamers own a wii, and its present day success is indicative of long term success. Which scenario do you think high sales of Mario galaxy fits in better?
sepaar @ Nov 21st 2007 11:27AM
This is to this very long string of posts regarding first sales numbers. Funny how the little numbers called preorders seem to get left out of this when showing Galaxy's sales. Anybody remember the near million preorders in Japan? Doesn't that change things a little bit?
Anyway, both are excellent games, but one's more focused on multiplayer than the other. They can't really be compared by type of game at all.
Vidikron (FU) @ Nov 21st 2007 11:28AM
Personally, I think both crowds own the Wii. I have a Wii and bought it largely on hype and the hope that it would be different than the Cube. Sadly, it's not. Mario Galaxy is good, but would sell even if it wasn't. MP8 sucks and it's a million seller. But I think that since Galaxy is a truly good game, on a system with too few good games, will give it good sales for a long time.
Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Nov 21st 2007 11:30AM
But jsn, good games ARE selling well on the Wii. The only exception being Zack and Wiki. Seems that game is doomed a spot next to Beyond Good and Evil and Psychonaughts and Okami.
Nintendo still needs to dodge the stigma that only Nintendo games sell on Nintendo consoles. That has been largely true with the wii, but that is mostly due to the large amounts of crap 3rd parties are publishing on it. I intend on getting Moh:H2, and just about anything capcom or konami puts out on it, to support 3rd parties on Wii. And if Nintendo gamers really want the wii to succeed, they'll follow suit.
Night Elve @ Nov 21st 2007 11:31AM
God fucking damn it Fernando! No one but no one is comparing Mario with RoC in this post. I'm really tired and sick of you.
You are the fucking main reason I don't read very often Joystiq.
I mean come on Mario is a funny and great game and so is RoC and so is Wii Sports and so is Uncharted and many more games for all the three consoles, so what is your fucking problem?
You are always talking shit about SONY Fanboys give me a break you are the worst Fanboy that we have in this blog.