World to blame: Mario & Sonic Olympics sells 5 million units

by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 5th 2008 at 11:40AM }

The first pairing of two icons, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, sold five million units worldwide on the DS and Wii. GameDaily reports the joint Sega/Nintendo published title -- which met to less-than-stellar reviews -- reached the milestone in a little over three months, beating Sega's own expectations. Simon Jeffery, Sega of America's prez. and COO stated in a release that the game is "clearly resonating with the growing audience of casual gamers that want an engaging and accessible gaming experience."

Jeffery goes on to say that the Olympics are still four months away, so he expects M&S at the OG to be sellin' with the quickness for a while. Also, in an amazing moment of restraint for an executive, Jefferey says he doesn't want to "dilute" the idea of Mario and Sonic teaming up by throwing them together all the time, he doesn't think it would be "the right thing to do." And which territory is to blame for this game selling well? Turns out the sales have "been pretty even, almost remarkably so" globally. Time to confess and repent, who bought this mini-game cash-in?

Tags: Mario, Minigames, Nintendo, olympics, Sega, Sonic, Sonic-and-Mario-at-the-Olympics, SonicandMarioattheOlympics

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

riggs @ Mar 5th 2008 11:44AM

and people wonder why horrible games keep being made?

we're sheep i tell you! sheep!

upz @ Mar 5th 2008 12:42PM

I've got to agree with you, Riggs. This is what we saw coming ever since the advent of the Wii - cash-in titles to capitalize on the exploding uninformed casual market. Games that go in pretty much the exact opposite direction from where we'd all like to see them go. Yes, there will always be a market for gamers like us, but with the profit margins of uninspired software like this laughing in the face of the Uncharteds and even the Bioshocks, we'd be foolish to think that the gaming landscape will remain as it is today. Why risk a potential big budget bomb, when you could minimize your risk:profit ratio with a sequel to Carnival Games?

Sami @ Mar 5th 2008 4:42PM

Have you even played the game?

I haven't bought it yet, but I'm definitely interested.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 5th 2008 11:45AM

Oh... and I don't care if I sound like a broken record:

bUt tHe WiiZz doEznT seLlZ soFtzWarezZ!

Marty @ Mar 5th 2008 11:48AM

Next time, why not try thinking of a better way to waste the server's time and space?

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 5th 2008 11:57AM

So you bought this game Fernando?

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 5th 2008 11:58AM

Not yet =p

Marry me Mario @ Mar 5th 2008 12:07PM

Hey Fernandos...try as you might, you obviously could NOT find a way to bash the PS3 on the Black Hole thread could you.

wii on Fernandos

NATO_Duke @ Mar 5th 2008 12:10PM

Fernando - you know that just because software sells, it doesn't follow that said sofware should be able to sell. Crap is crap.

NATO_Duke @ Mar 5th 2008 12:11PM

Oh look, Ken once more comments on something other than the discussion. Shocking.

Maverick Saturn @ Mar 5th 2008 12:11PM

It probs cos u didnt buy Fernando that it sold, watch when u buy it, record number of returns, lol

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 5th 2008 12:19PM

You guys are acting like if this is a Ninjabrean quality title...

Ok, it's not that good, but not that bad... it's an average game, just like Kane and Lynch and Stranglehold and Marvel UA, and Turok and many more...

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 5th 2008 12:23PM

Yes its not that bad just like the games you listed, but those games didnt sell 5mill. Is this worth 5 mill. units sold? Me no thinks so....

FidliousWong (Oatmeal Defense Force) @ Mar 5th 2008 12:25PM

You guys miss the real important aspect of this story, dirt doesn't exist in videogame land. Captain N must have REALLY cleaned up for racing shoes to look that clean.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 5th 2008 12:26PM

Fenix

No, they didnt sell that amount... but, you can't compare... the install base of the DS and Wii combined is almost 80 million (60 for DS and 20 for Wii) and the sales are for both systems... of course is going to sell a lot.

Marry me Mario @ Mar 5th 2008 12:28PM

My point was Mr. Nato...Fernandos BASHES the PS3 anytime he gets the chance, yet this article I mentioned was bash proof hence NO Fernandos.

Life is too short to be so upset over the trivial. I am attempting to teach my 6 year old this very lesson. Enjoy life Nato and do not take what is said in a videogame blog by certain people so seriously.

NATO_Duke @ Mar 5th 2008 12:33PM

I'm not upset - and the name is Duke.

What I was doing was pointing out the obvious about you. You still stretch to mention the PS in any post and to talk about things far outside of the discussion.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 5th 2008 12:34PM

@Ken

I didn't even saw that thread... I was delivering some prints that I did yesterday...

I just turned on the PC like 1 hour ago.

Curtis the Claw Game Master V2 @ Mar 5th 2008 2:16PM

Is anyone else scared by the fact that Ken has reproduced? I can see it now..."Daddy, I want to play the Wii 2 dii 2!"...*gun shots*

bm @ Mar 6th 2008 4:17AM

"Is anyone else scared by the fact that Ken has reproduced?"

I was thinking the same thing. Father, and an internet troll? I don't know how old the guy is but he really needs to look at himself and do some mental growing up, for the sake of his kid.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 5th 2008 11:46AM

I didn't get it.

But I might a little closer to olympic time.

Marty @ Mar 5th 2008 11:46AM

You know, Mario sure seems to have made the transition from 2D to 3D a lot more gracefully than his old rival Sonic... and that's in games, and in looks. Not that Sonic looks terribly bad, but Mari is about as close as you can get to the old drawings they used to feature on the box covers.

Joshua @ Mar 5th 2008 11:51AM

I never really thought about how their 3D models look (even though there are many different ones for each character), but generally, I think they're both fine.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 5th 2008 11:53AM

I've always thought sonic's model looked terrible.

The BPM Scrolls IV: Knights of the Nine @ Mar 5th 2008 11:29PM

I think it's how they tried to "update" Sonic. The more detailed eyes, the longer limbs, and the smug smile.

I still preferred the original Sonic, and this is how he looked in 3D:
http://www.vgmuseum.com/scans/saturn/02/sonicr01.jpg

ill trooper @ Mar 5th 2008 11:48AM

So, that works out to 4.3 million disenchanted people putting Wii Sports back in their Wiis?

Trollangaems @ Mar 5th 2008 11:53AM

I didn't buy it but my girlfriend bought it for me as a christmas present

You'd be suprised to find that it's actually not that bad, and I'm a PC/Xbox gamer. It's like a lot bigger WiiSports and everyone loves WiiSports right?

Co @ Mar 5th 2008 11:56AM

Mmmmmm.... taste that? That's the flavor of HATE HATE HATE HATE!!!

Joystiq is no different than the lame posters on here hating: "Casual = Sucks. Why? Because I wouldn't play it, that's why."

Shagittarius @ Mar 5th 2008 11:57AM

Go fart in a tuba.

Co @ Mar 5th 2008 12:00PM

You ever figure out your gender yet, Shag?

Shagittarius @ Mar 5th 2008 12:06PM

I'm more of a man than you'll ever be and more of a woman than you'll ever have.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 5th 2008 12:13PM

wow, shag just blew my mind.

jimmygotsmack @ Mar 5th 2008 12:30PM

You where able to nail that one on the head.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Mar 5th 2008 12:49PM

Shag made me brainfart.

Mr.ESC @ Mar 5th 2008 12:53PM

Shagittarius that's by far the best comment you have ever post.

Cheers.

Marty @ Mar 5th 2008 2:02PM

Ah, the art of e-insults. So easy to do when you don't have to face the opposing party's fists at the end.

Co @ Mar 5th 2008 2:37PM

lol wow apparently Shag is honoring "Highschool Cut Down Day" quite well.

Come on now, some originality please!

Backslash @ Mar 5th 2008 11:11PM

Oh, please--Shagi just totally ripped off of a line from Rent, uttered by Angel.

Again--some originality!

Shagittarius @ Mar 6th 2008 4:25PM

That line was around long before 'Rent' but thanks for pointing out your questionable taste in musicals.

Shagittarius @ Mar 5th 2008 11:56AM

"clearly resonating with the growing audience of casual gamers that want an engaging and accessible gaming experience."

Here let me fix that....

clearly resonating with the growing audience of casual gamers that want a brain-dead and vapid gaming experience."

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 5th 2008 11:56AM

When will it end?!!!! Ahh who cares, play on kiddos play on! =)

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 5th 2008 11:57AM

Well... I'm saving some money for this Sunday... I already paid for my SSBB copy in CC and I will receive a $10 gift card.

I will buy Zack & Wiki and this game =p

ill trooper @ Mar 5th 2008 12:10PM

Please keep us updated on how all that turns out.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 5th 2008 12:14PM

You are a very bad person.

See my first post in the Zack and Wiki thrd. :)

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 5th 2008 12:16PM

Crono: Friend Code? Smash Bros this Sunday =p

6140-3530-5783-6618

baby sea tuna @ Mar 5th 2008 1:06PM

I'm going to write down that friend code and as soon as I figure out how to work the nintendo's stupid net-nanny system, I'll add you Fernando.

Fernando Rocker @ Mar 5th 2008 1:08PM

baby sea tuna

ok... but the thing is that I need to add your Friend Code too to be able to play... thats the inconvinient of the Friend Codes.

Can you give me your friend code?

baby sea tuna @ Mar 5th 2008 1:18PM

I don't know it. Shit, even if I had my console in front of me, I wouldn't know where to find it.

Crono (NDF - Knight of the Old School) @ Mar 5th 2008 1:38PM

You can find it when you compose a message and pick address book, it should show your code on the right.

Or something. Its around there somewhere. As far as my code, I don't know it off the top of my head. I'll try and send it to you, if I can remember.

xFenixKnightx @ Mar 5th 2008 2:39PM

Fernando, you know better than to be giving out your credit card #'s on the interwebz. There is too much Identity Theft going on these days! Its just very dangerous.

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