UK breaks previous Q1 software sales record

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 21st 2008 at 10:28PM }

The UK has broken its previous first quarter software sales record with 17.89 million units sold and £418.4 million earned. This surpasses last year's first quarter by two million units and £100 million. Nintendo made up 37% of units sold, with Mario & Sonic at the Olympics leading the pack during the quarter (please stop!).

GI.biz was told by Chart-Track that the period shows "innovative" and "family-friendly" games are doing well, and that consumers of all ages are purchasing them. According to the March NPD data "family-friendly" isn't as necessary in the States, though Nintendo did sell 2.7 million units of Smash Bros. Brawl last month and dominated hardware sales during the quarter.

Tags: sales, software, uk

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

John McPoop @ Apr 21st 2008 10:32PM

Kids driving sales forward with Mario And Sonic ...

HB96st @ Apr 21st 2008 10:36PM

Funny.. my Wii is on the verge of being on the trading block..

John McPoop @ Apr 21st 2008 10:48PM

We actually agree on something ... Funny thing is were it not for Gears 2 I might be thinking the same about the 360 ... I will always have to keep that damn Wii because it makes a great babysitter ;) ... Damn SSBB

Matt B @ Apr 21st 2008 10:42PM

Mario, the 9th wonder of the world.

ApolloIV @ Apr 21st 2008 10:42PM

"Nintendo made up 37% of units sold, with Mario & Sonic at the Olympics leading the pack during the quarter"

If I see you in a best buy, a gamestop or even a Pawn shop with this game, I will kill you. Why don't other companies cash in on this? Snake and Altair at the Olympics? Or even something stupid like a comic book series fighting game cast. Oh shit wait...

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 21st 2008 10:48PM

As some people were saying, this early article is very wrong:

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/21/nytimes-looks-at-wiis-software-sales-problem/

Wii software sales are the higer every month, in every region: Japan, Europe and USA... the 360 is not the console with most software sales anymore...

But is not me who say this... I say that based of official data, NPD, MediaCrate and the Euro Sales. And the bigger the install base grows, the bigger the softwares will increase.

We just need GOOD third party support... third parties ussually don't sell well, because two main problems: they usually suck, and second, they dont advertise.

But I'm pretty sure that good third party games, like Monster Hunter 3 on Wii, or Fatal Frame, Final Fantasy Crystal Bearers (not the WiiWare version), Factor 5 game will prove that third party games can sell a lot, ONLY if they make good games.

ApolloIV @ Apr 21st 2008 10:51PM

"Monster hunter 3" Wo wo wo wo what? Good lord the Japanese will never be the same.

Fernando Rocker @ Apr 21st 2008 10:55PM

The latest Monster Hunter for PSP is selling extremely good... it already outsold SSBB numbers in Japan (1.5 million in 3 weeks), and its not even the next chapter. It just an upgrade from the previous game...

Just imagine how great Monster Hunter 3 (exclusive) will sell on Wii.

ApolloIV @ Apr 21st 2008 10:56PM

I know your stroking your game boner right now Fernando.

John McPoop @ Apr 21st 2008 11:15PM

@Apollo IV

thanks for the sick visual ... very funny

@Fernando

I want to know why you care so much about software sales ... The Wii is it's own worst enemy in that respect ... 3rd party titles like Manhunt, Zack And Wiki & No More Heroes don't appeal to the Wii's user base ... Developers can just make crappy games geared towards children and almost guarantee themselves better sales than if they go out on a limb and try to make something for the hardcore Wii minority ... It seems for the most part unless it's a Nintendo 1st party title or a Capcom port it won't appeal to the user base ... As for Monster Hunter Wii ... It will sell shit loads in Asia for sure because they eat that game up ... I have MH II Freedom and it's amazing so I understand the appeal ... However, I suspect a timed exclusivity deal with Capcom bcause of the success of the PSP in terms of Monster Hunter franchise ... mark my words there will be a MHIII PSP version at some point ...

Off topic ...

Fernando I know you hate the PS3 with a passion for some reason but have you seen screen shots or in game footage from the new Naruto PS3 game ... All I have to say is OMG ... Looks EXACTLY like the anime ... People still swear its hand drawn anime but I assure you it's in game footage ... The line continues to blur between photo real (GT:Prologue) and other forms of art like anime (Naruto PS3 exclusive) ... There will be a point where the graphics can't go much further ... Maybe 2 or 3 generations away but it will happen ... At that point it will be about real physics in every respect (individual grains of sand), 3-D gaming like head tracking from Sony & Johnny Lee and actually feeling in real life what happens in the game ... I think we will need quantim computing before we even begin to approach actual in game not on a screen ... Talk about virtual reality ... Imagine playing Madden and actually being the QB n the field ... Mark my words it will happen eventually ... One more thing ... I have also thought of a new input device that projects the images in 3-D space ... You know like your living room is your TV where the game happens and your not immersed in the gameplay like the earlier Madden thing but it is a full 3-D environment that is happening ... Ill settle for true 3-D headtracking this generation Please ... Sony can do it with the PSEye and can Johnny Lee with Wii motes and goggles ...

Schmobu @ Apr 22nd 2008 1:28AM

Wow Mario and sonic at the olympics selling like hotcakes, dammn who'd of thought.

Anyway on the reply, Fernando rocker is a fanboy, and who doesn't want to see their fave console win out, it just means more good games for you, secondly, Naruto game on PS3 is indeed good, but doable on the 360 and OMG if you put the work into it the Wii, next gen will be the max graphics gen since that blasted 100 core chip was invented, we could have particle hair with physics, and realtime water physics calculations, on top of that Shadow buffers would be alot bigger, (less pixelated shadows, and Displacement mapping will come into play, (after displacement mapping, yeah you can't go much further, see Z brush, or better yet look at the original Gears of wars renders) anyway what was my point oh yeah Fernando Rocker is a Fanboy, I'm amazed he is older than me but I know for sure he is no-where near as sexy.

MN Guy @ Apr 21st 2008 11:08PM

I have a question. How is the games industry constantly breaking all these records despite the PC market being semi stagnant and far less current gen consoles in the public than there were at the end of last gen.

Seriously, before the 360 launched there were 30 million xbox, 30 million GCN, and like 90 million PS2's or something ridiculous and now we are breaking those records with a fewer total systems? Is that just because there are more "active" systems now than ever?

John McPoop @ Apr 21st 2008 11:21PM

Well you make a good point about the install base and relative attach ratings ... I don't know the answer but I think it has something to do with the boom of gaming since last gen ... I mean last gen you had people buying an X-Box for only Halo and a PS3 for only GTA and a GC for only Mario ... Those same gamers have matured into full blown gamers this time around. Combine them with the hardcore gamers from the previous generation, the soccer moms and young kids who all play video games and it adds up to more games moving with less consoles available ... Kind of crazy considering its an election year here in the states and the media sensationalist claims of recession ... Great Question ... In fact you should e-mail to the Ask Joystiq address so we can get their take ... e-mail them @ ... ask joystiq com

HB96st @ Apr 21st 2008 11:09PM

Look, if Big N keeps going back into the vault, give us some hot shit!! I AM DONE WITH MARIO! Remember when they did a college basketball?? Perfect Dark (I hate Metroid as a FPS it s/b a side scroller), something mature!

Big N can make games, but I'm not a kid anymore and I'm tired of seeing cute characters fighting, playing golf or baseball.. Can I get a built from the ground up Killer Instinct or something? -I'm telling you, if they dont step their game up for their mature audience, this Wii I have will be the down payment to my Elite!

Zack and Wiki was dope, but what if that was a indiana jones-type character instead?? Banging.. Make up a new character and give us a Fps that fights realistic foes, not "space pirates"!! Ahhugh! I know I can find it on the 360, but what I'm saying is give my 360 some real competition!

I'm waiting, but not for long!

name123 @ Apr 21st 2008 11:15PM

Speaking of UK sales:

"Price cut fails to push Xbox 360 past PS3 in UK"

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/04/18/xbox_360_european_sales_double/

That's Europe and Japan to Sony, one more region to go. After the price drop to $299, Sony will have the US too. And for the people who don't think Japan and Europe matter, only 1/3 of all PS1 and PS2s were sold in the US.

John McPoop @ Apr 21st 2008 11:23PM

It will be this time next year before things tighten up in America ... It will eventually happen and only the hardcore Microsoft zealots will still not buy a PS3 after all the top games are released ... But your right it's only a matter of time in America

Matt B @ Apr 21st 2008 11:38PM

By the end of the summer, the PS3 will be able to do what paying customers of Live can do for free. At that point, LIVE will be free at some point and then it's all software and services. The lack of BR on he 360 will start to strain.

John McPoop @ Apr 21st 2008 11:48PM

@Matt

Thats one reason I want the PSN to exceed what Live offers ... At that point they will have 1 of 2 choices ...

1. Small Discount or status quo

OR

2. Make it free

Again, I can't see any reasonable person renewing their Live account if/when the PSN passes it in terms of features and is still free with no adds ...

Maybe Microsoft juggles the Live SKUs and makes the Gold account for free and introduces a new platinum that cost for membership and offers more content over Gold ...

Its such a bitch to pay for Live when I already pay for high speed internet, purchased the console, purchased the $100 adapter & of course $50 for Live ... i am tired of the cost per day and per month breakdowns as well ... If you bought a video game (like Live) you pay for it all up front ... You don't say well i am going to play it for two months so $1 a day is nothing ... It's nonsense

Schmobu @ Apr 22nd 2008 1:40AM

With GTA 4 coming to Xbox with all that exclusive content, it will probably stay afoot, but Even though I hate on the PS3 more than I hate on politicians, I still want PSN to beat up Xbox live so I can get my game on for free, and maybe let me get some downloads for cheap or free. If one sums it up Microsoft has the exclusives, and is american, where as PS3 is stronger has a superior online(Idea wise) and has that name brand thing, lastly just adding Wii has the Wii mote (I think people just aint using it right) has the current biggest market share, (which is growing the fastest as well) has the nintendo exclusives lastly Wii has got the casual market pinned, so proly win. but yeah PS3 better start gainin on Xbox so Msoft starts working hard and making more content free.

Kye - Joystiq Greybeard @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:05AM

McPoop, as much as I agree with you, Live is an optional service. When you buy the game, console, Internet connection etc, you get what you pay for.

At no time does anyone force or trick you into having a Live account.

Wanting to play with other people online is an additional service that you (and I) have to pay for.

That said, yes, I agree that Live should be free.

HB96st @ Apr 22nd 2008 12:21AM

are ya'll kidding me?? ps3 will not win. lol, funny.. The ps3 sells a few systems in Europe, and now the talk of world domination. LOL!

"That's Europe and Japan to Sony, one more region to go."

LMAO!! Uh, news flash, name -because OBVIOUSLY you didn't get the memo, The ps3 is being outsold by the Wii 3 to 1!! -And please don't bring up the 360 sales.. please, thats just showing your desperation.

"It will be this time next year before things tighten up in America"

john, you're sounding like the 360 will just stop selling.. Like M$ has no more exclusives.. Stop. GTA4 didn't even drop yet, and thats gonna move systems.. More for the 360 than the ps3. And lets not talk price drops..

And who needs blu-ray if we only play games?? STRAIN?? what STRAIN?? The strain to play movies?? Upscaled DVDs or DL HD Movies thank you very much!

And please, please, PLEASE stop bringing up ps3 free online plans compared to pennies a day XBOX LIVE.

I swear, the blind loyalty to sony that messed up with the ps3 and ya'll don't see it... sad...

John McPoop @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:49AM

You need to learn how to read and stop spinning ... The PS3 is already outselling the 360 in 2/3 regions worldwide ... All I said is when the big time Sony exclusives drop that everyone who doesn't have a PS3 will want a lot of people will pick one up ... Except of course people like you who turn this into a war and take sides ... Think about it with GTA IV releasing here in a week and MGS 4 following suit in about 5 weeks or so a lot of PS3 consoles will be sold ... I never said the 360 would stop selling but I think the 360 is closer to the ceiling in America than most of us think ... I can't see any reasonable person purchasing a 360 over a PS3 especially after those two games drop ... I bet you will end up buying a PS3 at some point as well ... The system is just to good .... But then again it doesn't appeal to your demographic ... Right now its more for the sophistocated gamer who wants to use it as an entertainment hub ... Its really not for the fratboy, pot smoking, beer drinking cursing crowd that pollutes XBL ... I honestly think in about a years time that gap will only a million or so consoles ... I could be wrong ... It could be more like 24 months

Chameleon @ Apr 23rd 2008 2:33PM

@John

I rarely agree with what you have to say, but i do respect your (rarely seen on this site) ability to make your case/argument for your preferred console in a civilized manner. and just for some background i have been planning/waiting since it's announcement to purchase the MGS/rumble bundle the day it comes out.

sincerely meant pleasantries aside ...
= )

"Right now its more for the sophistocated gamer who wants to use it as an entertainment hub ... Its really not for the fratboy, pot smoking, beer drinking cursing crowd that pollutes XBL"

wanting to use it more as an entertainment hub and not more as a game machine i suppose is a matter of preference. and just to clarify and avoid the anger (not from you john) i am in no way saying 'the ps3 doesn't have games'. i crack-out to resistance and warhawk almost daily at a friends house. hell i was so into the phenomenal Uncharted, i didn't realize til' 4 in the morning that i was still in his den and had played through it in the first sitting.

but not owning a ps3 shouldn't make me or any non-fanboy gamer an 'un-sophisticated, pot smoking, beer drinking, curse spewing frat boy' ....