EA: Boom Blox not a bomb after all

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jul 29th 2008 at 8:30PM }

We're not entirely clear on how all this cultural bomb terminology works. Last month, after we'd heard that Boom Blox had toppled with 60,000 in North American sales, we were more than willing to wittily label the game as "a bomb." However, EA's post-earnings conference call has now revealed that Boom Blox has sold 450,000 units since launch (no region specified). Since it's no longer a bomb, do we imply that EA and Steven Spielberg's collaboration -- considered by many reviewers to be the bomb -- has been defused? That doesn't sound like a good thing.

Tags: Boom-Blox, EA, Steven-Spielberg

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jason Zagar @ Jul 29th 2008 8:40PM

Glad to hear it. This explains the lack of the Zack and Wiki/No More Heroes-esque price drop.

I'm still waiting for the price to drop. I just can't convince myself to spend 50 dollars on a puzzle game no matter how many people/places/things tell me that it's the shiznitz.

mr nimblewick @ Jul 29th 2008 8:41PM

I'm in the same boat. I like the look of it, but I can't bring myself to spend $50 on it.

Mr Khan @ Jul 29th 2008 9:29PM

Worldwide, No More Heroes has pulled similar numbers

mr mobius @ Jul 29th 2008 9:43PM

Quit reminding me that I haven't bought Zack and Wiki. It makes me guilty. I will get around to it some day I hope. A wiiware version of Zack and Wiki would be a brilliantly easy way for me to start it.

BPM [MSN: BPMdotEXE @ hotmail.com] @ Jul 30th 2008 1:43AM

Dear Mr. Mobius:

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! FOR GOD'S SAKE, MAN, TOYS "R" US HAS DROPPED THE PRICE ON IT LIKE CRAZY. TEN BUCKS. ARE YOU SUCH A CHEAPSKATE THAT YOU CAN'T SPEND $10 ON ONE OF THE Wii'S BEST GAMES?!

SCREW YOU, GOOD SIR.

Sincerely,
BPM

velocitySTRIKE @ Jul 30th 2008 5:45AM

In the UK (where I assume you're not), NMH is still fetching £20-25 new and £17 preowned so I can't bring myself to buy it knowing that it should really see an epic pricedrop sometime soon.

Triple07 @ Jul 29th 2008 8:44PM

Yah I have to agree with the above comments $50 is simply too much for me to pay for a puzzle game. I mean I don't like to spend that much on most games. I usually buy them when they go on sale or have some kind of discount. Glad that it's doing good tho I like the idea behind the game and hope to eventually get it.

giantenemycrab @ Jul 29th 2008 8:45PM

I don't know if it's me, but once I heard how bad it was doing in sales, I went out and bought it. I wanted to support innovative 3rd party wii titles, I wanted it to do well. Anyone else do the same thing?

Brittany @ Jul 29th 2008 9:56PM

yes, and I haven't regretted it... reviewers weren't kidding when they said how awesome this game is

Mike M. @ Jul 30th 2008 12:38AM

It's funny, this reasoning has tempted me to buy games that I can't even run as I don't have a console. I like the idea and want to support the devs, but I can't justify buying a game I can't even play.

I was given a pirated copy of a game once, and I enjoyed enough that I purchased a copy. I am definitely all for voting with my dollar when it comes to video games. Unfortunately, I don't really have enough dollars to vote as much as I'd like.

smathalath @ Jul 30th 2008 1:07AM

I have had the hardest time with this mentality. I never buy anything new. I buy used cds and movies, only own consoles I was given, and usually am a generation or two behind the current consoles.

I was given a wii, and have since bought metroid, mario, and brawl. I want so bad to buy zack and wiki, No more heroes, and boom blox so that people will continue to make these types of games, but it is against everything i stand for.

I bought zack and wiki discount for 10 dollars two weeks ago and felt like I let the wii down. How does nintendo have such a hold over me, that I feel guilty being a savvy and patient consumer?

(I was able to get boom blox for my brother's birthday. No guilt there.)

Biff @ Jul 29th 2008 8:58PM

I don't get it. The wii has multiple million dollar sellers (babies) and yet they haven't created the players choice line of discount titles.

There's alot of games that I'm waiting to drop in price (wario-ware, excite truck, etc.) to pick up.

When do we get the Wii- player's choice...?

Jacksons @ Jul 29th 2008 9:33PM

Soon, hopefully.

Spiza @ Jul 29th 2008 10:04PM

You create players choice titles to push hardware. The wii is still selling out so no point to it.

Sheppy (of the Fidlious Clan of Wong) @ Jul 29th 2008 10:45PM

Nintendo is famous for limiting software supply to keep demand at a premium. Couple this with the fact that GBA didn;t have their players choice releases until after DS launched (yes, I kid you not... Nintendo actually demanded $30 for Super Mario Advance for five years), and your hopes for players choice is dire indeed.

mr nimblewick @ Jul 29th 2008 11:29PM

"Nintendo is famous for limiting software supply to keep demand at a premium." Can you explain how this economic plan of yours works?

Seems to me they never dropped the price of that game because it kept selling well and they didn't have to.

AwesomeTown @ Jul 30th 2008 7:29AM

@Sheppy

Hell sometimes they don't even need to limit supply, and still no players choice. Look at Nintendogs. Still $30, over three years since release and 20mil copies sold.

Mr Khan @ Jul 29th 2008 9:30PM

There goes another hater argument

A good day

Chase @ Jul 29th 2008 9:43PM

Hey look, Ludwig's back. Wee!

Regarding Boom Blox, I have little idea as to why it hasn't sold more copies. It is a fun, cute game.

Autopsy15 @ Jul 30th 2008 5:15AM

He doesn't even know you.

Chase @ Jul 30th 2008 7:33AM

It near never hurts to be nice. ;]

WiNG [Life in a Game] @ Jul 29th 2008 10:04PM

I was hoping it bombed so I could get it for $15 on eBay.

Looks like I'll get No More Heroes now.

Ry @ Jul 29th 2008 10:06PM

Good to hear. Slow start but sold good in the long run, just like Mario and Sonic.

Kenology @ Jul 29th 2008 11:16PM

And it's only gonna sell more.

Seriously, people need to understand that Wii games tend to be less top heavy as PS3/360 games and have much bigger LEGS. Guitar Hero 3 anyone!? I stayed in the NPD top 10 longer than any other console version.

And that 60,000 copies of Boom Blox in NPD was only a weeks worth of sales.

I swear, the press is so anti-Wii that they don't even put things in context. They see an opportunity for Wii-bashing and they're just all over it.

Tim The Enchanter @ Jul 30th 2008 10:38AM

YOU were in the NPD? How did it feel?

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 29th 2008 11:49PM

Somebody fill me in on how I can download other levels people have created!

Please!

TwEE @ Jul 29th 2008 11:59PM

So now dose this disprove the whole "if this game doesn't get amazing sales in its first week, it proves quality 3rd party games will never sell on the wii" argument?

It was bad when fanboys used that argument in flame wars, (but who gives a shit I say eagles are cooler then sharks all the time), but when the enthusiast press/blogs said it, it seemed a little like wishfull thinking.

Roto13 @ Jul 30th 2008 12:06AM

After it sold so badly in North America during it's first month, EA said this was the kind of game that sells slowly but surely and will end up doing well in the long run. That makes sense. :P

In other news, I read somewhere that Japan has only bought 700 copies so far. xP

Shaq-Fu @ Jul 30th 2008 1:33AM

That sound you just heard, was most of the Joystiq staff and a few of the commenters eating large amounts of crow

Same thing with BWII. I didn't want to pay 50 bucks for an RTS with a ridiculously short campaign. So, I waited until EB started selling it for 30. Boom Blox is on my list behind Madden (shut up, its been almost 3 years since I bought one, anything they do in the game will feel new and different to me), and just ahead of Tiger and MLB Power Pros 08

BPM [MSN: BPMdotEXE @ hotmail.com] @ Jul 30th 2008 1:46AM

That's good to hear. It sounds like a great game from everything I've heard, but I don't feel like dropping 50 bones on it. 40? Maybe. 30? Definitely. 20? I'll run to the store if I have to.

TrojanGuy @ Jul 30th 2008 1:59AM

I still want to get this, but I also don't feel like a puzzle game is worth $50.

Brucie B @ Jul 30th 2008 8:02AM

AWESOME GAME!!!

I have 1 problem with it tho, It should of been ONLINE!!
To be able to battle online, not just share maps. Would made this game an Smash Hit!!!

Markez (MKWii 4339-2878-5120) @ Jul 30th 2008 9:52AM

How do you share maps, or download ones others have created?! I must know!

Kersh @ Jul 30th 2008 10:33AM

Still very glad I paid full price for this game. I have Mario Kart, SSBB, Wii Sports and other multiplayer games, but this one is far and away the most popular when people come over to drink. It's just way too easy to pick up and go. Even my roommate (girl) and my girlfriend (girl) are huge fans of it.

Even if I don't give it tons of play time, I'm happy to know that there is something there that everyone can enjoy, and I don't have to explain how powersliding or getting the smash ball works.

Also, it's like tailor made for drinking games. I would highly recommend this game to anyone that has friends. It's not a puzzle game, it's a party game.

Tim The Enchanter @ Jul 30th 2008 10:41AM

Good to hear. Something truly good and innovative should not go unnoticed. I'm hoping to pick this up soon!

Shagittarius @ Jul 30th 2008 11:35AM

What part of 160k sales lifetime in the US is a success?

I guess if your really looking for a way to claim its doing well you can spin anything positive.

I mean people claim PS3 games are a bomb if they don't sell a million in the US yet there are way more Wiis than PS3s.

Oh well, Spin Doctor its just oh so sad.

Tim The Enchanter @ Jul 30th 2008 12:27PM

lol... What time is it? It's 4:30

copres @ Jul 30th 2008 12:32PM

its a puzzle game, dude. that genre isnt exactly known for having monster hits. did you expect Halo 3 or MGS4 type of sales numbers? seriously?

for a puzzle game, it has done fairly well.

Alzheimers @ Jul 30th 2008 12:42PM

When the news hit that BB would feature Johnny Lee's headtracking system, I was completely sold on the game. Once that feature was removed, I was disappointed and promised I would never give them my money. The lukewarm reviews after it launched and poor sales justified that choice, at the time

Eventually, accounts from the people actually playing and posting about the game were pretty much "Hey, it doesn't suck! It's actually got all these features that nobody mentions that are really fun once you do the tedius work of unlocking them."

So I was able to get it as a gift, and you know what? It doesn't suck. It's not the greatest $49 dollars ever spent, but on par with games like Elebits in that it's not the typical shovelware you see on the Wii shelf.

The three biggest gripes against BB are:

1) That all the good stuff is buried beneath several hours of unlocking, which is bad in this case because BB is a PARTY Game meant to be played multi-player and the act of "unlocking" those modes via single player is WRONG and BAD.

2) They artifically hyped up the game and then then let down the public with a Good-but-not-Revolutionary game.

3) The Wii's lack of any meaningful online capability totally neuters the possibility for community growth.