Scribblenauts achieves noteworthy 194K sales in September
by JC Fletcher 
{ Oct 20th 2009 at 7:30PM } 
We asked 5TH Cell creative director Jeremiah Slaczka if it met his expectations. "I didn't have any expectations," he told Joystiq. "I just hoped it'd do well. It's awesome for a completely new, original 3rd party IP on DS to do so well."
Does this strong debut mean a sequel is guaranteed? "Way too early to tell that," Slaczka said. "We've only seen 2.5 weeks of sales." He told us that Drawn to Life, which went on to break a million worldwide, only sold 40,000 copies in its first month, with one more week of sales in that month.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
captainprotonx @ Oct 20th 2009 7:35PM
Well deserved numbers.
Wardo @ Oct 20th 2009 7:38PM
Fantastic concept, flawed execution. Still very entertaining all things considered.
Plus I got my rooster hat!
Adv2k1 @ Oct 20th 2009 7:45PM
I hope this is encouragement for more developers to take risks. This is exactly why I bought a DS to play games like Scribblenauts that are unique, fresh, new and something that wouldn't play or be the same on any other console or handheld.
lnternetjesus @ Oct 20th 2009 7:59PM
You're right the game is very fresh and unique, I've never experienced such a fresh unique take on horrible godawful controls in years.
KaBob799 @ Oct 20th 2009 8:16PM
I didn't have many problems with the controls but it just seems so popular to act like they were the worst thing ever.
Josh @ Oct 20th 2009 11:03PM
You know how people are online.
esposch @ Oct 21st 2009 1:49AM
@ Jesus:
2 Words: Conker's Bad Fur Day
OK, that's 4, but you get the point.
I stopped playing that game because of bad controls.
Scribblenauts is just a bit blegh, that's all.
greenpangolin @ Oct 21st 2009 5:20AM
So I'm the only person who didn't find the controls awkward? I thought they were pretty good for controlling flying vehicles. They just take a bit of getting used to, that's all.
AerialAngel @ Oct 20th 2009 7:47PM
Honestly i didn't expect the game to reach that high of numbers. But very nice they did.
Blue_Falcon @ Oct 20th 2009 7:48PM
I gave up on playing it after the second or third day. I really wanted to like it, but some things just completely killed my interest along the way.
commen-cents @ Oct 21st 2009 2:32AM
i agree... its extremely frustrating when you know a solution should work but the game cant recognize it. i played up to the 5th world but im not really feeling an itch to play it anymore, or ever again for that matter.
lnternetjesus @ Oct 20th 2009 7:57PM
Shit sales this is proof.
AerialAngel @ Oct 20th 2009 8:22PM
"That's 105,000 more copies than Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars moved in its first month."
It did better then grand theft auto. How is that shit sales? You just have a shit comment.
AerialAngel @ Oct 20th 2009 8:22PM
*than
(Please joystiq. "edit" option)
rkrocks123 @ Oct 20th 2009 8:23PM
I think he meant to say "Shit sells".
Yeah, I speak idiot...
Special Agent Steve @ Oct 20th 2009 8:45PM
Or, was he saying "This is the shit, sales=proof"? ? ?
Das Boot @ Oct 20th 2009 8:56PM
COMPUTER HACKER
(Clicks and drags Hacker to Joystiq, locates internetjesus.)
AIRPLANE
AIRPLANE PILOT
(Flies to internetsjesus' house.)
NITROGLYCERIN
NAPALM
(Sets fire to said persons house.)
The solution; Scribblenauts Style.
Special Agent Steve @ Oct 20th 2009 9:14PM
I was never able to do that in Scribblenauts... DID I GET A REVIEW COPY???
shadowhowl1900 @ Oct 20th 2009 8:02PM
would it be possible to get a Iphone or PC version of this game? the game sounds really good
Ashitaka @ Oct 20th 2009 8:18PM
Yeah, I'd really like an iPhone version since I don't want to buy a DS just for it.
I doubt the controllers would be any better though :/
INNUENDO 64 @ Oct 21st 2009 1:34AM
The iPhone has a harder time being as precise as the ds because fingers and thumbs are fatter than a stylus.
oh and no buttons
bm @ Oct 21st 2009 11:12AM
Just swallow your misplaced fanboy pride and buy a DS, there are so many countless great games on it that there is bound to be enough for anybody's tastes. There's really no excuse not to have one.
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 20th 2009 8:11PM
Glad it's selling, know if you excuse me I'm gonna play some Mario and Sonic Winter Olympics on my DS.
Das Boot @ Oct 20th 2009 9:07PM
Man, your power is REALLY showing.
Special Agent Steve @ Oct 20th 2009 9:15PM
Know if youl excuze moi, me have some explainin too deux.
That's right, TWO French words.
WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 20th 2009 9:32PM
Oh no! he is very happy about the fact that a interesting new idea is being rewarded and selling accordingly gathering fans and attention but what is this? is he playing another DS game? COMMENCE DOWNVOTING!!!
Cypher @ Oct 20th 2009 8:25PM
It would probably be higher... WITH D-PAD CONTROLS. (yes, I'm bitter)
HighFiveJesus @ Oct 20th 2009 8:50PM
i still want to get drawn to life. looks more interesting than this
RupeeClock @ Oct 20th 2009 9:06PM
With the amount of support Nintendo gave the game, even with direct statements from Reggie and a Nintendo World Store launch, I'm surprised it didn't sell more.
Was it the R4s, or the fact it just happened to be a very flawed game that would've been much better off on PC?
esposch @ Oct 21st 2009 2:25AM
Neither, it's just the way the DS's sales works. It'll keep selling 194k every month for a year.
gLitterbug @ Oct 20th 2009 10:32PM
Wait, did I just read that Drawn to Life sold a mill? So why does he still only get a year development time for a game and complains about it, pondering what he could do with 2 years?
Seriously I'd love to see what he COULD do with 2 years, since flaws like the controls in Scribblenauts aren't something you polish away, but should find out from playing your protoype build.
I also wonder about the long term sales, since the game got a ton of pre-sale hype and when everyone got his hands on it, you have a lot of people who openly regret buying it.
The Most Interesting Man in the World @ Oct 20th 2009 11:01PM
I'm not a Nintendo fan AT ALL but I bought a DS just for this game. Well worth it.
INNUENDO 64 @ Oct 21st 2009 1:38AM
do yourself a favor and buy moar games!
not that scribblenauts is not reason enough for a ds, but a little advance wars here and gta there wont hurt.
chrono trigger for dessert
esposch @ Oct 21st 2009 2:28AM
The World Ends With You!!!!
SoshiKitai @ Oct 21st 2009 3:22AM
If ya've got a friend with a DS, Rocket Slime is underrated in the VS-replayability.
I never get tired of that thing.
If you want to try an OK game from the same guys that made Scribblenauts, Lock's Quest is pretty coo. Nothing spectacular, but a good tower defense-type game.
Trauma Center, Hotel Dusk, Knights in the Nightmare, and Elite Beat Agents are definitely ones you have to pick up.
esposch @ Oct 21st 2009 4:46AM
Oh yeah, Rocket Slime too!
Great game, and RIDICULOUSLY cheap (AU$15 - new PS3/360 games being AU$100 for a quick currency conversion)
Meh @ Oct 21st 2009 10:42AM
GTA: Chinatown Wars. It's the best game on the DS EVER.
kyle hyde @ Oct 20th 2009 11:02PM
This was a good month for DS, four titles made it in the top 20 (mario & luigi, kingdom hearts 358/2, scribblenauts and profesor Layton and the diabolical) and with more than 130k sold units. But I stil want to know how much layton sold exactly, because their number of units is not marked, but something is sure, it was more than 134 k in september.
Snappy @ Oct 21st 2009 7:50AM
Still haven't gotten round to buying this. (finishing Brugal Legbone) This story makes me want it more. I don't Nintendo much so I'll adapt to these controls. Or will I.....
Diosoth @ Oct 21st 2009 12:22PM
So much for piracy and it's mythical ability to cause all games to be financial failures.