Halo: Reach, New Super Mario Bros. top software sales for 2010 (so far)

by Griffin McElroy on Oct 21st 2010 12:00AM

Gamasutra recently pieced together NPD data for the first nine months of 2010 to give us a look at the top-selling software of the year so far. Though the data doesn't combine the sales of multiplatform titles -- which might affect the landscape of the chart -- the results are a little perplexing. (And not just because half of the games therein were released in 2009.)

Halo: Reach is leading the pack so far, followed by New Super Mario Bros. Wii, which is so, so old. Also, the 360 version of Red Dead Redemption made the list, but not the PS3 version. Even more confusing than that: Pokémon SoulSilver made the list, while Pokémon HeartGold did not. What earthly reason could there possibly be for that? Did consumers think that gold would be more gaudy than silver?

Source: Gamasutra

Tags: ds, Halo-Reach, microsoft, nintendo, playstation, pokemon-heart-gold, ps3, red-dead-redemption, wii, xbox

Reader Comments (41)

Halo Reach? That's a first.

@Pandaman fail

@Pandaman

Well Obviously considering it was release in September.

@Pandaman

you're absolutely right, it is in first place. good eye!

Everyone just remembered that silver was way better than gold...

I prefer the color silver, but my wee sibling opted for Soul Silver, so I picked up Heart Gold.

Gold owners represent.

@GiantGamer RACIST!

@darkinchworm

I've picked Gold both times, though after I lost my original copy of gold I bought a silver one. I've just always liked Ho-oh.

@Liquidfingers I just turned 23 - uh oh, I'm releasing personal info on Joystiq - and I've fallen in love with Pokemon, though not nearly to the point where I could name them all off or anything super-devoted like that. If you can overcome the repetition and the cute, cartoony nature, Pokemon is crack.

Obviously SoulSilver is the sellout mainstream Pokemon and HeartGold is still underground and cool.

@Perfidious Sinn

/cracks open a PBR

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze That's hard to do when you're riding your fixie.

Good thing Nintendo systems don't sell software or this chart would be completely Wii and DS dominated.

@A Sandwich

You're totally right. Just marvel at all the third party Wii games on that list.

@embassy
Your point is moot until a third-party puts as much work into a Wii game as they do into Halo: Reach or Red Dead Redemption.

@A Sandwich

The Conduit 2?

Had a much larger install base to draw upon, had the backing of a well known third party publisher, had the whole "most complete/best FPS in design" thing going on for it before release, had the graphics argument covered, (mostly) had the control style argument covered, and more.

Last I recall it sold enough for them to consider a sequel, but nowhere near enough to compete with any top sales spots.

@sonicspike41

By which I clearly meant The Conduit (1) and not Conduit 2.

Wow that Wii is a damn money factory.

I have to say, that Wii Fit is much more addictive than other workout games, such as Yourself Fitness, or the PS2 Eyetoy one I can't name, even though I played it for a few months.

I am not a big fan of the Wii, but I understand why Nintendo is making so much money.

@Dustin F
I can't decide if Halo Reach being tops after one single month or Mario Wii being #2 despite being a year old is more impressive.

@Pandaman

I think given the massive marketing of Halo Reach, anything short of super high sales is a failure.

I also suspect the game cost way, way more to make (and I'd even bet it's a more interesting game, though I'm a PS3 gamer).

Games that wouldn't sell for $10 on the PSN are still $50 for the Wii, and they are still moving titles like crazy. And I don't pretend this is unfair or an injustice. Nintendo has built brand loyalty.

@Dustin F

Not that I care, but if marketing == successful sale all the time then everyone would be doing it. Halo just has too much grip in Northern American psych. Halo: reach's one month sales figure to beat the Mario's sales figure is just insane.

@huffhuffhuff

I agree. Halo is a product that couldn't be so successful if it wasn't high quality. However, the marketing is a big part of it.

You're right that its success is simply impressive. It's a very successful venture, handled well on many levels.

@huffhuffhuff
You have to take into consideration that Mario's BIGGEST sales numbers occurred LAST year during the 2009 holiday trail. What I was simply stating was that from January 2010 and on, it STILL is #2 over anything except Halo Reach.

Crazy.

Im not sure if even Halo Reach will start over again on January 2011 at 0 copies sold and be the best selling game for another 8 or 9 months running.

@dxrebirth

Now if only CoD buyers would do the same thing...

COD buyers the same? Of course it's the same game it's a FPS but it is still incredibly fun and you sound like a simpleton to think the millions upon millions that love and play the COD series everyday don't understand what you think you do.

Get a Clue....

@GamerTrekster If it's still fun then why would you re-buy it?

Galaxy 2 is such a better game than NSMB Wii. I can't believe it gets outsold so badly.

I agree. Love them both though. I'd imagine it's all to do with the appeal of the multiplayer.

@copa

Disagreed. I found NSMBWii as simple fun and it excelled. IMO, Galaxy 2's epic atmosphere and all didn't work that well. I genuinely preferred the original.

@copa

I have both games and I prefer Galaxy 2, myself. It's actually one of my favourite games of the year. BUT I can play NSMBWii with my wife and friends who aren't gamers. It's a total throwback that can be played and enjoyed equally by both beginners and pros. I can understand why it sells like crazy.

@Esposch

I agree with you. I am a hardcore Nintendo apologist, and have spanked every Mario game ever. In the end I found NSMB: Wii alot more appealing than Galaxy 2.

I prefer NSMBWii myself, and hope its success drives more retro/2D games with better/HD graphics into mainstream.

Megaman 9/10, Sonic 4, Super Street Fighter II HD and Earthworm Jim HD are good starts. Would love to see a new 2D-for-consoles Zelda game.

I wouldn't even mind if Final Fantasy XV was high-res 2D on the PS3 than a new 3D title.

@Elranzer
I enjoyed Mario Bros Wii, but how can you deny the craftsmanship and production values of Galaxy 2? Still a contender for game of the year, easily.

@copa

I haven't played SMG2, but from what I played of NSMBWii it felt... different. While spending a few weeks out of town at a friend's house I tried both it and SMB3 on his Wii. NSMBWii felt more safe-ish.

It felt like they took all the familiar elements about the game and wrapped them in bubble wrap. I already knew I wasn't going to be fond of the change in music from hearing it in the trailer, but actually playing it it felt... just soft. I don't know what it was, it just didn't feel like the kind of game that had precision.

Obviously I'm probably alone in this regard, and I can't deny that it's a very very well made game, it just didn't appeal to me. (I played through all of world 1 and 2 maps of world 2, so I did play it long enough to form an opinion.)

Where's Mass Effect 2?! I thought that game sold really well :O.

Disappointing.

@WillyLo

Seriously, if you were to ask me this time last year, which would sell more? Mass Effect 2 or Red Dead Redemption? I would've said Mass Effect 2 without hesitation.

@WillyLo

....seriously? a game from bioware released only on xbox (pc isn't counted on this survey), compared to a release from the makers of grand theft auto on ps3 and xbox?

Wonder where StarCraft II would place on there.

@Chazzr

this survey tells you nothing about attach rate. wii games can sell more when up against ps3/360 games, but if the wii sells monumentally more (and it has), the attach rate would still be pretty low.

@Chazzr

Anti-Nintendo fanboys stopped talking about the attach rate when Reggie Fils-Aime told them it was higher than any other console this generation at E3. :P

Pretty pathetic showing for the PS3.

Halo: Reach

Halo: Reach, New Super Mario Bros. top software sales for 2010 (so far)

Reader Comments (41)

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 12:02AM Pandaman said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 1:09AM Riley said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 2:30AM The MARIO said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 7:06AM Puertoricarious said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 12:07AM B3astofthe3ast said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 12:11AM darkinchworm said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 1:43AM logicplay said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 2:49AM dudes113 said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 12:13PM darkinchworm said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 12:19AM Perfidious Sinn said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 12:24AM Ezio Auditore da Firenze said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 11:08AM noyesa said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 12:20AM A Sandwich said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 7:22AM embassy said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 9:17AM A Sandwich said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 11:13PM sonicspike41 said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 11:13PM sonicspike41 said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 12:27AM Dustin F said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 1:00AM Pandaman said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 2:45AM Dustin F said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 7:06AM huffhuffhuff said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 2:07PM Dustin F said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 3:45PM Pandaman said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 12:50AM Xcrucio said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 1:08AM GamerTrekster said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 11:10AM noyesa said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 1:18AM copa said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 2:09AM Epoque said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 4:09AM Esposch said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 9:49AM Uncle Jesse said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 2:22PM Co said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 3:40PM Elranzer said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 3:47PM Pandaman said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 11:21PM sonicspike41 said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 1:24AM WillyLo said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 4:19AM Mirhderer said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 7:08AM Puertoricarious said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 3:35AM LGscoundrel said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 7:09AM Puertoricarious said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 8:31AM Mr Fister said

Posted: Oct 21st 2010 11:01AM xXHexagonXx said

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