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MadWorld headed to Japan, not being published by Sega

by David Hinkle { Sep 11th 2009 at 7:15PM }

Even though Sega was kinda proud of MadWorld's initial sales performance, the company has decided it won't handle publishing duties for a Japanese version of the game. Famitsu reports that the game will be available in Japan sometime this Winter courtesy of Spike, a company well-versed in violent video games. Hopefully it won't get a crash course in lackluster sales.

[Via Go Nintendo]

Gallery: MadWorld

Some stuff is too violent even for MadWorld

by David Hinkle { Aug 17th 2009 at 3:45PM }

We're sure we don't have to tell you how violent MadWorld is. But, what you may not know is that some of the over-the-top violence originally conceptualized was a bit too violent for the game disc that's not been spinning in your Wii for the last few months. Past the break, you'll find a deleted finishing move, one we must warn you is one of the most violent things you will ever see. We know the majority of MadWorld is tongue-in-cheek, but this is like tongue-in-meat-grinder-while-being-stabbed kind of gruesome. Don't say we didn't warn you!

[Via Sega Nerds]

Continued →

Sega: Giving up on hardcore Wii games would be 'arrogant'

by JC Fletcher { Aug 13th 2009 at 7:40PM }

Sega's Mike Hayes assured Wired that the company still plans to make "core" games for the Wii, despite the relative lack of success of MadWorld. For one thing, its other games are doing well, in his opinion. "We actually regard The Conduit as a success," he said. "We shipped 300,000 units, sold through half of those and now it's at the point where it's selling consistently at a time when Wii sales are generally depressed in the marketplace."

Despite somewhat disappointing sales Stateside, Hayes also told Wired that The House of the Dead: Overkill "did really well in Europe." As for MadWorld, Hayes doesn't think one game's failure is enough to close up shop on the Wii. "The thing that we're saying is, Sega would be extremely arrogant to have a title that didn't do as well as we thought on a platform and then say, Those kind of games don't sell on that platform.'"

Quite a change from the Blast Processing / "Genesis Does What Nintendon't" days when Sega was extremely, demonstrably, arrogant.

Nintendo's Kaigler: Hardcore Wii game sales could go long tail ... maybe

by Ben Gilbert { Jul 29th 2009 at 2:15PM }

If there's one thing that Nintendo VP of corporate affairs Denise Kaigler knows, it's first-party game sales. In a recent Wired interview, she happily expounded on the "long tail" that Nintendo first-party games tend to enjoy (we're looking at you, anything with Mario in the title), though couldn't say as much for third-party sales on Wii -- especially those of the "hardcore" variety.

When asked about slow sales of critically acclaimed titles MadWorld and The Conduit, Kaigler said that both games could follow the non-traditional Nintendo sales trend (the aforementioned "long tail"), but her comments seemed rooted in speculation. "You know, I don't know ... it could be titles have the same type of sales curve that a lot of Nintendo titles have -- titles [that] don't follow that traditional sales curve where they launch big and then that's it." She said that Nintendo remains "hopeful" that the titles will move more units in the future, calling them both "deep experiences," though we're not sure those kind words will help soothe Sega's assuredly dented coffers.

Street Fighter IV, FEAR 2, MadWorld, more for $20 at GameStop

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 28th 2009 at 11:30AM }

Sometimes it's better not to ask questions, which is the approach we're taking with GameStop's sale on several solid titles for $20 new -- and not GameStop's definition of "new," but actually new. The sale started today, for both online and stores, and goes until August 2. Highlights include:

Street Fighter IV (Xbox 360 and PS3)
FEAR 2: Project Origin (Xbox 360 and PS3)
Silent Hill Homecoming (Xbox 360)
MadWorld (Wii)
Donkey Kong Jungle Beat (Wii)

The full list and more nitpicking details about the sale can be found over at CAG. Although many of the titles make sense as part of the sale (Lair), the big question is: Why Street Fighter IV? Is Capcom planning to announce a Turbo Hyper Fighting Alpha Remix Championship Beefcake Easy-Bake Snuggie Edition?

Update: We were curious to know if Capcom was invoved with the price drop. A company rep informed us, "We don't have input into these sales, they're entirely generated by Gamestop."

Hey, MadWorld is $20 on Amazon

by Justin McElroy { Jul 21st 2009 at 12:35PM }

If you act fast, you'll be able to grab Amazon's Deal of the Day, MadWorld on the Wii for $20. It's actually a very important moment in our ongoing love affair with you, the reader. Because if you're not willing to drop two sawbucks on what's easily one of the best action games for the Wii (not to mention its most black and white one) then we're not sure this relationship is going anywhere.

Don't cry, we can still be friends.

[Thanks, Gary!]

Sega considering more mature Wii titles, says Overkill was 'profitable'

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 30th 2009 at 4:15PM }

We loved the mother[expletive deleted] [expletive deleted] out of Sega's recent mature pair of Wii titles, House of the Dead: Overkill and MadWorld -- unfortunately, the same can't be said for the game purchasing population of the world. The two games' sales were far from stellar, but Sega isn't ready to give up on developing family unfriendly titles for Nintendo's home console.

In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Sega MD of European development, Gary Dunn, explained that the company's outlook on its two grown-up outings is far from grim -- he even claimed that "House of the Dead: Overkill was a profitable title." He went on to explain, "Whilst MadWorld commercially didn't sell what we were expecting I wouldn't say it's game over for mature Wii titles from Sega." Hopefully the company's persistence will be rewarded, if only to ensure a few dozen sequels to Overkill. (Overkill 2: Superfluous Murder, Overkill 3: The Overkillinest, etc.)

MadWorld soundtrack seeing physical, digital release June 30

by Randy Nelson { Jun 17th 2009 at 7:45PM }

Platinum Games' ultra-violent Wii debut, MadWorld, has a great soundtrack; it's just hard to hear with all the obscenities being dropped by commentators Greg Proops and John DiMaggio. Soon those who didn't pre-order the game will be able to land a pristine, vulgarity-free version of the soundtrack on CD or via digital distribution. Platinum Games has announced on its official blog that the album will be available to order in both forms on June 30. It'll run $15.99 from Sumthing.com and include 20 tracks, none of which are "Mad World" by Tears for Fears or the Gary Jules cover featured in Donnie Darko.

[Via GoNintendo]

MadWorld, HotD: Overkill now $30 on Amazon

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 18th 2009 at 2:15PM }

Sega's MadWorld and House of the Dead: Overkill are currently being sold at $20 off at Amazon. It doesn't appear to be a flat-out price drop for the two games, which have sold ... well, that's up for interpretation. We've also noticed that MadWorld is currently $30 in-store at GameStop.

Remember: Purchasing these titles will get more M-rated games on Wii and further research into splicing wings on pigs.

Source - Amazon-MadWorld Price Drop [GoNintendo]
Source - MadWorld, Overkill $30 on Amazon [CAG]

Sega swag up for grabs this Friday (includes MadWorld, NiGHTS stuff)

by Alexander Sliwinski { May 7th 2009 at 10:45AM }

Prepare thy selves, Twitter fiends, as @SEGA is giving away goodies as part of its #FreeStuffFriday. The items up for the taking are:

MadWorld Wii decal set, soundtrack CD and poster signed by the PlatinumGames team.
OutRun Online Arcade t-shirt (size large) and free game code.
Bleach Kon plushie and Nintendo DS stylus.
Nights: Journey of Dreams soundtrack CD sampler, wristband and a SEGA sweet.
Football Manager "Gameplay > Polygons" t-shirt (size large) and a SEGA lip balm.
A grow-your-own venus fly trap plant and a SEGA lip balm.

To win the items, Twitter users need to follow @SEGA, which will follow them in return. During Friday, the account will announce the package, along with a "special code phrase." The first follower to direct-message the phrase will win the pack. Sounds simple enough ... unless the "fail whale" shows up.

MadWorld places relationship between online hype and actual sales in doubt

by Ben Gilbert { Apr 29th 2009 at 4:25PM }

Analytics firm OTX Research seems to already be making a name for itself after announcing intentions last month to track game sales. Speaking at the LA Games Conference, OTX's Nick Williams explained the surprisingly weak connection between strong online awareness of a game versus actual, hard sales numbers, citing Sega's recently released MadWorld as a striking example.

Noting the game's top position among IGN.com's games with the "highest level of unique interest," MadWorld came in at a paltry number 41 using OTX's "GamePlan" metric, a system that measures "1,000 gamers on a weekly basis, tracking 400 games at any given time." This translates to a bleak eight percent of Wii owners having even heard of the title, much less purchasing it (that's .32 percent according to April's MadWorld sales data compared with the 20 million Wii owners in the US currently). Hmm, we wonder what that data would look like for Grand Theft Auto's recent foray onto Nintendo's massively popular handheld!

It took an awful lot of numbers right there to explain an idea we've all quietly agreed upon for so long now -- hype and marketing in the "hardcore" gaming world doesn't necessarily equal copies moving at retail. Now, if you'll excuse us, we'll be over here playing BlazBlue.

Dead Space Extraction producer confident about sales despite GTA: Chinatown Wars

by JC Fletcher { Apr 27th 2009 at 9:02AM }

Steve Papoutsis, producer of Dead Space Extraction, isn't concerned about the disappointing sales of recent Mature-rated games on Nintendo platforms.

Talking to VG247 about MadWorld on the Wii and Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars on the DS, Papoutsis said, "I think that's happening because of what people are looking to buy, I guess." In contrast, "I think with our game right now I think we're hitting on something that's really interesting and really fun, and we're hitting on the atmosphere and the visuals that people have started to associate with Dead Space." It's hard to believe that Grand Theft Auto just wasn't what people were "looking to buy," and an unexplainable not-really-rail-shooter is, but he could be on to something! Or he could have just decided not to tell VG247 how scared he really was.

Papoutsis also extolled the cooperative play found in Extraction: "I love the Wii, I love Nintendo. I love all the platforms, but I really want something that I can play co-operatively on the Wii with a friend that hits that sweet spot I think Dead Space: Extraction is in."

Gallery: Dead Space: Extraction

Lazy waggling could damage your arm

by JC Fletcher { Apr 24th 2009 at 8:30PM }

Reading a New York Times article about repetitive stress injuries caused by the Wii is like taking a little day trip to 2006. In those days, Wii puns had just started to get old, and everyone discovered that repeated activity, even while playing a video game, can sometimes lead to injury.

This particular article features an angle we hadn't heard before: it's actually worse for your arms if you don't swing with the proper zeal. According to the article: "... a flick of the wrist is often enough to return a serve or bowl a strike. As several doctors pointed out, that is the exact motion - concentrating the force of a swing in the muscles of the forearm - that can cause tennis elbow."

Who knew -- even as you were committing graphic violence against fake dudes in MadWorld, you were mutilating your own arm?

Gallery: MadWorld

[Via MTV Multiplayer]

MadWorld 3D screens (3D glasses not included)

by Richard Mitchell { Apr 20th 2009 at 8:15PM }

Nintendo Everything has posted a batch of 3D screenshots of Sega's gore fest, MadWorld. Now, to be clear, these are not the 3D screenshots that you open on your computer and spin around with your mouse. Nope, you'll need to break out the old red and blue glasses for these. If you happen to have a pair lying around -- and who doesn't? -- Nintendo Everything promises a working 3D experience.

If you don't have any 3D glasses, try this: Stick your face directly against your monitor and cross your eyes as hard as you can*. It won't make the image appear three-dimensional, but it's guaranteed to give you one helluva headache.

*Don't do this. It's bad for your eyes. Seriously.

MadWorld sells 66K in March, Sega oddly pleased

by David Hinkle { Apr 17th 2009 at 11:50AM }

Call us crazy, but we always thought that the idea behind making games was to sell tons of copies. Not so for Sega, as it seems weirdly satisfied with MadWorld's lackluster sales, based on comments to Gamasutra. Debuting early in March, Platinum Games' over-the-top brawler managed to move 66,000 copies, despite generally positive reviews.

Sega's other M-rated title on Wii, House of the Dead: Overkill, also managed to have a sub-par debut, selling 45,000 copies during February. What does this say for The Conduit, the third of Sega's big games for Wii? Could Sega's gamble on the mature audience of Wii gamers been a poor move? All signs are pointing to "yes" right about now ... but Sega seems to disagree!