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Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[50 Cent: Blood on the Sand sales pale to Bulletproof]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/09/50-cent-blood-on-the-sand-sales-pale-to-bulletproof/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/09/50-cent-blood-on-the-sand-sales-pale-to-bulletproof/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/09/50-cent-blood-on-the-sand-sales-pale-to-bulletproof/#comments

50 Cent's latest game, 50 Cent: Blood on the Sand, hasn't been selling well, apparently. Kotaku reports the title has only managed to sell 1/12th as many copies as the rapper's first joint, 50 Cent: Bulletproof, which has sold nearly 1.2 million copies. The sequel has sold only 56,000 copies as of early April. Despite the fact it has received more critical acclaim than Bulletproof, consumers just don't seem to care about the trials and tribulations of a rapper chasing a crystal skull through the desert. Yeah, we don't get it, either.

We just hope the sales turn around. We actually want 50 Cent to make his sequel ... as long as there are plenty more points to be had.

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand sales pale to Bulletproof originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 09 May 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>50-cent50-cent-blood-on-the-sand50-Cent-BotS50-Cent-BulletproofbusinessGenuine-GamesMicrosoftsalessalesfiguresSierra-EntertainmentSwordfish-StudiosthqXbox-360Sat, 09 May 2009 01:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii passes 8 million sold mark in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/wii-passes-8-million-sold-mark-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/wii-passes-8-million-sold-mark-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/22/wii-passes-8-million-sold-mark-in-japan/#comments

Game hardware sales may be slowing down in Japan, with the Wii slowing down more, but Nintendo can still find milestones to celebrate. According to Enterbrain, the Wii has sold 8 million units in Japan as of April 19. Worldwide, the total number of consoles (shipped) passed 50 million last month. Compared to that, 8 million may not sound huge, but it's about 5 million units more than the PlayStation 3 sold as of last month.

Enterbrain also released a list of the top five Wii games in Japan and their life-to-date sales:

Wii Sports (3,481,469)
Wii Fit (3,301,373)
Wii Play (2,672,811)
Mario Kart Wii (2,218,756)
Super Smash Bros. Brawl (1,789,924)

[Via Kotaku]

Wii passes 8 million sold mark in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>japanNintendoover-9000salesfiguresWiiWed, 22 Apr 2009 16:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumor: WiiWare's sales threshold revealed]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/rumor-wiiwares-sales-threshold-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/rumor-wiiwares-sales-threshold-revealed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/20/rumor-wiiwares-sales-threshold-revealed/#comments

Since the very existence of a minimum sales target for WiiWare games, under which developers don't receive any payment, is itself rumor, these specific numbers given to Kotaku by an unnamed dev are, like, double rumor.

According to Kotaku's source, the thresholds vary by region and filesize. In North America, a WiiWare game over 16MB must sell 6,000 units for the developer to see any payment. This number drops to 4,000 units for games under 16MB. In Europe, it's 3,000 for games over 16MB and 2,000 for games under 16MB.

Those sound like pretty small numbers, which seem like they shouldn't be a problem for most developers -- although we've heard some pretty distressing stuff about WiiWare sales.

Rumor: WiiWare's sales threshold revealed originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Apr 2009 10:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>NintendosalesfiguresthreholdWiiwiiwareMon, 20 Apr 2009 10:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Surprise! Nintendo dismisses WiiWare sales threshold as 'rumour and speculation']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/surprise-nintendo-dismisses-wiiware-sales-threshold-as-rumour/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/surprise-nintendo-dismisses-wiiware-sales-threshold-as-rumour/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/15/surprise-nintendo-dismisses-wiiware-sales-threshold-as-rumour/#comments

Whenever a topic comes up that Nintendo doesn't want to address, the company responds with, "We don't comment on rumors and speculation." Basically, anything other than a press release or recorded statement from an executive is considered rumor and speculation. MotionPlus release date? Rumors and speculation! A new DS model? Rumors and speculation! (Well, "research and speculation," just to keep it fresh!)

And so it is with the WiiWare sales threshold story presented yesterday. A Nintendo UK spokesperson told Edge that the information was "rumour and speculation." Technically, it's true to say that -- statements from unnamed developers really are rumors, just like estimates of Wii manufacturing costs are speculation. But it's no less frustrating. Even so, it's worth noting that the rep followed up not with a denial of the payment scheme, but, "The terms, conditions and contracts between Nintendo and developers is a private and confidential matter."

Surprise! Nintendo dismisses WiiWare sales threshold as 'rumour and speculation' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>developersindustryNintendorumorssalesfiguresWiiwiiwareWed, 15 Apr 2009 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: WiiWare sales threshold factors in dev profit]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/report-wiiware-sales-threshold-factors-in-dev-profit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/report-wiiware-sales-threshold-factors-in-dev-profit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/04/14/report-wiiware-sales-threshold-factors-in-dev-profit/#comments

Nintendo's WiiWare service has a minimum sales threshold set for each individual region, according to a new Gamasutra report. If indie developers fail to reach the established minimum sales mark, then they don't see one dime. Gamasutra speculates that the mystery figure is somewhere in the thousands for North America and Europe.

So is WiiWare still a worthwhile destination for indie developers to pursue? That's hard to say, as Wii's large install base and the relative ease of developing for the platform (both monetarily and architecturally) have to be appealing, despite the pressure of the alleged threshhold. One thing is certain, though: WiiWare developers should be relieved a storage solution is finally in place. Hopefully, that will prove to help more than one studio sell its wares.

Report: WiiWare sales threshold factors in dev profit originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdevelopersindieNintendosalessalesfiguresWiiwiiwareTue, 14 Apr 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Resident Evil 5 maintains UK sales chart lead]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/resident-evil-5-maintains-uk-sales-chart-lead/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/resident-evil-5-maintains-uk-sales-chart-lead/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/30/resident-evil-5-maintains-uk-sales-chart-lead/#comments

Capcom's Resident Evil 5 has been performing well in the UK (and all over the world). Ever since its release earlier this month, it's been selling like crazy. Well, the streak continues, as the game is once again top dog of the UK software world, beating out Wii Fit for top honors during the week ending March 28. With nothing much on the release calendar for the immediate future, we're willing to bet that another post like this will find its way onto our site next week.

Resident Evil 5 maintains UK sales chart lead originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>actionbusinesscapcomMicrosoftresident-evil-5salessalesfiguressurvival-horrorukXbox-360Mon, 30 Mar 2009 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[United Majinidom: Resident Evil 5 tops UK entertainment charts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/united-majinidom-resident-evil-5-tops-uk-entertainment-charts/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/united-majinidom-resident-evil-5-tops-uk-entertainment-charts/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/19/united-majinidom-resident-evil-5-tops-uk-entertainment-charts/#comments

A new U2 album released in the UK last week, but nobody really noticed, because they were too busy jaunting through bright, deadly Africa in Capcom's Resident Evil 5. As if besting megastar Bono wasn't a big enough accomplishment -- watch your back, Chris and Sheva; Bono doesn't like being number two (NSFW linkage) -- Capcom's game also managed to beat out all of the top 5 movies at the UK box office ... combined. It's likely to be a short-lived victory, however, as games rarely manage to have the staying power other forms of entertainment do in the UK. But, a victory it is nonetheless.

Looks like we know where Capcom is taking us in Resident Evil 6: Hull.

United Majinidom: Resident Evil 5 tops UK entertainment charts originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscapcomMicrosoftre5resident-evil-5salessalesfiguresukXbox-360Thu, 19 Mar 2009 15:09:00 EST<![CDATA[EEDAR predicts February NPD sales decline, Wii sales explosion]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/eedar-predicts-february-npd-sales-decline-wii-sales-explosion/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/eedar-predicts-february-npd-sales-decline-wii-sales-explosion/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/03/16/eedar-predicts-february-npd-sales-decline-wii-sales-explosion/#comments

The industry analysts at Electronic Entertainment Design and Research recently cast their assortment of oracle bones over some spreadsheets in an attempt to foretell NPD sales figures for the month of February. The firm's prediction is a tad on the grim side -- according to EEDAR, February software sales reached $659 million, a 2 percent decrease from last year's sales. They foresee a year-on-year decline for Spring 2009 sales as a whole, largely due to last year's glut of blockbuster Q1 releases, such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl and GTA IV.

EEDAR's hardware sales estimates are similarly un-rosy -- they predict year-on-year February sales for the PSP, DS and PS3 to fall over 10 percent. However, the firm does predict an 18 percent increase for the 360, and a whopping 68 percent jump for the Wii. With Wii Fit standing atop EEDAR's software sales chart, and with Wii Play presumably surpassing 10 million LTD sales as of last month, it seems Nintendo's license to print money is far from expiring.

EEDAR predicts February NPD sales decline, Wii sales explosion originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eedarfebruaryhardwarenpdsalesfiguressoftwareMon, 16 Mar 2009 15:43:00 EST<![CDATA[GTA IV's 'The Lost and Damned' found by many, many people]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/gta-ivs-the-lost-and-damned-found-by-many-many-people/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/gta-ivs-the-lost-and-damned-found-by-many-many-people/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/27/gta-ivs-the-lost-and-damned-found-by-many-many-people/#comments

Move over Bionic Commando: Rearmed and Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix, because there's a new top earner on Xbox Live, and it's GTA IV's "The Lost and Damned". Rockstar's Xbox 360-exclusive DLC pack featuring Johnny and his crazy motorbiking buddies has set a record on the service, as its first-day sales revenue has eclipsed all other titles that have debuted on Xbox Live (note: at $20, The Lost and Damned is also more expensive than the previous record holders). Sadly, exact sales figures aren't given, so we don't know how much Microsoft and Rockstar have made off the DLC yet. When we know, we'll be sure to let you know.

GTA IV's "The Lost and Damned" DLC pack is available now on Xbox Live Marketplace for 1600

.

Gallery: Grand Theft Auto IV: The Lost and Damned DLC

GTA IV's 'The Lost and Damned' found by many, many people originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 10:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessdlcgrand-theft-autogrand-theft-auto-ivgta-ivMicrosoftrockstarsalessalesfigurestake-twothe-lost-and-damnedxblXbox-360xbox-liveFri, 27 Feb 2009 10:18:00 EST<![CDATA[GameStop sales reach $8.8b in 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/gamestop-sales-reach-8-8b-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/gamestop-sales-reach-8-8b-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/gamestop-sales-reach-8-8b-in-2008/#comments

In what is undoubtedly the next step toward enslaving all humanity, GameStop has reported a 24 percent increase in year-over-year sales to $8.8 billion in 2008, making the $7.1 billion it earned in 2007 seem rather pedestrian. But before the company begins rounding us up and placing explosive collars around our necks, it'll need to increase profits in 2009 by a bit more ...

And GameStop expects to do just that, projecting a sales increase between 10 and 12 percent this year. GameStop expects to raise store sales growth between 4 and 6 percent and will open 400 new stores worldwide this year. Our suggestion to you: Start stockpiling food and weapons and prepare for the coming war -- GameStop should be able to employ its mercenary army by early 2013.

Essential reading: Counting Rupees: Feeling Used

GameStop sales reach $8.8b in 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessgamestopsalessales-figuressalesfiguresThu, 19 Feb 2009 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo also wins at advertising]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/nintendo-also-wins-at-advertising/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/nintendo-also-wins-at-advertising/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/19/nintendo-also-wins-at-advertising/#comments

Nintendo has made a business of manufacturing money printing machines, but how has it done in marketing those machines to people? Well, as you can guess from the title of this post, the company hasn't done too badly.

Phoenix Marketing International's Travel and Leisure Division conducted its Video Game Advertising Performance Index (AdPi) Audit and found Nintendo was the only gaming company in Q4 of 2008 to earn above average AdPi scores. The score, which determines effectiveness and impact in all three media categories (print, television and digital), shows that Nintendo has done a pretty good job of pushing its wares on the populace.

The highest-rated ads were:

In order to gauge the effectiveness of an ad, consumers were asked if they would buy the game, if the ad was worth watching again, and if the ad was inspiring or worth talking about. Well, we know of at least one ad that definitely fits the bill.

Nintendo also wins at advertising originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adpiadvertisingbusinessmarketingsalessalesfigureswii-fitwii-musicThu, 19 Feb 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mad Catz reports third quarter losses]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/mad-catz-reports-third-quarter-losses/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/mad-catz-reports-third-quarter-losses/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/16/mad-catz-reports-third-quarter-losses/#comments

Following a purr-fect second quarter, sales for Mad Catz's third quarter haven't been so good, as the peripheral manufacturer reported losses of $26.9 million for the period ending December 31. To help you wrap your mind around how big a loss this is, during the same period in 2008, Mad Catz reported net income of only $3.3 million. The company was pretty much down all across the board, with gross profit for the quarter down 16.7% to $10.5 million. Net sales were up, however, to $40.8 million, a 19% increase compared to the same period in 2008. Darren Richardson, president and CEO, places the blame on "provisions for increased inventory reserves, higher royalty expenses, increased costs due to added product development staff and higher shipment costs." In other words: business is tough.

Richardson says the inventory reserves were necessary due to the "uncertain state of the economy and the retail industry." Yet, from here on out, he remains optimistic, placing profit margins "no lower than the range of those experienced in our latest three and nine month periods." With hot items on the horizon like those RE5 accessories, how can the company not expect to do well?

Mad Catz reports third quarter losses originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesscontrollercontrollersmad-catzperipheralssalessalesfiguresMon, 16 Feb 2009 21:25:00 EST<![CDATA[DS sells 2 million in Korea]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/ds-sells-2-million-in-korea/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/ds-sells-2-million-in-korea/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/ds-sells-2-million-in-korea/#comments

The Wii has had a tough time in Korea, but the same cannot be said of the DS. The little handheld that could has sold over 2 million units in the region since it launched little over a year ago -- a surprise considering the company only passed the 1 million milestone last month. Keep it up, Koreans. You have excellent taste!

[Via Go Nintendo]

Source - Telecoms Korea (subscription required)

DS sells 2 million in Korea originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessds-litekoreanintendo-ds-litesalesfiguresTue, 03 Feb 2009 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[2008 showed World Tour defeat Rock Band 2 in sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/2008-showed-world-tour-defeat-rock-band-2-in-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/2008-showed-world-tour-defeat-rock-band-2-in-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/26/2008-showed-world-tour-defeat-rock-band-2-in-sales/#commentsFiled under: News

In 2008, Guitar Hero World Tour sold a lot of copies to anxious would-be rockers. Its competition, Rock Band 2, also sold a lot of copies, but, in the end, was not enough to best Activision's title. So, you want exact figures? Well, World Tour unloaded 3.4 million copies on consumers, across all platforms, whereas Rock Band 2 only sold 1.7 million, across all platforms, according to the NPD. Interesting stuff.

What we'd like to know, however, is how World Tour stacks up against Rock Band when including the first game into the mix. Has the Rock Band franchise sold more than 3.4 million units? Guess we'll have to wait and see on that one. Considering how well Rock Band did on Wii and other platforms, it would be very interesting to see them stacked side-by-side.

2008 showed World Tour defeat Rock Band 2 in sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbusinesseaguitar-heroguitar-hero-world-tourharmonixmtv-gamesmusicneversoftrhythmrock-bandrock-band-2salessalesfiguresworld-tourMon, 26 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii on track to beat PS2, PS3 selling like GameCube]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/wii-on-track-to-beat-ps2-ps3-selling-like-gamecube/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/wii-on-track-to-beat-ps2-ps3-selling-like-gamecube/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/22/wii-on-track-to-beat-ps2-ps3-selling-like-gamecube/#commentsFiled under: News

The fine folks at Venture Beat have been pouring over NPD data and have discovered one universal truth: Nintendo has sold a lot of video game consoles. Crazy, huh? We thought the same thing.

A closer dissection of the numbers shows the Wii is on pace to topple the PS2, as the Wii has outsold the PS2's comparable initial sales by 10 percent in its first 26 months of availability. In layman's terms, that means that the PS2's first 26 months on store shelves saw it unloading 15.9 million units in the U.S., whereas the Wii has sold 17.5 million here. If these sales continue, the Wii could sell 55 million consoles in America by 2014 and 154 million units worldwide. When you count up the money, that's like 257 hojillion dollars.

On the reverse side, the PS3 is performing much like Nintendo's last console did, the GameCube. The PS3 has sold 6.79 million units in the U.S. in its first 26 months, which is a hair more than the 6.75 million GameCubes that were unloaded on consumers. Of course, Nintendo finished in third last generation with that console, which made them rethink their approach and, inevitably, succeed this generation.

Wii on track to beat PS2, PS3 selling like GameCube originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessgamecubenpdps2ps3salessalesfiguressonysony-ps2sony-ps3Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:43:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo: 99% of 2008 industry growth is all us]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/nintendo-99-of-2008-industry-growth-is-all-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/nintendo-99-of-2008-industry-growth-is-all-us/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/19/nintendo-99-of-2008-industry-growth-is-all-us/#commentsFiled under: News

In this tough economy, it's nice to see that gaming has been relatively untouched, saved for all of those layoffs. Despite the weak economy, people are still buying games. Why? Well, if you ask Nintendo, it's all because of them.

Throughout 2008, Nintendo sold 10.17 million units in the U.S., claiming to be the first company to sell 10 million consoles in America in a single year. We're not sure if that, combined with DS sales and software, is enough to claim that you're 99% responsible for industry growth. But, Nintendo certainly has more money than anyone else, so we guess they can say whatever they want. We'd hate for them to pull another Alderaan if we questioned them.

[Via Joystiq]

Nintendo: 99% of 2008 industry growth is all us originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 16:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessnpdsalessalesfiguresMon, 19 Jan 2009 16:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Rock Band Wii sold more than any other version, RB2 not selling so well]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/rock-band-wii-sold-more-than-any-other-version-rb2-not-selling/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/rock-band-wii-sold-more-than-any-other-version-rb2-not-selling/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/16/rock-band-wii-sold-more-than-any-other-version-rb2-not-selling/#commentsFiled under: News

As much as we all like to complain about how Harmonix gimped Rock Band, not everyone thought it was so bad. The first Rock Band game has served over a million customers in 2008, with the Wii version of the game outperforming all other consoles. Odd, considering the game had practically no features.

As for Rock Band 2, it's been less of a success story. Since the game released in mid-December, it has managed to sell only 150,000 copies. Will it eventually catch up to the first game? Doesn't seem likely, but only time will tell.

Rock Band Wii sold more than any other version, RB2 not selling so well originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseaelectronic-artsharmonixmtv-gamesmusicrhythmrock-bandrock-band-2salessalesfiguresFri, 16 Jan 2009 15:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii owners exceed 14 million in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/wii-owners-exceed-14-million-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/wii-owners-exceed-14-million-in-europe/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/15/wii-owners-exceed-14-million-in-europe/#commentsFiled under: News

14.2 million people across Europe own a Wii, according to Nintendo of Europe. Over the course of 2008, Nintendo managed to unload 8.3 million Wii consoles which, when compared to 2007 sales figures, is a 58% rise in sales. Not too shabby, when you consider the console suffered from supply issues throughout the year.

Nintendo set a European record for annual sales for home consoles. Breaking it down even more, Nintendo managed to sell 2.9 million alone in 2008 in the UK, bringing the total there to 4.9 million. We're waiting on official word from Nintendo on worldwide sales figures, but it's expected to be more than 40 million. What's next for Nintendo? Moving their corporate HQ into a volcano and fighting superheroes? They've certainly got amounts of money only Supervillains ever see ...

Wii owners exceed 14 million in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseuropesalessalesfiguresukThu, 15 Jan 2009 12:41:00 EST<![CDATA[2K exec criticizes casual titles on Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/2k-exec-criticizes-casual-titles-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/2k-exec-criticizes-casual-titles-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/14/2k-exec-criticizes-casual-titles-on-wii/#commentsFiled under: News

2K Games Global President Christoph Hartmann doesn't see 2009 as a great year for casual publishers. He sees the console flooded in a flurry of casual games, what he dubs "crappy titles." He thinks that for every ten casual titles produced, publishers expect two to be hits, financing the other eight. The problem is that all of those titles flood the market, making it tougher for casual games to prosper and only servies to confuse consumers.

He points to his own 2K-published Carnival Games as an example. "Had we released it last week, it would have been much tougher," he says. "There's far too much stuff in the Wii market [now] and it's hard to shine."

Regardless of a game's focus, we've always been big advocates of fun. If a game is only a collection of minigames, it's fine so long as they're fun to play. We think even pushing for that ten can mean that more than two are engaging and not "crappy," as he puts it. What do you all think? Too many casual games out there?

[Via Joystiq]

2K exec criticizes casual titles on Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2kbusinesscarnival-gamescasualsalessalesfiguresshovelwareWed, 14 Jan 2009 14:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo dominates 2008 UK game sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/nintendo-dominates-2008-uk-game-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/nintendo-dominates-2008-uk-game-sales/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/nintendo-dominates-2008-uk-game-sales/#commentsFiled under: News

Mario Kart Wii was a popular title for the Brits and their neighbors, as sales data shows it to be the best-selling game in the UK under the category of "individual SKU" during 2008, topping a list that is comprised mainly of games available only on Nintendo gaming systems. Considering how many amazing games released over the course of this year, we believe this to be quite the achievement

The Wii is just so darn popular over there. So popular, in fact, that the top 5 best-selling games for the year were all on Nintendo platforms. Coming in at the second spot was Wii Fit, followed by Wii Play, Brain Training on DS, and our favorite game to poke fun at, Mario and Sonic at the Olympic Games. Full list is past the break.

Continue reading Nintendo dominates 2008 UK game sales

Nintendo dominates 2008 UK game sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessmariomario-kartmario-kart-wiisalessalesfiguresukMon, 12 Jan 2009 14:34:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero III first game to make $1 billion]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/guitar-hero-iii-first-game-to-make-1-billion/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/guitar-hero-iii-first-game-to-make-1-billion/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/12/guitar-hero-iii-first-game-to-make-1-billion/#commentsFiled under: News

You may recall a similar headline from the past, where the Guitar Hero franchise earned over $1 billion. Well, another milestone for Activision comes thanks to the previous title to release in the franchise, Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. That game alone has generated over $1 billion in sales, making it the first game in history to do so. The news was presented by Activision Publishing CEO Mike Griffith during a keynote speech at CES.

We're not sure how much an impact the Wii version itself has had, but consider it to be significant. The Wii version of the game has been very popular for quite some time now. Well, up until World Tour released, anyway.

Guitar Hero III first game to make $1 billion originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbusinesscesces-2009consumer-electronics-showguitar-heroguitar-hero-3guitar-hero-iiiguitarhero3musicrhythmsalessalesfiguresMon, 12 Jan 2009 11:47:00 EST<![CDATA[3 million copies of Wii Fit sold in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/3-million-copies-of-wii-fit-sold-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/3-million-copies-of-wii-fit-sold-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/07/3-million-copies-of-wii-fit-sold-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: News

The Japanese love themselves some Wii Fit, as the game has managed to sell 3 million copies in just a year of being available over there. Of course, selling 3 million copies of anything is incredibly impressive, but, for Nintendo, it's just another drop in the company's bottomless money well. Must be nice!

How many of you ended up snagging a copy of Wii Fit? Does it still get used in the house? Or is it gathering dust in some dark closet somewhere?

[Via Kotaku]

3 million copies of Wii Fit sold in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 14:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessjapansalessalesfigureswii-fitWed, 07 Jan 2009 14:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Play back on top of UK sales charts this week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/wii-play-back-on-top-of-uk-sales-charts-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/wii-play-back-on-top-of-uk-sales-charts-this-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/06/wii-play-back-on-top-of-uk-sales-charts-this-week/#commentsFiled under: News

Wii Play has finally regained its spot at the top of the charts in the UK, as it has bested previous top-seller Mario Kart Wii this week. Not since February of last year has Wii Play been the top dog in the UK, which is just plain surprising, if you ask us. Sure, we may not all agree on the bundle's worth, but it's still a pretty tempting package, especially to someone who hasn't even tried the bundled software for 5 minutes, gotten bored, and wandered off to make a sandwich.

Gallery: Wii Play

Wii Play back on top of UK sales charts this week originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesssalessalesfiguresukuk-chartswii-playTue, 06 Jan 2009 17:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii Sports best-selling game of all time?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/wii-sports-best-selling-game-of-all-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/wii-sports-best-selling-game-of-all-time/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/01/05/wii-sports-best-selling-game-of-all-time/#commentsFiled under: Rumors

Super Mario Bros. has been the best-selling game of all time for years now, but that throne may have been usurped by another Nintendo title: Wii Sports. According to VGChartz, Wii Sports has surpassed that coveted 40.24 million mark.

We're keeping this a rumor because, uh, it's VGChartz. They're never too good about sourcing their stuff and, to tell the truth, we've only ever heard one person claim their data was correct (it was in our interview with 2D Boy here). It's not that we don't believe Wii Sports could top the original NES game, we're just skeptical of VGChartz.

[Via Joystiq]

Wii Sports best-selling game of all time? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesssalessalesfiguressuper-mario-broswii-sportsMon, 05 Jan 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo dominates Amazon in 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/nintendo-dominates-amazon-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/nintendo-dominates-amazon-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/29/nintendo-dominates-amazon-in-2008/#commentsFiled under: News

The Nintendo Wii has been a hit since it released over two years ago. For popular retail site Amazon.com, Nintendo's latest console has been a big cash generator for Amazon during its time on the market, especially in 2008, as the site has released its 2008 best-of lists and guess what was the top-selling video game in 2008? You guess it: Wii.

Aside from being the top video game, Wii Fit enjoyed the best reviews through 2008, as well as being the product most wished for by users. Last, but certainly not least, was Mario Kart Wii (with Wii Wheel), which was the item gifted the most by Amazon users throughout this year. In the end, Nintendo ended up being

Nintendo dominates Amazon in 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 18:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonbest-of-2008businessmariomario-kartmario-kart-wiisalessalesfigureswii-fitMon, 29 Dec 2008 18:35:00 EST<![CDATA[EA cutting 10% of its work force]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/19/ea-cutting-10-of-its-work-force/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/19/ea-cutting-10-of-its-work-force/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/19/ea-cutting-10-of-its-work-force/#commentsFiled under: News

Publisher EA has hit some tough times, as the company has detailed plans to restructure itself and release 10% of its workforce by March 31, 2009. That 10% comes down to about 1,000 jobs, so it's nothing small. And, part of that 10% includes EA Black Box, the developers behind Need for Speed, Skate, and its Wii port, Skate It.

Black Box aren't the only ones affected, however, as EA will be closing nine studios and publishing locations overall. The remainder of Canada-based Black Box will be merged with another EA Canada studio, based out of Burnaby, BC.

[Via Joystiq]

EA cutting 10% of its work force originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-boxbusinesseaelectronic-artrecessionsalessalesfiguresFri, 19 Dec 2008 17:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft: It's not hopeless for third-party devs on Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/ubisoft-its-not-hopeless-for-third-party-devs-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/ubisoft-its-not-hopeless-for-third-party-devs-on-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/11/ubisoft-its-not-hopeless-for-third-party-devs-on-wii/#commentsFiled under: News, Interviews

The biggest competition for a third-party developer on Wii is, obviously, Nintendo. But, that doesn't mean it's hopeless. Ubisoft is just one of the third-party developers that have found success on the console. How? Through strategic and careful planning.

"We saw that at the end of this year, there were not so many Nintendo products, and we thought there was a window of opportunity," said Ubisoft CFO Alain Martinez at the UBS Global Media Conference this week. "I believe to date, Nintendo is about 30-35 percent market share. So that means if you are aggressive, and if you come up with the right products, you can gain market share there." Because of this, the company expects Shaun White Snowboarding and Raving Rabbids TV Party to sell 1 million and 1.5 million units each, respectively.

It's not like Nintendo is making it so that third parties need to wait for the stars and planets to align, however. "Nintendo is surely not making it impossible for people to make good games [on its systems]," Martinez added. "They've been helping us make games. So it's up to us."

Of course, this isn't to say that Ubisoft has had nothing but luck with the Wii. They've tried to pile some stinkers on us in the past. But, monkey see, monkey do. The more successful third-party developers are on Wii, the more it attracts others to reach for their own slice of that pie.

Ubisoft: It's not hopeless for third-party devs on Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 11 Dec 2008 15:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balance-boardbusinessraving-rabbidsraving-rabbids-tv-partyraymansalessalesfiguresshaun-whiteshaun-white-snowboardingubisoftThu, 11 Dec 2008 15:44:00 EST<![CDATA[DS Lite breaks its own UK sales record]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/ds-lite-breaks-its-own-uk-sales-record/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/ds-lite-breaks-its-own-uk-sales-record/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/10/ds-lite-breaks-its-own-uk-sales-record/#commentsFiled under: News

The DS is an amazing little handheld. People have been snatching up all models steadily for many years now. This week, so many people bought DS Lites that the handheld broke the weekly sales record in the UK.

ELSPA/GFK-ChartTrack figures show us that during the week ending December 6th, the DS managed to break its own record, which many of you might remember occured last year. The previous record, which was for 191,000 units over the span of a 7-day period, was no small feat.

DS Lite breaks its own UK sales record originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 15:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesssalessalesfiguresukWed, 10 Dec 2008 15:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Surprise! Walmart sold a lot of Wii consoles yesterday [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/surprise-walmart-sold-a-lot-of-wii-consoles-yesterday/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/surprise-walmart-sold-a-lot-of-wii-consoles-yesterday/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/09/surprise-walmart-sold-a-lot-of-wii-consoles-yesterday/#commentsFiled under: News

Well now, who could've expected this? Surely not us! We're not being sarcastic at all. Walmart promotes a healthy supply of Wii stock and, sure enough, the retail giant has sold a lot of consoles. Tens of thousands by Monday afternoon, in fact.

Spokesperson Ravi Jariwala said the company saw a "very strong response to the additional inventory" that Walmart sold online and that they blew through stock ranging in the "tens of thousands" by "early Monday afternoon." What's surprising, though, is that despite selling all of those consoles, they're still in stock on the retailer's site. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, then hit up this linkage. Or, you know, just bash Walmart in the comments.

Update: Looks like the consoles are out of stock now. Bummer.

[Via Gamasutra]

Surprise! Walmart sold a lot of Wii consoles yesterday [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessholidaysholidaze-2008salessalesfiguresstockwalmartTue, 09 Dec 2008 16:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii serious business during Thanksgiving week]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/wii-serious-business-during-thanksgiving-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/wii-serious-business-during-thanksgiving-week/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/08/wii-serious-business-during-thanksgiving-week/#commentsFiled under: News

Behold what the Wii can do when it's actually available to shoppers. During last year's Thanksgiving holiday week, the console shifted 350,000 units in the U.S., even though shortages were pretty major at the time. With more Wiis in stores this year, that number jumped to 800,000. In a single freakin' week. To put that in perspective, Nintendo sold 803,000 Wiis in the whole of October. Italics. Yikes.

Satoru Iwata broke the happy news in an interview with Reuters, adding that "When the economy is strong, people tend to buy three things from the top of their wishlist. But when things are bad, people often buy only the first thing on their list. Fortunately for us a lot of shoppers put our products at the top of their list." That's a pretty sizeable "nyah!" to the competition.

[Via Joystiq]

Wii serious business during Thanksgiving week originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black-fridaybusinessiwatamoneysalessalesfiguresthanksgivingMon, 08 Dec 2008 18:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Unsurprisingly, Wii Fit sells big on Black Friday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/unsurprisingly-wii-fit-sells-big-on-black-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/unsurprisingly-wii-fit-sells-big-on-black-friday/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/12/01/unsurprisingly-wii-fit-sells-big-on-black-friday/#commentsFiled under: News

Even though the Wii reigned supreme on eBay, other retailer sites saw crazy demand for Nintendo's fitness package, Wii Fit. For major retail site Amazon.com, the Wii and Wii Fit were the top-selling video game items throughout the day on Friday. On eBay-owned Shopping.com, the top searches were for Wii Fit and the Nintendo Wii. And during a season that is expected to generate $29 billion, that's a lot of green for Nintendo.

Any of you snag a Wii or Wii Fit to gift someone this holiday season?

[Via Gamasutra]

Unsurprisingly, Wii Fit sells big on Black Friday originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonblack-fridaybusinessebaysalesfiguresshoppingwii-fitMon, 01 Dec 2008 18:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Demand for Wii dying off in Japan]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/demand-for-wii-dying-off-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/demand-for-wii-dying-off-in-japan/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/28/demand-for-wii-dying-off-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: News

Even though the Wii has surpassed the 7 million mark in Japan, it would appear the console has lost some of its appeal there. During its first year on store shelves, the console sold an average of 386,000 units a month. In its second year since release, that figure is down 24% to 292,000 a month. With the holiday season upon us, the Wii would have to sell 2 million total units over the season to bring its average back up to where it used to be.

It's not just Japan, as well. The NPD figures have shown that the Wii has been selling less and less in North America, as well (although not in October, where Nintendo moved more consoles than in the last 4 months or so. Could this be the beginning of the end for the Wii? Well, with all of the games coming in 2009, we're inclined to think not.

Demand for Wii dying off in Japan originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessjapansalessalesfiguresFri, 28 Nov 2008 14:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Despite economy, gaming execs 'cautiously optimistic' about holiday sales]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/despite-economy-gaming-execs-cautiously-optimistic-about-holi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/despite-economy-gaming-execs-cautiously-optimistic-about-holi/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/despite-economy-gaming-execs-cautiously-optimistic-about-holi/#commentsFiled under: News

The gift of gaming may prove to be stronger than the current economic woes that plague the United States. Gaming executives spoke during the recent BMO Capital Markets conference, with even Nintendo's own Reggie Fils-Aime tossing his two cents into the mix, with each stating that they were generally optimistic about this holiday season.

"If I look at this from an industry perspective I think cautiously optimistic is quite appropriate," Fils-Aime told Reuters. "If I look at it from a Nintendo perspective, I would say very optimistic." With Wii Fit, as well as the popularity of the Wii itself, we'd say Nintendo has nothing to worry about. But, with the way things are, third-party publishers could have a tough time selling their Wii titles this holiday.

What do you all think?

Despite economy, gaming execs 'cautiously optimistic' about holiday sales originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessreggiereggie-fils-aimesalessalesfigureswii-fitFri, 14 Nov 2008 18:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Wii most popular platform for Guitar Hero: World Tour [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/wii-most-popular-platform-for-guitar-hero-world-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/wii-most-popular-platform-for-guitar-hero-world-tour/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/wii-most-popular-platform-for-guitar-hero-world-tour/#commentsFiled under: News

Update: RMC was kind enough to shoot us an email to notify that MTV has since updated their story as their figures were inaccurate. Turns out, the Xbox 360 version of the game won out. Bummer.

Wii owners love their Guitar Hero, as it's revealed that Guitar Hero: World Tour, the latest and greatest in the franchise, sold more on Wii than any other system. With the recent NPD numbers, MTV Multiplayer also secured exact sales figures for Activision's latest title. Across all platforms, Guitar Hero: World Tour sold 534,000 copies. Of those, 183,000 were for the Wii.

We know a lot of you were excited for World Tour up until release. Did you pick it up? Enjoy it, or found it isn't all it was cracked up to be?

[Via Go Nintendo]

Wii most popular platform for Guitar Hero: World Tour [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionbusinessguitar-heroguitar-hero-world-tourmusicrhythmsalessalesfiguresworld-tourFri, 14 Nov 2008 17:09:00 EST<![CDATA[October NPD: People still going crazy over Wii]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/october-npd-people-still-going-crazy-over-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/october-npd-people-still-going-crazy-over-wii/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/14/october-npd-people-still-going-crazy-over-wii/#commentsFiled under: News

You know what? To be honest, we kind of wish the NPD numbers weren't so predictable each month. We crave some excitement in our lives. We're not saying we want the Wii and DS to give up their top spots or anything, but some kind of change in the usual rigmarole would be nice. Oh well, maybe next month ...

- Wii: 803K

116K (16.89%)
- DS: 491K

45.8K (-8.53%)
- Xbox 360: 371K

23.8K (6.85%)
- PSP: 193K

45.1K (-18.94%)
- PS3: 190K

42.4K (-18.24%)
- PS2: 136K

37.5K (-21.61%)

Continue reading October NPD: People still going crazy over Wii

October NPD: People still going crazy over Wii originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesshardwarenorth-americanpdsalessales-figuressalesfiguressoftwareFri, 14 Nov 2008 12:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Nintendo sold 10.4 million Wiis in Europe so far this year]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/nintendo-sold-10-4-million-wiis-in-europe-so-far-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/nintendo-sold-10-4-million-wiis-in-europe-so-far-this-year/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/nintendo-sold-10-4-million-wiis-in-europe-so-far-this-year/#commentsFiled under: News

Sure, it may not be the 34.55 million shipped that the company has done in the U.S., but selling 10.4 million Wiis in Europe is no small feat. That's just so far this year, as well, and with a busy holiday season coming up, Nintendo is hoping many more will snag some of their products from store shelves.

Gaming is becoming quite the popular activity in the UK, as well as other parts of Europe, so it's no surprise to see that folks are hopping on the Wii bandwagon. It's affordable and fun, after all.

[Via gamesindustry.biz]

Nintendo sold 10.4 million Wiis in Europe so far this year originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businesseuropesalessalesfiguresFri, 07 Nov 2008 13:32:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero World Tour band kit might be hard to find this holiday]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/guitar-hero-world-tour-band-kit-might-be-hard-to-find-this-holid/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/guitar-hero-world-tour-band-kit-might-be-hard-to-find-this-holid/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/guitar-hero-world-tour-band-kit-might-be-hard-to-find-this-holid/#commentsFiled under: News

If you were thinking of hunting down a very expensive gift for that special someone this holiday season, the Guitar Hero: World Tour full band kit might not be the best option. During a conference call yesterday, Activision CEO Robert Kotick commented that the full kit has been "virtually sold out across the channel." He also admitted that his company might not be able to meet demand this holiday season.

So, if you're a mom that had exceptional children throughout this year, you might want to phone Santa and have him snatch one up as soon as possible. There's a good chance you won't see them on store shelves for a little while.

[Via Joystiq]

Guitar Hero World Tour band kit might be hard to find this holiday originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activisionactivision-blizzardbusinessguitar-heroguitar-hero-world-tourmusicrhythmsalessalesfiguresworld-tourThu, 06 Nov 2008 20:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Guitar Hero winning in 2008]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/guitar-hero-winning-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/guitar-hero-winning-in-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/06/guitar-hero-winning-in-2008/#commentsFiled under: News

Whatever happened to yo-yos, jax, and those wooden paddles with a rubber ball attached? It seems kids are entertaining themselves with this Guitar Hero thing these days, as Activision reported yesterday that their franchise had topped software charts for the first nine months of this year.

With Guitar Hero: On Tour doing so well on the DS, as well as Guitar Hero III selling on the Wii like gangbusters, the Nintendo consoles have pushed their fair share of Guitar Hero onto the public. With the release of World Tour late last month, as well as On Tour Decades releasing later this month, it looks like this is going to be a great year for Activision.

Guitar Hero winning in 2008 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 06 Nov 2008 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>businessguitar-heronpdsalessalesfiguresThu, 06 Nov 2008 14:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Report: Gaming to reign supreme in the UK]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/05/report-gaming-to-reign-supreme-in-the-uk/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/05/report-gaming-to-reign-supreme-in-the-uk/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/05/report-gaming-to-reign-supreme-in-the-uk/#commentsFiled under: News

When it comes to the UK, we really only know one person. So we've just assumed for the longest time that gaming was the bee's knees in the country. Turns out that folks living there have enjoyed other forms of entertainment for a long time. They're all starting to come around now, thankfully.

According to a report conducted by Verdict Research, gaming is poised to be the top form of entertainment there for the first time ever this year. The projections for sales figures show the games industry earning 4.64 billion pounds, compared to the 4.46 billion pounds the music and video industry is expected to generate. We wonder how much of that is thanks to the Wii?

So, UK readers, does this surprise you? Is gaming a big thing with your inner circle, or has gaming only recently become the activity of choice? How much of your own cash do you think is in that 4.64 billion pound figure?

Report: Gaming to reign supreme in the UK originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>britainbusinessenglandeuropereportsalessales-figuressalesfiguresukverdict-researchWed, 05 Nov 2008 16:22:00 EST<![CDATA[EA posts profits loss, cuts jobs]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/ea-posts-profits-loss-cuts-jobs/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/ea-posts-profits-loss-cuts-jobs/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/11/03/ea-posts-profits-loss-cuts-jobs/#commentsFiled under: News

It's no secret that EA has their hands in some interesting projects coming down the pipe. Skate It, Rock Band 2, and that horror game we're waiting for are just a few that immediately come to mind. Whether these will be a big success for the company or not, we will have to wait and see (well, you can pretty much guess the second game in that brief list will make them a bunch of cash).

They could use some success, though. The company is apparently at a loss for profits, as they're down during Q2 of this year, forcing the company to cut some jobs. Around 500 to 600 across all functions and locations, to be exact, as the company posted a loss of $310 million during Q2.

"Considering the slowdown at retail we've seen in October, we are cautious in the short term," said John Riccitiello. "Longer term, we are very bullish on the game sector overall and on EA in particular."

EA posts profits loss, cuts jobs originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 15:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>budgetbusinesseaholidayholidaysjob-cutsjob-losssalesfiguresMon, 03 Nov 2008 15:28:00 EST