Category: Wii

This Week’s Videogame Releases

This is a pretty huge week for the videogame business. In the short term, Halo Reach is out and it will surely be one of the biggest games of 2010. PlayStation Move is also out this week; while analysts are unsure of its short-term impact, Sony will be trying to make it a big deal for years to come. Lastly, Lord of the Rings: Aragorn’s Quest hits several platforms…which is great for gamers still living in 2004.

I know that some of you are buying Reach (thanks so much for those Amazon orders!). Anyone else want to fess up to their Halo purchases? Any other games on your wish list this week?

NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of August 2010

[Michael Buffer voice] Are you ready?!? And now…the top ten games…of August 2010 as cited by NPD Group. Let’s get ready to rumble!!! [/Michael Buffer voice] Here they are:

[Michael Buffer voice] Are you ready?!? And now…the top ten games…of August 2010 as cited by NPD Group. Let’s get ready to rumble!!! [/Michael Buffer voice] Here they are:

  1. Madden NFL 11 (Xbox 360): 920,000
  2. Madden NFL 11 (PS3): 893,600
  3. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii): 124,6000
  4. Mafia 2 (Xbox 360): 121,600
  5. New Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo DS): 110,400
  6. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
  7. Mafia 2 (PS3)
  8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)
  9. NCAA Football 11 (Xbox 360)
  10. Wii Fit Plus (Wii)

Nobody should be surprised that Madden topped the charts. I was very surprised that New Super Mario Bros. for DS made it back to the top ten. That’s pretty crazy. I’m happy for the peeps at 2K that Mafia 2 did well. On a petty note (and one that I can’t entirely explain), I’m please that Just Dance is nowhere to be found.

Any thoughts on August’s top ten?!? Shout it out in the comments section (please)!

NPD Console Hardware Sales Figures for August 2010

NPD Group has released its console sales figures for August 2010. August is a traditionally weak month for the business and the numbers reflect that. Check it out:

NPD Group has released its console sales figures for August 2010. August is a traditionally weak month for the business and the numbers reflect that. Check it out:

  • Xbox 360: 356,700
  • Nintendo DS: 342,700
  • Nintendo Wii: 244,300
  • PlayStation 3: 226,000
  • PlayStation Portable: 79,400

For the second month in a row, Microsoft has topped the charts. Although the Wii continues to be the market leader, it’s clear that it won’t be putting up numbers like it did in the past. The question is, will this pattern hold for the rest of the year? Since all of you are capable of being industry analysts, I’d love to hear your opinion. How do you think the console wars will play out for the rest of 2010?

Coffee Talk #209: Do You Care About Console Warranties?

While I was in Asia, Sony announced that PlayStation Plus customers are eligible for a discount on the PlayStation Protection Plan. The deal adds a bit of value to PlayStation Plus, but I was wondering how many of you care about console warranties. Certainly console buyers — especially new ones that were burned by the Xbox 360’s red ring of death — are more cautious these days, but does that translate into plopping down cash on something like the PlayStation Protection Plan or a Best Buy warranty?

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, 6′ 9″ Aloisia allegedly getting fired from NXT because of naughty photos, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. seemingly getting a pass for being a racist prick, or your U.S. Open picks, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

While I was in Asia, Sony announced that PlayStation Plus customers are eligible for a discount on the PlayStation Protection Plan. The deal adds a bit of value to PlayStation Plus, but I was wondering how many of you care about console warranties. Certainly console buyers — especially new ones that were burned by the Xbox 360’s red ring of death — are more cautious these days, but does that translate into plopping down cash on something like the PlayStation Protection Plan or a Best Buy warranty?

I’ve had amazing luck with consoles. My Xbox 360 Elite was the first and only console to die on me. With that in mind, I’ve never bought a console warranty — never felt the need to. That said, if the PlayStation 4 cost $600 and the PlayStation Protection Plan is still around…well, I might have to pull the trigger on that one.

Now it’s your turn! Kindly take the poll and share your thoughts on console warranties.

[poll id=”66″]

This Week’s Videogame Release

I’m still getting back into the swing of things in America, but as far as I can tell there’s only one interesting game out this week: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions. As a comic-book nerd and videogame nerd, I’m all over this one…except that the “Witch Hunt” DLC for Dragon Age: Origins is also out this week. Sorry Spidey, BioWare takes priority over you.

Any of you down with Shattered Dimensions? Perhaps there’s something else on your wish list for this week? Remember, with great power comes….

This Week’s Videogame Releases

The biggest release this week is, by far, 2K’s Mafia II for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The buzz on the game is strong and I’m expecting some cool things from this one. Hopefully it lives up to the hype. Hockey fans can hit the virtual ice…on the Wii with NHL 2K11. Last, and definitely least, is Grease for Wii. Yes, it’s a game based on that crap musical. I’m hoping one of you plays it just so you can regale me with stories (that are much more entertaining than the actual game…in my head, anyway).

As always, let me know if you guys and dolls are picking up any new games this week.

NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of July 2010

July’s best-selling games were also a bit on the Bizzaro side — at least to me. A lot of games that have made the list for the last year were knocked off by newcomers. Check it out:

  1. NCAA Football 11 (Xbox 360): 368,000
  2. NCAA Football 11 (PS3): 298,000
  3. Crackdown 2 (Xbox 360): 208,800
  4. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii): 193,000
  5. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Nintendo DS): 141,700
  6. Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360)
  7. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Wii)
  8. Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies (Nintendo DS)
  9. New Super Mario Bros Wii (Wii)
  10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (Xbox 360)

I’m so not interested in NCAA Football. That’s what I get for going to a Division III college with a crappy sports program. As a Harry Potter nerd, I’m pleased that the game is doing so well. As a fan of Japanese RPGs, I’m disappointed that Dragon Quest isn’t selling more — what’s wrong with you America?!? Despite the general disappointment in the game, Crackdown 2 made the top three.

Anything on July’s list surprise you? Out of curiosity, did any of you go to schools with legendary sports programs?

NPD Console Hardware Sales Figures for July 2010

July’s NPD numbers are the most interesting console sales figures in a long, long time. For the first time in three years (I think), a Nintendo console is not on top of the list! The quote Brian Fellow from Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet, “That’s crazy!!!” Let’s check out the numbers:

  • Xbox 360: 443,500
  • Nintendo DS: 398,400
  • Nintendo Wii: 253,900
  • PlayStation 3: 214,500
  • PlayStation Portable 84,000

Even though Nintendo sold a lot of hardware in July, it just feels weird that the company didn’t top the charts. It’s like when Hulk Hogan turned heel or seeing Joe Torre in a Dodgers’ uniform — it’s just doesn’t feel right.

Is this the start of Nintendo’s decline (until the 3DS takes over the world)? Can Microsoft sustain the momentum it generated with the Xbox 360 Slim SeXbox 360? Look at those lowly PSP numbers? Is there anything Sony can do to kickstart its handheld system? Or should Sony focus its portable efforts on the PSP2? Answer and discuss (please)!

This Week’s Videogame Releases (Hint: Madden NFL 11)

There’s sweet FA coming out this week…except for Madden NFL 11. Anyone picking it up (or any oldies) this week? Any of you interested in starting an online league? I probably wouldn’t be able to practice and participate due to travel, but who knows what can happen if enough of you are interested. The power is yours!

Analyst Believes Wii 1.5 on the Way

With Nintendo sales cooling off (but still slaughtering the competition), could the company be prepping a modestly upgraded version of the Wii to boost sales? At least one analyst believes that’s the case. According to Industry Gamers, Screen Digest analyst Piers Harding-Rolls said:

Our forecast actually incorporates the idea that there will be an upgraded version of the Wii available. There is potentially significant movement to come from Wii pricing in the future. If you look at the handheld strategy they’ve got the DSi and the 3DS, so I think they’ve got room to have to this iterative version before a 2012 or 2013 release.

On one hand, his argument makes a lot of sense and it seems like sound strategy to give the Wii a boost with PlayStation Move and Xbox Kinect coming. On the other hand, dude’s an analyst. They’re right about 33 percent of the time. That’s great for baseball, but for industry analysis…not so much.

Seriously though, I’ve never heard of this particular analyst and I’m probably thinking less of his comments due to the inaccuracies of other analysts. He could be spot on. What do you think? Is Wii 1.5 on the way? What would you like to see in such a console?

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