Tag: Wii

This Week’s Videogame Releases

In case you’ve been living under a rock for the last several years, Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty is coming out this week. This will be the biggest PC game release of 2010 and one of the world’s most important games. I’m pretty sure the release is a national holiday in South Korea. On consoles, hardcore fighters have a treat in BlazBlue: Continuum Shift. Last but not least is Arc Rise Fantasia for Wii. These are the only three releases that I thought would interest you. I was going to include Clash of the Titans as a joke…but it’s not that funny.

Any of you picking up new games this week? Are you attending any midnight StarCraft launches?

NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of June 2010

Here are NPD Group’s console software sales figures for June 2010. There are a lot of repeats on June’s list, with Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption leading the way. There’s also one omission that annoyed me. And the the top ten are….

  1. Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360): 582,900
  2. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii): 548,400
  3. Red Dead Redemption (PS3): 380,300
  4. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii): 200,900
  5. Just Dance (Wii): 174,800
  6. Wii Fit Plus (Wii)
  7. Toy Story 3 (Nintendo DS)
  8. UFC 2010: Undisputed (Xbox 360)
  9. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Wii)
  10. UFC 2010: Undisputed (PS3)

Ugh. Just Dance is back on the list and Pokemon HeartGold/SoulSilver didn’t make it?!? Come on people!!! Oh well, as a Harry Potter nerd at least I can be happy about the number nine spot. Expelliarmus bitches!

What did you think of June’s top ten? You surprised that Red Dead is still dominating? Wasn’t it interesting that the only version of Toy Story 3 that made it on the list was the handheld one?

NPD Hardware Sales Figures for June 2010

NPD Group released its console sales data for June 2010. It was an unusual and exciting month for console hardware. Microsoft did very well thanks to the Xbox 360 “slim”. I know it’s crazy, but it’s true. When you get caught between the moon and New York City. Let’s look at the numbers:

  • Nintendo DS: 510, 700
  • Xbox 360: 451,700
  • Nintendo Wii: 422,500
  • PlayStation 3: 304,800
  • PlayStation Portable: 121,000

Nobody should be surprised that the Xbox 360 beat the Wii in June. Hardcore gamers bought the new version of the console while bargain hunters snatched up the older model at marked down prices. Sony recently claimed that its inventory problem will no longer be an issue, so it will be interesting to see how the PS3 does for the rest of the year. As for Nintendo…it keeps putting up excellent numbers.

Nintendo reminds me a bit of the Boston Celtics’ Robert Parish; every year sports writers predicted a decline in his stats, but dude put up the same numbers for like 20 years. Some analysts and a lot of enthusiast gamers keep saying, “This is the month Nintendo will decline,” and the company keeps posting excellent sales figures.

Anyway, let me know what you think of NPD Group’s June 2010 console sales figures. Were you surprised that Microsoft did so well? Or was that what you expected from its console refresh?

This Week’s Videogame Releases

There are pretty two games coming out this week. First up is NCAA Football 11 on multiple platforms. More importantly, Dragon Quest IX for Nintendo DS is here! I’m super looking forward to playing this. While Dragon Quest isn’t as popular in America as its sister franchise, Final Fantasy, it has a huge following in Japan. Sure, it doesn’t have Reona Rewis, but I’m expecting to dig this game as much or more than Final Fantasy XIII.

Any of you planning to pick up new games this week? List ’em (please)!

NPD Console Sales Figures Top 10 Games of May 2010

Here are NPD Group’s console software sales figures for May 2010. There were a lot of great releases in May, which is traditionally a slow month for the business. Some of your favorites made the list and there were a few surprises as well. Let’s check out the digits!

  1. Red Dead Redemption (Xbox 360): 945,900
  2. Red Dead Redemption (PS3): 567,100
  3. Super Mario Galaxy 2 (Wii): 563,000
  4. UFC 2010: Undisputed (Xbox 360): 221,100
  5. UFC 2010: Undisputed (PS3): 192,300
  6. Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board (Wii)
  7. New Super Mario Bros. Wii (Wii)
  8. Alan Wake (Xbox 360)
  9. Pokemon SoulSilver (Nintendo DS)
  10. Skate 3 (Xbox 360)

Perhaps it’s just me, but I’m used to seeing more Nintendo games in the top 10. Ha! Obviously Red Dead Redemption was May’s killer title. UFC 2010 did well, which shouldn’t be a surprise. I was happy to see games like Alan Wake and Skate 3 on the list; they didn’t get as much hype and commercial time as some of May’s other titles, but they did well. Naturally, Nintendo continued to do well with Mario and Pokemon.

Anything on May’s list surprise you?

NPD Hardware Sales Figures for May 2010

NPD Group released its console sales data for May 2010. The gaming industry is still in a year-over-year decline, but will May’s console hardware sales help the business bust out of the slump? Let’s check out the numbers:

  • Nintendo DS: 383,700
  • Nintendo Wii: 334,800
  • Xbox 360: 194,600
  • PlayStation 3: 154,500
  • PlayStation Portable: 59,400

The Wii and Xbox 360 are up from April, but the rest of the systems are down. For the Nintendo DS, the difference isn’t that big of a deal since it’s trouncing the competition and continues to sell extremely well. Sony was slightly down and put up decent numbers, but not enough to compete with the Xbox 360. With a lot of gamers excited about the 360 hardware refresh, I’d be surprised if the gap didn’t widen in May.

Any thoughts on these lovely numbers? Uh…fore?!? Ha!

Mega64’s TruthPhones Help You Understand E3 2010 Keynotes

Here’s another hilarious video from the peeps at Mega64. This time around they reveal TruthPhones — a peripheral that helps you understand what’s really going on at the E3 press conferences held by Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony. Check it out! It’s awesome!!!

Coffee Talk #168: Your Console and Electronics Updating Patterns

Yesterday I updated the software for my HTC Evo 4G and PlayStation 3. Both had updates that were released yesterday. I was actually surprised that I updated so soon. Usually I wait a few days to see if there are any bugs or annoying quirks caused by the new software. For various reasons (okay, it was cloudy…and updating firmware makes me happy), I jumped the gun and didn’t following my usual updating pattern.

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, Roger Federer’s upset at Wimbledon, red pandas, or Stumptown’s Costa Rica Brumas Del Zurqui, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

Yesterday I updated the software for my HTC Evo 4G and PlayStation 3. Both had updates that were released yesterday. I was actually surprised that I updated so soon. Usually I wait a few days to see if there are any bugs or annoying quirks caused by the new software. For various reasons (okay, it was cloudy…and updating firmware makes me happy), I jumped the gun and didn’t following my usual updating pattern.

How do you handle updates for your consoles, mobile phones, etc.? Do you update straight away, like I did yesterday? Do you wait a few days to make sure everything is kosher? Perhaps you only update when it’s absolutely necessary, like when a certain game require a newer firmware version. Kindly share your console and consumer electronics updating patterns in the comments section.

Read My Green Day: Rock Band Review on Machinima (Please)

I meant to post this last week, but forgot. Do you have the time…to listen to me whine? If so, I’d super appreciate you checking out my review of Green Day: Rock Band for Machinima.com. I enjoyed the game, but wished MTV and Harmonix went with a Guitar Hero: Metallica approach and included artists that influenced the band (Sex Pistols, Ramones, The Clash, etc.). It would have broadened the game’s appeal and made it look less ridiculous following The Beatles: Rock Band.

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