Skylanders rakes in $1 billion in worldwide retail sales
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Activision’s Skylanders franchise just keeps on rolling. Yet another sales milestone was announced today – Skylanders: Spyro’s Adventure and Skylanders Giants have collectively accumulated over $1 billion in retail sales worldwide. The feat was accomplished in 15 months.
Both Skylanders titles outsold the likes of Beyblades, Star Wars and Transformers toys in the US and Europe last year. Over 100 million Skylanders toys have been sold through January 2013.
Eric Hirshberg, CEO of Activision Publishing, commented on the news:
“The Skylanders franchise became the first kids’ videogame IP to cross the $1 billion mark in just 15 months, and I think we are still just starting to realize its potential. We knew that the simple, but magical idea, of bringing your toys to life in a video game could change both the video game and the toy industries, and more importantly, change the way kids play. And this fall, we’re looking forward to delivering to fans our latest break-through innovation, Skylanders SWAP Force, which lets kids customize their own characters, bringing toys to life to a whole new level.”
Source: Activision PR
Wedbush/EEDAR January 2013 NPD predictions
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Wedbush and EEDAR have provided predictions for the January 2013 NPD report. The actual data will be made available on Thursday.
Predictions from both groups can be found below.
Wedbush / EEDAR December hardware sales estimates (change year-on-year):
360 – 180,000 (-33%) / 260,000 (-4%)
3DS – 160,000 (-7%) / 120,000 (-30%)
PS3 – 145,000 (-24%) / 120,000 (-37%)
Wii U – 125,000 (n/a) / 110,000 (n/a)
DS – 60,000 (-21%) / 31,000 (-59%)
Wii – 52,200 (-66%) / 39,000 (-74%)
Vita – 45,000 (n/a) / 35,000 (n/a)
PSP – 7,500 (-63%) / (n/a)
PS2 – 300 (-96%) / (n/a)
Total – 775,000 (-13%) / 715,000 (-20%)
Everybody’s favorite analyst Michael Patcher had this to say about Wii U sales:
“Nintendo must improve sell-through of its Wii U if it hopes to maintain significant market share in the next generation. The console received a tepid response from consumers, for a variety of reasons: first, we think that the console was misunderstood by many as a peripheral for the Wii; second, the price point for the Wii U is relatively high, and the launch was into a weak economy; and third, firstparty software support was thin, and third-party software was not sufficiently differentiated to convince many that they needed a Wii U as a replacement for their Xbox 360 or PS3. If the Wii U is to thrive, we think that Nintendo must market it more effectively, must speed up the pace of first-party development, and must convince third parties that they must support the Wii U or they will lose market share.”
Latest LEGO City: Undercover details
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 0 comments
LEGO City: Undercover is just a little more than a month away. Nintendo is starting to provide the press with more hands-on time, including the game’s different “acts”.
The latest Undercover details, posted below, cover a few bits of general information as well as “Act 2”.
– Game world is basically an amalgamation of all major United States cities
– Famous landmarks, bridges and locales are very much inspired by places from San Francisco and New York
– Areas include Brooklyn Bridge and Alcatraz Island-inspired locations
– One disguise gives you access to a grappling gun of sorts
– Can use it to shoot hooks in short bursts
– Can wall-jump, wall-run, and vault
– These are all done by pressing the same button in context-sensitive situations
– Anything clearly made of LEGO bricks can be smashed
– Super Bricks contribute to building other things, such as pads capable of summoning vehicles for Chase, elsewhere
– Act 2 sees players infiltrating a criminal organization by committing crimes
– Use the police audio scanner to find criminals
– Control the scanner with the GamePad directly
– Move the tablet around the world and see a wireframe version of LEGO City
– This lets you detect nearby conversations
– Lock onto a signal and listen to assess whether you need to hear more
– You’ll eventually join a manic, bi-polar mobster named Chan
– Need to distract guards by finding the necessary items to start a nearby party, stealing an expensive car and eventually escorting a VIP to a nearby event
– Some of this included the Lego franchise’s patented ‘break it and build it’ gameplay
– Variety in tasks
– This area apparently counts for roughly one percent of the game
– Vast array of collectibles and secrets
– Game has a quick travel system through LEGO City’s subways
Injustice: Gods Among Us – Battle Arena Fight matchups – The Flash vs. Shazam, Joker vs. Lex Luthor
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in Videos, Wii U | 0 comments
Over the next few weeks, Warner Bros. and NetherRealm Studios will allow fans to vote on Injustice: Gods Among Us characters that would come out on top in a particular fight. Winners will be decided on Friday and new matchups will go live the following Monday. Characters that are victorious will be featured in new gameplay videos.
This week’s matchups are The Flash vs. Shazam and Joker vs. Lex Luthor. You can vote here.
Codemasters producer has high praise for Wii U
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Podcast Stories, Wii U | 0 comments
Codemasters senior producer Clive Moody is a fan of what Nintendo is doing with the Wii U. Moody went as far as to say that he believes “it is the future.” He seems to be particularly big on the GamePad, since it is comparable to what Apple is doing with iPads, Microsoft’s Surface, and other technologies.
Moody stated:
“It works brilliantly, having played it. I think it is the future. I mean, you’ve got to look at what’s happening in the world of mobile, you’ve got iPads, Surface just came out from Microsoft. I think you’re going to see a lot more of that cross-over.”
GamesTM #132 review scores
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS eShop, News, Wii U | 0 comments
This month’s GamesTM review scores are as follows:
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – 9
Dead Space 3 – 8
Aliens: Colonial Marines – 4
The Cave – 6
Persona 4 Golden – 9
Scribblenauts Unlimited – 6
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time – 8
Fractured Soul – 6
Crimson Shroud – 8
Knytt Underground – 5
Miasmata – 7
Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor’s Edge – 6
Tokyo Crash Mobs – 5
Thanks to joclo for the tip.
UK software sales (Week ending 2/9)
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in 3DS, DS, News, Wii, Wii U | 0 comments
Individual formats
LW | TW | Title | Format | Label | Publisher | |||
– | 1 | DEAD SPACE 3 | XB360 | EA GAMES | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
– | 2 | DEAD SPACE 3 | PS3 | EA GAMES | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
2 | 3 | CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II | XB360 | ACTIVISION | ACTIVISION BLIZZARD | |||
4 | 4 | FAR CRY 3 | XB360 | UBISOFT | UBISOFT | |||
3 | 5 | FIFA 13 | XB360 | EA SPORTS | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
1 | 6 | NI NO KUNI: WRATH OF THE WHITE WITCH | PS3 | NAMCO BANDAI GAMES | NAMCO BANDAI GAMES | |||
5 | 7 | FIFA 13 | PS3 | EA SPORTS | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
6 | 8 | CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II | PS3 | ACTIVISION | ACTIVISION BLIZZARD | |||
7 | 9 | JUST DANCE 4 | WII | UBISOFT | UBISOFT | |||
11 | 10 | HALO 4 | XB360 | MICROSOFT | MICROSOFT | |||
10 | 11 | FAR CRY 3 | PS3 | UBISOFT | UBISOFT | |||
12 | 12 | FORZA HORIZON | XB360 | MICROSOFT | MICROSOFT | |||
14 | 13 | THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM | XB360 | BETHESDA SOFTWORKS | BETHESDA SOFTWORKS | |||
9 | 14 | FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013 | PC | SEGA | SEGA | |||
8 | 15 | HITMAN: HD TRILOGY | XB360 | SQUARE ENIX | SQUARE ENIX EUROPE | |||
18 | 16 | FORZA MOTORSPORT 4 | XB360 | MICROSOFT | MICROSOFT | |||
17 | 17 | HITMAN ABSOLUTION | XB360 | SQUARE ENIX | SQUARE ENIX EUROPE | |||
15 | 18 | HITMAN: HD TRILOGY | PS3 | SQUARE ENIX | SQUARE ENIX EUROPE | |||
21 | 19 | GRAN TURISMO 5 ACADEMY EDITION | PS3 | SONY COMPUTER ENT. | SONY COMPUTER ENT. | |||
13 | 20 | ASSASSIN’S CREED III | XB360 | UBISOFT | UBISOFT | |||
20 | 21 | NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED | PS3 | EA GAMES | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
23 | 22 | NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED | XB360 | EA GAMES | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
22 | 23 | HITMAN ABSOLUTION | PS3 | SQUARE ENIX | SQUARE ENIX EUROPE | |||
– | 24 | DEAD SPACE 3 | PC | EA GAMES | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
– | 25 | SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED | 3DS | SEGA | SEGA | |||
16 | 26 | ASSASSIN’S CREED III | PS3 | UBISOFT | UBISOFT | |||
– | 27 | MADDEN NFL 13 | XB360 | EA SPORTS | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
28 | 28 | GRAND THEFT AUTO IV | XB360 | XBOX 360 CLASSICS | TAKE 2 | |||
30 | 29 | UNCHARTED 3: DRAKE’S DECEPTION GOTY | PS3 | SONY COMPUTER ENT. | SONY COMPUTER ENT. | |||
27 | 30 | NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. 2 | 3DS | NINTENDO | NINTENDO | |||
36 | 31 | SKYLANDERS GIANTS | WII | SKYLANDERS | ACTIVISION BLIZZARD | |||
32 | 32 | BORDERLANDS 2 | XB360 | 2K GAMES | TAKE 2 | |||
37 | 33 | DEAD ISLAND GOTY EDITION | XB360 | DEEP SILVER | KOCH MEDIA | |||
25 | 34 | PAPER MARIO STICKER STAR | 3DS | NINTENDO | NINTENDO | |||
29 | 35 | MARIO KART 7 | 3DS | NINTENDO | NINTENDO | |||
19 | 36 | ABBA: YOU CAN DANCE | WII | UBISOFT | UBISOFT | |||
– | 37 | GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES – LIBERTY CITY | XB360 | ROCKSTAR | TAKE 2 | |||
31 | 38 | DISHONORED | XB360 | BETHESDA SOFTWORKS | BETHESDA SOFTWORKS | |||
– | 39 | MARIO & SONIC LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES | WII | SEGA | SEGA | |||
40 | 40 | MEDAL OF HONOR: WARFIGHTER | XB360 | EA GAMES | ELECTRONIC ARTS |
All formats
LW | TW | Title | Developer | Label | Publisher | |||
– | 1 | DEAD SPACE 3 | VISCERAL GAMES | EA GAMES | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
2 | 2 | FIFA 13 | EA CANADA | EA SPORTS | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
3 | 3 | CALL OF DUTY: BLACK OPS II | TREYARCH | ACTIVISION | ACTIVISION BLIZZARD | |||
4 | 4 | FAR CRY 3 | UBISOFT (MONTREAL) | UBISOFT | UBISOFT | |||
5 | 5 | HITMAN: HD TRILOGY | IO INTERACTIVE | SQUARE ENIX | SQUARE ENIX EUROPE | |||
1 | 6 | NI NO KUNI: WRATH OF THE WHITE WITCH | LEVEL 5 | NAMCO BANDAI GAMES | NAMCO BANDAI GAMES | |||
7 | 7 | NEED FOR SPEED MOST WANTED | CRITERION GAMES | EA GAMES | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
8 | 8 | JUST DANCE 4 | UBISOFT (FRANCE) | UBISOFT | UBISOFT | |||
9 | 9 | HITMAN ABSOLUTION | IO INTERACTIVE | SQUARE ENIX | SQUARE ENIX EUROPE | |||
18 | 10 | SONIC & ALL STARS RACING TRANSFORMED | SUMO DIGITAL | SEGA | SEGA | |||
10 | 11 | THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM | BETHESDA | BETHESDA SOFTWORKS | BETHESDA SOFTWORKS | |||
6 | 12 | ASSASSIN’S CREED III | UBISOFT (MONTREAL) | UBISOFT | UBISOFT | |||
13 | 13 | HALO 4 | 343 INDUSTRIES | MICROSOFT | MICROSOFT | |||
14 | 14 | FORZA HORIZON | PLAYGROUND GAMES | MICROSOFT | MICROSOFT | |||
15 | 15 | SKYLANDERS GIANTS | TOYS FOR BOB | SKYLANDERS | ACTIVISION BLIZZARD | |||
12 | 16 | FOOTBALL MANAGER 2013 | SPORTS INTERACTIVE | SEGA | SEGA | |||
17 | 17 | LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS | TRAVELLER’S TALES | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | |||
16 | 18 | LEGO BATMAN 2: DC SUPER HEROES | TRAVELLER’S TALES | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | |||
– | 19 | MADDEN NFL 13 | EA TIBURON | EA SPORTS | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
21 | 20 | FORZA MOTORSPORT 4 | TURN 10 STUDIOS | MICROSOFT | MICROSOFT | |||
26 | 21 | GRAND THEFT AUTO IV | ROCKSTAR NORTH | XBOX 360 CLASSICS | TAKE 2 | |||
22 | 22 | BORDERLANDS 2 | GEARBOX SOFTWARE | 2K GAMES | TAKE 2 | |||
29 | 23 | MEDAL OF HONOR: WARFIGHTER | DANGER CLOSE | EA GAMES | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
25 | 24 | GRAN TURISMO 5 ACADEMY EDITION | POLYPHONY DIGITAL | SONY COMPUTER ENT. | SONY COMPUTER ENT. | |||
11 | 25 | DMC | NINJA THEORY | CAPCOM | CAPCOM | |||
23 | 26 | DISHONORED | ARKANE STUDIOS | BETHESDA SOFTWORKS | BETHESDA SOFTWORKS | |||
28 | 27 | DEAD ISLAND GOTY EDITION | TECHLAND | DEEP SILVER | KOCH MEDIA | |||
19 | 28 | WWE ’13 | YUKE’S | THQ | THQ | |||
27 | 29 | ANGRY BIRDS TRILOGY | ROVIO | ACTIVISION | ACTIVISION BLIZZARD | |||
30 | 30 | GRAND THEFT AUTO EPISODES – LIBERTY CITY | ROCKSTAR NORTH | ROCKSTAR | TAKE 2 | |||
20 | 31 | SLEEPING DOGS | UNITED FRONT GAMES | SQUARE ENIX | SQUARE ENIX EUROPE | |||
33 | 32 | MARIO & SONIC LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES | SEGA | SEGA | SEGA | |||
38 | 33 | UNCHARTED 3: DRAKE’S DECEPTION GOTY | NAUGHTY DOG | SONY COMPUTER ENT. | SONY COMPUTER ENT. | |||
35 | 34 | NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. 2 | NINTENDO | NINTENDO | NINTENDO | |||
36 | 35 | PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2013 | KONAMI DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT | KONAMI | KONAMI | |||
– | 36 | DISNEY EPIC MICKEY 2: THE POWER OF TWO | BLITZ GAMES | DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS | DISNEY INTERACTIVE STUDIOS | |||
39 | 37 | LEGO HARRY POTTER: YEARS 5-7 | TRAVELLER’S TALES | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | WARNER BROS. INTERACTIVE | |||
34 | 38 | XCOM: ENEMY UNKNOWN | FIRAXIS | 2K GAMES | TAKE 2 | |||
– | 39 | BATTLEFIELD 3 | DIGITAL ILLUSIONS | EA GAMES | ELECTRONIC ARTS | |||
31 | 40 | PAPER MARIO STICKER STAR | INTELLIGENT SYSTEMS | NINTENDO | NINTENDO |
Activision not releasing Walking Dead: Survival Instinct in Australia
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 0 comments
Activision has confirmed that it won’t be releasing the Wii U version of The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct in Australia.
A statement sent out by the publisher explains the decision:
“As with every game release, publishers decide which platforms to release based on customer demand. Unfortunately it wasn’t there for the Wii U sku on The Walking Dead.”
This isn’t the first Activision game that Australia will be missing out on. 007 Legends also never made it to the continent.
Frozenbyte has some interest in bringing Splot to Wii U
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 0 comments
Frozenbyte has consistently made note of its positive experience with the Wii U and Nintendo. The studio has also expressed interest in supporting the console further.
So it should come as no surprise that Splot, Frozenbyte’s next game, could land on the Wii U eShop. Although it’s only slated for PC, Mac, Linux, and iOS, it could head to Nintendo’s console as well.
Frozenbyte recently spoke about the possibility of Splot for Wii U, and briefly teased its next “big” project:
“…we may bring future games to Wii U as well, we have enjoyed working on it. Our next game Splot might be a good choice (there are some technology related things we need to solve first, so it won’t happen instantly). Our next ‘big’ game will be a 2014 release so there’s a lot of time until that, and we don’t yet know which platforms we’ll release it on (it could be PC-only)… we’ll see.”
EA mum on Tiger Woods PGA Tour for Wii U
Posted on 11 years ago by Brian(@NE_Brian) in News, Wii U | 0 comments
Tiger Woods PGA Tour used to be a big deal on Nintendo platforms. During the Wii’s brightest years, EA put out a fantastic experience that rivaled its PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 counterparts.
EA ditched Tiger Woods PGA Tour for Wii starting with 13’s release, which was understandable given the platform’s position at the time. But now the Wii U is here, and as far as we know, the console won’t be getting in on the golf action.
When asked about Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14 for Wii U and the series’ future on the system, an EA representative said:
“We’re currently focused on delivering a great Tiger Woods PGA TOUR experience for our fans on the Xbox 360 and PS3, where we have a great opportunity to connect fans to the real world of golf and each other. We don’t have any further platform announcements at this time.”