Industry Sales

Mar-07 Mar-08 CHG

Total Video Games $1.1B $1.7B 57%
Video Games Hardware $377.9M $551.3M 46%
Video Games Software $579.1M $945.6M 63%
Video Game Accessories $139.5M $220M 58%

HW Sales

Hardware Mar-08

PlayStation 2 216K
PlayStation 3 257K
PlayStation Portable 297K
Xbox 360 262K
Nintendo DS 698K
Wii 721K

SW Sales
Top-Selling VG Software – March 2008

Platform Title Publisher Release Date March Units

WII SUPER SMASH BROS: BRAWL NINTENDO OF AMERICA Mar-08 2.7M
360 *TOM CLANCY’S RAINBOW SIX: VEGAS 2 UBISOFT Mar-08 752.3K
360 ARMY OF TWO ELECTRONIC ARTS Mar-08 606.1K
WII PLAY W/ REMOTE NINTENDO OF AMERICA Feb-07 409.8K
PSP GOD OF WAR: CHAINS OF OLYMPUS SONY Mar-08 340.5K
PSP CRISIS CORE: FINAL FANTASY VII SQUARE ENIX INC Mar-08 301.6K
WII GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION Oct-07 264.1K
360 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL 2K8 TAKE 2 INTERACTIVE Mar-08 237.1K
360 *CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION Nov-07 237K
PS3 ARMY OF TWO ELECTRONIC ARTS Mar-08 224.9K

Source

Although not particular surprising, someone was able to completely decrypt a Virtual Console game. In doing so, they were able to discover the nitty-gritty details of the files that make up a typical game on the Wii Shop Channel. It was determined that Virtual Console games generally seem hold a ROM and HTML file. The purpose of the ROM file is blatant, though some may find it interesting that the help documentation for the Wii is just an HTML file. Also, each Virtual Console game comes with its own emulator. I suppose that means the Wii itself does not have any emulation capabilities until you download a Virtual Console title.

I personally would not get involved in these types of activities, but the discoveries the decryption has brought to the table is interesting. The fact that someone was actually able to do this is an indication that the homebrew/hacking scene continues to progress and is a troubling sign for Nintendo. As a result, it’s possible that Nintendo may continue to change their Virtual Console system with additional patches and updates.

Source

Top 10 game sales

New Super Mario Bros. – 5,174,163 units sold
Brain Age 2 – 4,835,159 units sold
Animal Crossing DS – 4,693,662 units sold
Brain Age – 3,771,440 units sold
Mario Kart DS – 3,042,753 units sold
Pokemon Diamond – 3,005,505 units sold
Pokemon Pearl – 2,490,564 units sold
English Training DS – 2,216,322 units sold
Mario Party DS – 1,706,506 units sold
Big Brain Academy – 1,654,285 units sold

– Took 3 years, 5 months for DS
– Took 4 years, 3 months for PS2
– 922 available titles
– 21 games hit 1 million sold

Source

SAN MATEO, California – April 17, 2008 – D2C GamesTM, Inc. a premier developer and publisher of mass-market downloadable interactive entertainment, today announced SPOGS RacingTM, a frenzied, arcade-style racing game set to hit WiiWareTM. The game features high-speed arcade racing and Crash ‘N GrabTM battling action as players dash around a dozen unique and challenging tracks.

Race along in distinctively unique SPOGS Racers that can be personalized, customized and modified with in-game images and vehicle parts. Gamers will control their SPOGS as they try their best to smash into their opponents to steal upgraded parts on-the-fly in the title’s innovative Crash ‘N Grab gameplay. Featuring several game modes, a variety of track types including outrageous stunt tracks with loops and jumps, multiple difficultly modes and control schemes, racing power-ups, weapons, and head-to-head multiplayer, SPOGS Racing offers plenty of fun for gamers of all ages and experiences.

“As a long-time game designer, I’ve learned that there’s one defining factor behind a successful game – is it fun?” said D2C Games founder and CEO Scott Orr. “That question directs our entire strategy at D2C, and SPOGS Racing is a great example of that commitment.”

For more information, visit www.spogsracing.com.

Source: GamesPress

01./00. [WII] Mario Kart Wii (Nintendo) – 594,000 / NEW
02./01. [PSP] Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (Capcom) – 222,000 / 1,590,000
03./02. [PS2] Musou Orochi: The Evil King Returns (Koei) – 56,000 / 283,000
04./07. [WII] Wii Fit (Nintendo) – 31,000 / 1,865,000
05./06. [NDS] Pokémon Ranger: Batonnage (Pokémon) – 30,000 / 436,000
06./08. [NDS] Tottado! Yowiko’s Deserted Island Life (Bandai-Namco) – 26,000 / 65,000
07./04. [PS2] Pro Baseball Spirits 5 (Konami) – 22,000 / 102,000
08./03. [PSP] Star Ocean 2: Second Evolution (Square-Enix) – 18,000 / 108,000
09./10. [WII] Deca Sporta (Hudson) – 17,000 / 133,000
10./09. [WII] Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Nintendo) – 14,000 / 1,563,000

Source

American Nintendo fans have begged for it, envied it, and prayed for it. Yup – it’s none other than Club Nintendo! Club Nintendo originally started in Japan and offered some of the most to-die-for goodies, which has included small DS games, soundtracks, and accessories. The program has been partially emulated in Europe, and is now going to be heading to Australia and New Zealand. Starting next Thursday, Club Nintendo will be launching in those territories, coinciding with the launch of Mario Kart Wii. As with other versions of Club Nintendo, exclusive offers and items not purchasable in stores will be available.

Now, we just need Club Nintendo to hit stateside…I’m still jealous of that Super Mario Galaxy soundtrack!

Source

1 (1) Super Mario Bros 3
2 (2) Super Mario Bros
3 (3) Mario Kart 64
4 (5) Super Mario 64
5 (6) Super Mario World
6 (8) The Legend of Zelda : Ocarina of Time
7 (9) Super Street Fighter 2
8 (4) Cruis’n USA
9 (7) Bomberman 93
10 (10) Super Mario Bros 2
11 (13) The Legend of Zelda : A Link to the Past
12 (11) Sonic 3
13 (18) Paper Mario
14 (12) Pac-Man
15 (14) Sonic
16 (16) 1080 Snowboarding
17 (E) California Games
18 (19) Kirby’s Adventure
19 (R) The Legend of Zelda
20 (E) Wonder Boy

Source

WHAT: Nintendo celebrates the highly anticipated release of Mario Kart® Wii and the companion Wii Wheel™ accessory with a fun-packed launch party at the Nintendo World store in Rockefeller Plaza. Excitement will run high as drivers of all ages gather for a sneak peek at the game, plus an opportunity to wrap their fingers around the Wii Wheel, a wireless steering wheel accessory for the Wii Remote™ controller that makes it easy for anyone to pick up and play. To keep the action firing on all cylinders, families will be invited to take part in a Mario Kart Wii competition for the chance to win prizes. Fans also can enjoy Nintendo-themed giveaways and special premiums such as personalized Mario Kart driver’s licenses.

Mario Kart Wii makes its official debut in U.S. stores on Sunday April 27, and will be packaged with the Wii Wheel accessory. For the first time ever in the Mario Kart series, players can control their vehicles with a simple turn of the Wii Wheel. The game also introduces a host of new courses, vehicles and eye-popping battle arenas, plus the ability to compete online with drivers from around the world using Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection.

WHO: Parents, teens, kids, Mario Kart fans and video game fans of all ages
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Paper Mario was one of the greatest games on the Nintendo 64, and has even branched out onto the GameCube and Wii. Considering the enormous success the DS has earned, one would assume Paper Mario – now a mainstream franchise for Nintendo – would migrate the system. It appears Nintendo may be attempting to do so via a port. A listing has been revealed which includes the first Paper Mario game from the Nintendo 64 heading to the DS. Although fans would most likely prefer an original game over a port, the option to have Paper Mario on the go is an enticing option. As with most unconfirmed news, however, I would consider this a rumor.

Source