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[ MaxVest's blog ]

No Launch Respect for Super Mario Galaxy?
MaxVest \| 1:34 PM on 10.02.2007	10 comments

IGN updated the US Wii launch release calendar yesterday [link], and I noticed something strange. The day after Super Mario Galaxy launches, 23 other Wii games are supposed to be released.

23. In one day. The day after Super Mario Galaxy comes out.

We saw with uber-releases like Halo 3 that other game publishers respect the launch date. Who wants to compete for a gamer's limited budget with a guaranteed blockbuster? If it's between a AAA title and Barbie Horse Adventures: Pleasure Pack, I know what I would pick. But most gamers would choose the AAA.

So why are so many Wii games launching right after Mario?

It certainly is getting close to the holiday season, but these games could push back a week to the comparatively light release schedule of Nov. 19 & 20. That's still before Thanksgiving, the usual goal.

Is it possible that these publishers think SMG will sell out, and that frazzled shoppers will buy something else to fill the aching void in their little blue slot? It's odd to think that Nintendo wouldn't be able to produce enough.

So, what do you guys think? Is it just coincidence, holiday rush, the halo effect of SMG, or something more sinister? If sinister, please explain in vivid detail.

Speaking of sinister, the SMG intro looks a little darker than I'm used to with Mario:

Intro via GoNintendo

[Update: larger intro video is now on Dtoid main page]

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10 comments | showing # 1 to 10

tehArtist says:
(# 0) on 10/02/2007 13:43

Actually, I plan on picking up Medal of Honor Heroes 2 before Super Mario Galaxy, I want to see if MoH Heroes2 from EA can redeem some of the Wii online structure.

Kryptinite says:
(# 1) on 10/02/2007 13:49

I hope it is a little darker...I want a reason to buy this game other than it's Mario. I hope it has somewhat of an engaging story.

And since when did Bowser turn into Raiden?

king3vbo says:
(# 2) on 10/02/2007 13:51

Would I be wrong in saying that Bowser was umm... CHARGIN HIS LAZAR?

MaxVest says:
(# 3) on 10/02/2007 13:54

@tehArtist: Yeah, I'm interested in MOH:H2 for the same reason. Maybe launch dates don't make much difference for games that are relatively unhyped.

@Kryptinite: It makes perfect sense! The UFO gave Bowser the power of lightning... somehow?

DanGale says:
(# 4) on 10/02/2007 14:05

That Bowser bit somehow reminded me of the skyscraper scene in Ghostbusters. When they're all looking to the sky and there's lightning everywhere. Anywhoo, this game looks all new kinds of awesome. I. DO. WANT!

DeusPayne says:
(# 5) on 10/02/2007 14:16

My guess: The publishers think Galaxy will sell out, and hope to cash in on the impulse buys.

dgenerate says:
(# 6) on 10/02/2007 14:37

23 Games! I'm guessing that most of them are the games that 'sneak' onto the market anyways. You know, the bargain-bin-bound games. (I think I just coined a new term, BBB titles)

Have you looked at November 20th's lineup?
Mass Effect
Rock Band
Kane & Lynch
Uncharted

All highly anticipated games, launching on the same day. I really hate these people. I'm going to be stuck in the games store all day trying to decide :P

Duby says:
(# 7) on 10/02/2007 22:01

The problem with owning a Wii for the past year has really been the dust collecting on my wads of monopoly money. There just haven't been that many games to buy. So let's say Mario Galaxy pulls me into the store because, hey, it's Mario, and hey^2, it's a decent new game--suddenly I see a wall full of games, the aggregate of which, in some cosmic coincidence of fatalistic proportions, matches Michael Jordon's number. So, with the planets aligned to provide me with so many options, I, the novelty-deprived Wii owner, splurge for two games instead of just one.

>sigh< No Best Buys or even Game Stops in the North Slope Borough, though. Amazon, thy will is hard.

Duby says:
(# 8) on 10/02/2007 22:31

Pardon the incoherency--V called. My fundamental point: With a couple notable exceptions, there hasn't been much reason for a Wii owner to go to a game store for quite a while. Mario Galaxy provides the reason, and perhaps publishers are hoping to profit off of all of those hungry eyes.

MaxVest says:
(# 9) on 10/03/2007 09:07

@Duby: I agree about the game drought, but then wouldn't publishers want to get their games to market a week earlier, so they already would be on the shelf when people go in to get Mario?

Maybe it's the retail equivalent of counter-programming. Or maybe the publishers are afraid that a poor-performing game won't last a week on the shelf near the Holy Shopping Season.

I think you are on to something, though -- I'd love to see how many times the typical Wii-only owner goes into a retail games store versus the 360-only owner. Damn casuals; gotta hook 'em when they come.

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about me
It's only a model... Uncommon, some wear on the edges. First game: TI Invaders (Space Invaders knock-off) for the TI-99 "home computer". Either that or the Pac-Man built into the glass-top tables at Mr. Gatti's Pizza. First console: NES First world-altering game secret: JUSTIN BAILEY First Arcade: Aladdin's Palace First "mature" game: Leisure Suit Larry First PC: 386SX 16 mHz w/40 MB HDD, Win 3.0, & 640x480 VGA baby! First FPS: Wolfenstein 3D First game mastered: Street Fighter II Turbo - Hyper Fighting (SNES) First LAN deathmatch: Duke Nukem 3D Great Game Reawakening: Living in an apartment with all sixth generation consoles and 3 gaming rigs. New Systems: Wii, DS. Somehow now owns: PS3 Randomly owns: SEGA Nomad, Game Gear, Genesis II, Sega CD Cannot afford but is thinking about intercepting return RROD coffin: Xbox 360. Currently playing: Rock Band, Zack & Wiki, Unreal Tournament III