With Nintendo's Wii being the end-all best-selling anything and everything of all time (if you believe Nintendo), you'd expect to see mind-blowing sales numbers of Wii game titles. And if we're talking about Mario Kart Wii or that stupid Wii Play, then sure, you'll get those through-the-roof numbers. But how does Capcom fare?
The lifetime sales numbers (via NPD) of these Capcom titles are surprising:
- Resident Evil 4 Wii - 759,000 units sold
- Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles - 398,800
- Okami - 165,900
- Zack & Wiki - 116,600
First off, as far as Resident Evil 4 is concerned, that's not bad for a game that has sold like gangbusters on two consoles before it. And guess that just short of 400k isn't bad for Umbrella Chronicles, though it seems like I'm the only person who liked it sometimes.
But the rest? How disappointing! Both Zack & Wiki and Okami were fantastic games, but they didn't get the love as far as gamer's wallets are concerned. I was wondering why Z&W is in reduction bins. If you haven't picked that up, go get it for $15-$20 now! Tell Capcom that we'll buy a sequel.
Ah, it's probably already too late.
[Via IGN]
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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Contest:
2:20 PM on 02.10.2009
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It's too bad. I'm playing Zack and Wiki and like it a lot.
uhhhh.....yeah. Not sure whether that was aimed at me, but I'll answer. I am not comparing these games to games on the 360; rather I am taking into account attach rates between systems. Software does not move (sell) on the Wii...and that does have to do with the "system" and how it’s marketed.
You won't find me saying that Wii games suck (I think some are ok), they just don't seem to sell and I personally believe that may be due to Nintendo's lack of focus regarding customer base.
If you prioritize your marketing on people who "buy" based on gimmick (i.e.: wand controls or movement oriented games) you will suffer from the same short life-span syndrome that most fads do. I was concerned when I first learned of Nintendo's scheme. I thought it was innovative, but wondered how long it would last (novelty is usually fleeting) and how many games this approach would push. I guess we are all getting our answers....
Also I'm sorry about Zack & Wiki, that game is so awesome.
I think they're U.S. only. A quote from Capcom on [url=http://www.nintendoeverything.com/?p=6492]NintendoEverything[/i] said that worldwide numbers for the Wii version of Okami came out to 280,000 copies as of November 2008.
All of those games deserved more, but - damn it - did Capcom ever do any advertising for either Okami or Z&W? I don't recall seeing any. So, they really have no one but themselves to blame for the low numbers.
I proudly own both of them and preach both to the unenlightened whenever I can. And I will never sell them because I want others to buy new to bump up those numbers.
And its damn sad that Capcom's best selling game on the Wii was the 4th port of the same damn game, RE4 is good but goddamn.
Zack and Wiki numbers make me sad.
The G4 review (Morgan Webb, I believe) foresaw PS2 players complaining about the Wii Celestial Brush and said that it's not as bad as will undoubtedly be said.
As someone who never played the PS2 version, I found the Celestial Brush to be extremely natural to use once I got used to the nuances of it (meaning once I realized that I didn't read the directions thoroughly enough). Frankly, having used nothing but the Wiimote I can't believe that an analog joystick would have been easier.
I definitely agree with you about Zack and Wiki numbers. I would love to see a sequel to it, but I doubt that it's going to happen. :(
I can understand the lackluster sales of Zack & Wiki especially since the genre is niche but I still liked it.
Re 4 Wii Edition was great. The additional content and the Wii Controls really make it the best version in my opinion. Hey, Capcom, give us a remake of RE 2. But Enough already with the ports and spin-off titles!
I skipped out on Umbrella Chronicles. Overkill is more of my thing anyway.
Hopefully Capcom will focus even less on the Wii in the future. That's right. I want the piece of crap to die. Now the Wii itself will never die but I hope 3rd party support for it does.
Why would I wish such a cruel fate on the platform? Because the resources wasted on the Wii could be used to make the same games on the PS3 / 360 / PC with better visuals and nearly identical gameplay.
Sure graphics aren't everything but when a game on the Wii plays at 10 fps (No More Heroes) it's far less enjoyable than if it ran smoothly.
Now I hear you screaming:"BUT BUT TEH MOTION CONTROLS!"
What about them? Waving the Wiimote has replaced flicking the analog stick... Only it's less accurate. What an innovation!
Yeah I'm ranting but I'm really pissed about what Nintendo has done with the Wii. They've sold out and given up on quality to appeal to the mass market. The same mass market that has spoken and decided that I should be watching Reality TV.
I wish Nintendo well really but I wish they'd just piss off and split from the gaming market completely instead of trying to pretend they still care.
I just purchased both Zak and Okami today.
As for these games, I think they'll all continue to sell well. Okami only sold like 30,000 it's first month out in the US, and over time it's eventually sold more than four times that.
The Wii install base continues to grow at an amazing pace, new gamers continue to expand their understanding of what sorts of games they are willing to try, and most importantly, people like us refuse to shut up about how great Okami and Zack and Wiki are.
"Never shut up, never surrender"
@Cow
That's because whatever hardcore community remained pretty much dried up, you can't give people 1 or 2 games and say "be satisfied with this for a year" when the other 2 consoles have so much more.
I didn't see any?
Capcom screwed big time on their part.
Idiots, Meh they expect everything to sell automatically.
Numbers are alright. Curious to see about worldwide Z&W sales. I know RE4 moved a ton of units world wide (all things considered)
Not too shabby
Never played Zak & Wiki myself, but I've heard nothing but good about it. It's a shame that the handful of good 3rd party software on the Wii gets burried under the avalanche of crap.