Microsoft is proud of only nabbing 60% of GTAIV sales.
Worldwide, there are nearly 19 million 360s, to only 12 million PS3s... yet only slightly more than half of GTAIV's launch week sales went to the 360 version. Out of the 6 million copies sold, 3.2 mill were the 360 version and 2.6 were for the PS3.
A console that boasts an additional 7 million consoles in homes (I know, I know, these numbers do not factor in broken consoles, of which Microsoft has plenty, nor account for people who own more than one of the same console), a console that paid $50 million for "exclusive" to-come DLC content, a console that offers the robust Live experience and the wholly unique achievement concept... can't even manage to properly smash the competition on the biggest game made to date.
By rights, this should have been an 80/20 split. So either there's far fewer working 360s out there than the 19 million would suggest... or people still think of GTA has a PlayStation franchise, regardless of what the 360 can offer.
Will GTA keep Niko as series protagonist?
Based on clues inside the game and on Rockstar's website, rumors are swirling that GTAIV frontman Niko Bellic will hop a flight from Liberty City to San Andreas for the next GTA game.
I really like this idea... that we'll follow one man through this generation's GTA games. Could be absolutely epic. I predict he dies at the end of the trilogy. Also, I predict a trilogy.
Boom Blox very good.
When Toys R Us gives you lemons (no copies of The World Ends With You in stock), you make lemonade (pick up Boom Blox instead)!
So far, it's a really nice (third party!) example of how to create a compelling game using only the Wii Remote. Blocks are stacked up, and you swing the Remote at the screen to knock them down. The kind of blocks, the kind of ball, the way you throw, the number of throws you are allowed... it all adds up to create a very unique puzzle game.
Clark is having a bit of a chore mastering the controls, through. First you have to point at the screen, which he doesn't quite get. Then you have to lock in your target by holding down the A button, which is tough for his little hand. Then you swing and let go of the button as you do so... he can swing, but often can't time the A release well enough. Although when he gets it, he is completely thrilled to watch the blocks tumble.
And by the way, my Toys R Us was completely sold out of Wii Fit pre-orders, which never ever happens. This thing is going to be huge.
Cookie & Cream very bad.
Wow. $10 in the Please Shoplift Me section of Best Buy, and I'm not even sure it's worth that. I loved the PS2 original, but this DS adaptation manages to ruin every positive memory I have.
The gimmick is that you control one rabbit on the top screen, sort of normal platformy stuff. But when you get to a roadblock, you have to jump on a button so the action can switch to the second rabbit on the touchscreen. There you have to perform simple stylus tasks to clear the impediment for the first rabbit. OK, sure, two screens, two rabbits, should be a nice little multitasking test...
Except that the game is viciously determined to make sure you fail. The evil timer tricks from the first game have survived intact, with no allowance for the computer to cut you a break because this time you're trying to run both rabbits (as compared to the original, which was largely a two-player game). Remember how when one rabbit would stand still for too long, something would come along and eat time off the clock? Still happens here, except it's more punishing because you only stood still because your brain just shifted to control the other rabbit. Remember how the slightest misjump into water would kill the first rabbit and drop time off the clock? Still here. Regularly, one confusing minigame completely drains the timer as you fumble with the stylus, fall into pits, and run into enemies. A disaster.
One of the minigames requires you to play piano by ear. After failing to duplicate a random three-note sequence on a sixteen key piano, I turned the game off and returned the cartridge to the case. Fuck that.
Finally, Portal.
After getting "Still Alive" in Rock Band, I have become intensely curious about Portal. So I leaped at a Target sale on Orange Box this weekend (Orange Box, for the unwashed, contains Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Half-Life 2... and it has really unmarketable cover art). The $60 PS3 game was already discounted to $30. We had an internet coupon for $5 off any $25 toy purchase... and video games count as toys. Then we had $10 in gift cards leftover from some Pepsi promotion last month (which we combined with Pepsi coupons for an even better deal). So Orange Box ended up costing me $15, which is $5 less than what Portal sells for alone as a PC release. Even if I never play Team Fortress 2 and Half-Life 2, this is a bargain.
It will be a bit before I get to this, however.
Mario Kart is forcing me to cull my Mii herd.
I love seeing my Miis pop up all over the Mario Kart Wii tracks. Not only are they found cheering by the side of the road, but they show up on billboards, murals, even giant statues.
What I don't love is seeing all those stupid Miis that I made for the Check Mii Out Channel. So this week I deleted a pile of non-family-and-friend Miis, so as to improve the level scenery in Mario Kart. Seeing three of my friends in those cars at Coconut Mall is funny. Seeing a Gingerbread Man, Diddy Kong and Pee Wee Herman is not.
Clark is getting a grip on Mario Kart.
My boy made some serious headway toward mastering Mario Kart this week. When he first played, he tended to just tilt the Wii Wheel to one side and drive in circles. Now he has learned to keep the Wheel moving so he can follow the road. Of course, he lacks the feather touch required to stay in the race, but at least now he can make some forward headway. He also knows about the "present button," and a good portion of any race is him going after Item Boxes for "presents." His favorite is the Bullet Bill.
What helped him learn the technique (aside from the Wii Wheel itself being something he can easily understand, having real-world experience in steering his kiddie bikes and cars) was playing a coin battle in Funky Stadium. With no set road and no dropoffs, he had a chance at actually hanging around long enough to internalize the concept. Plus, Funky Stadium has plenty of presents and jumps... and he loves jumps too. He also loves being able to race as his own Mii.
Clark and I played a few online races against worldwide competitors. One fellow in England was using his Batman Mii, and that was instantly a Big Deal. "We race Batman, daddy?"
Yes, it's silly for Microsoft to trumpet their marginal majority of GTA sales. So is your conclusion:
By rights, this should have been an 80/20 split. So either there's far fewer working 360s out there than the 19 million would suggest... or people still think of GTA has a PlayStation franchise, regardless of what the 360 can offer.
DLC exclusivity or not, it's ridiculous to suggest that Rockstar would sell 3 units for the 360 for every PS3 copy sold. I mean, what are those console numbers again? Almost 19 million 360s to 12 million PS3s? A perfect split would mean three out of every five games sold were Xbox versions; it was actually closer to two out of three, so yeah. Microsoft did well.
So a more enhanced version that Microsoft paid big bucks for means nothing? They've been crowing about the DLC for months, the Live/Achievements portion should have driven sales, not to mention that they have TV ads running that are only tagged with a 360 logo.
Based on the 2.6/3.2 numbers, Microsoft only managed 55% of the total sales. That's after an additional year of 360 in the marketplace, Live/Achievements, and $50 million for the DLC (which I wager is coming to PS3 anyway, after some secret "exclusivity"period, or at the least the PS3 gets DIFFERENT DLC). All the work, all the money, all the marketing and that's it? That is just not good enough. Microsoft had to have expected more for their investment. They clearly did not win mindshare on this one. The PS3 is stronger than we all thought.
Here's another stat... 22% of all PS3 owners bought GTAIV week one, compared to 17% of 360 owners. Microsoft couldn't even convince their own audience to get out there for this game. That number also has to be a disappointment.
Look at it this way: Sony did nothing for GTAIV and claimed 45% of sales. Microsoft threw the world at it and had to fight for 55%.
Well, yeah...but PS3 still can't catch 360 in superdelegates, so...
...it's pretty much over.
Simple math. Unless 360 totally screws up and it comes out that some absurd thing like systems not working or whatever blows up in the press.
And look, PS3 may have more delegates, but it's still trailing in the popular vote.
Heh heh. Then McCain = Wii? They are both white...
Way to go Microsoft. You suck so much that you're pleased with getting 60% of GTA sales. Pathetic.
I haven't played any GTA games, but I probably should. Didn't own a PS2 until 2 years ago though, so thats probably why.
I want to play Portal. Boom Blox looks awesome. Definately a near future buy for me....but....
Ok, I have a LOT of games I want to buy. Crisis core, patapon, boom blox, okami, mario kart, wii fit, some VC and WiiWare games....but I also want a PS3. And I can't get ANY games if I want to get 600$ soon.
AHHH.