Mario & Sonic at the Olympics Sells 5 Million Copies
Awhile back, Ray and I scoffed at Sega’s bold prediction that Mario & Sonic at the Olympics would sell 4 million copies worldwide. The game was pretty much crap mediocre and we had faith that consumers would recognize this despite the fact that Mario and Sonic were in the same game for the first time. We were wrong. Turns out they’ve now sold 5 MILLION copies worldwide between the Wii and DS and expect continued sales due to the fact that the Olympics are still 4 months away. Unfortunately, Ray did purchase the game and helped them reach that 5 million, but I forgive him because his 6.6/10 score for the game should have deterred others from buying the game. I’m a bit upset that this game sold so well because it just means more of the same from Sega, Sonic + Mediocre Game = Profit.
Sonic + Mediocre Game = Profit
At least it is a lot easier than Nintendo’s formula:
Choose(Mario, Link, Samus, Wario, Kirby, StarFox, Donkey Kong, Animal Crossing) + Great Game = Profit
I don’t find it hard to believe because my kids love this game and so do some of my casual gaming friends. Whether it’s crap or not for experienced gamers, there are lots of people that like it.
Karl, sorry for my harsh words, from what I saw of the game at E for All and from Ray’s description of the game it didn’t seem very good. Certainly there was a lot of room for improvement and many gameplay choices didn’t make sense. It’s just too bad that the first Mario & Sonic title wasn’t nearly as good as it could have been.
Actually, I think you’re right. I don’t think that it is a good game for Sonic lovers. It’s just that we now have a demographic of casual gamers that like an entirely different kind of game. So, rant away!
By the way, I think that the 2P comics are brilliant. My favorite would be the the crucifixion scene in #005.
I agree with Tim, although 5 million is a lot more sales than our blue blur has seen in a good while *sigh* what happened to the genesis days?
but i wold rather have a grate game than a pice of crap and the last part of that fomual is wrong + great game = WAY MORE PROFIT
or even Dreamcast days.
I figure SA2 was the last good home game for Sonic and pals. The rush games were pretty good, and Riders was eh. Everything else was pretty craptastic. I do have high-hopes for Sonic RPG though.
I’m a little surprised it sold this many copies myself. After borrowing a friend’s copy of the game for the DS I found it to be completely unplayable crap. But, to tell the truth, if the controls weren’t so shoddy and complicated it’d be VERY much worth playing.
I would like to point out that the “5 million copies” is referring to the combined total of Wii and DS versions of the game sold.
So it doesn’t quite confirm we’re wrong, although I suppose that could change within just a couple more months.
How the heck do you play an Olympics game on the DS anyway? The only really good thing the DS has going for it (in controls) is the Touch Screen. What are you going to do? Swish the stylus back and forth on the screen to throw the javelin? Yell into the microphone to take a breath in swimming? There’s nothing practical that you could do.
BTW, I think the Wii game is great. At least it got me away from playing Wii Sports all the time with my friends who don’t have a Wii.