November NPD Futures candidates

@nubala,
Mario & Sonic for DS has been delayed to Q1 2008. I don't think we can up the limit of Futures, I think more games should be added to lifetime stocks with so many big titles releasing during holidays.

@Powertrade,

If we're looking for one month of sales, why not pick a single title (like Call of Duty) instead of 3 titles from the same genre.

If NPD tracks it, shouldn't the monthly inof be somewhere? Does any website look for/post this information?

Perhaps we could do a delisting right away, vote on games that should be on the SE as lifetime stocks, and then list them. I don't think we should look over listing games as significant as Rockband, Uncharted: DF, Simpsons, Unreal Tournament 3 PS3, & Ninja Gaiden DS. I guess those are my most wanted listings.

@Alpha,
I've seen it listed for November 20th on every gaming site and retail site I've checked, over 6 sites. We know it is coming this holiday, it would be foolish if it didn't arrive by November.

@Arbiter,

The stock are traded blind afterwards to. USA doesn't give you much for a PC game. After all PC gaming seems to be huger in Europe than NA! Consider a fact: Pc games have the same total revenue as games for all consoles and hand helds together in Germany. This year is the first year that pattern might break, caused by high software sales for the DS and Wii. In NA this trend does not exist like that, so NPD numbers doesn't help that much for stocks :o)

@KultofCows,

3 PC games but no DS games? Seems a bit wonky. I think CoD4 has the best chance of cracking the top 10 out of the 3.

@Joe80, Is Rockband confirmed for November?

There are a lot of shooters on the list, and a lot of multiplatform games. Is it more valuable to get how 2 different games from a single platform do or how 2 of the same game on two different platforms do?

I know many gamers are more concerned about the Xbox 360 vs PS3 element. I think it would be interesting to get the PC numbers just so we have a better idea of how PC games sell, since we're just guessing right now.

Manhunt 2 (Wii) has a ton of bids in the unlisted games section, but I don't know if the game will be that big a deal other than the controversy. I really can't see a game like that selling substantially on the Wii.

@nubala,

"Mario and Sonic at the Olympics for both the Wii and DS "

We still have those games TBA on the site. Is there evidence the games are coming out in November? Someone should update the wiki date.

@Laoldar,
"Crysis (which I think will have lower sales due to system requirements) we have 8 FPS games on this list"

I always thought Crysis' sales would be hurt by the high system reqs, but why is the stock always sitting at 1.8 million units sold? That is a blockbuster number for PC game sales...or any game sales.

@nubala,

Resident Evil is not packed in with the Zapper, Link's Crossbow Training is.

OH, another DS game completely slipped my mind.

Mario Party DS. Long-running, popular franchise. Unlike the poor GBA effort, this one is more of a mini-version of the console games and features multiplayer action off one cartridge. If people realize it's out there, it could do well.

At this point in the year there are clearly more games people want to see listed on the SE then the current Future system will allow for. I believe when so many great titles are coming out that we should introduce some lifetime stocks that are not being included in the Futures. I'd like if Kultofcows could poll us on some games that could be added as lifetime stocks after he finalizes the Nov Futures.

@Laoldar,

That would be much more useful, as it would save us the trouble of having to list a future just to get sales numbers. But would NPD provide first month sales for games that are not top titles (and are not futures)? I don't think they would, but it would be nice if they would release such data.

@Laoldar,

Mario and Sonic at the Olympics for the Wii and DS should definitely be one of the futures we track, as it is looking better each time it is shown and could potentially have great sales due to the combination of two gaming icons Mario and Sonic.

I think CoD4 should be included just so that we have accurate number with which to base any future shooters on the DS off of. Currently I can not find official numbers for any of the shooters on the DS and I think that it would be useful to at least see first month sales of a shooter for the DS, especially if moving forward developers start releasing or announcing more shooters for the system.

Contra 4 I think, if CoD4 is not included, should as it is from a classic (and respected) series and it will be interesting to see if the hype will translate into sales.

Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 should be included, for the reason you stated and because it might show if Wii owners are tired of buying party games at all due of the deluge of said games for that system.

Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 for the Wii. The first game was a surprising launch hit and the new game will focus more on multiplayer with better Wii controls (the last being multi-plat which was changed to party game months before release).

Wii Zapper. This peripheral has gotten a lot of positive attention and comes bundled with a Link game so it could do well.

Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles (Wii). Highly anticipated light-gun game of a popular franchise. Capcom says it's coming in November.

Mario and Sonic at the Olympics (Wii, also on the DS). This has even received Best in Show awards and will probably be a top selling Wii title due to the mascot fight that fans have waited for.

Contra 4 (DS). Nintendo Power claims this for November. It could give a DS title for that month but also it's a long-awaited sequel for a classic franchise.


I see that titles are not having their release dates posted when announced, causing some confusion for the futures. I guess we'll just have to have to watch them more carefully...or could we have an option to put "November 2007" in place until they announce the exact date? Quite a few games for this fall seem to only put out a month and only give an exact date once it comes closer.



For titles to remove:
CoD4/UT3/Army of Two for PC/PS3/360. I'm not suggesting removing all 4 versions but I doubt that the PS3 versions will hit the top 10 for the month and I have some doubts about PC titles making it as well. Including Crysis (which I think will have lower sales due to system requirements) we have 8 FPS games on this list...I doubt that the PC/PS3 versions of the multi-plat games will make the list. This needs to be thinned out or they'll be ignored anyway.

If you're sticking with 10 titles this month, perhaps you could still list the Manhunt futures but not count them in the 10. There's very little chance of them selling well, but they will bring some attention to the site.

I disagree with Gaara42 about Lego and CoD on the DS (DS sales for shooters aren't that great and the Lego games were already released on there, unlike the Wii version) but I think Geometry Wars could be an interesting addition (Wii version at least).