This game is much bigger in Europe than America. Top 10 in America in December, in the 5th month of release, is a big accomplishment. But its actually bigger in Europe, and that's how it will reach 12 and 13M units sold.
And for a different look at the legs: the game shipped 5.5M in the 9 months April-December 2007, bringing total shipments to 9.84M. **In the same period, the original game, without a launch boost in any territory, shipped 4M units, bringing the total to 11.71M.** This sounds to me like 12M is in the bag. The original is about to hit 12M, and it has a 1M unit disadvantage in Japan!
3
Check Europe, Arbiter. A quick search on GoNintendo shows this:
#3 in Spain; #1 in Germany, week ending Feb 3
#10 in UK; #6 in Ireland; #3 in Netherlands, week ending Feb 9
etc.
This game is much bigger in Europe than America. Top 10 in America in December, in the 5th month of release, is a big accomplishment. But its actually bigger in Europe, and that's how it will reach 12 and 13M units sold.
And for a different look at the legs: the game shipped 5.5M in the 9 months April-December 2007, bringing total shipments to 9.84M. **In the same period, the original game, without a launch boost in any territory, shipped 4M units, bringing the total to 11.71M.** This sounds to me like 12M is in the bag. The original is about to hit 12M, and it has a 1M unit disadvantage in Japan!
Nintendo software shipments Q3 2008
1M unit disadvantage in Japan
I won't speculate about 14 or 15M units sold, but it doesn't sound farfetched from anything I've seen.