Given the sales of 314k in May reporting period, I'm definitely going to assume these are sold-through numbers. Perhaps the most impressive feat about this being the fastest-selling Mario Party title is the fact that the install base is so small comparitively speaking. We're talking nearly 20% attach rate in the first month on sale.
@MiyazakiFan, So that is shipped right? I always thought Nintendo kept sell-through records instead of shipped records.
Oh well. Regardless, this 'fastest selling' Wii version is indeed going to hit the new 'casual' audience quite well. It's basically an interactive board game, with Mario and friends and minigames.
You'd imagine that this game would clear 280k fairly easily. Okay, it isn't counting the first few days of release as it was released on may 29th, but since then sales would still be fairly high.
I know i know i'm about to use VGChartz figures but i can't help it...
They have Mario Party 8 at 300k in first week which is 29th May to 3rd June so we can't count all of the figure for the 6 days. Even if we take around 35% we get 105K and VG counts another 300k since then. Even disregarding the 1st week totally we get past the 280k.
Taking NPD sales figures for the last few months from searching this site, the bigger games are selling upwards of 400k per month in their first month. Super Paper Mario sold 350k in April NPD figures and was only released on the 10th of that month missing out a full third of the month.
This is a huge game for Wii since it's the Mario series and was always going to sell well. Don't be surprised if the value of this skyrockets over the next few days. It could even hit 50DKP+
Nintendo announced today that Mario Party 8 is the fastest selling title in the series' history selling over 550,000 units in America in just over its 1st month available.
As is customary with Wii and Nintendo titles in general, this is likely only the start of much bigger things to come.
Just another big example of why I don't take much stock in VG Charts numbers. They are consistently between 25-50% or more off compared to NPD numbers.
The Mario Party franchise is a well established one, it uses a formula that is relatively unchanged from the beginning, and the interface with the Wii was a natural jump for the game.
Despite poor reviews (relatively) this game will sell well, it mostly got those low ratings because it didn't change from the previous incarnation, but it is the first Mario Party on the new console.
There are a couple minigames that are glitchy but overall the game is amazing, especially the hidden extra's tent that allows you to play minigames as your Mii.
I am a bit shocked by the high first month sales via NPD figures. I knew that Mario Party had an excellent relationship with casual gaming and has a long tail, but I didn't anticipate the number of people to buy in the first days of the game coming out.
If the game came out May 29th, how many days did it have to sell 314,000 copies? Or does this just show the effects of the drought of new games on the Wii during the summer period? This stock may increase even more.
Usually when we play mario party it is as a larger group than a single person, however i definately saw the need to unlock levels and characters. So i attempted to play the Star Battle Mode.
In this mode, it is less about mini games and more about "board-play." You are using the boards to your advantage to steal stars and coins, as well as boobie-trap your opponent. It was a very simple mode, but time consuming.
The level that was unlocked is Bowser's Space Port. Definately a reference to Mario Galaxy.
Also, not sure if people knew this, or if any other mario parties were like this, but...
THERE IS A MAIN BOSS BATTLE. You battle bowser in outer space. he shoots fireballs, lasers and bullets at you. You have to charge the rod and shoot back at him.
I think this is a first for mario party games, but i could be wrong. Very Very Fun Boss Battle Minigame.
Having just picked up this game, I have been pleasantly surprised. Generally I avoid the low review titles. This one, though having the same board game style play, is (like most Wii games) entirely different in feel from the last Mario Party so far.
Consequently, here are some other user reviews that have come up:
7
Given the sales of 314k in May reporting period, I'm definitely going to assume these are sold-through numbers. Perhaps the most impressive feat about this being the fastest-selling Mario Party title is the fact that the install base is so small comparitively speaking. We're talking nearly 20% attach rate in the first month on sale.