Kotaku
Looks like Sega's Masanao Maeda underestimated the power of Sonic and Mario in the same game. Back at TGS last year he claimed that Mario & Sonic At The Olympic Games would sell four million copies, matching the sales of the original Sonic the Hedgehog on the Sega Genesis. Expectation met, and neatly surpassed. In three months the title has sold over five million copies worldwide as gamers flocked to the store in droves to witness what sort of train wreck occurs when you let Sega screw around with both their own characters and Nintendo's, while parents bought up copies because it was the most kid friendly game they could find without Billy Ray Cyrus's daughter on the front cover. Since they mention both in the press release, I am assuming this covers both the DS and Wii versions of the game, but they're equally mediocre so I'll allow it. Congratulations Sega for proving once again that a game can sell based on characters alone.
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games™ Hits 5 Million in Global SalesFounding Fathers of Video Games, SEGA and Nintendo, Find Winning Formula with First-Ever Pairing of Famous Mascots
TOKYO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—SEGA® Corporation today announced that its history-making video game title, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games™, has sold five million copies worldwide in just over three months. Developed by SEGA for the Wii™ video game system and the Nintendo DS™ system, with creative input and executive milestone approvals by Nintendo's developers, the title brought together for the first time the two most beloved icons in the entertainment industry. In the spirit of the Olympic Games, the legendary mascots also brought friends from their storied franchises along, including Luigi™, Knuckles™, Yoshi® and Tails™, to compete in a variety of Olympic events.
"With adored icons and fun game play, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games has shot to the top of the sales charts and is clearly resonating with the growing audience of casual gamers that want an engaging and accessible gaming experience," said Simon Jeffery, President and COO, SEGA of America.
Published by SEGA across Europe and North America, and by Nintendo in Japan, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games made its worldwide debut on November 6, 2007, when the Wii version hit store shelves in the United States. According to the NPD Group, which tracks sales data in the United States, the game was one of the top-ten best-sellers in the United States - across all platforms - in the critical holiday sales month of December.
When Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games launched in Europe just days later, it was an immediate hit, rising rapidly to the top of sales charts. Mario & Sonic became the best-ever performing Wii game over the seven-day period that ended on December 11, 2007. In January, Mario & Sonic was the best-selling video game in England across all formats.
"The market for entertaining games that everyone can enjoy is growing faster than any other segment in the industry, thanks in part to the explosive popularity of Wii and Nintendo DS," continued Jeffery. "A key element of our growth strategy at SEGA is to develop and publish games that appeal to this expanding market."
Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games is licensed through a worldwide partnership with International Sports Multimedia (ISM), the exclusive Interactive Entertainment Software licensee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Comments
i can't believe it. it's such a bad game haha.
8-year-olds are a powerful force.
While I haven't myself played it, my 21 year old brother and his friends can't get enough of it. Maybe they're just easily satisfied? I don't know - but they won't shut up about it.
Its terrible
I take my gaming fairly seriously, and for whatever reason I actually enjoy this game. There is no denying it's not really all that great great, but I just plain have fun playing. It's weird and it sort of scares me to think about it.
Frankly I preferred the struggling, near bankrupt Sega that turned out so much weird and wonderful stuff to the corporate licensing machine it's become today.
Games that sold less than that on the Wii:
Zack and Wiki
RE:4
RE:UC
...okay. Forget that. Every game but Wii Play and Mario Galaxy.
That's depressing.
This game was the epitome of suck.
The game is very good, but it could have been better.
First Mario Party, then this. Look out, the casual population are taking over! If mediocrity sells, then "meaty" games are done for. (looking at Twilight Princess and No More Heroes sales in Japan...)
The game isn't great, but it's surprisingly fun. I play it with my older brothers and I play it with their kids.
@Hikikomori: The only solution is for developers to stay independent so that they can make the games THEY want to make and not have corporate overlords dictating the creative agenda.
By gamers, for gamers.
You know, maybe some people actually like the game? What a concept!
Having never played it, I can't form an opinion one way or the other but I find it interesting that people either consider this one of the worst games ever or really fun, which leads me to suspect it might merely be 'average' and if that's the case it doesn't shock me that it sold 5 million on the Wii. I mean, its got Mario and Sonic and thats pretty much all kids need to see to want the game for their Wii.
According to VGChartz this game is well underway of becoming the most successful game Sega has ever produced. Only Sonic The Hedgehog 2 stands in its way with 6.02 milion copies sold.
@ Beano
Sad times indeed then :(
It's a good game! Most critics gave it bad reviews without even playing it. Douchebags.
Ah the discerning taste of 21st century consumers, assuring that exquisite, licensed based games like this one continue flying off the shelves...
the hell? who's buying this thing??? i figured sonic would be too old for most kids to recognize, and the older generation who grew up with it would consider it too.. sucky.
Not a great game but it's actually pretty fun.
Holy Crap, I didn't believe this would ever happen.
I wouldn't say it's a great game, but it's a good fun game. I have the Wii version and while it doesn't have the characters fighting like in SSBB, it's still just plain, quick, fun. That's all it is, FUN. I love the field race in the game with the items to attack everone (not sure what the real name of the event is called)
I think games of this order should be coined 'McGames' for obvious reasons.
"SEGA® Corporation today announced that its history-EXPLOITING video game title, Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games™, has sold five million copies worldwide in just over three months."
Fix'd
In any case, while there isn't a whole lot of depth (or often times sense-sonic just got beat by bowser... in a race...) there is a certain charm to the game and it's fun to play with my younger siblings.
Oh come on this was a good game. At least it's the first game with Sonic in it that didn't leave us swearing at the TV for 8 hours.
Nintendo should seriously think about buying the rights to Sonic again.
Is funny, a lot of people forget about the Fun factor when reviewing or assessing games.
@amazinglarry: I'm 22, and when we rented it, my cousins (21 and 19) and I were having a damn good time. One of my cousins ended up buying it.
I'll admit too, this game is balls, but that doesn't stop me from having fun with friends.
Really, it's all about WHO you play the game with.
I played the DS version and I thought it was terrible. Well then again I think all collections of mini-games are terrible.
Oh boy...if developers start cashing in big on BS titles like this, we adult gamers will have to wade through the child drivel in search of games like a prospector sifting through sand to find that speck of gold......shoot me now, please.
Why the hate?
I have not played the Wii version, but I find the DS game to be a LOT of fun. The single player games offers tons of challenges with circuits and individual missions, plus the trivia minigames (some are boring though), plus the collection of medals, emblems and crowns. Add to that the incredibly fun multiplayer and online leaderboards (some crazy records there).
Sure, some games don't work as good as they should, but I still think this game is the most complete Olymplics game package I have ever played.
It's just lacking actual wi-fi multiplayer, but personally I rather play with people in the same room.
@Ichidou:
then you don´t need the game. having fun with friends doesn´t need anything besides them. Even telling jokes and having booze. No booze? you can wrestle.
Anyway... this could be a good game. I don´t get why fun for everyone must equal bad gameplay. It asn´t like that on old days... anyone can play tetris.. and it´s a good game. Even Zuma, that casual thing... it actually fun and solid. Why make a stupid game with horrible gameplay...
@Kirbytheslayer: In-Kirby XMB: Being a little overly dramatic aren't we?
Mario & Sonic is at the very least, 20 times the game that any of Data Design Interactive's releases will ever be.
Don't go around calling a mediocre to decent game the "epitome of suck" ... when we really do have games which actually are the "epitome of suck" to worry about.
I recently got both the DS and the Wii versions and I actually found both of them to be quite entertaining.
Not expecting anything excellent from the start might have helped but then again I still play and enjoy both Athlete Kings and Winter Heat every once in a while.
This was a good game (on the Wii anyway)
"Mario and Sonic sell five million."
In other news: People are stupid.
i love watching dr.eggman swimming.
Love the picture!
Well, that clinches it. The word that will sum up this gaming generation: Shovelware.
@TitillatedOcelot: If you think Mario and Sonics at the Olympics is 'shovelware' you're apparently failed at comprehension (and DDI have some games they want to sell you).
I'll give you three clues as to why this game was clearly a high-budget production and not shovelware at all: 1) 'Olympics', 2) 'Mario', 3) .... okay let's make that two clues.
I'm not sure if anyone realizes it, but this is an excellent game when mixed with alcohol.
Zack & Wiki, No More Heroes, I cry for you.
What a negative writeup. I'm sure it's better than all the real popular shit that kids always buy. Like those 2 final fantasy games coming out this month? Give me a break. You know they'll suck even more than their predecessors did, but will sell millions on name alone. So when are you gonna complain about that?
"Congratulations Sega for proving once again that a game can sell based on characters alone."
Nintendo does this often. Calm it down.
Shovelw@TitillatedOcelot: Shovelware? Does that term even accurately apply at all to this game? I'd try wikipedia to figure it out but something tells me I'll have a more enjoyable time on urban dictionary.
Don't quite understand all the fiery rhetoric as to how this game/trend somehow is ruining gaming, ie the "people are stupid" comment, or "by gamers, for gamers" remark.
All it ends up sounding like is a bunch of losers going waahhh wahhh wahhh.
To be fair, it was the best game Sonic has been in since who knows when. That will change when SSBB is released though ;)
Come on the general public doesnt need a PEREFECT game to have fun. So why all the negativity?
So there are a million poor bastards that bought this?
Well, my Dad bought it. Everyone in the house regretted it but him, but of course he's the only one that never plays video games so I guess it's not his fault.
Did anyone expect this to be anything more than a fun multiplayer game?
It's got Mario and Sonic at the Olympics. Gimmicks gimmicks gimmicks.
Clearly people who don't get that don't have any friends to play with, was stuck to 1 player and expected a bit more than they should've, or never played it.
It's a party game nothing more, not the next gta or mgs just a quick multiplayer game to pass the time.
No matter what I hear about this game, I'm just not interested in buying it. Or really even playing it.
The game is not all that bad. Really it is not bad at all it is a solid 3 out of 5. U have to play it what do u want out of a Olympic game. They really did the best with what they had. I think all should play it and i am as "hard core" as the next gamer.
Oh noes! A well-selling Sonic game? We can't have that, now can we? Quick! Shoot the game down with insults that the core fanbase of this game will never read! Brilliant!
@Old-school Sonic fanboy: Mini game compilation that basically just attracts gamers due to having Mario and Sonic together on the cover. Yes we should be proud of consumers buying in mass a game that is selling purely on name recognition and influences other developers to follow the trend of minigames.