2008's best-sellers revealed, familiar outcome ensues
by Chris Greenhough 
{ Nov 17th 2008 at 7:10PM }
Gamasutra has compiled a bunch of charts showing the best-selling games of 2008 (so far) across all formats. At first glance, the results are thoroughly predictable -- it's yet more Wii dominance in the U.S. -- but there are interesting factoids to be drawn from this.Wii Play, for example, looks like finishing in the top five games of the year for the second year running. Even more impressively, Gamasutra thinks it could sell more copies in 2008 than in 2007, which is all kinds of crazy. Surely that would be some kind of first?
The top two spots are held by Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Wii, a pair of titles that we always expected to sell well, but to beat the likes of Wii Fit or other games aimed at Nintendo's broadened audience? Speaking of Wii Fit, it tops the chart for estimated revenue so far this year, thanks to its higher retail price. We'll reproduce the 2008 YTD sales table below, but Gamasutra has other data worth looking at here.
1. Super Smash Bros. Brawl (Wii) -- 3.5 million
2. Mario Kart Wii (Wii) -- 3.4 million
3. Grand Theft Auto IV (360) -- 3.2 million
4. Wii Play (Wii) -- 3.0 million
5. Wii Fit (Wii) -- 2.8 million
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
CJLopez @ Nov 17th 2008 8:07PM
And Barack Obama, as first action on the presidential chair will proclaim Nintendo as their main Money Printers. Seeing how they create such excellent money printing machines is a must!!!!!
Mr Khan @ Nov 17th 2008 9:14PM
Nintendo could bail out the American Auto Industry
Kenology18 @ Nov 17th 2008 8:10PM
But... but... Wii games don't sell... They're all collecting dust, right!? RIGHT!?
:)
Kev (gamertag: ksiddique) @ Nov 18th 2008 12:59PM
Wii games sell then don't get played.
:P
Nebinator @ Nov 17th 2008 8:18PM
I'm just shocked wii fit wasn't higher. No surprise with gta4, ssbb, or mkw. Also, Wii play wasn't a very good game. It was a bad game. Shovelware. Basically, the people that got it thought they could snag a game for $10. But seriously, 3 million people?!
sn1per @ Nov 17th 2008 8:21PM
I'll give you most of the games on WiiPlay, but I've gotten many hours of play out of tanks. In fact, that one game alone has easily been worth the $10 that the game cost me.
Eric @ Nov 17th 2008 10:03PM
I agree. Tanks is a great game. My friends are addicted to it.
The only reason I bought Wii Play, though, was to get the controller. It made sense to me.
madhat @ Nov 17th 2008 10:51PM
Wii Play is definitely worth 10 bucks. I figure if I get anything over an hour of entertainment for a $10 game, it's a decent deal. My mom loves the 9-ball game on Wii Play and plays it every time she visits. For that reason alone, I figure I've gotten more than than my money's worth.
Daryl @ Nov 17th 2008 11:29PM
It seems every month, the 360 has the highest selling game. But then they get their you know what kicked long term.
I guess Nintendo is right. It's software cycle is evergreen. 360 has the leading game each month out of the gate, but then the wii outsells those games long term, after the initial buzz.