Wii Sports Passes SMB For #1 Best-Seller?

[John Funk]

Wii Sports Passes SMB For #1 Best-Seller?

Recently released Nintendo sales numbers indicate that Wii Sports has surpassed the long-standing record of Super Mario Bros. to become the best-selling game of all time.

The data [http://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2009/090508e.pdf], which covers total lifetime sales for first-party Wii and DS titles that shipped more than a million copies in fiscal year 2008, includes bundled software like Wii Sports - which tops the list at a staggering 45.7 million copies sold.

Assuming the numbers are correct (and why would they not be?), this places sales of Wii Sports ahead of the timeless Super Mario Bros., and not by a slim margin, either - at last count, SMB had sold roughly 40.7 million copies. It, too, was bundled with an extremely popular console.

Other whopping Nintendo sales numbers: Wii Play a hair shy of 23 million, Wii Fit at 18.2, Mario Kart Wii with 15.4 million, and Super Smash Bros. Brawl rounds out the top 5 with 8.43 million copies sold. On the DS front, Nintendogs leads the pack, followed closely by New Super Mario Bros., Brain Training, Pokemon Diamond/Pearl and Mario Kart DS.

(Via Edge [http://www.edge-online.com/news/wii-sports-the-best-selling-game-ever])

Permalink

 

[fix-the-spade]

So, a game bundled with a console counts as a sale?

That's like McDonalds saying their boxes are the best selling in the world because everyone who buys a Big Mac gets one.

What about Demo 1 then? There's a hundred million PS1's kicking about out there, every single one of which had a Demo 1 with it, surely that's the biggest selling game of all time then?

I hate propagistics...

 

[Cousin_IT]

I wouldnt be all that surprised if, despite these figures, less people actually play Wii Sports then Super Mario Bros

 

[Tech Team FTW!]

Just one qustion:
Why do the characters in that image appear to be wearing no pants?

 

[John Funk]

So, a game bundled with a console counts as a sale?

That's like McDonalds saying their boxes are the best selling in the world because everyone who buys a Big Mac gets one.

What about Demo 1 then? There's a hundred million PS1's kicking about out there, every single one of which had a Demo 1 with it, surely that's the biggest selling game of all time then?

I hate propagistics...

Except Demo 1 and Big Mac boxes aren't purchasable products in their own rights. Therein lies the difference.

 

[Eagle Est1986]

I really don't think they should be able to count every Wii sale, outside of Japan, as a sale for Wii Sports, it's just not the same. Stick with best selling console Nintendo and have done with it.

 

[yourbeliefs]

Bundled games need to have some sort of special category, because to me that's not an accurate track of how well a game does. With a few country exceptions EVERYONE who bought a Wii got Wii Sports with it, but that doesn't mean that they necessarily WANTED it..

 

[Mr.Pandah]

I can't see this as being actually credible. Unless, everyone is actually going out and buying another copy of Wii Sports, its just not right. Same goes for the original Super Mario Bros. Unless the price was a bit higher than the stand-alone NES, I wouldn't credit that game to being the number 1 best selling game of all time either.

 

[milomalo]

Just one qustion:
Why do the characters in that image appear to be wearing no pants?

well in that picture... one has no feet... why? OMG!!

 

[NeutralDrow]

I was kinda doubtful, until you mentioned that SMB was also a bundled game. I guess if others have doubts, they can consider Wii Play to be the best seller...

 

[fix-the-spade]

Except Demo 1 and Big Mac boxes aren't purchasable products in their own rights. Therein lies the difference.

Fair enough, but it raises the question, how many copies of both games have Nintendo actually sold? As oppposed to given out. I suppose the total games sold minus total consoles sold would be roughly there, but someone has to know the exact figure.

#Edit, there's more Wii's than Wii Sports, so maybe Wii Sports bought on purpose is 0...

 

[Nexus424]

Ewww I honestly just don't like that one bit. Wii sports is nice and all but come one Super Mario Bros. You just don't out sale that.

 

[Talendra]

Except Demo 1 and Big Mac boxes aren't purchasable products in their own rights. Therein lies the difference.

Wait.. you can actually buy it seperate? I don't think that will see many sales considering it comes with every Wii.

It would be nice to have a number one non bundled game as well though.

 

[Markness]

So sad, so very, very, sad.

 

[JLrep]

Here's the proper list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#Top_20_console_games_of_all_time

Number one NON-BUNDLED is in fact Wii Play. Apparently.
Followed by Nintendogs and the GameBoy Pokemons.

Brain Age is #7, which surprises me.

 

[Peace Frog]

So, a game bundled with a console counts as a sale?

That's like McDonalds saying their boxes are the best selling in the world because everyone who buys a Big Mac gets one.

What about Demo 1 then? There's a hundred million PS1's kicking about out there, every single one of which had a Demo 1 with it, surely that's the biggest selling game of all time then?

I hate propagistics...

Surely Minesweeper? :]

I don't think it's fair to draw the difference that Wii Sports and SMB are technically purchasable. If buying a Wii just gave you 50% off a game, then sure. If it's forced on you then that is not a sale.

 

[Talendra]

Here's the proper list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#Top_20_console_games_of_all_time

Number one NON-BUNDLED is in fact Wii Play. Apparently.
Followed by Nintendogs and the GameBoy Pokemons.

Brain Age is #7, which surprises me.

That is a better list, nice and interesting, though technically Wii Play is bundled with the Wii remote for just $10au extra, so that probably has something to do with the sales also. Nice to see a detailed list though.

 

[Aura Guardian]

Well duh, It's costs $249.99 for a copy

 

[Sevre]

I feel bad for Super Mario, it has been passed by a game without a storyline. Or a goal. Or the ability to jump on things.

 

[Aura Guardian]

So, a game bundled with a console counts as a sale?

That's like McDonalds saying their boxes are the best selling in the world because everyone who buys a Big Mac gets one.

What about Demo 1 then? There's a hundred million PS1's kicking about out there, every single one of which had a Demo 1 with it, surely that's the biggest selling game of all time then?

I hate propagistics...

Well that's why Motorstorm got a sequel, it didn't sell well but when bundled, it sold.