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Software sales around the world
Sometimes, it's interesting to compare what's popular in different regions. Of course, release dates come into play, as various parts of the world get games at different times, but there's a surprising amount of crossover when we look at what's big among Wii owners around the world.Not everything is surprising: Guitar Hero III is shredding most of the competition in the US, Metroid Prime 3 is clinging to a top spot in the UK, and Super Mario Galaxy is muscling out other titles in Japan. But with the sales the various minigame collections are boasting, is it any wonder we've seen so many? Even the lackluster Carnival Games is raking in the money in multiple regions. Hit the jump for the top five sellers to see for yourself.
Watch some more Super Mario Galaxy gameplay (you know you wanna)
Here we are, throwing even more Super Mario Galaxy goodness upon you. At this point, you probably won't even have to buy the game with all the footage you've seen.Of course, videos like these tend to have the opposite effect and make us want the game more than before. What a vicious paradox.The video embedded above is just a short trailer, but there's heaps of SMG action with some new (and old) environments to check out after the break.
Rumor: Super Mario Galaxy sells 130k first day
Despite the weak crowds queuing outside of game shops yesterday in Japan, an estimated 130,000 people opened their wallets for Super Mario Galaxy's first day of sales, according to Japanese blogger and ninja sales reporter Sinobi. That seems like a lot, right? Well, while that's an excellent figure for most other titles and publishers, many were expecting much higher numbers for this major release. Let's compare that 130,000 with some first-week sales data for past entries to the series and recent games. New Super Mario Bros. - 900,000 Super Mario Sunshine - 280,000 Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - 486,659 Mario Party 8 - 265,000 Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen And The Tower Of Mirrors - 263,000 Of course, Super Mario Galaxy still has a lot of months ahead to pick up sales, as the moustachioed plumber has proven many times in the past that his releases have legs. Also, it's not as if the numbers are any indication of the game's quality. Still, it's a bit distressing to think of such a high-profile release from Nintendo generating so-so sales.
SMG Science trailer leaves us baffled
Being entirely unable to understand Japanese, we haven't much of a clue about what's going on in this kooky Super Mario Galaxy Science trailer, but we're guessing it's something to do with gravity, and how our hero manages to stick to the underside of all those weird spherical levels.Makes us wish we'd spent more time at school actually concentrating during double physics, rather than drawing on the back of Kevin Lomax's blazer.
SPOILER: Unlockable revealed in Super Mario Galaxy!
A spoiler about Super Mario Galaxy invaded the internet recently. We can promise you, though, that it isn't any of these: If you press the + and - buttons after exactly four hours of gameplay, you unlock the soundtrack from Tron. Mario is only controllable in the first chapter. The rest of the game stars a rookie named "Raiden." Defeating Bowser with an arse dive will make Miyamoto come to your house and tend to your garden. If you play every day, Dr. Kawashima gets jealous and murders Mario, leading to an immediate "game over" with no continues. Completing the game in under 10 minutes will let you unlock a secret chapter called "Mario: The College Years." Now, onto the real thing. Keep in mind, this unlockable was found in the Super Mario Galaxy Official Strategy Guide, so if you ordered one of those, be careful. Some of you will find this to be a big spoiler, and others may not. It's up to you to decide if you want to continue reading!SERIOUSLY DON'T READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU'RE SENSITIVE ABOUT SPOILERS!!!We clear, then? Good.
Super Mario Galaxy's quiet Japanese launch
Although we still have a little less than two weeks to go until Super Mario Galaxy arrives in the US (and not much more for Europe), Japan got its taste of the game today. Was their mass hysteria, long lines and rabid fans skipping school and work to be the first to own a copy of the latest Plumber Platformer? Not exactly, according to anecdotal evidence from Siliconera.Visiting Akihabara, arguably the mecca for video games in Tokyo, the folks at the site found no such hysteria or long lines, noting instead that most people waiting in queues were there for Xbox 360 games (no, really!) and pachinko machines.We're still wagering, as does Siliconera, that Super Mario Galaxy will be a massive hit for Nintendo in all territories, and that plenty of people reserved the title and are planning to pick it up after school or work today. However, Mario's presences just doesn't seem to cite as much rabid enthusiasm as a Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest. It'll be interesting to see how US and Europe handle the Mario Galaxy launches on November 12 and 16, respectively.
A little Mario spirit
Ah, Christmas -- the holiday that seems to start earlier and earlier every year. By the time we're all old enough to start talking about how much better games were in "our day," the Christmas season will be starting around July. But this time, it's hard for us to complain about early holiday merchandise, since it's all covered with Mario! A GoNintendo reader spotted these -- as well as a sweet Christmas tree ornament -- at GameStop, and we just couldn't resist the idea of Mario stockings hung by the chimney with care.[Via GoNintendo]
Crowds lining up for Super Mario Galaxy in Japan? Not so much
Siliconera's Spencer Yip took a short tour of electronic shops in Akihabara, Tokyo's famed shopping district, this morning to capture the masses that've skipped work and camped out in anticipation of today's Super Mario Galaxy release. Considering that this is one of Nintendo's biggest titles of the year and a much-hyped new entry to the company's most popular franchise, you would assume that the head count would surpass or at least rival the crowds that often gather for Dragon Quest titles, right?Well, according to what Spencer saw at the there stores he surveyed, while a few people queued up outside of shops to snatch themselves a copy, there weren't any of the huge lines that we've come to associate with major releases in Japan. In fact, a few of the guys in the photo above were actually waiting on Ace Combat 6 for the Xbox 360. Perhaps everyone is waiting to pick up Super Mario Galaxy after work? Or maybe everyone preordered the game in advance to avoid the lines?
Why aren't we sick of Mario?
Let's face it, Mario is a video game geriatric. The Italian plumber has been around for 26 years, ever since he had a role as "Jumpman" in the Donkey Kong arcade game. He may not be as hip as Big Daddy or Master Chief, but that doesn't mean we love him any less. If anything, it only makes us love him more. As the debut of Super Mario Galaxy inches closer and closer, we can only be certain of one thing: it's going to do well. In fact, we'd go so far as to estimate it will sell a ridiculous amount (you heard it here first!). But, the question is, why? Why are red-blooded Nintendo fans so in love with Mario games?Fortunately, the folks over at GameDaily have taken it upon themselves to answer this question, with a list of "Ten Reasons Mario Games Never Get Old." Our favorite reason on the list? His outfits!"Whether hopping around in a frog suit or donning a bee suit like an extra from Blind Melon's 'No Rain' video, Mario's got quite a wardrobe. The helpful abilities that come with them are definitely handy for beating enemies." After checking out the list, be sure to tell us your own reasons for loving the iconic Nintendo franchise after all these years.
The big games left for 2007
We've already had some of the big bombshells of 2007 come out already, including the big boys like Halo 3, Heavenly Sword, and Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction ... but what's still coming down the pipeline? Guitar Hero III will be out tomorrow, and the rest of October and all of November are bringing a ton of great games out for every platform from the Xbox 360 to the Nintendo DS. Megatonik has put together a great list, chock full of release dates and goodies, or what's left in store for the rest of this year. Chances are once these games start dropping, you're not going to have much left in your wallet for the holidays. So it's time to start figuring out where you're going to get that cash from and get your game on.
Rumor: Super Mario Galaxy leaked online
Are those nasty pirates orchestrating their revenge after Nintendo sunk their chips earlier this week? According to a posting on NeoGAF, an unsavory EB Games employee decided to take the contents of an in-store Super Mario Galaxy demo disc and share it with the online world. Though the demo is usually constrained by a 10-minute time limit, the disc reportedly contains the full game and is fully accessible through use of a modified Wii console. As the pirate site offering the code isn't specified or linked to, it's difficult to verify whether or not Mario's currently making his way down some shady pipes.We contacted a Nintendo spokesperson for confirmation, only to be informed that we were the first to alert them of the development. Note that in the event of the rumor being true, posting of download links or impressions in the comments sections will be met with permanent bans and disapproving glares.[Via Maxconsole]
Super Mario Galaxy floating freely into space
Apparently GameStop/EB stores have been receiving full Super Mario Galaxy discs to use as in-store demos. On the store systems, gameplay is restricted to 10 minutes, but the restriction is not inherent to the disc ... which means that if an unscrupulous EB employee were to sneak off with the disc and rip it, he or she could then make the full game available online. Which is exactly what has happened. Soon, people who wouldn't buy the game anyway will be playing it for free, weeks before its release. We don't know where it's available, and we're not going to look, and neither should you. Of course, the dumped game will only work for chipped Wiis.For some reason, we can't muster up the expected level of outrage for this egregious crime. Sure, a guy broke the law, but very few people will actually download this, and we're pretty sure that Super Mario Galaxy will do a nice amount of business. Besides, you totally don't get a free coin when you steal the game. Right?
Famitsu <3s Super Mario Galaxy
This is so unsurprising it almost doesn't qualify as news, but as it may influence, ooh, the three of you who weren't going to pick the game up, we'll press on. Basically, Famitsu has just reviewed Super Mario Galaxy, and awarded it a quite stonking 38/40. The score consists of two 10s and two 9s from Famitsu editors, and exactly matches the grade dished out to Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess last year.In particular, the Famitsu bunch were happy to talk up the game's difficulty curve and level design, while also reserving praise for the boss fights and the ways in which the Wiimote is put to use. In a nutshell, then: Galaxy is drool-inducingly ace. Big surprise, eh?
Spoilerific footage: 6 minutes of Super Mario Galaxy
RMC from Go Nintendo was kind enough to take some of the footage from the Japanese site for Super Mario Galaxy, resize it and pack it all together in the single YouTube video you see above. It's six minutes of pure ecstasy, but chock full of spoilers. So, if you want to go into the game fresh, you might want to steer clear.But, we know you can't help it. You'll most likely watch it. Heck, we couldn't resist.[Via Go Nintendo]
Well, look who decided to show up in Super Mario Galaxy
For all you delicate types trying to avoid any spoilers or information regarding the upcoming Super Mario Galaxy, we recommend that you stay away from the internet until November 12. For the rest of you who are dying to know who makes a cameo in the game (and perhaps has a larger role?), then check out the pictures and video after the jump.We're pretty stoked, but what are your thoughts? Happy? Indifferent? Not surprised at all?Spoilers ahead!
New Japanese SMG trailer: Every second delicious
At this rate, by the time Super Mario Galaxy hits stores this November 12th, we'll have seen every pixel of the platformer already via internet videos. If that grim future sickens you, compelling you to avoid all future Super Mario Galaxy previews, make sure to stay that self-imposed moratorium until after you watch this new Japanese trailer. If you need us for anything, we'll be busy creating an alternate version of the movie, replacing the audio track with 'N Sync's "God Must Have Spent a Little More Time on You." This is what we do every Friday night.[Via NeoGAF]
SMG video update: Powerups, galaxies, and a live orchestra
The Super Mario Galaxy media frenzy continues with a bucketful of new videos. Naturally, we're emptying that bucket over your head, partly to douse you with fresh movies, but mostly for comedic effect.You'll find the streaming clips in the Japanese site's powerups and galaxies sections, yelling out with orange word balloons, "New!" You can watch them past the post break, too. Also on the list of updates for today, the third volume of Iwata Asks (Super Mario Galaxy edition) has some great footage of a live orchestra recording one of the game's songs while Koji Kondo and Shigeru Miyamoto watch, an overturned tea table likely nearby. According to the interview, 28 tracks in all have been recorded by the orchestra.It's likely just us -- in fact, we're sure of it -- but there's something about Super Mario Galaxy's main theme that reminds us of the Perfect Strangers opening credits, particularly the part where the song crescendos, "Staaanding tall!" Also, the action-platformer's music makes us break out into the "Dance of Joy" whenever we hear it, causing us to jump into the arms of anyone nearby. It's really quite embarrassing for everyone involved.
New areas and wild jumps shown for Super Mario Galaxy
Localization producer Nate Bihldorf demoed Super Mario Galaxy for MTV's Stephen Totilo last week, promising to show us all something new in the much-anticipated platformer. The resultant clip embedded above has Mario roaming around a sidescroller-ish alternate path in the Good Egg Galaxy and messing with gravitational pulls (Check out the extended jump at the three-minute mark!). Stephen makes sure to jokingly ask during the presentation, "Now, was this part also stolen from Ratchet and Clank?" Nate laughs off the reference to Insomniac's claim that SMG's spherical worlds were directly inspired by the Ratchet and Clank series, but explains that he hasn't heard the accusations.As usual, we've got more past the post break. Hustle on over there for a short video of what happens when you drop down the pipe of a smaller planet.
This just in: people like Super Mario Galaxy
"Every hundred years, a comet appears in the skies above Mushroom Kingdom. The comet was so large one year, it filled the skies and sent countless shooting stars raining down. The Toads brought the shooting stars to the castle, where they became a great Power Star. It should have been a very happy time for the citizens of the Mushroom Kingdom. That was the night of the Star Festival, held once every hundred years to celebrate the comet."So begins the intro to Super Mario Galaxy, as transcribed by IGN's Matt Casamassina. If he's quoting the game, you know he must have played it recently, and he's not the only one. Impressions are finally coming in from the Nintendo summit held last week, and they're-- gasp-- positive. Chris Kohler said that SMG "Might Save Christmas"; Kotaku's Michael McWhertor said that "Galaxy reinstates faith in Mario platforming where Sunshine disappointed." In short, bloggers and journalists like the game. Since these impressions were all posted simultaneously as the NDA's evaporated, we thought that rather than report on them individually, we'd link to them en masse. So there you go. Plenty of reading on the subject of whether bloggers think Super Mario Galaxy is a good game or not.We've also embedded a new trailer, which proves that not only do writers enjoy Super Mario Galaxy, but paid actors do as well (as long as they are paid to)!Read - 1upRead - KotakuRead - Game|LifeRead - IGNRead - MTV Multiplayer
Super Mario Galaxy video shows off new power-ups, manta rays
If you've been doing your best to dodge any mention of Super Mario Galaxy's four unrevealed power-ups, hoping to keep yourself pure until that first night with the game, make sure to watch no further than the 1:33 mark on the above video. Of course, you could avoid the movie altogether, but you'd miss out on not only its fantastic music and footage, but a clip of Mario walking on a floating ice cream cone! Skip to 2:26 to see Mario getting around while balancing on top of a ball and riding a manta ray.Though we talked about at least two of the "new" power-ups before, the other two are a complete surprise, and we can't wait to see what we can do with them and how the planets have been built to accommodate these added abilities.
