Another Storied Sega Franchise Beat It
There may be a reason Sega Sammy stock dropped more than 3 percent on the pink sheets yesterday and, as of now, another three and a half percent today. In the grand game of Monkey Fight that is software sales, AiAi and the bunch may have been knocked out the first round.
Launching last week, shortly after the Nintendo 3DS’s formal release, IGN reports Super Monkey Ball 3DS could not crack the top 20 titles in Japan for the week. This, while all 3DS launch titles there remained top sellers for the week, and while the game was beaten by another Sega franchise on the Playstation Portable. Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity. PSP2i managed sales of more than 42,000 for the week. SMB could not muster up more than 6,500.
To be fair, SMB was only on sale three of the seven days last week, and it could get better with a full week on the shelves. But with it being Sega’s first foray onto the blockbuster portable–which sold over 200,000 units and more than all other consoles in Japan combined, by the way–it is not good news.
Read the complete list of top sellers at IGN, cited above.
Loading ...
Not to annoy anyone, but if there are games I do not understand, Monkey Ball franchise comes just after that FLD falling elephants game. O.K., at least I see what are you supposed to do – but why would you put a cheery monkey into the ball?! So I got a game that I don’t understand, a market I don’t understand, and a situation I DO understand – supposingly most Japaneses would even rather buy Sonic Jam 3D than this… right? Maybe not. But casuals prefer Nintendogs and hardcores prefer SSF4, I’d say.
I’m still bitter that they abandoned the original monkey aesthetic (seen in SMB 1, 2 and Adventure) for the current, extra-cartoony pastel look they have now. Totally killed the series for me (well, that and the gameplay got way too gimmicky since Banana Blitz)
Come get me when Mega Man Legends 3 is released.
I can only imagine what Cero has to say about this.
Hmph, its obvious that the game has already had a handicap in this race, though I doubt that’ll rank up enough sales to crack the top 10. I guess with the over use of FPS games people have learned to ignore the more abstract game series such as this one.
@Cero
I don’t think that’s the reason.Why someone would buy a FPS if He doesn’t like it only because is over used?
Honestly they would have done better with ChuChu Rocket.
Phantasy Star Portable 2 is a better game anyways. Super Monkey Ball was pumped out and rushed to cash in on the gullible Nintendo fanbase.
@AJBSONIC-
Finally, someone who agrees with me on this! The graphic style for the games since Banana Blitz has been AWFUL, and I just don’t understand why it was changed!
The first two games were fantastic, and its truly sad to see the franchise fall so low. I obviously need to see and play the 3DS one for myself, but I’m not expecting anything amazing.
I doubt Super Monkey Ball was anyone’s must-buy 3DS game to begin with, especially considering the fact that Professor Layton was a launch title, as well as Street Fighter. And with Zelda and Kid Icarus coming soon, I doubt this game will ever seriously catch on. Not that I paticulary care.