MadWorld residents total 66,000 in March

Hyperviolent Wii debut from Platinum Games and Sega fails to post suitably insane first-month sales.

Last week, a Sega representative said the early sales indicators for the publisher's M-for-Mature-rated Wii game MadWorld were "very encouraging." The NPD Group released its monthly sales figures yesterday, and the sales posted by the violent action game in its March debut were perhaps less encouraging.

Brutal.

An NPD representative told GameSpot that MadWorld sold 66,000 copies at US retailers last month. That puts it well out of the top 10 and behind another M-for-Mature game on a Nintendo system, the critically adored Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars.

MadWorld, the first product from Sega's partnership with Platinum Games, is nothing if not attention grabbing. The largely black-and-white game drops players into a life-and-death gameshow, armed only with a chainsaw and an environment full of sharp points and blunt objects.

As of press time, Sega representatives had not returned GameSpot's requests for comment on MadWorld's sales. Last week, when the publisher's spokesman referred to the early data as encouraging, he added that Sega "absolutely" wants to make MadWorld into a franchise, provided that it "resonates with the audience."

217 Comments

  • Megamanx266

    Posted May 5, 2009 1:28 am PT

    @Brian There's already support for a traditional controller.. it's the Wii classic controller. Plus you can still use your Gamecube controllers but I think those only work for Gamecube games... not sure though.

  • Mr_Versipellis

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 11:51 am PT

    It's cause of the Wii being played primarily by kids and casuals. Teens and young adults, the prime audience of MadWirld, see little in the Wii. I admire their guts (unintentional pun) making this for the Wii, but in truth it'd only sell really well on 360.

  • odoyle420

    Posted Apr 22, 2009 4:50 am PT

    The big reason it did not sell alot is becaucse it is a M rated game on the wii which is mostly a family console so parents would not let thier kids get this game.

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 11:09 am PT

    @Bloodmist, I agree. I have that game for my Gamecube as well. It deserves a sequel.

  • brianpoetzel

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 7:28 am PT

    You know what would make the Wii more appealing? Add support for a traditional controller. The Wii waggle is a BIG turn off for me and I'm sure for others as well.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Apr 21, 2009 3:18 am PT

    Well the Gamecube had easily, easily, the best console game of last generation, Eternal Darkness, so that might not be a bad thing.

  • maxgil2

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 11:56 pm PT

    Well this type of games isn't for everyone, so not surpirse, but if you're into beat-em up with no cutise or kiddie nonsense then this is the game to buy, I just hope these adult content games continue to flow in.

  • godzillavskong

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 10:35 pm PT

    Not to say hardcore gamers didn't pick up the Wii, I just believe a awful lot of people that weren't even gamers picked up the Wii because of the huge phenomenom that it is. I'm still on the fence about getting one because I'm really not into all the motion gimmicky gameplay and the only ones who seem to get it right is their first party developers.I would like to get one mainly for games like this and The Conduit, but if they don't sell well we might see a trend that was familier with the Gamecube.Little or no third party support. I'm not saying the people who bought the Wii weren't hardcore gamers, just that more were casual.

  • doubledareus

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 8:56 pm PT

    All right...I'll take back Mario, but he rules!

  • doubledareus

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 8:54 pm PT

    Madworld is a step in the right direction for Wii! What we need are more games to cater to the consumers...I don't know...between 20 and 35...who love The Legend of Zelda, RE, BioShock, Street Fighter, God of War, Gears of War, Metal Gear, Call of Duty, Grand Turismo, Grand Theft Auto, Actraiser, Metroid, Twisted Metal, Halo, or Final Fantasy! I'm sorry but Cooking Mama!, Pokemon, Professor Layton, Mario, Pikmin, Excite Bots...are you serious?

  • gudni

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 5:16 pm PT

    @BatrozX

    Sega said they are hoping to reach the 500.000 mark with Madworld.
    How is some guy on a talk show proof that they need more.
    I turned that crap off after awhile because those guys talking on that show dont even have a clue.
    What game they ask and im naming 5-6 in my head and then they finally remember Madworld.
    I hope you dont consider them experts and i hope you dont think that Madworld is the biggest 3rd party game on the Wii 2009.

  • BatrozX

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 4:40 pm PT

    @ 07pops07
    Sorry for the delay in answering your request of a link as proof of the 2-3 million sales MadWorld has to produce in order for SEGA to make profit. As requested here is the link: http://www.gametrailers.com/player/46982.html?type=flv

    I can't remember at which part, but it is mentioned there.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 4:28 pm PT

    This guy knows what he's talkin about, listen you buncha ingrates.

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 4:23 pm PT

    @ Hedfix

    If there's not one game on a console that interests you then it wouldn't be a good idea to buy one. The point I was making is if you're a hardcore gamer, and there are games on the Wii you want to play, don't be put-off because it's been labelled as a console for casuals.

  • Hedfix

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 4:07 pm PT

    @x-2tha-z

    Tried it with the Cube and the Xbox. My Xbox stole all my gaming time but I held out until Mario Kart, which was a dumbed-down mockery of the excellent 64 version, and then got rid of my Cube.

    Also the lack of any kind of decent online setup didn't help it from going out the door either!

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 3:43 pm PT

    Do people not realize it's okay to own more than one console? All this talk of casuals owning a Wii and hardcore owning PS3 or 360 is getting very annoying. Why can't you own all three or at least two of them? Each console offers a different experience and games most will enjoy. I consider myself a hardcore gamer but that doesn't mean I can't own a Wii and enjoy playing it.

    It would be a bad idea if the Wii was my only console. I couldn't handle missing out on games like Resi 5, Gears of War, Ninja Gaiden 2, GTAIV, Fallout 3, Killzone 2, The Orange Box, Mirrors Edge, Far Cry 2 etc etc. I don't want to miss out on Mario Galaxy (worth the price of a Wii alone), Madworld, No More Heroes, Metroid Prime 3, Resi4 Wii Edition or Zelda TP either.

    Everyone knows the Wii should be a hardcore gamers last choice but there's no reason you can't own one along with your 360 or PS3.

  • gudni

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 1:59 pm PT

    Sweet... Selling OK in hater land. I wonder if its doing OK in Europe. Hope it reaches half a mill and makes Sega happy.
    Actually Sega already seem happy since they are talking about a sequel.
    Its not like only the games on the top 10 list are the ones that deliver a profit.

  • Hedfix

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 12:32 pm PT

    @Pices

    Well hardcore titles on the wii are few and Nintendo don't cater for them. Infact they let the hardcore games go after they failed to notice how many gamers had followed the FPS titles over to the N64. I was one of them. After that the Cube was a massive letdown, mature titles moved over to the Xbox as did the majority of the FPS titles. Nintendo didn't seem to care, they made token efforts but ultimately they didn't want to know. Now if I want a "hardcore" title involving gore/violence/shooting I'm spoilt for choice on an Xbox and MS and a third party are copying the Wii's control system so by the end of year it'll have that too (whether it'll be properly supported is another thing entirely).

    The Wii is generally a casual gamer console with the largest female and family demographic so non-famous licences like MadWorld struggle on it. On the flip-side the 360 has things like Viva Pinata on the 360 which fail to have acceptable sales but they keep flogging them because they really want to pull in the more casual gamers to bring in the $$$.

    At the moment the hardcore choice is definitely the 360, although both consoles are trying to copy one another. In this respect I think the 360 is about to copy the Wii more successfully than the Wii is trying to pull 360 gamers away by offering "hardcore" titles. This is unsuprising though since the PS3 and 360 already cater for the "hardcore" market very effectively and the Wii is clearly doing very nicely with it's main approach.

    That said I do look forward to slashing people up over Xbox Live using some Wii remote knock-off.

  • Pices

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 11:56 am PT

    @Hedfix

    Well, I want these type of games to be on the wii to increase the hardcore consumer base. Playing a hardcore on a Wii has a completely different experience than on other consoles.

  • JackHoleFace00

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 11:30 am PT

    This is interesting and I'm sure very disappointing news to not just Sega, but fans and a lot of devs who are/were thinking about making more hardcore games for the Wii (lookin' right at you, EA). This game was really the first well-hyped, true "hardcore" test for the Wii. Looks like it failed miserably.

    Can't say I'm shocked. That guy at id Software was right on the money. You can't be all things to all people, and it looks like more and more that the Wii is truly solidifying itself as a system exclusively for games that are casual, quirky-fun, pick up-and-play for 20 minutes at a time -esque. Think about it: Killzone 2 sold around 630 thousand units in the US in March, it has a FRACTION of Wii's userbase, and yet those sales were considered "middling." And this sells 66k? About 1 tenth the sales with about 4 times the userbase? Pretty sad. Looking forward to seeing how the fanboys (who for so long defended Wii's "hardcore" viability with this game) spin this one.

  • Glade_Gnarr

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 11:23 am PT

    I bet the economic crisis is hitting wii consumers pretty hard.
    Or at least me, 'cause I won't have the money for Madworld in the forseeable future.

  • BigDaddy973

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 10:35 am PT

    Wii sucks, it is not a good system. I know people agree.

  • Hedfix

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 10:29 am PT

    @MrZilch What you forget is that those are known licences and launch titles whereas MadWorld isn't.

  • Hedfix

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 10:23 am PT

    @Pices

    I said actual gamers not true gamers. Even spelled it out for you. Learn to read. There's a market for games like MadWorld and it's currently playing Gears 2 and Killzone 2 on platforms that MadWorld isn't currently available on.

    Personally I couldn't give a crap about HD, I didn't mention it in my post and I don't care for it. What does make sense is putting a game out on a platform where people want that style of game.

  • gordos24

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 9:57 am PT

    madworld will sell right.just wait when the price is down.but the way the game is awesome.madworld reminds me of sin city but then sicker

  • MrZilch

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 9:49 am PT

    Madmangamer364 is essentially right. The performance of Madworld has little to do with the Wii's "family" image: RE4 sold over a million copies, Umbrella Chronicles sold almost a million, Red freaking Steel sold over a million -- the market is obviously there. For whatever reason, Madworld just didn't resonate. Or perhaps I should say "didn't resonate YET" -- a number of other games that failed to do well initially on the Wii have done extremely well over time, like Boomblox. It's entirely possible Madworld will have a similar long tail.

  • Pices

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 9:36 am PT

    @hedfix

    What true gamers? Won't true gamers care about gameplay more than HD graphics?

  • Madmangamer364

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 9:16 am PT

    I found the reactions here a little shocking, if only for the simple fact that we're talking about a game of Madworld's appeal. Seriously, who REALLY thought that this was the kind of game that was going to go multi-platinum to begin with? The game's style was so unique, it had no choice but to be "hit or miss" with the already narrow "hardcore" (I say that term loosely) Wii demographic it was aiming for. Not even everyone that could buy the game want only violence, gore and foul language with their gaming experience. To top it off, it came out in a month where Resident Evil, Pokemon, Halo, and GTA all had a little something to be released, not to mention the DSi. I don't care what system it was on, that's a tough act for any niche game to be a part of, let alone stand out.

    Simply put, the game had "sales flop" written all over it, considering the time and circumstances it was released in. To top it off, if this game was sprinkled with glitter and had flowers surrounding it, I'm willing to bet that a vast majority of people crying foul right now wouldn't even be talking about it, unless it did actually sell. I'm not saying it isn't possible that Madworld wasn't the kind of game that just wouldn't sell on the Wii, but the bar was set WAY too high this time to begin with.

  • brianpoetzel

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 8:57 am PT

    Well, seeing as the Wii is a family system it's not too surprising that this didn't do well. Nintendo marketed the Wii towards everyone but gamers.

  • solidstein

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 8:39 am PT

    @wingsredemption

    As though i agree with you that nintendo needs to make the wii for all people. but the one problem with that statement is that they already have succeded there are more wiis in households then the xbox and ps3. Nintendo has already made enough money to buy a small country and call it marioworld

  • goodemon

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 7:57 am PT

    madworld is so awesome, everybody who likes frantic violence and really funny cutscenes needs to go out and purchase this game. thats right nintendo fanboys get off of super smash bros and go buy this game so you can support an M-rated franchise on the wii

  • Desperados11 posted Apr 20, 2009 7:06 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Desperados11

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 7:06 am PT (hide)

    the wii is retarded, go play pokemon some more

  • wingsredemption

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 6:44 am PT

    MadWorld is one of the best Wii games out there. I'm glad SEGA had the balls to step up and make something for adults on the Wii. The Wii is plagued by childrens titles. Nintendo has to make the Wii for a wide variety of players if they want to succeed.

  • jtthegame316

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 6:30 am PT

    i have ordered mad world of amazon. looking forward to playing it

  • lukemularczyk

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 5:33 am PT

    "Where's Earthbound Wii?" - Well since the earthbound dev said that they don't want to make another mother game after mother 3 (mother is earthbound in japan, mother 2 was earthbound) then its unlikely to happen.

    "Some were dismayed to discover an "M" rating accompanied by 480i graphics and passed! "

    What has the resolution got to do with the rating? I'm confused here, did you really expect HD gaming when nintendo have said that they are not going that route yet. Add to that fact that you can have a good game WITHOUT hd graphics. The people screaming for HD graphics on everything, they are the ones doing a good job of killing the industry IMO, driving up development costs so much that you CANNOT afford to take a risk as it will destroy the studio.

    "metroid prime 3 is a royal pain in the ass to play"

  • x-2tha-z

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 4:51 am PT

    I love Madworld.

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 2:47 am PT

    Doubledarius is just another in a large and evergrowing base of Wii owners who feel shafted by Nintendo. I too am part of this base. The reality is that if Nintendo doesn't wise up and start supporting gamers again then they are going to lose their support. And since Nintendo relies on gamers to initially get their consoles selling, they are going to be in deep **** when their new console comes out sometime in the future and every gamer thinks "oh no! not this time Ninty. you aren't getting my cash this time."

  • Hedfix

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 2:34 am PT

    Time to port it to the 360 and the PS3 then, you know? Where the a-c-t-u-a-l gamers are.

  • ezikiell

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 1:04 am PT

    It is unfortunate that Madworld does not sale more than expected, but I refuse to buy violent or M-rated games. They do not appeal to my mostly family-friendly and non-vulgar tastes.

  • doubledareus

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 12:54 am PT

    Can't say I didn't see this coming..Nintendo's "hardcore fanbase" is finally speaking up and letting Nintendo know how they feel by hitting them where it hurts...their wallets! Some were dismayed to discover an "M" rating accompanied by 480i graphics and passed! Others were promised a Wii Zelda, only to get shafted by a Gamecube remake, a Crossbow game, and the thought of having to puchase a DS or DSi in order to play the Zelda for 2009/10! What is Animal Crossing without Wii Speak? It's WiiPlay without the controller! What's Sport Resort with Wii-Motion plus...it's The Conduit without it! Where's Earthbound Wii? Where's Tatsunoku in the U.S.? I can only imagine what Nintendo has in store for it's SD card solution to the Wii storage problem...here's the catch though...Nintendo has to make a game that uses it FIRST!...Then shaft us by NOT distributing it outside of Japan!

  • Weddum

    Posted Apr 19, 2009 11:02 pm PT

    These sale figures make me sad about the Wii crowd in general. They get given a genuinely original game, that is fun with a few rough edges.

    This is why I love PC gaming. Games like this get recognition for doing something new, whereas all console gamers dismiss it because it looks different to your shooters or your casual crap.

  • linktheking

    Posted Apr 19, 2009 9:23 pm PT

    The game was sold out the other week at my local JB Hi-Fi...
    So maybe only N/American gamers don't care about wii?

  • misterstatus posted Apr 19, 2009 9:01 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    misterstatus

    Posted Apr 19, 2009 9:01 pm PT (hide)

    Even if this game was on the 360 or PS3, I wouldn't buy it. It's an interesting idea, making a game in black and white, but let's face it, who wants to play a game in black and white? Most low-res Wii games look bad enough already on my 50" plasma tv. Now they're making them black and white? What's next, a game with no sound?

  • ffviiifreak

    Posted Apr 19, 2009 8:43 pm PT

    its hard to sell any violent game on wii because the "we" of wii is little kids, old people, and girls who all just play wii sports and wii fit

  • dieworm

    Posted Apr 19, 2009 8:29 pm PT

    Game would have bombed on any system; it's niche.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Apr 19, 2009 8:27 pm PT

    Nappan, actaully, has some interesting thoughts.

  • DamnedApples

    Posted Apr 19, 2009 8:06 pm PT

    I'm seeing a lot of back-and-forth about Madworld and the Wii in general. I thin k this pretty much covers it.

    http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/zero-punctuation/673-MadWorld

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