Flakster99
Member
I'll take the easy way out and blame it on the image of Nintendo and the style of the Gamecube.
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So why did Pikmin bomb?
- Thread starter Synbios459
- Start date
People - Pikmin did not bomb. Neither Pikmin 1 nor Pikmin 2.
Pikmin 1 sold 677,570 just in the US (NPD) and is well over a million worldwide.
Pikmin 2 hasn't sold as well in the U.S., but it has still sold almost 300,000 in the U.S., and as of the end of 2004, it had sold 470,933 in Japan. In fact, it was the top selling Gamecube game in Japan for 2004 (even beating out Mario Party 6), and was the 18th best selling title on any platform in Japan for 2004. If you count Europe, Pikmin 2 is right about 1,000,000 sold worldwide, and those sales are all basically at full price.
For a brand new IP to have two 1,000,000 + selling games this generation, that is VERY, VERY FAR from being a bomb of any sort.
Pikmin 1 sold 677,570 just in the US (NPD) and is well over a million worldwide.
Pikmin 2 hasn't sold as well in the U.S., but it has still sold almost 300,000 in the U.S., and as of the end of 2004, it had sold 470,933 in Japan. In fact, it was the top selling Gamecube game in Japan for 2004 (even beating out Mario Party 6), and was the 18th best selling title on any platform in Japan for 2004. If you count Europe, Pikmin 2 is right about 1,000,000 sold worldwide, and those sales are all basically at full price.
For a brand new IP to have two 1,000,000 + selling games this generation, that is VERY, VERY FAR from being a bomb of any sort.
wobedraggled
Banned
Dalthien said:
Well stated, I just didn't have sales data handy
I was a big fan of the first game, played it almost obsessively for a while.
The second one I played through once and enjoyed it, but not quite as much as the first.
Here's why -
The first game was better because it just seemed fresher and more unique, of course it was the first, however the second game recycled the areas from the first to some degree and it all seemed a bit familiar. Would have rather had some all new areas.
I liked the time limit in the first. I don't think a lot of the people who whinged about it in the first ever planned to buy Pikmin 2 anyway. It was ridiculously easy to get the parts in 30 days, and if you want to explore, just waste a day and reload.
The story was better in the first, the Pikmin were helping you escape, rather than that you were exploiting them for money. There's a serious political message in there somewhere.
I didn't enjoy the below ground areas much, and there were a lot of them and a lot of themes were duplicated. Near the end, the sheer number of levels got slightly absurd. Next time, more of those incredible above ground levels, thanks Nintendo. I want huge above ground areas that you gradually open more of. Part of the charm of Pikmin is just running around in the beautiful photo realistic enviroments. The caves just got tedious after a while.
Minor quibble - Yellow Pikmin couldn't throw bomb rocks? Man, I missed their excited squeals when they found a cache of bomb rocks.
The extras are great but hell, put co-op in the main game.
Another thing you should be able to do click "restart day" from the menu, seriously.
This makes it sound like I didn't enjoy Pikmin 2 at all, whereas it was still an incredibly fun and polished game. However I usually still recommend the first to someone new to the series because I can see how a new player would just give up on Pikmin 2, somewhere in one of those interminable cave levels.
The second one I played through once and enjoyed it, but not quite as much as the first.
Here's why -
The first game was better because it just seemed fresher and more unique, of course it was the first, however the second game recycled the areas from the first to some degree and it all seemed a bit familiar. Would have rather had some all new areas.
I liked the time limit in the first. I don't think a lot of the people who whinged about it in the first ever planned to buy Pikmin 2 anyway. It was ridiculously easy to get the parts in 30 days, and if you want to explore, just waste a day and reload.
The story was better in the first, the Pikmin were helping you escape, rather than that you were exploiting them for money. There's a serious political message in there somewhere.
I didn't enjoy the below ground areas much, and there were a lot of them and a lot of themes were duplicated. Near the end, the sheer number of levels got slightly absurd. Next time, more of those incredible above ground levels, thanks Nintendo. I want huge above ground areas that you gradually open more of. Part of the charm of Pikmin is just running around in the beautiful photo realistic enviroments. The caves just got tedious after a while.
Minor quibble - Yellow Pikmin couldn't throw bomb rocks? Man, I missed their excited squeals when they found a cache of bomb rocks.
The extras are great but hell, put co-op in the main game.
Another thing you should be able to do click "restart day" from the menu, seriously.
This makes it sound like I didn't enjoy Pikmin 2 at all, whereas it was still an incredibly fun and polished game. However I usually still recommend the first to someone new to the series because I can see how a new player would just give up on Pikmin 2, somewhere in one of those interminable cave levels.
I've just finished playing through Pikmin 2, getting absolutely everything, and the month I spent on it is the best time I've had with a game in years. Last time I enjoyed a game this much was probably Metroid Prime. I loved Pikmin 2 to bits, and it might just be my favourite game this generation. Pikmin 1 never quite hooked me, however. I've started on it several times, but always lose interest after 8-9 days for some reason.
I really don't understand all the comparisons to RTS-games either. The feel of a Pikmin-game is totally different from an RTS-game. And much more compelling too, if I may say so
I really don't understand all the comparisons to RTS-games either. The feel of a Pikmin-game is totally different from an RTS-game. And much more compelling too, if I may say so
psycho_snake
I went to WAGs boutique and all I got was a sniff
Didnt pikmin sell more than 1 million copies worldwide? I wouldnt really call that a flop.
WrathOfOtaibah
Banned
Well, just because they are sold, doesn't mean they are in people's houses. In second hand stores (pawn shops), there are lots of GCs to be had. I'm sure there are plenty of used GCs at game stores. Then there's the machines that people bought that are sitting in a box in the closet. I imagine only about 1/3 of the GCs or most systems sold are actually used on a regular or semi-regular basis. Or some parent bought it for their kids and only get Nickelodeon games with it.
I'm waiting for the price drop of Pikmin 2. I have no excuse not to pick up the first but I'll get it eventually.
Jonnyboy117
Member
Pikmin sold well because it was a near-launch game and had Miyamoto's name attached to it. Pikmin 2 took so long to come out that the audience for new GameCube titles had dwindled. More importantly, I think a lot of people who bought the first game ended up not liking it much due to the annoying game design (time limit), and Nintendo didn't make it clear to those people that the second game was different.
I also second Zylander's comments about the underground levels in Pikmin 2. They feel like an attempt to pack as much extra gameplay with as little development effort as possible. The above ground levels are far more enjoyable but make up a minority of the game, I'd say around 25% from what I remember.
I also second Zylander's comments about the underground levels in Pikmin 2. They feel like an attempt to pack as much extra gameplay with as little development effort as possible. The above ground levels are far more enjoyable but make up a minority of the game, I'd say around 25% from what I remember.
LegendofJoe
Member
Ancestor_of_Erdrick said:
It's like that for every console, not just the GC.
Speevy said:
Uhh, no. There's four average-sized above ground areas, and each one of those contains two to three caves, which all drag on for way too long. It wasn't the fact that the dungeons were randomly generated that bugged me, but the fact that there were way too many of them and they all dragged on for way too long. Not only that, but every one I've come across so far (I still have yet to get the nerve up to finish the caves on the last level) have been absolutely boring to look at, especially compared to the lush overworld areas.
And count me among the people who preferred the time limit. Sure, Pikmin 2 didn't have to have a time limit, but they should have added something to add difficulty. I don't know what, but as is, the game just feels like there's no challenge, as it's just a matter of plugging through it while minimizing losses.
See, I agree with you on all that. Yes, the overworld areas look better, there's more stuff to do, there's more content, and the enemy variety is good (I especially liked the bosses), but the actual game itself just wasn't as good as the original.
Instigator
Banned
demi said:
Idioteque said:
Prince of Space said:
AltogetherAndrews said:
Ancestor_of_Erdrick said:
Neex said:
What they said.
It's a boring game.
JoshuaJSlone
Member
That has little to do with the attach rate of a single game, though. Very few games do better than selling to 1/6 of system owners.Link316 said:
Hi.
Kuru Kuru Kururin, Golden Sun, Magical Vacation, Animal Crossing (in NA and Europe), The Legend of Stafi, and Wario Ware say hi.
(and that's just games with multiple entries already confirmed. There's been plenty of original content from nintendo this gen)
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/company/1143.html
Kuru Kuru Kururin, Golden Sun, Magical Vacation, Animal Crossing (in NA and Europe), The Legend of Stafi, and Wario Ware say hi.
(and that's just games with multiple entries already confirmed. There's been plenty of original content from nintendo this gen)
http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/company/1143.html
Anthother person who called 'olimar' 'olimario' to add to my list.
I hope NOA makes the same mistake localizing Pikmin 3. Wouldn't that be a hoot?
Pikmin 1 rocks for the atmosphere and for a great use of the time element.
Pikmin 2 rocks for being just about the best sequel ever and addressing the problems people had with the first.
I hope NOA makes the same mistake localizing Pikmin 3. Wouldn't that be a hoot?
Pikmin 1 rocks for the atmosphere and for a great use of the time element.
Pikmin 2 rocks for being just about the best sequel ever and addressing the problems people had with the first.