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MadWorld was a deeply flawed game, but one I enjoyed immensely. Sega pushed MadWorld onto Wii back when publishers believed the wide audience for Wii games meant there was a gaping hole in games for mature audiences. That theory did no favors for MadWorld, resulting in a disappointing sales launch, which Sega now attributes to an audience "mismatch" for Wii.
"Critically it [MadWorld] got a lot of acclaim, but commercially it wasn't the success we wanted it to be," said Sega of America COO and president Mike Hayes to CVG. "Clearly that was a mismatch with the Wii audience - particularly in terms of the amount of cross-ownership between Wii and the other home platforms. If you're going to play a mature-rated game, you're going to get your 360, PC or PS3 out to do so. But you can't knock us for having a go."
Sega has several times stated having no regret greenlighting MadWorld, only that it didn't catch on. The lesson from MadWorld seems to be a move towards Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. With Project Natal and PlayStation Move, a sequel or upgraded port doesn't seem far-fetched.
"We were brave in that area," said Hayes, "but the reality is, Platinum Games is such a cutting-edge developer they need the PS3 or 360 to realise what they actually want to do."
Source: CVG
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Zeeroid
The game was decent, and I think there was some potential for better sales, and perhaps they would have gotten them more easily on one of the other consoles. Nevertheless, to argue that there is no market for Mature titles on Wii is simply fallacious. We have seen several Mature games do quite well on the Wii, examples including Resident Evil 4, Red Steel (its quality notwithstanding), and No More Heroes (whose sales were weak at first but picked up down the line considerably). As others have stated already, there needs to be better marketing for these games. Perhaps on the Wii, critical acclaim isn't enough to get gamers to buy; you need to put a bit more effort and thought into it. Basically, MadWorld needed better Mad Men ; )
manufan89
The Problem that alot of Wii game have is that they don't advertise them. When MadWorld was first announced in mid 2008 I was pumped for it. But one never saw any ads for it before it was released and you had to had known about to see or read anything about it. Then there was also nothing after it came out. So that unless you were watching g4 or reading any gaming sites you still din't know about this game.
Also $50 for a game that had about 8 hours of game play. Not to mention a really poor co-up game and no online capability. If they were going to make a squeal they need to add a online game, more stuff to do if you have a friend over and most importantly more things that you could do in the single player mode.
RerunVanPelt
Personally, Madworld was good not great. I'd like to compare MadWorld to No More Heroes. Both are M rated games. Both with a lot of blood and gore. One was successful and has a sequel on the same console while the other was a failure. I don't agree with SEGA. If they added more value and promoted the game then it probably would've done better. Critically, No More Heroes got better reviews than MadWorld. People will buy a game on any system if it's advertised enough and plays well enough.
Warden626
As someone that bought MadWorld on day one I'm sad to see how poorly the sales turned out, in fact I think it's still going for $7 and change on Amazon. Really though what's so disappointing about this is that it really reinforces the idea of the Wii as a "Nostalgia Box."
It's the little toy that you pull out for parties and family get-togethers, that funny video game that Grandpa can play as well as little Billy. And while that is all well and good it comes at the cost of unique titles like MadWorld. Much of what made that game unique, namely the Black & White art style, likely wouldn't have been seen on an HD system. True such a game could exist on the PS3 or 360 but I just don't see anyone taking that risk when they can push "Next Gen Graphics"
All that aside though it's good to read Platinum Games is moving on and who knows perhaps the Sony Move & Microsoft Natal will change things. So long as there is a home for quirky unique titles to thrive aside from PC gaming or the iPhone I'm happy.
SteveKB
I bought madworld for the wii a long time ago it was the last wii game I bought. the commentary and music were hard to listen to in unision and the black and white etc. combined with no AA hurt my eyes D: also the controls were hard to use :P
kfd056
Patrick Klepek, man you just love finding these articles, don't you.
Rauk_on
Whenever I think of buying Madworld I don't have any cash on me but when I do, I usually have some other game in mind so I buy that instead. I really gotta pick it up one these days, especially after trying it over at a friend's house.
Engage183
its a shame Madworld didn't sell well, but hey, GTA: Chinatown Wars didn't sell that good either, and it's one of the best Critically Acclaimed DS games out there!!
i liked Madworld, but it didn't have a chance on the Wii, based off the audience the Wii stands for
i mean, could you imagine your grandma/mom/5 year old playing madworld?
greenellow
thank you learned fist you deserve an award for making most sense on a g4 forum. one of the hardest accomplishments to ever achieve next to spelling sentences gramaically correct on a internet forum. 4reelz
greenellow
thank you learnedfist you get an award for making the most sense on g4 forum. one of the world's hardest accomplishments
learnedfist
I own (and like) Madworld, but I think the real problem is that most interested gamers can get everything they want out of it with a rental, so many didn't buy. Given the huge number of people with a Wii, I kind of doubt the premise that there aren't enough "hardcore" gamers like me with the system to financially justify mature titles. The issue isn't whether the title is "mature," so much as whether it's meaty enough to justify an initial $50 purchase price rather than a mere rental.
RockieOllie
I don't know what to make of this. I am happy that developers are trying different mature level games on the Wii, but when the majority of the Wii market is casual these games never really get recognized. This casual usually stick with the Mario's, the Zelda's, the Metroid's and the crap ton of shovelware/ movie based games, and they never really give any of the other games out there a chance.
I think the reason why most of these types of games don't do as well as they should is becuase Nintendo lacks a system online community. On the PS3 and 360 have good examples of a good network source for community activity. People are able to see who's playing what, and if a person finds out that all of their friends are playing one particular game they too may check into this game.
I think Nintendo should do a reboot of the seal of quality stamp, and only put it on games that are of good quality. Instead of on games that can be run on the Wii.
unfungames
We all knew this before the game even came out....and we all know that Sega make the worst decisions of anyone on the planet.
banodyne
Hello? Just re-release it on Xbox Live Arcade and PSN. I played this on the Wii and was annoyed when I had to waggle when a simple button press could've done the action so much simpler.
quicksand
That's really too bad for people who only own a Wii. It's a shame the market for that console relies so heavily on nongamers.
Sovs
I understand why people would be mad that they are putting the blame on the Wii for Madworld's failure commercially, but face the truth. I mean if I could play MW2 on a PS3 or Wii... me and everyone with half a brain would pick the PS3 or Xbox or PC or anything but the Wii. Fact is, Wii really does have a deathgrip on families but because the system lack technical capabilities the hardcore gamers would rather play any game on Xbox or PS3. Be honest, if you can play God of War III on your PS3 or on your Wii, which would it be? Don't use that "well its developed by Sony so it would be better on the PS3" b.s. If the game was developed for the Wii with the same levels and everything downsized for the Wii but the PS3 still has it in its whole glorious form, you better damn well pick PS3
Nub Salad
I don't like it when people blame the system for the lack of sales of a game. I like mature rated games and I like mario games and I rented MadWorld. I played it a few times and was bored with it very quickly. It was very very repetitive. I'm so confused why people are saying its such a good game. Release that game on ps3 and 360 and it will do just as bad.
mrnyo
I don't want to spend more money on buying move for my ps3, I just want a a sequel on the wii or a cross-platform for those ignorants who hate the wii
johnsprogram
Nintendo doesn't even want mature games on the Wii anyways since they want it to be more "family friendly." In extreme cases, they might even disallow M-rated games to be made for the Wii. (Same goes for the DS too.)
mikemill
This just in... the world is round
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