The NPD Group's video game sales numbers for January are in, and Call of Duty: Black Ops was the top selling game of the month. Activision's shooter beat out Just Dance 2, Dead Space 2 and LittleBigPlanet 2 (as well as every other video game on earth) in terms of cross-platform worldwide sales.
The top ten list is below the "Read More" tag.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops* (360, PS3, WII, NDS, PC)
- Just Dance 2 (WII)
- Dead Space 2* (360, PS3, PC)
- Little Big Planet 2* (PS3)
- Zumba Fitness: Join the Party (WII, 360, PS3)
- NBA 2K11 (360, PS3, PSP, WII, PS2, PC)
- Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood* (360, PS3)
- Dance Central (360)
- Michael Jackson The Experience* (WII, DS, PSP)
- DC Universe Online: The Next Legend Is You* (PS3, PC)
Here's some analysis: The most interesting games on the list, to us, are Dead Space 2, LittleBigPlanet 2 and DC Universe Online. It looks like Dead Space 2 is a success. The game came out in the last week of the month, so its positioning as number three on the chart is a little misleading. I'd guess that if we had numbers on the month after its release, it'd be number one. (I'd love to be able to provide exact sales numbers, but they are a sort of NPD secret, so we'll have to go through a little more circuitous route for analysis.) We learned back on February 1 that Dead Space 2 had shipped more than 2 million units, but that "shipped" number represents games sent to stores as opposed to sold. We have no way of knowing how many of those copies are still on shelves, but enough copies were sold to put it high on the charts. In other words: It looks like a hit. Good news, considering that the first Dead Space was considered an artistic success, but a sales failure.
- RATING: Dead Space 2 review
LittleBigPlanet 2 was released on January 18, so there is another week of sales for that game represented on the chart. Unlike Black Ops and Dead Space 2, LBP 2 is a single console release, so you have to figure the third place on the charts represents a successful release as well.
DC Universe Online, as an MMO, has a bit of a lower bar, in terms of initial sales, than the rest of the games on this list. Because players are ponying up $14.99 a month for a subscription, its profits are based as much on the subscription fees than the initial purchase price. Ultimately, the "success" of the game depends more on how many people continue to play it over time than in how many people initially purchase the title. How well this game is doing won't really be known for awhile.
- RATING: LittleBigPlanet 2 review
Also: It's nice that Majesco has an unqualified hit on its hands in Zumba Fitness.
All of the best people are following Steve Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.
Comments
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LED_FARMER
u complain about dancing games maybe ure a fat bastard who couldn't get up and exercise hahaha not that i like those dancing games....
contactone
Three dance games in the top ten? What's this world coming too.
mariano965
Bring out Silent Service for the ps3 platform!!!!!!!!!!!!!
darklight003
Of course it is at the top of the charts because so many games have been delayed that there is nothing out there yet. When you really don't have any competition it is easy to stay on top. Once we see releases in March, April and May COD will be history.
DPsx72
I think more people are waking up, the kids are learning there are better games out there. Now that the 'GH canceled' story is well known, gamers are realizing that hype is disguising Act's poor products and are moving away at a higher rate. For me it can't happen too soon.
R3LF_13
I bailed on COD after MW2. I kind of thought more people would do the same. KZ2 till BF3 sounds good to me!
JustTheBeginning
Whats sad is even if people start growing a brain and CoD lost 50% of their sales, they would still be the best selling game this gen...
DPsx72
Who the hell is still buying that terrible game? If you own CoD you should be banned for making poor gaming purchase decisions. Same with the 360 since that can't sell either but that's not the point here. Buy REAL games not this dog crap from Activision. Everyone who's passed grade 6 knows Dead Space, LBP, and AC easily beat CoD as far as quality.
godzillaisyourdaddy
People say that Halo is overrated in comparison to COD, but look at COD, it has more than double the amount of games of Halo. The only bad Halo game was 3, but in COD all the worst CODs were World at War and up. At least Halo is far more creative than COD. Halo has Forge, unique games modes that COD lacks, much larger maps, a better engine. Practically Halo is far superior in technological advancement and is more varied. The story is far better and the AI are superior to the idiotic COD AI. Overall a better crafted game.
Xx ID E V O xX
i think call of duty is way overrated! I'm seriously sick of them! none of them change, they're all the same with some new weapons and perks. but people will buy them because of the big call of duty label on the cover. its time for change. a new engine perhaps? hopefully battlefield 3 will show them the meaning of change with their new engine. not trying to offend anyone, this is just my opinion and we are all entitled to one
CustosIntusSilentium
Further solidifying my belief "People celebrate inanity."
CoIoneI Klink
Wow, who would have thought such a flawed and glitchy game would be so popular
titanrage83
my herpes is really burning my genital area right now
Dbunk
@RickyR
I would'nt put much weight behind it when Just Dance 2 is next on the list. Not alot has come out latley.
Doomtastic
Call of Duty has been bashed so much it's not even funny anymore honestly.
It has been an incredibly successful Series and as far as we all know it will continue to be. Even though the two leads were fired (which I state is ridiculous in ways) they still stand a chance based off of fan bases, sales, Advertisements, and people just waiting in line for ex: CoD MW3, which we know millions will be waiting at the nearest electronics department and/or Massive Online Pre-Ordering.
We like to say it will be the "Fall of Duty" but really we all know it will last for at least a few more years till they fire everybody else or eventually people start to massively believe its just too repetitive (not saying I do think that, but just implying what others have said).
Believe me when I know people reading this will disagree with me and read this saying wtf ever, but you got to admit, I make a point. Just think about it seriously.
GameTaste
Bulletstorm may knock cod off the top. If it doesn't, Rage will! VGheaven.com has an article about all the shooters coming out this year.
Valkyrin
Wow, I didn't realize all these games could all be No. 1 at the same time lol.
troll-face
Black ops could have done better but in the long run it did not upset me to much but it could have made more maps :P
lucidity
Just read that MS total is actually 381,000, the only console with a year over year increase in sales and the 13 month in a row that it has done it.
lucidity
It's a shame only certain entities receive the complete report.
Here's the hardware estimate from VG
360 438,050
DS 432,636
Wii 417,639
PS3 286,937
PSP 78,985
PS2 28,325
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