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[Tripon]

Nintendo's unusual team action game "Splatoon" is doing even better than its mascot-laden sibling "Smash Bros." on Wii U in the console's home territory of Japan.

"Destiny," "Halo," "Call of Duty," "Counter-Strike," and "Battlefield" -- these are the serious, often heavily militarized and best-known examples of the online, team-based shooter.

But when the studio behind "Nintendo Land" and "Wii Sports" gets to work on the genre, you get something rather different in return.

All-round tweaks and twists to a familiar formula have led to "Splatoon" being recognized as a near total reinvention of the team-based shooter.

Worldwide, 1.62m sales in one month made up over 33% of all Wii U game sales that quarter; "Splatoon" was already the Wii U's 7th best-selling game ever.

After 3.5 months on sale, the quirky shooter has overtaken 2014's "Super Smash Bros. for Wii U" in a like-for-like Japanese comparison -- 607k vs 602k after 14 weeks -- noted one observer on the NeoGAF forum.

"Splatoon" started off slower, but where "Smash Bros" dropped off after 5 weeks, "Splatoon" remained strong, snapped up at a rate of between 20,000 and 40,000 copies per week.

http://news.yahoo.com/splatoon-outdoes-smash-bros-japan-161813960.html

The AFP is the 3rd largest news organization in the world after the AP and Reuters. To have the forum mentioned I think is amazing and shows how far Neogaf has grown to the point where information and data posted on here can be legitimately be taken as a source.

 

[Busaiku]

Yeah, it'll be the best selling home console game this year.

 

[Reset]

Yeah, it'll be the best selling home console game this year.

In Japan right?
Anyway I'm not surprised it sold really well over there.

 

[Sammy Samusu]

Let's not forget that Smash sold 2.5 million copies on the 3DS in Japan, which is more than Splatoon worldwide sales.

But yeah, Splatoon is a big success for Nintendo.

 

[Chittagong]

GAF -> Internet -> GAF

 

[Dragon]

Good on Nintendo for investing in new IP, especially in the latter part of the generation for them. In light of Splatoon's online aspects, I look forward to what they're gonna bring in the future.

 

[Zalman]

Unlike Smash Bros. and Mario Kart, there's no handheld Splatoon game. I'm guessing that's part of the reason for this. That said, it's still very impressive.

 

[Dr. Buni]

In light of Splatoon's online aspects, I look forward to what they're gonna bring in the future.

Regional matchmaking, hopefully.

 

[ElectricBlanketFire]

I was completely wrong about this game. Thought it would be a flop of Wonderful 101 proportions.

 

[sörine]

Unlike Smash Bros. and Mario Kart, there's no handheld Splatoon game. I'm guessing that's part of the reason for this. That said, it's still very impressive.

When it eventually goes handheld it's going to be the next Monster Hunter.

 

[AlexMeloche]

I really need to get it someday.

 

[Reset]

I was completely wrong about this game. Thought it would be a flop of Wonderful 101 proportions.

I thought the game was going to only as well as the Pikmin series. Only doing well in Japan and everywhere else I expected it to do bad. :I

 

[Neoxon]

When it eventually goes handheld it's going to be the next Monster Hunter.

Given the hints that we're getting about the NX Platform, one Splatoon 2 will likely work on the NX Console & NX Handheld (assuming the NX Handheld is up to the task). So as long as it's easy to scale, Splatoon 2 can be a massive hit on 2 SKUs under one platform.

 

[AdanVC]

Splatoon 2 confirmed for NX launch title. No but seriously, awesome news! A brand new Nintendo IP in a console with low user base and becoming a success anyways is quite an achievement! I gotta be honest: I've been enjoying (and playing) Splatoon way more than Smash U at this point. I've barely touched Smash U since I got Splatoon. Is just that good and addictive IMO. I'm also not that good in Smash so that's also one of the reasons, hah.

 

[Busaiku]

When it eventually goes handheld it's going to be the next Monster Hunter.

The game with local play is gonna be crazy.

 

[TheXfactor]

Unlike Smash Bros. and Mario Kart, there's no handheld Splatoon game. I'm guessing that's part of the reason for this. That said, it's still very impressive.

if it had a handheld, I think the handheld version could outsell smash and possibly Mario kart, this game is pretty freakish popular in Japan

 

[Neoxon]

Splatoon 2 confirmed for NX launch title. No but seriously, awesome news! A brand new Nintendo IP in a console with low user base and becoming a success anyways is quite an achievement! I gotta be honest: I've been enjoying (and playing) Splatoon way more than Smash U at this point. I've barely touched Smash U since I got Splatoon. Is just that good and addictive IMO. I'm also not that good in Smash so that's also one of the reasons, hah.

I doubt they'll have Splatoon 2 ready for the launch of the NX Platform. Maybe in 2017, or alongside whatever SKU is out later (if they don't release both the Console & Handheld SKUs on Day 1).

The game with local play is gonna be crazy.

That's assuming that the NX Console or Handheld can handle it. The Wii U can't handle 2 players without cutting the framerate in half.

 

[faridmon]

This fact blows my mind. To imagine a new IP outselling a huge game with serious backing and fanbase to boot.

Crazy!

 

[DrWong]

I just finished to clip the Splatoon faceplates on my N3DS...

It's a sign.

 

[IntelliHeath]

That's assuming that the NX Console or Handheld can handle it. The Wii U can't handle 2 players without cutting the framerate in half.

I think he meant handheld's local play, where people can playing against each other or playing cooperative in local, by wireless connectivity like Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros and Monster Hunter.

 

[Kouriozan]

Smash Bros.?
...
...
Aaaah...Smash Bros. for Wii U, you got me for a sec.

Well, it's either really awesome for Splatoon (which is) and either sad for Smash Wii U as people just bought it on 3DS (which is true, too)

 

[Pennywise83]

All hail to our observer, hiska-kun!

 

[Bulbasaur]

Wow and only 4 months in. It's well deserved, I haven't played a game this much in years.

 

[The12thGripper]

The Wii U can't handle 2 players without cutting the framerate in half.

Super Smash Bros.? Mario Kart?

 

[Xav]

Nothing against Splatoon but Japan are kind of weird with their gaming tastes these days.

Unless it's mobile or some kind of Monster Hunter game, they don't really seem bothered.

 

[Neoxon]

Super Smash Bros.? Mario Kart?

Mario Kart had to cut the framerate in half after 2 players, & Smash 4 requires no split screen (though the models aren't as detailed as a result). Not to mention that 8-Player Smash cuts down on the bones of each character to get the game running at 60fps.

If Splatoon can't handle 2 players without cutting the framerate down to 30fps on the Wii U, I doubt that the NX Console can do 4 player split-screen without a framerate sacrifice.

 

[Iva Demilcol]

The game is really fun. I have some issues with how they handled the content since its release but I've played this game much more than Smash Bros.

I wonder what they'll do with the franchise in the future.

 

[DoctorFling]

Impressive, nice to see a great new IP do so well. Can't wait to see what other projects the Nintendo Garage (I think that's the name) have in the pipeline.

 

[Dr. Buni]

When it eventually goes handheld it's going to be the next Monster Hunter.

I will very likely have a Splatoon 2 considering how well the game is selling and if Splatoon 2 is a NX title, then it will not take long for the IP to debut on a handheld.

sad for Smash Wii U as people just bought it on 3DS (which is true, too)

Yeah, it is really sad that Nintendo made a lot of money with the 3DS version

Spoiler

 

[Luigi87]

Nice to see. Got the game last week and I love it... It also makes me saltier than any other multiplayer game that I've played...

 

[Pennywise83]

Nothing against Splatoon but Japan are kind of weird with their gaming tastes these days.

Unless it's mobile or some kind of Monster Hunter game, they don't really seem bothered.

I don't understand this. MK8 sold well all things considered, and SSB4 sold more than 3m units if the 3DS version is taken into account.

 

[Neoxon]

I will very likely have a Splatoon 2 considering how well the game is selling and if Splatoon 2 is a NX title, then it will not take long for the IP to debut on a handheld.

If it's coming to the NX Platform, you'll most likely get your handheld debut as well.

 

[TheDinoman]

Congrats Nintendo. Hopefully this means we'll get to see more new IPs from their internal studios.

 

[JeremyEtcetera]

So, how soon until Splatoon main character is DLC in smash?

 

[MUnited83]

That's pretty impressive!

 

[Windom Earle]

Deserved. Splatoon is amazing, just wish there was a bit less bullshit in the game. Also pls fix your netcode and the shitty rotation.

 

[TheDinoman]

So, how soon until Splatoon main character is DLC in smash?

The Mii Fighter costume kinda makes me doubt Inklings will make it for Smash 4, but they're absolutely guaranteed for Smash 5.

 

[Garou]

This fact blows my mind. To imagine a new IP outselling a huge game with serious backing and fanbase to boot.

Crazy!

You forget the 3DS Smash Bros. which Splatoon will never even get close to.

 

[Neoxon]

So, how soon until Splatoon main character is DLC in smash?

Either as Smash 4 DLC or Smash 5.

The Mii Fighter costume kinda makes me doubt Inklings will make it for Smash 4, but they're absolutely guaranteed for Smash 5.

The Mii Costumes seemed to be more like a means to advertise Splatoon in short notice than a means to appease ballot voters. I say this because the bulk of Splatoon's popularity didn't come until after the game came out, & I doubt even Sakurai expected Splatoon to be as big as it ended up being. So while I wouldn't rule the Inklings out for Smash 4 DLC, there is a chance that the Inklings could be saved for Smash 5.

 

[Bedlam]

Such a great success story. Congratulations to Nintendo!

Now they need to fix the disconnect issues that many Western players seem to suffer from since the last two patches (me included). Tried to play again yesterday and was only able to complete 2 out 5 matches.

 

[kswiston]

Yeah, it'll be the best selling home console game this year.

Are you not counting multiplat titles? I thought Dragon Quest Heroes broke 1M.

Although I guess Splatoon could work its way past that going into the holidays.

 

[shadowkat]

Well done! Splatoon is fantastic.

 

[sörine]

Are you not counting multiplat titles? I thought Dragon Quest Heroes broke 1M.

Although I guess Splatoon could work its way past that going into the holidays.

Heroes broke 1m worldwide, it's around 800k Japan alone. Splatoon's guaranteed to outsell it.

 

[Neoxon]

So would this make Splatoon the biggest Nintendo franchise without a playable rep in Smash, or does Rhythm Heaven still hold that title?

 

[Vena]

Are you not counting multiplat titles? I thought Dragon Quest Heroes broke 1M.

Although I guess Splatoon could work its way past that going into the holidays.

You can count everything and combine SKUs, Splatoon is going to outsell every other console release this year in Japan.

 

[TheDinoman]

So would this make Splatoon the biggest Nintendo franchise without a playable rep in Smash, or does Rhythm Heaven still hold that title?

Rhythm Heaven has a few more games than Splatoon, so maybe that. I know the DS game alone broke three million.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Good to hear, it's a far better game!

 

[Kickz]

Well done Nintendo, as a dude who dislikes online shooters this game is gold.

Best game on the WiiU and a system seller.

 

[Hojaho]

Well deserved !! Splatoon is one of the best games this year and possibly the best Wii U game.

 

[CO_Andy]

i can confirm that there are more Japanese players online than Western players at ANY time of the day