Source: GameSpy

EEDAR's Jesse Divnich thinks that mature DS titles are still 'risky.'

I think this does have a point that is indicative of a majority of the DS-user base, not neccessarily that a majority of DS users aren't looking for mature content, but certainly that they aren't interested in the critical reception of a game.

But even then, Grand Theft Auto is a franchise that should sell all on its own, so perhaps DS owners just aren't interested in playing this type of game.

I will say this -- traditionally Grand Theft Auto games aren't your "evergreen" sellers (like Wii Fit, Mario Kart, etc) -- they normally have their sales spike and then slowly fade away.

Speaking for myself, I didn't buy the game because I just can't find value in paying £25 for handheld games. Am I missing out? Probably, but I just find DS games WAY too expensive.

What an idiotic analyst...To compare the sales of a 2 year old game alongside the sales of a game which had at the time been released for two weeks, to then imply from that - mature games don't sell as well on Nintendo DS.

The game works out £34 in Australia.  That is stopping me.  I won't consider it unless it is about £18, after all, I only paid £12 each fort the 2 PSP games.  I won't pay £34 for any game, even Final Fantasy.

"The game sold around 200,000 units in March, which is apparently less than was expected."

Is it? I think 200,000 in two weeks is pretty damn good.

While I agree comparing a 2-year game with a new one is idiotic -- GTA's do tend to open big and slowly die out.

Do you really think Chinatown Wars is going to push a million?

Hairydutchman said:

""The game sold around 200,000 units in March, which is apparently less than was expected."

Is it? I think 200,000 in two weeks is pretty damn good.

"

I'm not too surprised; the people who play GTA are poser 13-year-olds and casual adult males. These people don't own DSes.

As I have said previously here, personally my recent history with the GTA franchise sort of ruled me out of considering it as a purchase. But since its release I can safely say that based on what I have seen of the game now I still wouldnt have bought it even if I never knew anything about GTA. It just doesnt look that good to me and I doubt it would hold my interest for very long. Also the price for it is crazy high for what it is. I am no analyst but my guess is that given the device its on and the departure in game style as some series fans wary if not skeptical of it. I could see steady sales then a slight spike in sales at price drop (about the time poeple feel a little more safe about handing over their hard earned for it) and then fade away gradually after that.

"Linkyshinks said:

"What an idiotic analyst...To compare the sales of a 2 year old game alongside the sales of a game which had at the time been released for two weeks, to then imply from that - mature games don't sell as well on Nintendo DS.

I did not post this story because it's a dumb one, a story which gives him way too much advertising.

"

Ouch!

I just see it as a starting point for discussion.  I am sitting on an analyst story from several years ago, that is hilarious with the passage of time.  Analysts talk a lot of crap when it comes to the games industry.

"

Should have included a question mark in the title or otherwise indicated that this came from an analyst.
I've never even heard of EEDAR. Is this Jesse Divinch really worth listening to?

Well I don't think the game was marketed as well as it could have however I think it will sell well but over a much longer period of time.

UPDATE:

As one of the few M-rated games on Nintendo's DS platform, and the only Grand Theft Auto game, you can bet that game industry insiders are keeping an eye on sales of the recently released Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. Alas, NPD numbers won't be available until later this week, so we'll have to leave it to the analysts to predict the Chinatown Wars sales trajectory. But what are we to do if, as MTV reports, even the analysts can't agree?

According to MTV, Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter is predicting that the title sold a whopping 450,000 copies. Meanwhile, Jesse Divinich of EEDAR expects less than half of that figure, predicting around 200,000 copies. It's chaos out there, folks, and proof that people just don't know what to make of a high profile, M-rated game on Nintendo's cash machine. We suggest you get inside, lock the doors and board up the windows until we have official March NPD numbers to quell this storm.

I was wondering how it did and it is a shame it underperformed. I have bought it and it is one of the best DS games I have ever played, as the review scores show as well. I hope that this game is just getting a slow start and will pick up later, but that might not be the case. It is a shame if M-rated games are deemed taboo because of this. Dementium, RE: Deadly Silence, Ultimate Mortal Kombat, Touch the Dead and this aren't the only games with a M-rating that I want on my DS.

This means I have to go out and buy it now. It wasn't high on my wish-list, but we need more games like this, and im willing to shell out 30+ bucks to make it happen.