Ratchet and Clank doesn't break 100K, Sony still happy
by Chris Powell 
{ Nov 21st 2007 at 9:55AM }
"SCEA is very happy with the initial sales numbers of Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction," a Sony Computer Entertainment America representative told 1UP. "In a crowded market of mature content, Ratchet is a fun, sophisticated alternative that truly showcases the power of the PS3. Ratchet is the perfect gift for PlayStation fans of all ages and we expect sales to continue to remain strong."
However, as 1UP pointed out, Tools of Destruction did sell better than Ratchet: Deadlocked, the series' latest entry that only managed to sell 55,300 copies when it released in October 2005.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Trev @ Nov 21st 2007 10:19AM
Unless I read vgchartz.com incorrectly, it sold 90K the first week and 40K the second. I guess I'm more inclined to believe the numbers coming from the publisher than from a website that's not really part of the loop, but it seems like an awfully big difference.
XDragon @ Nov 21st 2007 10:37AM
I downloaded the demo. Its visually stunning but its not my kinda game. It really shows how powerful the PS3 is and if i remember correctly, it uses 2/3 the power of the PS3. The turning point for visuals has started for the PS3 between R&C, COD4 in 1080p and DU.
Dreadhead541 @ Nov 21st 2007 10:52AM
that's really disappointing, Ratchet really deserves to sell better
craig @ Nov 21st 2007 11:12AM
That's horrible. Seriously bad. Super Mario Galaxy sold 500K in a single week.
Trev @ Nov 21st 2007 11:12AM
I guess I must correct myself. The numbers on vgchartz.com are different than they were yesterday. Must have been estimates or something and they have been updated now.
Hirsbrunner @ Nov 21st 2007 11:17AM
"Tools of Destruction did sell better than Ratchet: Deadlocked..."
That's not surprising, considering that Deadlocked was a horrible game and an insult to the series, imo.
Btw, I am LOVING Tools of Destruction.
wem003 @ Nov 21st 2007 11:20AM
I don't know for me $60 for a game that looks awesome, but is typically not what I play is just too much. Demo was good - but I'll wait for a used one next year.
Christian @ Nov 21st 2007 11:26AM
@5: Well be aware that the figure is US only for the PS3. No idea if the 500k number is comparable. Anyway apart from there being more Wii systems out there to sell to, be also aware that if there has been a lack of games for the PS3 up to this point it has been even more desperate for the Wii. So far the Wii seems to have only gotten bad ports of PS2 games which hasn't appealed to the type of people who got into the Wii due to games like Wii Sports and Rayman.
So while the PS3 games market got a huge amount of new games well suited for its demography recently, giving R&C hard competition. Mario Galaxy hit a market starved for titles fitting its demography.
IncredibleBulk92 @ Nov 21st 2007 11:24AM
yea thats a very low number for one of supposedly one of the best ps3 games out this season, makes you think what it'll take to get a game to actually sell on the PS3.
But yea not really my kinda game anyways...
Anwa123 @ Nov 21st 2007 11:39AM
Not to mention its MARIO for gods sake, the biggest videogame character IMO. Mario is to Nintendo as Halo is to Microsoft.
chris.westermann @ Nov 21st 2007 11:45AM
I never thought R&C was a system seller, but its one of those games that people will buy when they eventually own the system, its like a "top 5 games I will buy when I own a PS3". Its a strong title that now exists for the PS3 which is what the platform needs, good games available in their library. Also these are October sales figures, before the price drop and 40gb systems I am sure sales will improve over the holiday buying rush.
Just me.. @ Nov 21st 2007 11:52AM
at 69 euro it's one of the most expensive ps3 games out here in europe.. lower the price to a more realistic 59 euros and sales will rocket.. or just go platinum.
The1 @ Nov 21st 2007 11:53AM
I bought Ratchet and I am loving it. However, the low number of sales is shocking. I hope Uncharted does better, we will see soon. Actually, I think COD4 will be the best selling game on the PS3 and thats not great.
Just me.. @ Nov 21st 2007 11:55AM
oh and LAIR is on sale in europe... but sssshhh don't tell anybody!
Snpo @ Nov 21st 2007 12:03PM
wow does ps3fanboy not read the sister site joystiq? because they noticed the mistake on 1up's site, and even 1up had a correction up YESTERDAY, its sad to see when bloggers don't do a bit more research =]
Slaytan @ Nov 21st 2007 12:04PM
I ended R&C yesterday, great game. Personally, I think it's definitely worth the $65. Now for Uncharted!
EddieBrentwood @ Nov 21st 2007 12:13PM
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3164480
so, its says it sold 139K in september. this is before price cuts
Leobebes @ Nov 21st 2007 12:19PM
Judging by the sales of PS3's most marketed and hyped game its clear to me that the half of the PS3 install base are videophiles looking for a cheap Blue Ray player.
craig @ Nov 21st 2007 12:21PM
"Well be aware that the figure is US only for the PS3. No idea if the 500k number is comparable."
500K in the first week of U.S. sales. I bought Ratchet and I'm more than satisfied with the experience, I'm just a little worried about some of the developers who up until now considered Playstation as the first choice. 100k units is sad, regardless of install base. Last time I checked more than 3 million people have PS3's in the U.S.
We're still waiting for the turnaround Sony...where the hell are you?
Pajama Party! @ Nov 21st 2007 12:29PM
@19:
The PS2 had an install base of 120 million - yet no GTA title sold more than 15 million (if memory serves).
And for what its worth, the PS3 and PSP are both currently outselling the Wii in Japan.
This race is far from over. And 360 fans who are already declaring themselves the victor are in for a real surprise. Nintendo and Sony are both going to be serious competition this gen.
halebound00 @ Nov 21st 2007 12:31PM
Let's get to the heart of the matter, regardless of how good the game is, people aren't really willing to drop 65 bones on something unless it really blows them away and is in their genre of choice. I would love to have purchased R&C, but the pricing strucure this generation is insane. Games are going to have to go down to 45-50 bucks before they pick up some steam. Otherwise, this trend will continue.
craig @ Nov 21st 2007 12:41PM
To be fair I dont' think the race is over, not even close. It just seems that anytime the situation looks better, the competition just keeps increasing the margin.
steve Johnson @ Nov 21st 2007 12:50PM
Christmas isn't here yet, Sony. Hell, DECEMBER ain't even here yet! I'm getting this amazing game as a present, so unless I'm the only one on the planet who's asked for this game as a gift, I wouldn't worry to much about early sales figures.
gamingeek @ Nov 21st 2007 12:56PM
Me thinks that between GH3, COD4, and now Uncharted that R&CFTOD faces some stiff competition for PS3 software dollars. People only have so much to spend on games. I should know-- I'm friggin' broke from buying all these games lately! Both the developers and the PS3 owners would have been better served if all of these titles hadn't been been released in the same time period.
Cagalli @ Nov 21st 2007 1:24PM
Considering they're only counting less than two weeks worth of sales, I'd say this isn't bad at all. Plus we don't even know the EU/Japan sales yet.
finelicker @ Nov 21st 2007 2:12PM
Like others have said already, nice demo, but the game's not for me.I think the market has changed a lot in the last few years, consoles are now seen much less as a kids toy, and much more as adult entertainment hub.
Sammy @ Nov 21st 2007 2:50PM
I think the Ratchet and Clank series is really strong. It is actually not my type of game usually. But the level of polish and tight gameplay has always made it a refreshing and addictive experience. The full game exceeds the demo's quality. I think this was even mentioned in C&VGs online review, as a reply to one of the posters who made the same comments as people on here about the demo. In reality I would not have picked Mario to be my type of game had I not known how excellent the series was at its core.
I think sales will pick up... it charted in Japan and as someone mentioned here before, it is marketed as a children's game so maybe Christmas might see a hefty increase in sales.
I agree on the pricepoint though. I really think that the hike in software costs has harmed developers more than the minor increase in revenue per unit has helped. Two titles now cost almost as much as 3 games would have before. While big games will usually do okay, more obscure or less polished titles will often fall by the wayside. Games that once people would have risked picking up as secondary purchases.
TheSh0wstopper @ Nov 21st 2007 2:52PM
Sony is doing their job, now its time for gamers to do theirs. People have been crying for the past year for games and now when Sony releases games (Ratchet, Heavenly Sword, Warhawk, etc...) no one buys them. This might be the backbreaker this gen. Say what you will about Xbots but the fact remains THEY BUY GAMES!!! Developers are going to shy away from making exclusives and putting in the time to make good versions of multi-plat games for the PS3 if no one buys the games. The fact of the matter is that the Playstation brand has historically captured the hearts of casual and softcore gamers, but Microsoft has the hearts of the MAJORITY of the hardcore gamers. HARDCORE GAMERS BUY MULTIPLE GAMES A MONTH, CASUAL AND SOFT CORE BUY 3-5 A YEAR!!!
If Heavenly Sword was on 360 it would have broke 1 million easily and so would Warhawk and maybe even Ratchet. Currently there are only 2 PS3 games that broke 1 million and that is sad. And the install base is not an excuse, 360 had multiple million sellers in its first year. Sony is doing their job, now its our turn.
-Sh0wstopper
gamingeek @ Nov 21st 2007 3:17PM
I think another problem that has arisen here for Sony is that there are many dual-system owners that are buying 360 software in more frequency than PS3 titles. It only goes to figure when the PS3 games typically are reviewed with lower scores and cross-platform titles generally perform better on the 360. Madden comes to mind immediately.
TheSh0wstopper @ Nov 21st 2007 3:45PM
@29
Well I have both systems and purchase a lot of games (over 30 360 games, but only 6 ps3 games). And I, along with most other people that have both, will tell you that if a game comes out on both its a no-brainer to get the 360 version. Even if the games performed equally there is this other little thing called Xbox live... ever heard of it?
-TheSh0wstopper
gamingeek @ Nov 21st 2007 3:59PM
@30
Oh yeah you mean the service that Sony gives it's gamers for free? Like you I own both systems and I don't even feel the need to use Live anymore so I stopped paying for it. And don't start with me about how much better live is. The PSN works fine for my online gaming needs. COD4 has been most excellent on the PSN.
Jay @ Nov 21st 2007 8:37PM
I'm amazed at how slowly this has sold. On some charts it is selling less than Motorstorm, F1CE and RFoM! These three games, out for ages, have been given away with most bundles and R&C STILL can't keep up.
What the hell is going on? PS3 owners complain of not enough good games, but when a great one comes along they ignore it.
Consolcwby @ Nov 22nd 2007 12:49AM
@TheSh0wstopper: In the end, you're right of course. But you have to realise something that you may have forgotten - Sony gamers traditionally buy sequels. So, I expect Drake's Fortune to get the Heavenly Sword treatment. Yet then, why isn't R&C getting picked up? Firstly - the game got bad press at E3. Secondly, magazines like EGM and sites like 1Up do their best to downplay and underrate PS3 games compared to the 360s offerings. Thirdly, and most sadly, R&C's last game was a dud - and most people that liked the series have backed off of it. So, that's what you're seeing here. Now, I will promise you that a game will come that will be the system seller, the killer app, the defining moment for the PS3. Will it be MGS, FF, UT3, et al?... I don't know. It could be a game we haven't heard about yet. But I DO know one thing: There has to be one. And soon.
Justin @ Nov 22nd 2007 7:37AM
It's a game for young people - not many young people own the PS3....yet. Maybe after christmas. It's not somthing the 15-35 year olds are going to proudly own. I'm hesitant to buy uncharted as well, its reviews haven't been stellar. I just wish we had some decent sports games.
James @ Nov 30th 2007 1:42PM
Sounds like the "15-35 year olds" need to grow the hell up and recognize quality when they see it. I'm 27 and RCF just sold me a PS3. I played it from the time I got home till after midnight for the past two days (OK, actually most of that time my wife played, which is almost better), and it's got the tight production values and AAA gameplay and writing that made the "real" PS2 games (Deadlock was just a terrible idea to start with) sell so well. Sure the visuals and writing are targeted at the early-teen-male demographic, but the core gameplay is solid and highly addictive. I don't care what your "genre preferences" are, you're an idiot if you don't buy this game.
Also: I frankly don't think that "Sony has done their job" as an earlier poster commented; I only just bought my PS3 because I was able to get a really good deal on a used 20-gigger. They bet on being the BMW of game consoles (high-end but popular) but wound up being the Maserati instead -- really, really high-end, but priced out of most peoples' budgets. They also bet that they would be better off spending an extra year polishing their hardware while the 360 was establishing a base -- they lost that one too (so far). It's a death spiral sort of situation: you don't have the base, so you can't get developers on board, so you don't get the games, so you don't get the base, so...
Listen, I'm glad I got my PS3: it's beautiful, the core functionality is well-designed, and it's beastly powerful. But I'm in the somewhat unusual position of having enough disposable income to buy all 3 major consoles in the space of just over a year and being "hardcore" enough to have the will to do so. Most people can't do that, and most people (for the reasons cited above among others) are just going to prioritize the PS3 last on their list.
fart @ Nov 22nd 2007 2:42PM
i guess the game should have tons of blood and horror to sell these days. what happened to good old times?
Dehshizknight @ Nov 23rd 2007 3:11AM
Uh well before the official release date (October 30th), the VGChartz.com database showed 0 sales because it wasn't supposed to be released yet. And since the game was released a week early on the 23rd, those "chartz" look like they don't include the sales for the first week, which I thought was really strong because everyone on my Friends list was playing that game.
Larz @ Nov 25th 2007 12:26AM
The only reason I haven't bought it yet is because there's just too much good stuff to play on PS3 right now. When there's a lull I will definitely be buying R&C... after I get around to buying Uncharted too.