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Skittzo

Member
Oct 25, 2017
41,037
As someone working on 2 dev teams with ( of course) two indie titles headed to Switch later this year I can say that the analytics provided by Nintendo are very impressive. Many Indie titles ( and even some AAAs) are doubling their sales on Switch in a much smaller timeframe than their home console counterparts.

This is very interesting news.

I don't suppose you're allowed to share which ones?
 

Theswweet

RPG Site
Verified
Oct 25, 2017
6,404
California
Yeah...that was another situation where a developer wasn't happy with it's treatment. It's clear that Dan wanted to have the game out around launch and had hoped for maybe some pref treatment.

The Axiom Verge devs expected to get onto Switch asap, 100%. Heard them talking about getting on the "NX" early during E3 2016's Indie Mix.

...not sure how much that matters, but the expectation was there for a while before the Switch had even been revealed.
 

yyr

Member
Nov 14, 2017
3,462
White Plains, NY
I think "less competition" was a factor, like, 10 months ago or something. But not anymore.

I think "less competition" is still a factor, but not in the way that you'd think.

Remember: lots of people still go to stores to buy their games. Taking a look at the selection for PS4/Xbox, there are plenty of titles on the shelves. Switch? Not so many, due to the young age of the system, the higher cost of producing physical copies, and the booming popularity of digital storefronts.

My belief is that this causes more people to look at the eShop on Switch who otherwise would have bought retail. And...the rest is easy to see.

Only 100k for fast... you guys should be ashamed.

Sorry, but what I really want is F-Zero.
 

Deleted member 3017

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
17,653
I think "less competition" is still a factor, but not in the way that you'd think.

Remember: lots of people still go to stores to buy their games. Taking a look at the selection for PS4/Xbox, there are plenty of titles on the shelves. Switch? Not so many, due to the young age of the system, the higher cost of producing physical copies, and the booming popularity of digital storefronts.

My belief is that this causes more people to look at the eShop on Switch who otherwise would have bought retail. And...the rest is easy to see.

There's quite a bit of Switch software on retail shelves. I doubt that's playing much of a role in strong eShop sales at this point in the system's life.
 

Deleted member 5167

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
3,114
I'm going to try to take this experience as a wake-up call that I should be more positive online. No point in complaining.

I hope you don't see any blowback on your private thoughts made to a community you are part of being signal-boosted for clicks.
That Nintendos curation policies seem to be against self publishing is entirely on Nintendo, but from what you said pre-edit I also think your publisher has let you down.
They should have been promoting the availability of CSH on Switch, and they should be helping you with issues like localisation and certification for foreign markets. That you have to have a publisher just to get released, but they haven't been doing publisher duties is kind of crappy for you guys.
 

Ishaan

Member
Oct 27, 2017
1,702
Thanks for the ridiculously detailed info! I thought about adding in release date, but with staggered dates for physical and digital and different regions it became too complex. I want to convey the broader strokes more than in depth numbers, so folks can go into the articles themselves or to your amazing resource for further context.

Also, PM me about trying to estimate digital sales from eShop ranks. I'd be interested in trying to help out.

Thanks for the kind words! About estimating digital sales from the eShop rankings... it's something I've been thinking about for a while, but I said this to another poster above--I just don't know if it's a responsible thing to do. Trying to deduce global sales from the U.S. rankings is iffy business, and I'd hate for us to be responsible for a bunch of ill-informed forum warriors using possibly inaccurate information in their debates.

Rocket League should be doing well. It's been in Eshop top sellers quite a bit. If you have any news update with comments from developers or numbers let me know.

I'll eat my hat if Rocket League isn't over 1.5 million by this point. It's been in the rankings way more often (and longer) than Stardew Valley, and that game hit a million quite some time ago.
 

Aiustis

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
2,322
Cybertronic Purgatory
This is completely unscientific and anecdotal, and probably doesn't contribute more than a fraction of their success, but...

Honestly, a lot of people with Switches seem really, really happy to just find stuff to play on their Switch. I've never seen a console audience share so much positive energy from the simple fact that a game is available on the format. It's like the games are one part of it, and the other is the fact that people want to play stuff on the console. Maybe indies, being relatively cheap, are benefiting from that hype.

For me it's just that these were already the types of games I was playing. I'd rather play them portable.
 

Deleted member 426

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
7,273
I knew the 'less competition' comment would get people riled up. It's just a fact that Switch has fewer titles than other platforms, not just in terms of total catalogue, but number and frequency of high profile releases. It's clearly going to be a factor.
 

cw_sasuke

Member
Oct 27, 2017
26,351
So just for fun i searched on YT for "Cosmic Star Heroine Switch trailer"...lets just say the result were quite disappointing.
Doesnt look like the dev, publisher or Nintendo bothered with a single Switch specific trailer or Video.

Not being a dick...but its not that difficult to understand why this wasnt a high priority release for Nintendo.
What i dont quite get is why the game doesnt have a regular trailer uploaded on the Nintendo YT...maybe i missed it but pretty much every somewhat relevant Switch eShop release gets a trailer uploaded on the NoA page.
The Axiom Verge devs expected to get onto Switch asap, 100%. Heard them talking about getting on the "NX" early during E3 2016's Indie Mix.

...not sure how much that matters, but the expectation was there for a while before the Switch had even been revealed.
Oh yeah i know they expected to get on board asap...which is why Dan was so frustrated when it took much longer than anticipated.
 

Primate Ryan

Member
Oct 27, 2017
603
It seems like these shadow drops after Nintendo presentations are really good for sales. Bad North, Morphies Law, Into the Breach and Prison Architect are all in the download top 10.
 

Dekuman

Member
Oct 27, 2017
19,026
I knew the 'less competition' comment would get people riled up. It's just a fact that Switch has fewer titles than other platforms, not just in terms of total catalogue, but number and frequency of high profile releases. It's clearly going to be a factor.

It is a very blunt and probably inaccurate analysis at this point. A bit of a meme troll dismissal aeguably as well. I guess you missed the shitstorm in the thread about Switch library being on the verge of surpassing the 3DS on titles released.
 
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IsaacC

Alt Account
Banned
Jun 17, 2018
384
This is very interesting news.

I don't suppose you're allowed to share which ones?
one has already been announced....but since I mentioned the Travis Strikes Again collaboration I can't say until the collaboration is revealed.
I can say one is a fantastic pixel art contra/old-school inspired shooter, and one is a third person Silent Hill type Survival Horror.
 

Skittzo

Member
Oct 25, 2017
41,037
one has already been announced....but since I mentioned the Travis Strikes Again collaboration I can't say until the collaboration is revealed.
I can say one is a fantastic pixel art contra/old-school inspired shooter, and one is a third person Silent Hill type Survival Horror.

Ooooh that's interesting too!

But I was actually asking about which AAA games doubled their sales on Switch in a shorter time frame than the other consoles.

Definitely now interested in hearing more about your two projects though!
 

IsaacC

Alt Account
Banned
Jun 17, 2018
384
Ooooh that's interesting too!

But I was actually asking about which AAA games doubled their sales on Switch in a shorter time frame than the other consoles.

Definitely now interested in hearing more about your two projects though!
Oh, the one that comes to mind is Resident Evil Revelations sold the same ( 500k) on Switch in 3 months as they did on PS4/XBone did in 6 months combined....and that is even with releasing 6 months later on Switch.

And I think I saw that one of take2's games did also WWE or FIFA or something to that effect.
 

Skittzo

Member
Oct 25, 2017
41,037
Oh, the one that comes to mind is Resident Evil Revelations sold the same ( 500k) on Switch in 3 months as they did on PS4/XBone did in 6 months combined....and that is even with releasing 6 months later on Switch.

And I think I saw that one of take2's games did also WWE or FIFA or something to that effect.

Oh wow, thanks for sharing! I'm not sure that's been public knowledge before, it's very interesting information considering there aren't many AAA games of note in general.
 

Martl

Member
Oct 30, 2017
885
Austria
Sayed it before and saying it again, when you like JRPGs go and buy Cosmic Star Heroine. Played
it at release on ps4 and really enjoyed it.
 

OmegaX

Member
Oct 28, 2017
4,119
I hope you don't see any blowback on your private thoughts made to a community you are part of being signal-boosted for clicks.
That Nintendos curation policies seem to be against self publishing is entirely on Nintendo, but from what you said pre-edit I also think your publisher has let you down.
They should have been promoting the availability of CSH on Switch, and they should be helping you with issues like localisation and certification for foreign markets. That you have to have a publisher just to get released, but they haven't been doing publisher duties is kind of crappy for you guys.
The publisher is Limited Run Games, is it not? I guess digital releases are no their priority. Next year, when their physical release is up for preorder they should start promoting it right away.
 

IsaacC

Alt Account
Banned
Jun 17, 2018
384
Oh wow, thanks for sharing! I'm not sure that's been public knowledge before, it's very interesting information considering there aren't many AAA games of note in general.
I think I saw some mention of Resident Evil revelations outselling PS4/XBONE combined...
Here we go:
http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/data/explanation.html

So yes it was 500K total sales for Revelations with 250k shared between PS4/XBone and the other 250k being on Switch. The Switch version released 6 months after the home console versions and still managed to outsell both, and in a much smaller timeframe. Quite impressive really
 

Rathorial

Member
Oct 28, 2017
578
I agree with some of your points, but "That eshop doesn't have many releases per week" ??? There are well over 20 new games every week on the eshop.

Yeah, the eshop really doesn't have many releases per week vs. other platforms. Steam literally has over 20 new games every day. That's significantly less visibility for smaller devs that don't have large marketing budgets.
 

DarkDetective

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
4,906
The Netherlands
And I think I saw that one of take2's games did also WWE or FIFA or something to that effect.
Take-Two has released three games on Switch: NBA 2K18, WWE 2K18, and L.A. Noire.

NBA 2K18 was a huge success, even on PS4 and XBO, so I doubt that's the one. And WWE 2K18 was a very, very bad port that had a lot of very deep discounts. So even when that one is theoretically possible, I think L.A. Noire is the most likely candidate of a Take-Two game outselling the PS4/XBO versions.
 

fiendcode

Member
Oct 26, 2017
24,910
Gutted to hear CSH isn't doing too hot on Switch. It's had a such a troubled road and is so good.
 

Skittzo

Member
Oct 25, 2017
41,037
I think I saw some mention of Resident Evil revelations outselling PS4/XBONE combined...
Here we go:
http://www.capcom.co.jp/ir/data/explanation.html

So yes it was 500K total sales for Revelations with 250k shared between PS4/XBone and the other 250k being on Switch. The Switch version released 6 months after the home console versions and still managed to outsell both, and in a much smaller timeframe. Quite impressive really

Ah yeah I remember hearing something like that now, though I never saw how it compared to the other platforms.

RER/RER2 were both very good ports so I'm glad they did well.

Take-Two has released three games on Switch: NBA 2K18, WWE 2K18, and L.A. Noire.

NBA 2K18 was a huge success, even on PS4 and XBO, so I doubt that's the one. And WWE 2K18 was a very, very bad port that had a lot of very deep discounts. So even when that one is theoretically possible, I think L.A. Noire is the most likely candidate of a Take-Two game outselling the PS4/XBO versions.

Yeah any of those three actually would be pretty surprising to me. I guess LA Noire might make the most sense since it's not something that was on a Nintendo console previously?
 

FantaSoda

Member
Oct 28, 2017
1,992
This is probably just random luck, but a few hours ago out of nowhere Nintendo sent me a survey asking me what I thought about Cosmic Star Heroine. I get these surveys every so often, but I typically get them within the first few days of buying the game.

Did anyone else get this?
 

IsaacC

Alt Account
Banned
Jun 17, 2018
384
you have my interest
I can tell you that I took on the writing job for that script pro-bono because I loved the game design. It doesn't blaze any magical new survival horror trails in any way...but it is a sweet love letter to Silent Hill, Session 9, twin Peaks, and a whack of other awesome horror homages. We should be announcing it pretty soon. I will tell you that a version of the game already exists on at least one other platform, and has gotten very good reviews in that form...while this version features a lot of improvements and QOL additions, as well as revamped graphics and controls.
 

Dogui

Member
Oct 28, 2017
8,786
Brazil

Not saying that the Switch lacks a solid jrpg library right now, but i feel like almost every other game in the genre got atleast a spot on a Direct, and this moment before SMTV is the best one to market lower budget stuff.

I feel like Atooi got lucky with the timing of Mutant Mudds. It was one of the first eshop games on the 3ds to use the 3d effect well. Everything else about the game was just decent. He seems to be surprised when his games either rereleased or new aren't hits like that one.

Yeah, i also played the game on PC so this 3D novelty factor wasn't there.
 

Metallix87

User Requested Self-Ban
Banned
Nov 1, 2017
10,533
So just for fun i searched on YT for "Cosmic Star Heroine Switch trailer"...lets just say the result were quite disappointing.
Doesnt look like the dev, publisher or Nintendo bothered with a single Switch specific trailer or Video.

Not being a dick...but its not that difficult to understand why this wasnt a high priority release for Nintendo.
What i dont quite get is why the game doesnt have a regular trailer uploaded on the Nintendo YT...maybe i missed it but pretty much every somewhat relevant Switch eShop release gets a trailer uploaded on the NoA page.
Who typically is responsible for making the trailers?
 

Deleted member 5535

User requested account closure
Banned
Oct 25, 2017
13,656
This is where I think Indie devs have to be strategic. A timed exclusivity window may not only help with focusing of resources, but may also help with early promotion and attention.

It's clear that for Nintendo exclusive, timed exclusive, console exclusive, and exclusive content are things they consider when choosing what to highlight.

Yeah, this is what I see that NOA likes to highlight.

Something it doesn't seem many people are taking into account is Nintendo and the Japanese market.

Steam gamers in Japan are a niche within a niche. While Sony has done a decent job of pushing indie games in the west (or at least used to) they never really expended much of that energy in the Japanese market. Nintendo on the other hand has the Switch, which is on track to beat the total install base of the PS4 in the next year or two. Unlike Sony, Nintendo has been doing an amazing job of introducing indie games to the Japanese console market through special events and videos that explain these games in more detail than more western-targeted material. As the PC market for many of these games in Japan is incredibly minute, the Switch is basically the ONLY place that many of these games are going to be played by Japanese consumers; as such, a successful Japanese console, a remarkable effort by Nintendo's domestic marketing team, and what amounts to basically the only place to play these things (even if some literally are also available on PS4 or mobile), and you have a recipe for indie success in the Japanese market at levels heretofore unseen. So while "Nindies" sounds remarkably twee to those in Western markets, Nintendo=Indies is not an exaggeration when dealing with the Japanese market.

That's true. Nintendo in Japan is doing that and I forgot about that. This is really important for the japanese market with what Nintendo is doing in events there.
 

tolkir

Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,252
So just for fun i searched on YT for "Cosmic Star Heroine Switch trailer"...lets just say the result were quite disappointing.
Doesnt look like the dev, publisher or Nintendo bothered with a single Switch specific trailer or Video.

Not being a dick...but its not that difficult to understand why this wasnt a high priority release for Nintendo.
What i dont quite get is why the game doesnt have a regular trailer uploaded on the Nintendo YT...maybe i missed it but pretty much every somewhat relevant Switch eShop release gets a trailer uploaded on the NoA page.

Oh yeah i know they expected to get on board asap...which is why Dan was so frustrated when it took much longer than anticipated.

First result when you search on Google.

 

weekev

Is this a test?
Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,213
Snipperclips sales are disappointing to me. Expected it to quite a bit higher. People need to get on it, it's great multiplayer fun.
 

Shizuka

Member
Oct 25, 2017
14,100
Mighty Rabbit was disappointed in Saturday Morning RPG initial sales and Ratalaika mentioned Switch sales for Implosion were on par with other platforms, IIRC.
 
Jan 1, 2018
514
Snipperclips sales are disappointing to me. Expected it to quite a bit higher. People need to get on it, it's great multiplayer fun.
Did the game sell poorly at retail? I figured downloads would have been good due to being a launch day title that was also promoted by Nintendo, and seemingly did well enough to justify DLC, and a retail release.
 

Sammy Samusu

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
2,746
Beyonce's Womb
Switch got some high profile indie games right from the start, and that probably helped set the bed for the upcoming releases. Now people have the habit of buying indie games and that's why they sell so well on Switch.

My theory.
 

Aniki

Member
Oct 25, 2017
6,792
Snipperclips sales are disappointing to me. Expected it to quite a bit higher. People need to get on it, it's great multiplayer fun.
Snipperclips was a good get. Me and my niece always have a lot of fun playing it. Though, we have already completed all puzzles and now mostly play hockey. I should buy the DLC already.
 

K Samedi

Member
Oct 27, 2017
4,989
Snipperclips sales are disappointing to me. Expected it to quite a bit higher. People need to get on it, it's great multiplayer fun.
It sold very well on launch month and from the top of my head like 350k in its first month. That title is way over a million downloads by now since its still regulary charting on eshop ranking 1,5 years in.
 

Bjones

Member
Oct 30, 2017
5,622
It's not just numbers of units sold. It's numbers * the asking price. Some of these cost more than they do anywhere else and still sell. The final retail price I bet is the hardest thing to determine for a indie game. I am no where near the point in my game to start thinking about price but even talking about it now I have no idea,
 

Bonejack

Member
Oct 27, 2017
16,654
one has already been announced....but since I mentioned the Travis Strikes Again collaboration I can't say until the collaboration is revealed.

What's neat is that "simply" being part of this collaboration also nets you a tweet by the various Nintendo branches. At least they had this for some recent new t-shirts. ^^