Ubisoft "very pleased" with eight-fold boost to European software sales, but unnamed publisher's rep describes retail reaction as "not euphoric." Sales charts have already shown the 3DS price cut has spurred sales of the system significantly, and it appears to be boosting software sales as well. Ubisoft European marketing and sales director Geoffrey Sardin told Gamesindustry.biz that the publisher has seen an eight-fold jump in game sales on the continent since the price cut went into effect. However, the software boost may not be universal. Gamesindustry.biz also reported a conflicting account from another third-party publisher who wished to remain anonymous.

That source told the site that Nintendo still needs to push hardware adoption with its own titles, such as this holiday's Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7.


"So far retail is not euphoric," the representative told Gamesindustry.biz. "The fact that 3DS software is still treated with great caution in the initial and repeat orders, we see that retail waits for the commercial development…It will be important to watch 3DS when the big Nintendo titles are out there on holiday season. If the machine does not sell then, it's definitely dead."


Ubisoft has been one of the 3DS's biggest boosters among third-party publishers. Since the system launched in March, Ubisoft has released eight 3DS games in North America, highlighted by Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars and Rayman 2. It hasn't all been positive for the publisher, however. Ubisoft has already cancelled one of its high-profile games in development for the 3DS, the spin-off Assassin's Creed: Lost Legacy.

Source: http://gamescom.gamespot.com/story/6330150/3ds-third-party-publishers-split-on-effect-of-price-cut/?tag=newstop%3Btitle%3B3

Posted: Aug 22, 2011 2:11 pm