Classic brands and well-known casual games dominate
Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hryb has published the 2007 bestseller list for Xbox Live Arcade, and the chart is dominated by well-known long-running games brands.
The 1989 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game takes the crown, with the likes of Worms, Castlevanie, Bomberman and Sonic the Hedgehog taking other spots in the listing.
The listing is a little ironic - Microsoft touts Xbox Live Arcade as a perfect platform for new ideas and independent releases, however it's clear that the major sales drivers are those with familiar brands or concepts. Geometry Wars (now almost two years old) remains the one major breakthrough game that was (relatively) new to the service. Space Giraffe (and Tempest 2000 and Gridhopper++) developer Jeff Minter last year claimed that this situation was discouraging him from developing titles for the service.
The chart as reported by Hryb is as follows:
Top Xbox Live arcade titles (sales):
Advertisement
1. TMNT 1989 Arcade
2. Worms
3. Castlevania: SOTN
4. Uno
5. Bomberman Live
6. 3D Ultra Minigolf Adventures
7. Sonic the Hedgehog
8. Pinball FX
9. Geometry Wars FX
10. Texas Hold 'Em
Perhaps Jeff Minter ought to consider making better, more playable games in order to bolster sales instead. Space Giraffe may be an interesting game, but it is hardly a universally playable game and Geometry Wars similar. Whereas, games like Worms and Bomberman are ultimately the same, but rejigged for the platform, making them a much more enjoyable and playable game... especially when factoring in multiplayer.
