Zelda Pre-orders Hit 250,000

[GameKinG]

It seems the zelda bonus has already boosted the games chance at success in a huge way. The deal has yet to even start officialy with little advertising except print ads and already hit 250,000 orders. So, if you really want that disc but have yet to pre-order, you better grab it while you can.

I know the store I preorderd at only alloted 100 pre-orders per game, and I was #112. I had to find a different store...:(

But I did...

February 13, 2003 - Nintendo of America today announced that more than 250,000 gamers in the US have already pre-ordered its anticipated action-adventure Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. That figure is made all the more impressive, according to the publisher, because it's official pre-sell program for the game has yet to start.
Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker follows child hero Link on an all-new epic quest, this time to rescue his kidnapped sister. The game's unique cel-shaded style mingles with traditional play mechanics and never-before-seen additions to the franchise. Wind Waker has repeatedly garnered high praise by the press and Japanese importers alike and is considered to be one of the most important releases of the year.

Nintendo said that on February 16 it would kick off the official pre-sell program for the next chapter in the Zelda series. The firm reiterated that with a deposit for the game at participating retailers, consumers would immediately receive a bonus disc that includes both Ocarina of Time and Master Quest Zelda games free of charge to "keep them busy" until the March 24 release of Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.

"This truly is Zelda cubed! Two impressive Zelda games, leading to the highly anticipated new Zelda adventure, for the price of one and only for Nintendo GameCube," said George Harrison, senior vice president, marketing and corporate communications, Nintendo of America. "What better way to celebrate the forthcoming release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker than to give Zelda fans a collectors item that will provide a nostalgic or for some, a classic introduction to the series."

We'll have much more on Zelda in the coming weeks. Stay tuned.


IGNcube

[Dyne]

Well, that's great news. I hope it's as successful as the previous ones; that will definitely get the gamecube back on track.

[ominub]

damn thats good

[TheGame]

Not even close to GTA:VC... but good :)

[Jonbo298]

*sigh*Here we go again with comparing GTA to everything. But thats really good considering it has yet to even start yet. And with almost everyone getting their pre-order disc now, word will spread on the street and people will go and pre-order it. I can't guess an estimate of how many pre-orders will be made, but I'm hoping at least another 100,000 pre-orders before it is released.

[GameKinG]

Yes or how about the 4 million+ for Warcraft 3...

[TheGame]

Originally posted by Jonbo298
*sigh*Here we go again with comparing GTA to everything.

lol, you act as if people have been doing it for years. GTA:VC isn't even a year old, so it's very much in the present. It's like when peope sed to compare Pokemon to everyting.... but the last pokeon game came out how long ago?

[Joeiss]

Originally posted by TheGame
lol, you act as if people have been doing it for years. GTA:VC isn't even a year old, so it's very much in the present. It's like when peope sed to compare Pokemon to everyting.... but the last pokeon game came out how long ago?


Oh so true.

[Perfect Stu]

that's quite good for a Gamecube game...does anyone know how many preorders other big games received...like SMS, for example?

[Xantar]

Considering that it's not exactly the kind of game that would be really doing well in the U.S., I was surprised. Maybe it'll even have a decent launch.

I'm expecting sales to drop precipitously in the second week, though.

[Jonbo298]

I meant as in either of the GTA games. I didn't just specify GTA:VC. Maybe I should just stop posting at GT for a week so that you people can have a "happy week":rolleyes:

[Jason1]

Originally posted by Jonbo298
I meant as in either of the GTA games. I didn't just specify GTA:VC. Maybe I should just stop posting at GT for a week so that you people can have a "happy week":rolleyes:

No johnbo dont! We fanboys must hold strong! Even with the onslaught of GTA and HALO! and

X-BOX! That one's for you bond! X-BOX

:rolleyes:

[GameKinG]

Yes, I think Nintendo knows that this type of game doesnt normaly see much success. It was smart to sweaten the deal.

[Heyyoudvd]

Originally posted by GameKinG
Yes or how about the 4 million+ for Warcraft 3...



That was the number of copies sent to all the retailers originally - not the number pre-ordered by consumers.

People often confuse these.

The same thing happened with Splinter Cell. 1.1 million copies were ordered by retailers originally, and right away, the false rumour spread that consumers had pre-ordered 1.1 million copies of the game in the US (which was simply completely untrue).


These numbers for Zelda (250 000) are NOT the number of orders from retailers, rather the number of pre-orders by consumers, and like it says, the official pre-sell time period hasn't even begun yet.

[GameKinG]

Yes, I know about the SC thing.

[Gamer]

Originally posted by Heyyoudvd
That was the number of copies sent to all the retailers originally - not the number pre-ordered by consumers.

People often confuse these.

The same thing happened with Splinter Cell. 1.1 million copies were ordered by retailers originally, and right away, the false rumour spread that consumers had pre-ordered 1.1 million copies of the game in the US (which was simply completely untrue).


These numbers for Zelda (250 000) are NOT the number of orders from retailers, rather the number of pre-orders by consumers, and like it says, the official pre-sell time period hasn't even begun yet.

True enough.

[TheGame]

Originally posted by Jonbo298
I meant as in either of the GTA games. I didn't just specify GTA:VC. Maybe I should just stop posting at GT for a week so that you people can have a "happy week":rolleyes:

And your point? I was the one comparing GTA:VC's preorerd to it, and you replied to my comment. So you had to be talking about GTA:VC... Also, GTA3's preorders aren't even compareable to Zelda's. GTA3 broke no new ground in pre-orders.

[Shadow_Link]

Originally posted by TheGame
And your point? I was the one comparing GTA:VC's preorerd to it, and you replied to my comment. So you had to be talking about GTA:VC... Also, GTA3's preorders aren't even compareable to Zelda's. GTA3 broke no new ground in pre-orders.

Actually, from what I know, OoT still holds the record for most number of 'consumer' preorders (around 350,000 preorders in the US?), and it looks as though TWW could beat it...

Feel free to correct me if what I've said in this post is wrong :D.

[ZeroCool51]

i bought zelda

[surfin4lifer]

Originally posted by TheGame
Not even close to GTA:VC... but good :)

Well according to IGN from this quote Nintendo hasn't even officially started taking pre-orders. this is just the companies doing it.

That figure is made all the more impressive, according to the publisher, because it's official pre-sell program for the game has yet to start.

http://cube.ign.com/articles/386/386075p1.html

[Perfect Stu]

Originally posted by Shadow_Link
Actually, from what I know, OoT still holds the record for most number of 'consumer' preorders (around 350,000 preorders in the US?), and it looks as though TWW could beat it...

Feel free to correct me if what I've said in this post is wrong :D.

I can guaruntee you that Vice City had more than 350,000 preorders in the United States. Whether that changes anything, I don't know...

[Joeiss]

Originally posted by surfin4lifer
Well according to IGN from this quote Nintendo hasn't even officially started taking pre-orders. this is just the companies doing it.



What does that mean? Like, Nintendo has not started advertising for WW or something?

[GameKinG]

Nintendo hasnt advertised the pre-order deal. They have shipped signs to stores now, and online stores were quick to make their own ads, but mostly word of mouth has sold it so far.

[Jason1]

Im still waiting patiently from my call from babbages...well, maybe not so patiently...(ask DeathsHand). Im going out there and picking it up tomorrow wether they call me or not.

[ZebraRampage]

Originally posted by Xantar
Considering that it's not exactly the kind of game that would be really doing well in the U.S., I was surprised. Maybe it'll even have a decent launch.

I'm expecting sales to drop precipitously in the second week, though.

It is probably doing so well in the U.S. because you get the Master Quest Disc if you preorder it. I bet you anything that that is the reason.

[GameKinG]

Originally posted by ZebraRampage
It is probably doing so well in the U.S. because you get the Master Quest Disc if you preorder it. I bet you anything that that is the reason.

Well duh. I mean there isnt any way to actually prove people really want TWW (like me), but I think its safe to say most anybody will give it a second chance when they see its 3 for the price of one.

[DeathsHand]

Originally posted by GameKinG
but I think its safe to say most anybody will give it a second chance when they see its 3 for the price of one.

Well it's probably more like 2.5... And 1 of them is almost 5 years old, and some people might still have it...

soo... yeah... :sneaky:

[Gamer]

I think that just the fact that you can play that awsome game on Gamecube, and also get a upgraded version of it draws people to it, o and not to mention that it is free...:D

[viruscool]

I'd still buy the game if you didnt get the free disk, but some people just need a little proding into getting it so i think its a great thing for nintendo to do.
:GC: :Nintendo: :link2:

[Gamer]

Originally posted by viruscool
I'd still buy the game if you didnt get the free disk, but some people just need a little proding into getting it so i think its a great thing for nintendo to do.
:GC: :Nintendo: :link2:

Yeah, i would still buy the game too, even if it didnt come with the bonus, but like you said, lots of people need incentive, and this just helps them out.

[Crono]

I thought of something... Nintendo should start offering more pre-order bonuses similar to this one. It would help the sales of the game. Imagine if they had a pre-order bonus for the next Mario game, but instead it included Super Mario 64... that would be really cool, and I'm sure a lot of people would pre-order.

[Jason1]

Not a bad Idea...but I wonder if the amount of extra people that pre-order offset the cost of making the discs...because I doubt they would do it if they didnt feel it profitable. But yea, Id sure as hell buy.

[GameKinG]

Im sure it wouldnt cost too much...

[Crash]

i was thinking mario kart should have unlockable mario kart 64... if it was a preorder, i would die a happy man.

[BreakABone]

Originally posted by Crash
i was thinking mario kart should have unlockable mario kart 64... if it was a preorder, i would die a happy man.

Maybe they could have Mario Kart: Super Circuit connect with Mario Kart GCN and you can unlock the original Mario Kart ala Metroid Prime/Fusion connection and maybe an extra character or 2.

[Shadow_Link]

Originally posted by BreakABone
Maybe they could have Mario Kart: Super Circuit connect with Mario Kart GCN and you can unlock the original Mario Kart ala Metroid Prime/Fusion connection and maybe an extra character or 2.

But aren't all the racing tracks from the original MK already in MK:SC? (Bar the obstacles)...