It was a ”huge risk”; a new IP also trying to ‘mature’ the Wii audience - it reviewed well but sold poorly. Think ”very very carefully” with ‘hardcore Wii titles now.
”Going back 12 to 18 months when we released those titles, it was a risk,” said SEGA West marketing and sales VP, Alan Pritchard. ”Nintendo was supportive of the strategy. There was an intent to take the Wii console a little older, and make a more core machine.”
”So games like MadWorld, House of the Dead and The Conduit fit that strategy. House of the Dead is a more established and casual franchise, and that did very well. Conduit 2 is getting a good buzz.” Madworld sadly didn’t pick up commercially.
”It was a huge risk that we really believed in at the time, but the title did not sell well,” Pritchard continued. “Was it on the wrong platform? I don’t know. Would it have done better on 360 or PS3? Possibly.” They’re much more careful with ‘Wii hardcore’ now.
”I think we will look at some of those slightly more risky type opportunities, but very very carefully. We’ve still got high hopes for Conduit 2,” added Pritchard. Conduit 2 releases for Nintendo Wii in February, and House Of The Dead: Overkill is in development.
