Welcome to the QSF5.com ‘Exclusives Watch 2009′ Revision 1.0!

Here it is: the final update of 2009 and probably the final Exclusives Watch for me.

As always this feature will answer these two questions:

Who has the most exclusives?
Who has the most quality exclusives?

With the new year, I’ve made a few predictions:

1. The number of third party disc based retail exclusives will dwindle between the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
2. The number of third party Wii exclusives will drop a bit, but the quality will improve overall.
3. Sony’s PlayStation 3 will continue maintain the quality over quantity mantra for its exclusives.
4. Number of downloadable exclusive titles will rise for all platforms.

Let’s see how I did.

1. Fewer and fewer exclusives from third parties. The most notable exclusive comes from an exclusive deal forged back in the early days of this console generation with the GTAIV expansions episodes.
2. I was wrong about this one. So many more third party exclusives were delivered this year.
3. I was right with the PlayStation 3 quality of exclusives.
4. I was right about this, but only for Nintendo’s WiiWare.

With that, I hope you find this article to be both useful and enlightening. If you notice any missing/incorrect info, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment.

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Hardware

1. Nintendo DS – 1, 700, 000
2. Wii – 1, 260, 000
3. Xbox 360 – 819, 500
4. PlayStation 3 – 710, 400
5. PSP – 293, 900
6. PlayStation 2 – 203, 100

Software

1. 360 – CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 – 4, 200, 000
2. PS3 – CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 2 – 1, 870, 000
3. Wii -NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. WII – 1, 390, 000
4. 360 – ASSASSIN’S CREED II – 794, 700
5. 360 – LEFT 4 DEAD 2 – 744, 000
6. WII SPORTS RESORT – 720, 200
7. WII FIT PLUS – 679, 000
8. PS3 – ASSASSIN’S CREED II – 448, 400
9. 360 – DRAGON AGE: ORIGINS – 362, 100
10. Wii – MARIO KART W/ WHEEL – 315, 000

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* For one console SKU

Nintendo of America’s Reggie is a fun guy. He likes to make wagers, poke fun and pimp the hell out of his products. This is his latest wager:

New Super Mario Bros. Wii will outsell Modern Warfare 2 on one platform by the end of this holiday season.

Is it possible for them to pull this off? I think so. This is a 2-D side scrolling Mario game for the Wii. It’s very accessible and it has mass market appeal. I think it could outsell the PS3 version of Modern Warfare 2 by the end of this holiday season, but not the Xbox 360’s. That version has Walmart backing it with its latest ad work. I don’t see that kind of advertising for Super Mario Bros. Wii — at least not yet anyway.

I tried hard not to talk about Modern Warfare 2 this week, but how can I resist NPD sales related talk like this? I promise, no more MW2 talk for the rest of the week.

Just how successful is the Nintendo DS? Is it successful enough to become a home console replacement? Nintendo could be testing that theory with the Nintendo DSi LL (or XL for the rest of the world).

It’s essentially a Nintendo DSi, but bigger in every regard; a bigger screen (4.2 inch vs 3.25 inch from DSi), a pen sized stylus and even longer battery life. This is the DSi for your home as Nintendo so aptly portrays on their official website. I suggest you all explore the site if you wish to see some comparisons.

I can’t say that I’m against this addition to the DS product line because for some people, this makes sense. Their DS never leaves the home and they would like to have a bigger screen — even if it means stretching that 256 x 192 resolution onto 4.2 inches screens. Just hold it further away I guess.

The Japanese release is just weeks away on November 21^st while North America and Europe will be receiving these extra large DSi’s in early 2010.

A Toys R Us ad from the United States seems to be pointing towards that.

If the ad (pictured above) is to be believed (which at this point, I don’t see why not), the Wii will be getting a $50 USD price cut which brings the MSRP down to $199.99 USD. As for the target date of this price cut? Around the last week of September/first week of October.

The question I have is, what will that mean for Canadians?

At the moment, the Canadian MSRP sits at $279.99 CAD. When (not if) we receive a price cut in Canada, will we reach parity with U.S? Sony priced their console at $199.99 for both countries, will Nintendo follow suit?

I would hope so. Nintendo was kind enough to shave off $20 from the Nintendo DSi price tag, so why not the Wii?

It’s time for another installment of…

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Announcements

• Sony Announces and Then Pulls Troublesome In-Game Ad From Wipeout HD (via Edge-online)
• Left4Dead Crash Course DLC Announced (via Gaming-Age)
  • Includes new single player, multiplayer and co-op gameplay
  • Takes place between “No Mercy” and “Death Toll” campaigns
  • Multiplayer Versus additions and tweaks included
  • Releasing in September via Xbox Live! (560 MS Points) and Steam (Free!)

Miscellaneous

• Nintendo DSi Sales Top 3 million in Japan (via Edge-Online)