Xbox has been selling big in recent months, despite the economic downturn and decreasing consumer spending. For Xbox 360 LIVE gamers, 2008 was the year of Halo 3, which was the top game, according to Microsoft’s Director of Programming for Xbox LIVE Harry Hryb, who announced the Top 20 LIVE Games of 2008 on majornelson.com.
Halo 3 was the best selling title of 2007, earning $170 million in its first day of availability. The first game, Halo: Combat Evolved, was released in 2001 and has since turned into a global phenomenon. Microsoft invested $10 million in the advertising campaign for Halo 3, which resulted in preorders totaling $1.7 million.
In addition to finding names such as Call of Duty 4, Grand Theft Auto IV, Gears of War and Gears of War 2, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Fable Ii or Madden NFL 09 in the top 20 LIVE titles, the strangest, unexpected presence is that of Too Human – Demo, which barely makes it to the top, just enough to close it.
The list also includes COD: World at War Multiplayer Beta, Battlefield: Bad Company Demo, and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Demo.
The most impressive thing about the list itself is that the top 2 selling titles, Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4, are still making headlines, despite being released in 2007. The top 5 is completed by last year’s sensation, GTA IV, followed by Gears of War 2 and Gears of War.
Grand Theft Auto IV was awarded the Best Game of the Year title at last year’s Spike Video Game Awards, after selling 2.5 million copies in its first week of availability, and 5.04 million units since its release.
Castle Crashers topped the Arcade Titles list, which also included UNO, DOOM, but also Worms, Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 and Marble Blast Ultra. Undoubtedly, oldies remain among gamers’ all-time favorites.
The Original Xbox Top Live Titles list is headed by Halo 2, followed by Fable, Star Wars: Battlefront 2, Counter-Strike and Fable: Lost Chapter. Call of Duty 2 and 3 also made the top 20, together with Doom 2, MechAssault and others (complete list available below).
Xbox 360 Top Live Titles (based on UUs):
- Halo 3
- Call of Duty 4
- GTA IV
- Gears of War 2
- Gears of War
- COD: World at War
- Guitar Hero III
- Battlefield: Bad Company Demo
- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Demo
- Rock Band
- Fable II
- Mirror’s Edge Demo
- Madden NFL 09
- BF: Bad Company
- Rainbow Six Vegas 2
- UNO
- Castle Crashers
- COD: World at War Multiplayer Beta
- Forza Motorsport 2
- Too Human – Demo
Top Arcade Titles – Full Versions Purchased:
- Castle Crashers
- Geometry Wars: Retro Evolved 2
- Braid
- A Kingdom for Keflings
- UNO
- Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix
- Fable II Pub Games
- Duke Nukem 3D
- Bionic Commando: Rearmed
- Worms
- SOULCALIBUR
- Portal: Still Alive
- DOOM
- 1942: Joint Strike
- Bomberman Live
- MEGA MAN 9
- N+
- Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3
- Marble Blast Ultra
- Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3
Original Xbox Top Live Titles (based on UUs):
- Halo 2
- Fable
- Star Wars: Battlefront 2
- Counter-Strike
- Fable: Lost Chapters
- Doom 3
- Conker: Live Reloaded
- Splinter Cell Chaos
- SW: KOTOR
- SW: Republic Commando
- Star Wars: Battlefront
- Burnout 3
- Guilty Gear XX Reload
- Gauntlet Seven Sorrows
- Call of Duty 3
- Ninja Gaiden Black
- Crimson Skies
- MechAssault 2
- Call of Duty 2
- Rainbow Six 3