Scoff all you like, but the Zumba Fitness series of games has danced itself to over 6 million in sales. Majesco just announced the staggering sales figure as part of their year end financial report. When we’d last heard from them in August last year, that figure stood at 3 million, and according to Majesco sales of Zumba Fitness 2 sits at 1 million – meaning that the first game alone has found its way in to 5 million homes.
Compare that to some AAA blockbusters, and it doesn’t quite paint a pretty picture for hardcore gamers.
According to VGChartz (not exactly known for pinpoint accuracy, but good for ballpark figures) the pretty good Resistance 3 has sold less than a million units globally.Turn 10’s racer Forza 4? It’s done less than two million (hardly taking the crown, is it?). Dark Souls, FROM Software’s brutally difficult, but excellent Dark Souls has managed 1.33 million across both platforms. The first BioShock, a game everybody should play, has sold fewer than 4 million copies world wide. I weep.
With this sort of success, it’s no wonder gaming publishers are so keen on exergaming. Following Sony’s Eye Toy Kinectic in 2005, there’s been a steady increase in the genre, but since Nintendo’s Wii Fit, it’s just been madness. We’ve got EA Sports Active, Ubisoft’s Your shape Evolved, UFC Personal Trainer and a whole bunch of other titles to help fat people feel better about themselves. And then very, very sore and tired.
Of course, we’ll be getting even more from the dance-yourself-skinny series; this time for Kinect.
“This high-quality experience built for Kinect for Xbox 360 offers a wealth of exclusive content to fans, and then delivers even more post launch with multiple game add-on packs,” Majesco CEO Jesse Sutton said of Zumba Fitness Rush for Kinect. “The February 13 launch of Rush is the company’s largest integrated marketing program to date, and we are thrilled to have Microsoft’s support around the world to bring this exceptional product to market.”
Here’s a trailer. Expect more of this in the future.
Zumba Fitness Rush for Kinect hits stores in February.
Last Updated: January 19, 2012
