Braid is highest rated XBLA game ever, around 28.5K units sold
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Aug 11th 2008 at 5:00PM }
Additionally, the official Braid blog reports that the VGChartz estimate that the game has sold about 28.5 thousand units "seems to be in the right neighborhood" but adds that "a lot more" will be needed before the game becomes profitable.
What's the big deal about Braid? Find out in our X3F Insight feature: Why should we care about Braid?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
cancer bat @ Aug 11th 2008 5:10PM
Good to see that braid is getting the sucess it deserves of one the most original games i have ever played the story is deep and emotional and each person who plays it will take it there own way some may understand it some not Braid is truly outstanding game and truly games can be art by this
GallowGlass @ Aug 11th 2008 5:14PM
I am stoked that Braid is doing this well. I was hesitant to step out and pick it up due to the pricepoint I am now glad that I did. It is a great game that is deserving of the kudos. I only wish the demo did more to represent just how challenging the game really is.
joey @ Aug 11th 2008 5:17PM
This game is sick, in more ways than you can imagine.
ozkir @ Aug 11th 2008 5:20PM
math time... 28.5k * 15 = 427.5 K, I wonder what it cost to make. and what they're defining as profitable
AoE @ Aug 11th 2008 5:47PM
Keep in mind Blow's not the only mouth to feed. Uncle MS needs their cut too. His, if memory serves (after the recent developer royalty cut) is about 45%. So that means instead of 427.5 K The developer is seeing closer to 192.3 K. And that's not including fees for certification, software licenses, etc. that went into the development of the game. And don't forget there were a couple of other people involved beside Blow. At least 2 different artists? Maybe others, I haven't looked at the credits yet. Anyhow, they all need to be paid too... He probably needs to sell at least 2x what has been sold so far to make a decent profit.
Yamagushi @ Aug 11th 2008 5:21PM
Am I the only person looking at this, seeing all the hub-bub this games getting and going wtf? No offense but this game looks mediocre at best, no better than any of the other xbla titles that nobody's ever heard of... The only difference I see is this game has been getting hype from all the big sites causing ppl to think things like "OMGawd X3f thinkz its hawt so i must buys it!". Just cause its selling dont make it a good game...
Richard Mitchell @ Aug 11th 2008 5:26PM
You say it "looks" mediocre. Have you played it?
Maverick Saturn @ Aug 11th 2008 5:30PM
Same question that popped into my head
Digital Limit @ Aug 11th 2008 5:31PM
Heh, are you crying conspiracy theory, here?
Xoviet chiK @ Aug 11th 2008 5:34PM
Why would he have played it, it's not like there is a free demo available that allows you to play the entire first world and sample a tid-bit of a few others...
What a world we would be living in if there were such a demo.
Seriously mate, the only people calling it mediocre are people who have never played it. Do yourself a favor and download the demo (yes... it actually exists!). You do have an Xbox 360 and broadband internet access yes?
Shogan @ Aug 11th 2008 5:38PM
You aren't the only one. I played it and still don't get the endless hype.
Etchasketchist @ Aug 11th 2008 5:39PM
No, you are not the "only person looking at this, seeing all the hub-bub this games getting and going wtf?". There are actually many others just like you.
webster1990 @ Aug 11th 2008 5:47PM
Yeah i played through the demo and thought it was poo. I played the demo again after reading all the hype about it on X3F and still thought it was poo, i don't understand why people are raving about it.
Yeah sure it looks pretty but so did Assasins Creed and that game was boring as hell also.
Richard Mitchell @ Aug 11th 2008 5:59PM
As long as people have actually tried it, I'm cool with them not liking it. I just read a lot of disparaging comments from people who sound like they haven't actually played it.
PeacefulOutrage @ Aug 11th 2008 6:12PM
If you can get all of the puzzle pieces in the demo (something like all of world 2, 1 on world 3 and 3 on world 4) then I'd say at least you tried. If you don't get the last 2 puzzle pieces on world 2, then I think you didn't get the point because up until that point it's just a beautiful below-average platformer.
willliam @ Aug 11th 2008 7:25PM
i agree with your comment all Braid is a Yoshi story rip off
Xoviet chiK @ Aug 11th 2008 7:47PM
William, either you haven't played Yoshi's Story or you haven't played Braid. Which is it?
Oh, Braid... right. You obviously don't get Braid. It is not a platformer so much as it is an action-puzzle game with platforms and jumping.
andre @ Aug 11th 2008 7:26PM
I dont know why ppl like this game.
Leobebes @ Aug 11th 2008 7:32PM
Explain thoroughly why YOU don't like this game?
Legendtaker117 @ Aug 11th 2008 7:34PM
I don't know why people don't like this game.
andre @ Aug 11th 2008 9:56PM
Its basically a water-colored, Mario rip off. This game took about 3 or 4 different games and just blended them together.
Hey Apples @ Aug 11th 2008 5:27PM
Honestly, I didn't understand the hype. But after watching a friend pick up the demo, I was impressed.
The art style and gameplay mechanics are beautiful. And it's a thinking man's game type of game... something woefully absent on the 360.
Simon @ Aug 11th 2008 5:31PM
I am too glad I bought Braid. I hesistated when it was priced at 1200MS points, but am really glad I went for it.
I think this is one of those game I'll remember forever, like Sonic, Golden Axe, Streets of Rage, MGS, and Shenmue etc etc. It will be one of those games that burns into your memory for the rest of your life, trust me :)
Fire Fawkes @ Aug 11th 2008 5:34PM
Alright X3F...you win. After Madden Tomorrow and Castle Crashers later in the month, I will plop the cash down on Braid. I didn't dig the demo, but from what I've heard, it's too good to miss. (Plus I got a couple 1600 point cards for $15 at target today, that helps)
ericdrum @ Aug 11th 2008 6:17PM
I'm still holding out until 800. Sorry.
Aeikozz @ Aug 11th 2008 5:48PM
i swear if i see this game pop up in the damn head lines again, i don't care how low the price goes I'm never unlocking it.
offday @ Aug 11th 2008 5:54PM
I wish UPS would bring my FREAKING XBOX. Seriously. My Xbox dies, and when it does here comes Geometry Wars 2 and Braid. Just my freaking luck.
Leobebes @ Aug 11th 2008 5:56PM
I don't understand what is so divisive about this game. Those in support usually respond in a well reasoned tone with many details expressing the delight of this game while those who detest or think its mediocre.
If you dislike this game please explain why in a respectful and mature manner. Be thorough too. Are some of you geniuses with an IQ over 150 where every puzzle was a breeze and the game ended in under 1 hour for you? Because I literally spent at least 30 minutes on each level it was very challenging for me but gratifying as well?
Answers please, I want to understand the divisiveness beyond the whole "this game looks like crap durrrrrrrrr"
ZenGaijin @ Aug 11th 2008 6:13PM
I don't find the art style to pleasing first off. I respect the game for trying to be different but I don't like its painting style.
The platforming action is also very bland (though I've been told that this isn't the games focus). The puzzles I thought were clever but nothing worth writing home about (at least whats shown in the demo).
I think the most important factor for me was when I was playing the game I wasn't having fun. Its nothing against the people who love Braid but I just don't like it.
Leobebes @ Aug 11th 2008 7:29PM
ZenGaijin;
Thanks for responding, but I recall you weren't that impressed with the game even before its release. So you might have had your mind made up on Braid for whatever reason.
Also you don't like the art of the game. I hear many people say that. What is it that you don't like about it. As someone who has taken many art studies classes and I feel I have an appreciation of good art.
When you start Braid the title screen is pretty beautiful. I know that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but few games that I have played match the ambitious approach to art direction like Braid did. The impressionist backgrounds were a nice touch to a sea of games with drab color palettes.
The majority of the puzzles were very clever. The one in the demo where you had to *spoiler* use the bridge in the puzzle I thought was fantastic game design, if you don't share my opinion then you are one smart mofo and should leave gaming behind because your intellect is far beyond that of pop culture game enthusiast. The puzzles were challenging to me, and they really gave me satisfaction that I have lacked as a gamer from all the so called next gen games.
Shogan @ Aug 11th 2008 8:44PM
I downloaded the demo, played the game, and I just did not enjoy it. Honestly. I wouldn't have bought it for $5, it just did nothing for me.
MANY other people did the same and loved it, and that's cool. But the divisiveness is coming more from people acting like something must be wrong with people who don't think it's the greatest game of all time.
Andrew @ Aug 11th 2008 10:19PM
I do not like puzzle games. The game is beautiful and all that, but I do not enjoy the process of figuring out a solution to a puzzle. When it took me more than 10 minutes to figure out how to do the first puzzle in World 2 I got bored. That is why I did not buy this game.
ZenGaijin @ Aug 11th 2008 10:28PM
When I first saw Braid and saw all the the praise it was getting before its release and saw how everyone was excited about it I wondered what the buzz was about.
Before I played the game all I had to judge the game on was the screenshots (of the art style I didn't like) and gameplay videos. Both of which don't really do much to explain what Braid is about. It much more than that I can say having now played Braid.
The art style I find weird the main character and enemies look odd to me. The main character looks like he just stepped out of a finishing school in Europe. The backgrounds are ok but in my opinion are nothing to write home about. The things I see in Braid I've seen other places so they don't amaze me as much as they might everyone else. Another example of a beautiful art style was Okami a game I love and was simply breath taking in motion.
The puzzles are clever and the one assembling the puzzle pieces to make a platform for you to access another piece was surprising. I've played Intelligent Cube and been up screaming at the screen trying to complete that game so I understand the "Ah ha" moment when everything clicks and you figure it out.
When I play braid I'm not blow away like everyone else is, its just as someone said "Another game".
Slestak @ Aug 11th 2008 10:39PM
Needs more space marines.
Tony Bowman @ Aug 11th 2008 5:59PM
not surprised, considering HOW IMPORTANT THIS GAME IS.
or at least, that's what the gaming blogs are insisting all over the tubes.
MrMuggs @ Aug 11th 2008 6:03PM
X3F is beating me into submission. I guess I'll buy the game but if I'm not 100% satisfied I'm blaming X3F and holding you guys responsible. BTW, I played the demo and thought it was fun but I wasn't sure if it was worth spending more time playing...
AoE @ Aug 11th 2008 6:42PM
If, for some bizzaro reason you find yourself unable to enjoy/appreciate Braid after buying it... I suspect you'll find with a bit of reflection that there are far, FAR worse ways that you've blown $15. ;)
That being said, personally I think the game is deserving of all the praise. And to be fair, I went into it thinking it was going to be super over-rated.
Greg @ Aug 11th 2008 6:08PM
The game is good but that price tag is way too high for that game. Should be 600 to 800 points. Will wait for a lower price tag before buying. The problem I have with downloading games like this is you cant sell them. When I beat games I like to get some money back when I am done.
AoE @ Aug 11th 2008 6:47PM
The trade-off is that they cost a lot less than if they were in stores. Keep in mind no physical media = lower costs (I hate to tell you, but most arcade games would clock in around $30 if they got retail releases). Also, if you have cable/satellite tv, and/or internet service, you're already familiar with exchanging money for something that's not tangible.
It seems extremely strange and arbitrary that you'd avoid buying a great game purely because you cannot resell it later; to each his own though I suppose.
ScallionN @ Aug 11th 2008 6:11PM
Played the demo before reading the wave of hype...
Jesus, are people so enamored by Super Mario Meets Princes of Persia:The Sands of Time? Blow tacks on a narrative that was probably inspired by a breakup, and it's somehow the height of interactive entertainment? Give me a break. The only thing that really stood out was the title screen, or the lack thereof. It was clever. The sprites were nice too, I guess, but I didn't like the art style that much.
toolshuggah @ Aug 11th 2008 6:15PM
Deservingly so. This game is a true work of art. And more than a few times figuring out a puzzle made me say "wow" out loud.
This game will become a classic, no doubt
Arnon @ Aug 11th 2008 6:31PM
This is awesome! This game is worthy of being a retail game.
Brian @ Aug 11th 2008 7:24PM
Far and above the best XBLA release to date. I can't wait to see Castle Crashers. (Duke and Doom don't count... not XBLA originals)
Aero @ Aug 11th 2008 7:33PM
Okay, let me get this out of the way first. I love Braid, I'm one of the people rallying behind it.
But come on, it's not better then Mass Effect.
Leobebes @ Aug 11th 2008 7:38PM
I don't think anyone is comparing it to Mass Effect, but one could argue that pound for pound this game is better.
Just because its a shorter game, it did take you from one emotional spectrum to the next in a fulfilling way. Instead of taking you on that journey in 30+ hours of gameplay in Mass Effect, Braid did it in 6 hours.
I think that is what people who love Braid are saying.
Ben! @ Aug 11th 2008 7:43PM
This is such a strange thing to say. The game is nothing like Mass Effect. It has nothing to do with Mass Effect. You might have enjoyed Mass Effect more (for the record, I enjoyed Braid more) but to compare them and say one is better than the other is really weird to me.
Aero @ Aug 11th 2008 9:39PM
I'm only comparing it to Mass Effect in reply to the fact it's ahead of it on Metacritic.
emirabal @ Aug 11th 2008 7:39PM
well deserved
mrsmoke @ Aug 11th 2008 7:57PM
ok ok ok ok , please stop talking about this game..
enough !!!!!! its a good game , and nothing more than that. Are you guys getting paid by the developers or what ? lets talk about a muuuuuch better game called Bionic Commando , that's coming in 2 days. I hope after that, Braid is past.
Dirty Whirlwind @ Aug 11th 2008 8:10PM
Regardless if you're in favor for the art style or not the game mechanics alone makes up for it. This game works well without the art just as it was shown during a event around two years ago. Personally I think it looks stunning, one of a kind, alright if you don't. The strange part to me however seems to be that everyone badmouthing this game is doing so mostly based on the art style, like there's nothing more to it.
I think the review speaks for them selfs, this is really an awesome game. I usually illuminate different opinions but in this case I feel safe to say that this is more or less a fact. Braid is a great game and the fifteen dollar tag should not be a barrier for anyone who likes games. Braid really is at the peak of gaming.