Are we watching, folks?
I don't know how far back the Amazon.com sales figures look to determine sales rank (my guess is somewhere between 3 and 6 months), but out of curiosity, I browsed and found these numbers:
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide (4th Edition)
Sales Rank: 19,165 in books
About 11 months after its release
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3rd Edition)
Sales Rank: 18,737 in books
8 years after its initial release
D&D Player's Handbook (4th Edition)
Sales Rank: 3,114
1 year (actually 13 months) after release
D&D Gift Set (4th Edition): PH/DMG/MM
Sales Rank: 2,137
D&D Player's Handbook (3.5)
Sales Rank: 2,578
6 years after release
I don't know for sure what the numbers mean for the core rules--though it's got to be troubling to WotC that the 3.5 book is doing so well vs. raw sales of the lone PH (which is how you get people into the game, by some kid saying 'this is cool' and grabbing the Player's Handbook), but they cannot be happy that the FRCS is beating FRCG after all this time. It's a clear indication that the one book (and its design philosophy) is more popular than the other.
Food for thought...
Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide (4th Edition)
Sales Rank: 19,165 in books
About 11 months after its release
Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (3rd Edition)
Sales Rank: 18,737 in books
8 years after its initial release
D&D Player's Handbook (4th Edition)
Sales Rank: 3,114
1 year (actually 13 months) after release
D&D Gift Set (4th Edition): PH/DMG/MM
Sales Rank: 2,137
D&D Player's Handbook (3.5)
Sales Rank: 2,578
6 years after release
I don't know for sure what the numbers mean for the core rules--though it's got to be troubling to WotC that the 3.5 book is doing so well vs. raw sales of the lone PH (which is how you get people into the game, by some kid saying 'this is cool' and grabbing the Player's Handbook), but they cannot be happy that the FRCS is beating FRCG after all this time. It's a clear indication that the one book (and its design philosophy) is more popular than the other.
Food for thought...