On Launching Major Videogames Outside Xmas

Thanks to the Hollywood Reporter for its column discussing major videogames originally due to launch in time for Christmas 2003, but which didn't quite make it. In the course of discussing these titles, which include James Bond 007: Everything Or Nothing, the article notes: "Game publishers, in general, recognize that the Christmas rush... is a huge marketing problem. This past Christmas, they say, there were too many good games coming out at the same time and quite a few didn't sell well." A spokesperson for Microsoft elaborates on this: "My prediction is we'll be spreading out the releases and shipping some in early September and others in January and February of 2005... But we can only do that with really great games that can stand on their own." Is weak sales when launching outside the holiday season a genuine problem, or just a self-perpetuating myth?

Comments

Games

[mohhomad]

I'm still wondering when game companies will realize that the video game market is more like the movie industry than the toy industry. With movies they have the Christmas and the Summer season but they also release big movies throughout the year especially around holidays. It would be really nice if video game companies did this because as much as I might want all the latest games I can't afford them all at the same time and if I don't pick it up while it's fresh in my mind I tend to forget about it.

Re:Just release them when they're done!

[fireduck]

exactly.

Blizzard has never made a Christmas release and none of their game sales have hurt because of it. Every game they've released since Diablo has sold 1 million +. Closest they came to a Christmas release was the original Diablo, which shipped on Jan 4 (if i recall correctly). Next closest would be the D2 expansion, which went out in November.

I think the Christmas sales release is only for B titles that are easily lost in the sea of mediocrity...