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Where Did the Games Go?
Gamaroo writes "EuroGamer.net has up an interesting editorial by Kristan Reed in regards to the lack of hits that result from so many game releases near the Christmas shopping season, and the resulting post-Xmas lull. As Reed stated, 'Note to publishers; we can't afford to buy 20 games in the run up to Christmas. Even 10 would be a struggle, and the truth is gamers are forced to play safe and go for the games they know are going to be good.' He goes on to state that, 'Of the eight or so games that Microsoft put out exclusively on Xbox, just one of them (Project Gotham Racing 2) actually sold in decent numbers. Of Sony's extensive line up, literally all of them flopped; leaving its summer hit Eye Toy: Play to fly the flag for its first party strategy.'" It's worth noting that the editorial refers to the UK charts/sales figures, so Xmas release dates differed somewhat from the States.
Ahh /. effect.
Anyway, it's simple supply and demand. When you have 100 games all released for Christmas, it's not surprising that the huge supply and lower demand causes losses. Of course for that one game that outsells the best, maybe it's worth losses on other titles. Let's not also forget that a lot of titles just plain suck or are retreads. I can't tell which industry has suffered more from sequelitis, the movie industry or the video game industry.
Perhaps the gaming industry will soon look like the film industry. There will be lots of releases from a range of game makers (from indies to EA) with a range of budgets -- some will be massively profitable, others will seem to sell well but not make up for their big budgets, others might sell poorly but be profitable for a small india game maker, and some will just suck. Games that do well will get sequels and mechandising tie-ins. Games that do poorly will dissappear or be relegated to second tier channels like the "free" games that might come with a console or the games you can buy for the price of shipping and handling from mail-order computer places.
Personally, I suspect that the game industry is maturing and diversifying into categories for different age groups and interests. The result will be lots of little hits (e.g., the best selling game for preteens) along with an occassional category-crossing megahit.
Its not a matter of how many releases are hits, but how many releases make enough money to pay back the development costs.
Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
In the past 3 months (December, January, February) I think I've gotten 7 new games.
This is actually a huge number of games, when my goal is to 'finish' each of them. Of those 7, I think I've finished 2, gotten a good way through 2 others, and barely touched the other 3.
AND- I've got some other big games coming soon (namely Splinter Cell 2 this month, Rallisport Challenge in May).
When you add in Xbox live, and XSN replayability- the games each have far more playability than ever before. Pretty soon I'll need to quit my job just to keep up with the new game releases.
No reason to lie.
Where did the games go?
They left with the heros, the cowboys, and the left socks.
One bad monkey spoils the whole barrel.
In fact, it's weird, the availability of games seems pretty much the same all year round.
God Bless America. Why? Did it sneeze?
I have to agree with the article. There are so many times out of the year that I am waiting for my next gaming fix to come along. I remember last year, when Knights Of The Old Republic (xbox) Came out... it looked good, and there was nothing else really new, so I bought it. And boy was I not dissapointed. But if it had come out around Christmas, I probably wouldn't have given it a second look as I was all hyped about buying Arx Fatalis for the xbox and SSX3 along with the new Tony Hawk. (On the other hand, I'm wishing that another game around the same time as KotOR had come out at the end of the year.. Pirates of the Caribean (xbox).. what a dog). I don't know how many times I've gone into a video game store, jonesing for something new, just to walk out feeling dissapointed. I know it doesn't make sense, but I am sure that a lot of the games I never gave a second look at around Christmas would have been welcomed purchaces most any other time. I know they are still the same game, but it just doesn't feel the same if they have been out awhile. (And yes, I know it is completely irrational, but I am sure I am not the only one affect with this "Shiny New Game" disorder.)