The PS3 almost certainly got its boost from the three new games in the top 10. Nice performance, I can't remember if that's ever happened before. Though: Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Spec III? They've released a goddamn demo for the game three times now? Yeesh.
Though the 360 kept its boosted numbers. Likewise, the PSP is still doing very good despite the DSi launch.
Did you even read my post? The PS3's boost would've been because of the 80GB SKU's release, which was on the 30th of October. GTAIV, LBP and GT5 Prologue Spec III would've helped, they didn't do nearly well enough to boost PS3 sales by 32k units.
As for GT5P Spec III, it's a limited edition version that's only being released in bundles (though I've no clue why it shows up on Media Create's list). And they haven't released it 3 times, they've had 2 major patches to the game or is that bad?
How could you hate company that has said its strategy is to grind yearly sequels for its popular IPs until there is nothing else left than dust? Here is what Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said about why they dropped so many of Vivendi's IPs:
“(those titles) don’t have the potential to be exploited every year on every platform with clear sequel potential and have the potential to become $100 million dollar franchises. … I think, generally, our strategy has been to focus… on the products that have those attributes and characteristics, the products that we know [that] if we release them today, we’ll be working on them 10 years from now. …You still need to have production of new original property but you have to do it very selectively… the focus at retail and for the consumer is to continue to be o the big narrow and deep high profile release strategy… We’ve had enough experience that I think the strategy we employ is the most successful.”
How could you hate company that has said its strategy is to grind yearly sequels for its popular IPs. Here is what Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said about why they dropped so many of Vivendi's IPs:
“(those titles) don’t have the potential to be exploited every year on every platform with clear sequel potential and have the potential to become $100 million dollar franchises. … I think, generally, our strategy has been to focus… on the products that have those attributes and characteristics, the products that we know [that] if we release them today, we’ll be working on them 10 years from now. …You still need to have production of new original property but you have to do it very selectively… the focus at retail and for the consumer is to continue to be o the big narrow and deep high profile release strategy… We’ve had enough experience that I think the strategy we employ is the most successful.â€
o_O It's one thing to do it but it's entirely another to actually pride yourself on milking the shit out of your franchises. Go eat a dick Activision, I refuse to give you a single cent of my money.
Doesnt that mean you also have to withhold from Blizzard products?
I'm pretty certain I don't own any.
Neither, which makes my hatred of Activision even easier.
Well I like the Infinity Ward-developed CoD games, and there's likely other Activision titles I also enjoy (thankfully I don't care about Guitar Hero any more), but I really don't appreciate the way they not only want to rape their franchises to death, but actively promote this as a great business model.
Basically if IW were bought out by another publisher, I'd have a far easier time swearing off Activision titles.
As for GT5P Spec III, it's a limited edition version that's only being released in bundles (though I've no clue why it shows up on Media Create's list). And they haven't released it 3 times, they've had 2 major patches to the game or is that bad?
Apparently Japanese sales trackers include bundled copies.
lowlylowlycook on
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
- Konami announce that their consolidated net revenues and consolidated operating income for the first half ended September 30, 2008 were ¥146,904 million (109.8 % of the same period in the previous year) and ¥22,844 million (175.2 % of the same period of the previous year).
“METAL GEAR” series continued to sell well - sold over 4 million units
Publisher and developer Bethesda has revealed that its critical and commercial smash Fallout 3 shipped a quite incredible 4.7 million copies across the world in its first week of sale on Xbox 360, PS3, and PC.
Its success has already generated retail sales of over $300 million.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has talked for the first time about what led to the company dropping ex-Vivendi franchises such as Ghostbusters and 50 Cent: and blamed a “less than tolerant” retail environment.
Speaking in the company’s earning call following the announcement of its Q3 fiscal results, Kotick was asked why he had “de-emphasised” certain brands.
Kotick pointed to Activision’s rule that every game released has to have a chance of meeting a target for $100 million-plus in revenues – and have the potential for popular sequels.
H added that the firm had to be hard-nosed when it came to any games that Activision Blizzard knew could reach those targets – because of the competitive, “less than accepting” retail environment.
He replied:
“With respect to the franchises that don’t have the potential to be exploited every year across every platform with clear sequel potential that can meet our objectives of over time becoming $100 million plus franchises, that’s a strategy that has worked very well for us.
“It’s something that we have been very disciplined about and so while there are lots of promises for a lot of these products that we had in the portfolio, I think generally our strategy has been to focus, especially given the increase in development expenditures on the products that have those attributes and characteristics that we know if we release today, we’ll be working on 10 years from now.
“And that has been - you know, narrow and deep has been essential to our strategy of how you expand operating margins. The difficulty in establishing new franchises or unproven franchises as we have seen over the last 20 years, that is one of the great challenges of the business and I think that you have a less than accepting and tolerant retail environment.
“It’s harder to attract development talent to projects that are more speculative in the long run, and so what we found is that if you have a [need] for innovation in existing franchises, that’s a recipe for margin expansion and you still need to have production of new original intellectual property, but you need to do it very, very selectively and if you look at the number of new original intellectual properties successfully launched in the market each year over the last five or ten years, it’s a small single-digit number.
“We happen to have a number in development ourselves but the focus is I think at retail and generally for the consumer is to continue to be on the big narrow and deep high profile release strategy.”
“With respect to the franchises that don’t have the potential to be exploited every year across every platform with clear sequel potential that can meet our objectives of over time becoming $100 million plus franchises, that’s a strategy that has worked very well for us.
As for GT5P Spec III, it's a limited edition version that's only being released in bundles (though I've no clue why it shows up on Media Create's list). And they haven't released it 3 times, they've had 2 major patches to the game or is that bad?
Apparently Japanese sales trackers include bundled copies.
Famitu does (or at least, they try to) but Media Create don't. I'm guessing some retailers just split the bundle and sold it seperately.
darleysam: At this point, I'm renting any future Infinity Ward games.
“With respect to the franchises that don’t have the potential to be exploited every year across every platform with clear sequel potential that can meet our objectives of over time becoming $100 million plus franchises, that’s a strategy that has worked very well for us.
Activision is the new EA, it would seem. Honestly, I'm surprised. I didn't really know anything about them until this year. Meanwhile, EA is finally putting out good product (but I'm still not buying until they remove that fucking DRM shit.)
November 6, 2008 (ROCKVILLE, MD) – Bethesda Softworks®, a ZeniMax Media company, announced that its hit title, Fallout® 3 has enjoyed record sales at launch, reflecting the huge consumer demand for the game. Approximately 4.7 million units of Fallout 3 were shipped worldwide last week for the Xbox 360®video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, and Games for Windows® representing retail sales in excess of $300 million.
lowlylowlycook on
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Activision is the new EA, it would seem. Honestly, I'm surprised. I didn't really know anything about them until this year. Meanwhile, EA is finally putting out good product (but I'm still not buying until they remove that fucking DRM shit.)
Activision is the new EA, it would seem. Honestly, I'm surprised. I didn't really know anything about them until this year. Meanwhile, EA is finally putting out good product (but I'm still not buying until they remove that fucking DRM shit.)
What is happening to the world?
But guess which one is making more money.
:x
Well, they are both losing money for different reasons right now.
The PS3 almost certainly got its boost from the three new games in the top 10. Nice performance, I can't remember if that's ever happened before. Though: Gran Turismo 5 Prologue Spec III? They've released a goddamn demo for the game three times now? Yeesh.
Though the 360 kept its boosted numbers. Likewise, the PSP is still doing very good despite the DSi launch.
Did you even read my post? The PS3's boost would've been because of the 80GB SKU's release, which was on the 30th of October. GTAIV, LBP and GT5 Prologue Spec III would've helped, they didn't do nearly well enough to boost PS3 sales by 32k units.
As for GT5P Spec III, it's a limited edition version that's only being released in bundles (though I've no clue why it shows up on Media Create's list). And they haven't released it 3 times, they've had 2 major patches to the game or is that bad?
Anyway, I really hate Activision.
I did read your post, and I absorbed everything you said. Again: three PS3 games in the top 10. That's a HUGE achievement for the PS3, and may very well have boosted the numbers. GTA4 and LBP are big games, after all. Though if Spec III is just a bundle thing, that's fine.
Though agreed on Activision. EVERY game released has to be a $100 million-plus blockbuster and have the potential for sequel after sequel? Holy fucking shit, that's insanity. Most companies have long figured out that cheaper games that get moderate to good sales bring in a nice steady revenue stream and help balance out the big flops. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the majority of big-budget games wind up losing money or merely breaking even?
Also, trying to guarantee that something can be sequelized right from the start means that every game they'll release will be focus-grouped to high hell and become blander and blander. Besides, you can't always predict what will be popular and spawn a sequel. Sometimes franchises are born by accident. Think modern-day Activision would have published Puzzle Quest when it first came out? It's bafflingly different... yet it's very successful and has brought in a tidy sum.
And jettisoning Ghostbusters simply because they can't imagine making countless sequels out of it? Jesus. Just because you cant fuck it to death like you plan to do with Guitar Hero doesn't mean you won't make a big ole pile of cash from the game you DO release. And the thing was nearly finished! The investment is minimal! The return is damn near guaranteed, considering everyone loves Ghostbusters and the original cast came back! That just makes no goddamn sense.
This strategy will cause Activision to rape their current franchises and introduce shittier and shittier new ones, and will likely cause them to lose more and more money. Well, lose money from everything that isn't Blizzard. The money Activision will rake in from Blizzard's stuff will allow them to shit on every other side of their business and claim success. Jesus fuck. Hmmm, wonder if this strategy is part of why Blizzard decided to split Starcraft II into three parts? I mean, I'm sure Blizzard will make every part kick ass, but still.
Hm. Surely Activision isn't stupid enough to start really fucking around with Blizzard and kill their golden goose, right? .....right?
The real question is whether Starcraft III will come out a year after Starcraft II - Part 3, which comes out a year after Starcraft II - Part 2, which comes out a year after Starcraft II - Part 1.
Activision is the new EA, it would seem. Honestly, I'm surprised. I didn't really know anything about them until this year. Meanwhile, EA is finally putting out non-sequal but lifeless, mechanical product devoid of real personality (but I'm still not buying until they remove that fucking DRM shit.)
What is happening to the world?
Really.
Dead Space, Henry Hatsworth and so on all look like they were designed by a pop-culture-regurgitating machine.
Activision is the new EA, it would seem. Honestly, I'm surprised. I didn't really know anything about them until this year. Meanwhile, EA is finally putting out non-sequal but lifeless, mechanical product devoid of real personality (but I'm still not buying until they remove that fucking DRM shit.)
What is happening to the world?
Really.
Dead Space, Henry Hatsworth and so on all look like they were designed by a pop-culture-regurgitating machine.
I'll admit to not having played it, but isn't Dead Space pretty much a pastiche of a bunch of space horror movies?
Activision is the new EA, it would seem. Honestly, I'm surprised. I didn't really know anything about them until this year. Meanwhile, EA is finally putting out non-sequal but lifeless, mechanical product devoid of real personality (but I'm still not buying until they remove that fucking DRM shit.)
What is happening to the world?
Really.
Dead Space, Henry Hatsworth and so on all look like they were designed by a pop-culture-regurgitating machine.
I'll admit to not having played it, but isn't Dead Space pretty much a pastiche of a bunch of space horror movies?
And that's the problem.
It looks like a solid game, but there's no individuality or imagination to any of the designs or footage I've seen. Even the best pastiches have more personality than that.
Henry Hatsworth, in the meantime, is trying far, far too hard to be quirky and cult.
EA haven't published a game with actual artistic creativity involved since Undying or Alice, both of which seem to have been unintentional on their part.
The whole "add bolded text to someone's original quote" thing doesn't work for this reason. I thought you were being sarcastic in response to the quote he had actually written, until I looked at the original quote for comparison.
Henry Hatsworth, in the meantime, is trying far, far too hard to be quirky and cult.
I think you're being too cynical. Like cloudeagle, I think it looks really fun. Dead Space is pretty much a Tarantino-ish mashup of horror movies, but there aren't a lot of sci-fi games in that vein so it doesn't bug me as much. And ... Mirror's Edge? Rock Band?
The whole "add bolded text to someone's original quote" thing doesn't work for this reason. I thought you were being sarcastic in response to the quote he had actually written, until I looked at the original quote for comparison.
Henry Hatsworth, in the meantime, is trying far, far too hard to be quirky and cult.
I think you're being too cynical. Like cloudeagle, I think it looks really fun. Dead Space is pretty much a Tarantino-ish mashup of horror movies, but there aren't a lot of sci-fi games in that vein so it doesn't bug me as much. And ... Mirror's Edge? Rock Band?
Mirror's Edge I specifically didn't mention on the grounds it actually looks promising. EA have given me false hope before, however.
Rock Band isn't a narrative-driven game or much of a single-player one (or a game that interests me at all, but that's besides the point) so my points about personality don't really apply to it.
After System Shock 2, Doom 3 and Prey, to name but a few, Dead Space is hardly alone.
My problems with Henry Hatsworth have nothing to do with the game itself and everything to do with the soulless character design.
Let's give EA this. Even if Dead Space is a little derivative (I can understand the argument for that), it's much, MUCH better than the EA of the past, who refused to release anything that didn't have a license attached to it or wasn't developed by Will Wright. They're actually getting a little creative for once. So even if Henry Hatsworth is an attempt to be quirky for quirkiness' sake, it's still an improvement. (I'd disagree with that, since it looks like a solid game on its own merits. Besides, a platformer starring an elderly British chap? That's not just quirky, that's something that will give your average risk-adverse exec a heart attack.)
Let's give EA this. Even if Dead Space is a little derivative (I can understand the argument for that), it's much, MUCH better than the EA of the past, who refused to release anything that didn't have a license attached to it or wasn't developed by Will Wright. They're actually getting a little creative for once. So even if Henry Hatsworth is an attempt to be quirky for quirkiness' sake, it's still an improvement. (I'd disagree with that, since it looks like a solid game on its own merits. Besides, a platformer starring an elderly British chap? That's not just quirky, that's something that will give your average risk-adverse exec a heart attack.)
Oh, EA are improving, I'll grant you that. I just think they're doing so more slowly than people portray it, and they're earning too much credit in the process.
Of artistic creativity? Admittedly it borrows rock tropes, but compared it to recent Guitar Hero (not to mention me-toos like Rock Revolution) and you tell me which one is corporate and soulless.
Mirror's Edge I specifically didn't mention on the grounds it actually looks promising. EA have given me false hope before, however.
Rock Band isn't a narrative-driven game or much of a single-player one (or a game that interests me at all, but that's besides the point) so my points about personality don't really apply to it.
After System Shock 2, Doom 3 and Prey, to name but a few, Dead Space is hardly alone.
My problems with Henry Hatsworth have nothing to do with the game itself and everything to do with the soulless character design.
I'll give you Dead Space, but I guess we'll just agree to disagree on Henry Hatsworth. I think the character is quirky and fun.
Ok, last post on this, since I think I've made all the points I want to here.
Let's take a look at Mr Hatsworth:
Ok, so he has a bowler hat, a monocle, an umbrella and a moustache. That's a typical list of eccentric british stereotypes. I'm only surprised he isn't smoking a pipe.
The thing is, though, that all of those are window-dressing. Strip those away and his face is expressionless. Lifeless. Nothing to it at all. He's a waxwork covered in stereotypical quirks and trademarks, not a character.
Posts
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Did you even read my post? The PS3's boost would've been because of the 80GB SKU's release, which was on the 30th of October. GTAIV, LBP and GT5 Prologue Spec III would've helped, they didn't do nearly well enough to boost PS3 sales by 32k units.
As for GT5P Spec III, it's a limited edition version that's only being released in bundles (though I've no clue why it shows up on Media Create's list). And they haven't released it 3 times, they've had 2 major patches to the game or is that bad?
Anyway, I really hate Activision.
I never asked for this!
Capcom publishes Rockstar's games in Japan. Overall, pretty good numbers for GTAIV. GTA:SA sold around 250 000, if I remember correctly.
How could you hate company that has said its strategy is to grind yearly sequels for its popular IPs until there is nothing else left than dust? Here is what Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said about why they dropped so many of Vivendi's IPs:
“(those titles) don’t have the potential to be exploited every year on every platform with clear sequel potential and have the potential to become $100 million dollar franchises. … I think, generally, our strategy has been to focus… on the products that have those attributes and characteristics, the products that we know [that] if we release them today, we’ll be working on them 10 years from now. …You still need to have production of new original property but you have to do it very selectively… the focus at retail and for the consumer is to continue to be o the big narrow and deep high profile release strategy… We’ve had enough experience that I think the strategy we employ is the most successful.”
"Exploited". Oh well, at least he is honest.
Source
o_O It's one thing to do it but it's entirely another to actually pride yourself on milking the shit out of your franchises. Go eat a dick Activision, I refuse to give you a single cent of my money.
I'm pretty certain I don't own any.
Neither, which makes my hatred of Activision even easier.
Well I like the Infinity Ward-developed CoD games, and there's likely other Activision titles I also enjoy (thankfully I don't care about Guitar Hero any more), but I really don't appreciate the way they not only want to rape their franchises to death, but actively promote this as a great business model.
Basically if IW were bought out by another publisher, I'd have a far easier time swearing off Activision titles.
Apparently Japanese sales trackers include bundled copies.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
Call of Duty 4 and Guitar Hero 3. You might have heard of them. :P
[edit] Here are the MC hardware numbers:
DSi 171,925
PSP 50,358
PS3 39,587
Wii 23,123
DS Lite 16,369
PS2 6,714
Xbox 360 6,119
[edit] I'm dumb Konami not Capcom.
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHHH
Famitu does (or at least, they try to) but Media Create don't. I'm guessing some retailers just split the bundle and sold it seperately.
darleysam: At this point, I'm renting any future Infinity Ward games.
What is happening to the world?
(Please do not gift. My game bank is already full.)
But guess which one is making more money.
:x
I did read your post, and I absorbed everything you said. Again: three PS3 games in the top 10. That's a HUGE achievement for the PS3, and may very well have boosted the numbers. GTA4 and LBP are big games, after all. Though if Spec III is just a bundle thing, that's fine.
Though agreed on Activision. EVERY game released has to be a $100 million-plus blockbuster and have the potential for sequel after sequel? Holy fucking shit, that's insanity. Most companies have long figured out that cheaper games that get moderate to good sales bring in a nice steady revenue stream and help balance out the big flops. Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the majority of big-budget games wind up losing money or merely breaking even?
Also, trying to guarantee that something can be sequelized right from the start means that every game they'll release will be focus-grouped to high hell and become blander and blander. Besides, you can't always predict what will be popular and spawn a sequel. Sometimes franchises are born by accident. Think modern-day Activision would have published Puzzle Quest when it first came out? It's bafflingly different... yet it's very successful and has brought in a tidy sum.
And jettisoning Ghostbusters simply because they can't imagine making countless sequels out of it? Jesus. Just because you cant fuck it to death like you plan to do with Guitar Hero doesn't mean you won't make a big ole pile of cash from the game you DO release. And the thing was nearly finished! The investment is minimal! The return is damn near guaranteed, considering everyone loves Ghostbusters and the original cast came back! That just makes no goddamn sense.
This strategy will cause Activision to rape their current franchises and introduce shittier and shittier new ones, and will likely cause them to lose more and more money. Well, lose money from everything that isn't Blizzard. The money Activision will rake in from Blizzard's stuff will allow them to shit on every other side of their business and claim success. Jesus fuck. Hmmm, wonder if this strategy is part of why Blizzard decided to split Starcraft II into three parts? I mean, I'm sure Blizzard will make every part kick ass, but still.
Hm. Surely Activision isn't stupid enough to start really fucking around with Blizzard and kill their golden goose, right? .....right?
Dead Space, Henry Hatsworth and so on all look like they were designed by a pop-culture-regurgitating machine.
I'll admit to not having played it, but isn't Dead Space pretty much a pastiche of a bunch of space horror movies?
And that's the problem.
It looks like a solid game, but there's no individuality or imagination to any of the designs or footage I've seen. Even the best pastiches have more personality than that.
Henry Hatsworth, in the meantime, is trying far, far too hard to be quirky and cult.
EA haven't published a game with actual artistic creativity involved since Undying or Alice, both of which seem to have been unintentional on their part.
I think you're being too cynical. Like cloudeagle, I think it looks really fun. Dead Space is pretty much a Tarantino-ish mashup of horror movies, but there aren't a lot of sci-fi games in that vein so it doesn't bug me as much. And ... Mirror's Edge? Rock Band?
Mirror's Edge I specifically didn't mention on the grounds it actually looks promising. EA have given me false hope before, however.
Rock Band isn't a narrative-driven game or much of a single-player one (or a game that interests me at all, but that's besides the point) so my points about personality don't really apply to it.
After System Shock 2, Doom 3 and Prey, to name but a few, Dead Space is hardly alone.
My problems with Henry Hatsworth have nothing to do with the game itself and everything to do with the soulless character design.
I said it was a bad game where?
Oh, EA are improving, I'll grant you that. I just think they're doing so more slowly than people portray it, and they're earning too much credit in the process.
Of artistic creativity? Admittedly it borrows rock tropes, but compared it to recent Guitar Hero (not to mention me-toos like Rock Revolution) and you tell me which one is corporate and soulless.
I'll give you Dead Space, but I guess we'll just agree to disagree on Henry Hatsworth. I think the character is quirky and fun.
Let's take a look at Mr Hatsworth:
Ok, so he has a bowler hat, a monocle, an umbrella and a moustache. That's a typical list of eccentric british stereotypes. I'm only surprised he isn't smoking a pipe.
The thing is, though, that all of those are window-dressing. Strip those away and his face is expressionless. Lifeless. Nothing to it at all. He's a waxwork covered in stereotypical quirks and trademarks, not a character.