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Salnax on 13 November 2013
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STRYKIE said:
Salnax said:
What bothers me is that, even without anything resembling a killer app at launch, the PS4 will likely sell gangbusters. I have no problem with the PS4 winning the 8th gen, but I'd like it if Sony earned it.


Has any system in the last decade had a killer app at launch though? Even then, how many system before that were fully equipped with a killer app at launch?

Focusing on exclusives and new games...

Well, the Wii is the best example. Armed at launch in 2006 with the twin killer apps of Wii Sports, which would go on to become the most popular retail game of all time, and Twilight Princess, a game with very high reviews that generally praised its unique controls.

Other examples, though more arguable, include:

  • The DS, which launched with Super Mario 64 DS, which is today the best selling handheld 3D platformer of all time, got good reviews at launch, showed off the DS's 3D prowess and touchscreen, etc.
  • The PSP, which launched with Lumines and Hot Shots Golf in Japan, and Ridge Racer worldwide. Hot Shots Golf was one of the few early PSP games that actually succeeded in Japan, Lumines was a highly rated exclusive suited for a handheld, and Ridge Racer was a pretty solid hit worldwide.
  • The 3DS launched with Nintendogs + cats. Now, that series has definitely dropped this generation, but over two and a half years later, it's still one of the top few best-selling 3DS games worldwide, and especially in Europe.
  • The Wii U is a bit weird. Nintendo Land and New Super Mario Bros U have sold very well for a game on a nearly failing system. They might not quite be killer apps, but without them, there would be virtually no Wii U's sold. So that at least makes them system sellers.

The 360, Vita, and PS3 admittedly lacked killer apps at launch, but having a killer app or at least a system seller at launch still seems to be the norm, if only because of new tech and awaited new entries in popular series.

 

In contrast, the PS4 apparently has virtually no high quality major exclusives at launch. A downloadable twin stick shooter is great, but I doubt that's what's moving hardware.

The Xbox One, much as I hate to say it, at least seems to offer more unique major games. Bleh. Seriously though, Dead Rising 3, Forza 5, and even Ryse all have the potential to be system sellers at least.



Love and tolerate.