Why Platinum's games don't sell well?

[Thechalkblock]

1. I'm not sure that the technical problems Bayonetta experienced with the PS3 would deter all future customers from Platinum Games, especially since, like you pointed out, they create niche games. Niche games are played for the most part by informed gamers, and informed gamers usually read reviews. Therefore, they would know if future releases would have the same problems or not.

2. There are plenty of short games that sell well, but I do think the lack of multiplayer has a lot to do with the problem you're addressing. The majority of gamers love online multiplayer, and I can't really think of a Platinum game that has that. In that sense, their games are even more niche.

3. The interesting thing about Wonderful 101 is that it IS a hack n slash game. So even though you're wrong in the sense that it is an example of one of their games that isn't a hack n slash, I agree that the game mechanics for the game are obviously confusing to the vast amount of gamers--if they weren't confusing, than gamers would know it's a hack n slash game.

Platinum Games seems to be on it's own wavelength in terms of what they believe the foundations of a good game are. They put a tremendous emphasis on gameplay mechanics and style, and a lot less on multiplayer and advertising. Most gamers aren't necessarily interested in gameplay mechanics with an insane amount of depth, and like you said like games that drag themselves out as long as possible. The absence of multiplayer really seems to hurt their games, as it's harder for gamers to have a sense of community through a game through single player only.

There is the exception of Anarchy Reigns, but like you pointed out Platinum Games has a knack for creating niche games--there has been close to none (if not none, I don't know) online beat em up games. That game also had no advertising, and didn't review particularly well. Therefore only informed gamers would know about it, and most would skip over it due to no single player and average reviews.

I think Platinum Games has a lot of good ideas in regard to expanding the limits of gameplay, but just don't seem to have the foresight to create games the masses will sink their teeth into. At the same time, perhaps they save money as a company by excluding multiplayer since they don't have to spend resources creating it or moderating any servers?

MadWorld -- Wii mature beat em up with stylized black and white graphics

Infinite Space -- never played it and don't know anything about it

Bayonetta -- at the time boasted the most depth of any hack n slash game

Vanquish -- third person shooter with a unique slow motion mechanic.

Anarchy Reigns -- one of the only online beat em ups there is; at this point no one really plays it anymore, so the game is hardly enjoyable

Metal Gear Rising Revengeance -- hack n slash with an interesting precision slice mechanic.

The Wonderful 101 -- hack n slash with one of the most unique gameplay mechanics there are for the genre. no other hack n slash game is like it.

Bayonetta 2 -- generally improved upon the first one; possibly the best hack n slash game there is

Hmm... so almost every game they've made has been hack n slash. Like you pointed out, that isn't the most popular genre. And without the extreme backing of an exclusive's advertising campaign (like God of War III), there isn't much hope of their games reaching the majority of gamers.

I wonder if their approach to success in the industry will ever change. Seeing that they're working on a hack n slash game called Scalebound at the present time, I would say we don't see a change any time soon. Wonder how well that game will end up selling.