One of the most common debates found on this forum is on whether a recently released game has "bombed", or whether an unreleased game is set to bomb in the future.

One of the main problems here is that there doesn't seem to be a set definition of this term, and it seems very different between different people. In this topic, we can see how varied the definition for this term is among people on this forum, and hopefully we can prevent similar arguments from forming in the future :)

What is a bomb?

- A game that sells less than expected?

- A game that sells considerably less than expected?

- A game that sells less than previous releases in the same franchise?

- A game with good first week sales and then fades into obscurity?

- A game that nobody was expecting to sell well, but sells low even by these standards?

Discuss. :p

A game that sells considerably less than expected.

Something like metro2033 on 360?that or something that blows up.....

A game that sells significantly less than expecected.

For example- if MW3 sells around 10mil on all consoles LT, it would be a massive bomb. Yet, if a game like Xenoblade sold only 500k, it would be a great success, despite selling 2000% less than another game which is considered a giant failure.

Perspective is key.

A game that the publisher has spent consierable money on that sells below expectations and makes them little money

A game that lost money for the developer/publisher

Or a game that sold significantly lower than expected if no details are released as to whether it was successful for the developer/publisher as that will usally mean that it lost money.

It's a relative term.

3 million copies of Bayonetta sold = incredible success. 3 million copies of Super Mario Galaxy = Crushing failure. And Bayonetta probably cost more to create. Just like the Playstation brand. 100 million plus sold vs 50 million sold.

It also comes down to profit. As long as the product makes money, it's cool. If it sells very well but doesn't recoup its costs then it could still be considered a bomb.

A flop is a game that make little to no money, but return it costs at least.

A bomb is a game that fails to return its original investment and end up costing a company money.

......at least thats what i believe.

An explosive device, but seriously I'd say out of the ones you said

A game that sells significantly less than expecected.

That or a game that cost far more to make then it made.

I can't really decide between those two, I'll go with the latter because it requires the former and sometimes expectations are just unfair and ridicules (EA expecting Mirror's Edge to quickly sell 3 mil...)

Earning less for the company that what was spent on it