Onyxmeth said:
I didn't say customers will care about the sales part. I said the sales will tell us what the customers actually care about. People talk about Valkyria Chronicles still like it mattered, but the sales show it didn't in the larger scheme of things. Sony is publishing games this year that look great on paper, fill out lists for internet know-it-alls, but ultimately will fall under niche titles that do not produce big sales.
Sure. Not many Sony titles have landed huge sales...Then again that's never been their thing as much. Even with a 120,000,000 console base. The point is though is software drive console sales or future console sales. If the 360 is lacking in software...The consumers will go elsewhere.
That leaves third party support out of the equation, which isn't realistic. No matter what Microsoft brings, games like Modern Warfare 2 will still release, and will still matter more to Americans than other regions, putting the 360 at a decisive advantage. Japanese centric multiplats on the other hand will see considerable pushes for the PS3. Just because a title is on two platforms does not mean it can't be more beneficial to one more than the other.
Halo 3: ODST, Alan Wake if it gets a marketing push and whatever e3 brings. Microsoft does not need 6-10 Fall titles to compete with Sony. Microsoft creates games that sell well to American audiences, they sell more hardware there, they market their games better, and they have big pockets that can lock up exclusivity just like that. Microsoft can do with 3-4 titles what Sony would need 6-8 titles to compete with.
Well, last I've heard Alan Wake is in the same state as GT5/GOWIII...Which is possible for 09' more than likely 2010 though. But Alan Wake would be another sizeable game. Although do you really see it selling millions upon millions of copies? You just mentioned Heavy Rain, Uncharted 2, Ratchet and Clank as ....'Good Games but not necessarily software pushers'. I mean aren't you making the case yourself with that?
I don't pay close attention to Alan Wake and it's development stages, so that could likely be true. I just see it as a title able to drive sales like Assassin's Creed did. Ultimately it could very well sell the same as Uncharted 2, but being an original IP, has more potential to bring in fans as opposed to selling to existing ones. Heavy Rain is just niche. I have no hope for it to be a software pusher.
I mean when you start putting a lot of 'ifs' and 'buts' into an argument that is really why I think people are talking about it being weak. "If Alan Wake comes out and If it's marketed well then it might be able to be a big seller but if Sony releases GT5 then I don't know". I mean isn't that the foundation for it being a weak argument. (Not being a dick just asking...Thats how I took the OP atleast).
My argument is incredibly weak. It's highly speculative and I'm aware of that. What more can I do though? MS has gone on the record stating that e3 will be big. Logic says we be patient and hold off talking about "accepting defeat" until then, but if a topic is created that ignores the possibility of a big e3, then I need to speculate at what happens if MS is right and the stars align in June. Everything I say can totally fall on it's face, or I can get everything right...and maybe more. However the whole basis of this topic is based on an incomplete scenario, so I'm spending my time trying to piece together the rest the best way I know how.
I do agree, MS has shown the propensity to market their games and get great sales numbers on limited titles. Alan Wake / Forza / Halo ODST might be enough to hold back anything Sony can release beyond GT5. Then again, Halo ODST is the only one that seems like a sure thing at this point in time.
My entire argument originally consisted of Halo 3: ODST, because I too feel it's the only sure thing coming from either publisher this Fall that can break a cool 5 million and is definite for release in 2009.
Regarding Halo 3: ODST selling to existing audiences, that is true, but another Halo 3 push can bring in new Halo fans, so I fully expect Halo 3 itself to see a monster spike come September. If you think about it though, Sony has three big games for the fall and only one(which is the iffiest one regarding it's release date) is going to be a game that hasn't been seen on the PS3 yet, and that's God of War III.
I'm sure Halo 3 will see a spike of some sort. I don't anticipate a huge spike but I bet a good percentage of the exisiting Halo fanbase will be buying this and it will draw in new owners as well. (Although if you own a 360 and don't own Halo yet....I think something is wrong with you.  ).
That would be me. 360, 20+ games, no Halo 3. So don't think I have any personal stake in this, it's just some of us 360 owners did not buy our 360's for Halo and even do like FPS games. About 20 million of us actually(not all FPS fans though). The series does have a chance to expand if ODST can grab them. If MS were smart, they would bundle both games together as optional for a cheaper going price.
I'm of another opinion. I think that season of disappointment in PS3 games, and buying whatever came out just for the sake of buying something extended way past February 2007. That doesnt say anything about the quality of the individual titles though, but the perception of even Uncharted and Ratchet and Clank may be skewed because they came at a time when fans may have still been buying whatever scraps they were being thrown. I definitely could be wrong though. It's merely a thought I had.
I can see your opinion on that (More with Ratchet than Uncharted) but regardless. I just think Uncharted moved beyond that 'launch stigma' and people started to realize "Hey that's a really good game" .
It was just a thought. Ultimately it's time that will tell. Maybe both series expand or at least stay consistent. Maybe they take a dive.
You have to admit though, those drops are fantastically awful for both Resistance and Motorstorm sequels. I'm sure Sony was expecting much more out of both. Especially Resistance 2 which they purposely put right in Gears 2's face to directly compete with it.
Oh I agree. Although I can speak as someone who played Motorstorm a good amount. It was a cool, fun game with excellent graphics and a solid soundtrack. But the original game was so limited (No local multi-player, etc) and (You could tell was rushed) that it really put a sour taste in my mouth for buying the sequel. So Motorstorm, I honestly expected it. Especially as better more established racing games were released.
Resistance 2 was a big disappointment sales wise. Although, I really do believe much of that was to do with how DRASTICALLY Resistance 2 was from Resistance 1.
I mean I played both games and beat them twice on Single player and wow. Just felt like total 180s from game to game. I mean Hale was in both of them...And the Chimera and a few of the guns but that's where it began and ended. I really think Resistance 2 was a game that word of mouth hit hard. One other factor I believe that may have hurt R2...Is the fact that Resistance 1's online component was so rushed and added on that it was tragically horrible. Even with all the positive hype I heard about R2's multi-player, I was still skeptical.
I think Insomniac pulled a gigantic "No-No" when building a sequel. You can't make a game feel too much different from the original...otherwise you may disenchant some of the fans.
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