(GamesIndustry International) Madden NFL 13 and Mists of Pandaria can't revive flagging retail business
Another month, another terrible report about the performance of video games at retail. The NPD Group has just sent us the data for the September period (technically five weeks from August 26 through September 29), and to no one's surprise, the report showed total industry sales down 24 percent to $848.3 million. Hardware sales plummeted 39 percent to $210.9 million, while software sales (including physical PC titles) fell 14 percent to $547.3 million. Accessories also dipped 11 percent to $139.9 million.
With so many games fighting for players' attention and interest losing out over time, time sink games are at risk of eventually losing steam.
It was worrisome to begin with.
It's a niche genre with only a handful of hits that can stand the test of time.
Only a few will catch on. You need a perfect storm to be successful in GaaS and a bit of luck on top of that. But a potential cash cow will keep them trying and some will go out of business because of it.
Helldivers 2 manages just fine…
Keep production costs low… don’t just make custscenes until the mechanics and enemies are perfected first.
Make so much content that you can drip extra content for years, and the game already feels complete without them.
Most importantly: make weapons, enemies, levels, and mechanics that will stand the test of 1000 hours. This might require more devs embracing procedurally generated leveled, which I think separates Helldivers 2 from Destiny’s repetitiveness.
Nameer from eXputer: "Some exceptions aside, I don't think the battle pass is a net positive for gaming with how they're implemented in most live service titles."
I like the way Helldivers 2 does battle passes. It allows you to make purchases on each level of the battle pass and gives you the option of choosing which item to unlock first. The more purchases you make using medals the further you progress. There is no timer and you can earn medals towards purchasing stuff via personal orders and Major orders.
I haven't played much live service games that have battle passes but I remember some games that have battle passes where you progress through it linearly using an exp system. What makes it really bad is that the battle pass will have like 50 or more levels with the cooler stuff being closer to the end. They also have an in-game shop that sells exp boosters so you can reach the end of the pass before it refreshes. Everyone ilse will have to grind their way through.
battle pass in fortnite is perfect; buy one and it buys the rest for every other season as it gives you more money than the first cost. so 8.50 and season ends with you getting 13.00, it pays for the next and you have some pocket change to save up for cash shop. All of which is optional
Sony is taking actions as video by Moore’s Law is Dead, has been issued with a copyright claim.
And people say it's all fake because Sony haven't said anything 😂 conveniently forget the PS4 Pro was only announced 2 months before release.
Just announce it already! I want to preorder one asap. But in reality they don’t want to lessen PS5 sales until Pro is ready to launch so I understand the business part of it. September is probably when they announce it with an early November launch like the PS4 Pro
I would take that video and upload a torrent of it, fuck that copyright bullshit. If your going to do something that has a chance of being taken down, make a torrent first share it. Then Sony or any other company is helpless and you can laugh in their faces, taunting them to try to take it down 🤣
As much as the PS4 Pro didn't represent a major % in the playerbase, announcing a 'better' model will hinder sales from the 'base' model. They are right, business-wise.
That's surprising. Given the 360's nearly 40% drop year over year, I expected the entire industry in the US to be down more in line with that figure given how the 360 dominates the US.
Edit below: The 360 is the only example at this point. No other hardware numbers are known yet, but we know the 360 dropped from 438k last year to 270k this year, it's worst Sept in the US since 06. If you've got another example of hardware data, by all means, provide a link. Not that it matters to my point. If the PS3 were down 80% this year in the US, it doesn't have the marketshare of the US so why would I take that as an indication of overall US sales trends? Clearly the 360 being dominant in the US it's a better indicator of the health of the US market than it's competition. And it's sales are the lowest we've seen in years, even though the 4gb 360 is routinely going on sale for $149 currently. At this rate surely MS will get the 360's successor out sooner rather than later.
Dang, I spent more than 300 bucks in new games (admittedly it was a Borderlands 2 Loot Chest and a Street Fighter Anniversary set) in September and it didn't help much. The fact that it dropped so much compared to September 2011, and I can't remember anything that released then concerns me... because either the industry is in trouble or my memory is prematurely deteriorating.
Wii U will perk things up.
Console Gaming is Almost Dead to Me, Just like PC gaming
Wow! The Xbox 360 held about 50% console market share for yet another month. Very happy to see the brand continues to trounce the competition as it approaches its seventh birthday.