Microsoft have just announced that they are releasing the One in Europe with FIFA 14 free. It is fantastic yet odd move. Why has Microsoft gone for a sports game when sports games are a hard sell for a new system. I will explain
FIFA is a big franchise in Europe (I would now I live in the UK) and FIFA always sell well despite a lot of the time FIFA is a rehash of an old game. Everyone loves to get their mates together and play against each other. They also like acting out their childhood dream of playing and managing their favourite team. It seems, on the surface, that the FIFA addition was a good move for the One. But deeper down it doesn't make that big of a difference.
The big important factor is the One's release date. The effect FIFA will have for the One really depends on Microsoft releasing this bundle when FIFA ships in late September. At the moment signs are pointing to a November release date with no clue how far into November it is. With news that the One will not release, until 2014, in some key European markets(1) and the fact Microsoft didn't even announce a release date at their Gamescom conference(2) suggests a mid to late November release date.
Another important factor is what really sells FIFA. The big sell for these games is the fact you can play with friends. It is so apart of FIFA that without it FIFA just wouldn't sell. Obviously, FIFA 14 has this but there is another part to consider; controllers are not cheap which is even more important when the One isn't exactly cheap right now. The majority of FIFA owners already have a 360 or PS3 which they can play with friends and are more than likely have two controllers already (if they bought FIFA before). Next generation version are always going to suffer for this reason. A controller is usually £50 ish but on Amazon they are priced at £89(3) which I assume will decrease near launch. This added cost makes this, and all next generation versions, so expensive it isn't worth the price. FIFA 14 will launch on current systems and I can, pretty much, guarantee a lot will go for that version as they can play it with their mates at a lower cost.
The third point is the "while stocks last bit" (4) in the tweet. That wording could be taken in multiple ways but the way I look at it is they have a limited amount of stock available for this bundle. I may be wrong but considering Microsoft pre-orders are already starting to sell out (5); how many units are being made available for this bundle to have a big impact. Combine that with a potential late November launch, they are not going to have the time to restock before the big Christmas push
It is fantastic Microsoft did this but they would have had a better chance with COD or a non sports game. Sports games are based around the idea you play with your friends. Sure the Xbox brand comes with the Ultimate Team Legends as an exclusive (6) but is that enough considering this is on the 360 as well. Microsoft console isn't cheap if you add the (necessary extra controller) on top of the price to properly play FIFA 14.
References
1. http://www.extremetech.com/...
2. http://www.thesixthaxis.com...
3. http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/r...
4. https://twitter.com/majorne...
5. http://www.videogamer.com/n...
6. http://www.videogamer.com/x...
Stellar Blade's creative director, Hyung Tae Kim, has also claimed that the game is deeply inspired by Nier: Automata.
I feel like Yoko is downgrading Automata because he has expressed multiple times he'd like to revisit the universe, but Squenix hasn't been keen about it. We know he loves 2B and would love to take her out for another spin, so maybe this is how he gets the company to think about it.
u do realise that Square made Nier a franchise after Automata right?
Taro is downplaying it cause hes not a snob like most of the directors that think their games are gods gifts to the human race.
he said the same thing when being interviewed during the development of Automata too, that he couldnt have done it without the devs.
hes just a humble guy rly.
I mean, Neir existed before Automata with both OG Niers and Drakenguard. I don't count NieR Replicant, since it's a remake of the OG games. Sure, we have Reincarnation, which is still stuck on mobile devices (quite a damned shame). I just remember Taro saying he'd love to revisit Automata if Square Enix lets him. I do recall there was supposed to be a sequel to Automata, but it wasn't confirmed and I'd imagine it was just for Reincarnation.
Enjoy Taro, he seems like a cool guy, who loves the ladies and is humble. But damn, don't put down one of your masterpieces.
I get he's giving them some credit, but i strongly disagree based on the demo. I honestly don't think any aspect of it feels good, it's not bad, it's just kinda ok but definitely a little jank. Also the souls like formula it is adopting does not help it imo. I was looking forward to this for years, now im just kinda let down honestly 🫤
Man exputer can you stop putting words like that after someone's name, i read Yoko Taro Passes and just went blank
They sent in XDEV one of their traveling support studios to Korea to lend a hand if I’m not mistaken, Sony pulled out the big guns to help this studio
The Outerhaven writes: The Nintendo Switch has had plenty of big hits, but perhaps to help its successor, some of its "lesser hits" could get ported with some "upgrades."
Yea so the fanboys can pay 70 bucks for ports this time around. As if if wasn't bad enough with all the Wii U ports and 3DS ports that have taken up most of Ninty's releases these last few years. We should be pushing for backwards compatibility instead of giving them the idea that they can charge full price AGAIN for games already bought.
The likes of Pilotwings, 1080 Snowboarding, Stunt Race FX, F-Zero and Wave Race especially have all been canned by Nintendo. The Switch saw a number of Wii U ports, but not even Splatoon and Mario Maker made the cut, maybe a few others. Seems Nintendo likes to bang the same drum these days.
Review - Scott Whiskers in: the Search for Mr. Fumbleclaw very much puts the heart back into point and click.
Fifa is bigger than Madden. It makes perfect sense. It's the only way they can compete to get some of the UK market.
Xbox and EA seem to have a very special relationship, especially right now. I know that when I need saving I turn to my best friend. Heck they have swapped so mant staff members in the past I'm sure they all have each other on speed dial
It's free for XbO pre-orders only.
It's...genius.
People in Europe love Fifa. I really didn't care much for Fifa 13 but I did enjoy playing with my online pro. Would it be enough for me to go out and purchase a Xbox One? I dunno. It's something to chew over I guess.
It's not that odd given Microsfts track record of only changing to get more pre-orders.
You only have to do a brief check of EU Amazon pre-orders to see that as bad as MS is doing vs Sony in America they are literally doing 2 to 8 times less pre-orders comparatively in almost all European nations.
As little as I can understand why an American would buy a Xbox there is even less reason for a European as half the Xbox features won't even work for them. Not to mention that it's not even going to be available to half of Europe so chances are the player base will be almost nil for match making.
It all doesn't really matter though PS4 is pretty much a done deal in Europe.