Underperforming games of 2008 holiday season – PS3, Xbox 360
This holiday season is said have been a complete cluster mess by many in the gaming industry. Even famed David Jaffe had some choice words for the studios who released all of their top tier games during the holiday season. I would like to point out a couple of the games that should have done well, but underperformed.
Since there has to be a cut off for underperforming games, I would like to say games that sold under a million per platform underperformed. Also, I will focus on games that were highly anticipated.
Dead Space
This game is definitely a rare treat. I can’t believe how much this game underperformed by. According to early estimates this game has yet to break a million on any of the platforms. Back when the game came out, I complemented Dead Space for advancing the horror genre on the home console systems.
This is definitely a breakthrough title most gamers should not miss out on. Dead Space aims high to deliver a creepy and intense atmosphere throughout the game.
I truly hope that EA sees the value in all of the positive reviews its been getting (including ours right here) and green lights future projects regardless of sales success.
Mirror’s Edge
This game is made by the well known studio DICE, who is responsible for the Battlefield series. This game was highly anticipated by many for its originality and design decision. DICE did manage to create a completely new genre of gaming with Mirror’s Edge.
The game has platforming puzzle elements that could be equated to that of Portals. The time runs are also addictive as you squeeze your brain to figure out how to shave precious milliseconds off your time.
Unfortunately, this game seriously underperformed in the sales charts, not even coming close to entering the millionaire’s club. I hope that many gamers next year will look back and give this game a chance.
Check out our review of Mirror’s Edge here.
Prince of Persia
Prince of Persia is another game that deserves some attention from gamers. The Prince of Persia series easily sold 2 million units back on the PS2 with the Sands of Time series. However, now the franchise is struggling to even break half a million units on each platform.
Some have criticized the game for catering to the casual market with the inability to die. However, gamers should realize that the experience is more important than the semantics of death. Even though you can’t really die, you can’t really pass an area without beating it either.
Gamers should then ask developers to remove checkpoints and ask to be started off at the beginning of the level if they feel so strongly that the inability to die hinders gameplay. The game is extremely beautiful and the gameplay is surprisingly fun and fluid. Many gamers should at least experience this fantastic title for just for the experience.
The takeaway from this story is that Publishers need to strategize and work more closely with each other on releasing games in an efficient and timely manner. There were months when no good games were being released and yet the publishers have decided to released them all during the holiday season. Not only is this counter productive to the publishers but it also makes it difficult for the gamers with so many choices.
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17 Responses to “Underperforming games of 2008 holiday season – PS3, Xbox 360”
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December 29th, 2008
Well is common sense they wouldn’t do great. Dead Space came out in the holiday season bad timing for an unproven game yet. Mirrors Edge is kind lame not much fun. Prince of Persia blow it up with the ugly shaded graphics.
December 29th, 2008
I’d seriously consider Mirrors edge, i think i saw it at around £20 on amazon.co.uk Worth a check if anyones interested http://www.amazon.co.uk/Electronic-Arts-Mirrors-Edge-PS3/dp/B001GIOGDC/ref=pd_ts_vg_h__7?ie=UTF8&s=videogames
December 29th, 2008
I has more to do with what Mike says in, “gamers with so many choices,” than anything else.
Gamers and critics are both getting a lot of high quality games at the same time… so the bar gets risen on reviews.
When it comes to purchases though, marketing and advertising properly goes a long way towards sales. If the market is too crowded, gamers have only so much money to purchase with, especially now, and especially with the popularity of rentals.
People are starting to realize more that renting is the way to go to get the most gaming for their dollar ($60 dollars for two weeks on a good game, or $60 for as many good games as I can play in 3-4 months?)… unfortunately this doesn’t really bode well for sales.
December 29th, 2008
Sorry: “I think it has more” is how the above should read.
December 29th, 2008
I just finished PoP and had a great time with it. Although it may be too easy (is it really a drawback ?), it really deserves a try. And I really enjoyed the cell-shaded look of it.
Mirror’s Edge had its flaws but was very refreshing. People shouldn’t complain all the time about all the games being copies of one another and then pass on something so new !
December 29th, 2008
I think about my games purchases, and keep whatever I play. My rental market is only for the games that I wouldn’t want to pay for or have on my shelf.
My games catalog is Like some people’s Movie collections. There is nothing new in this regard. Even back in the day on the snes and genesis, there were people who rented all their games (or most) and there were those (like me) who bought all their games, and rented the ones they were compelled enough to purchase. This trend may be effected by the economy to some degree, but I seriously doubt rentals will ever be a sutiable alternative to gamer like me, though I may be part of a dying breed.
December 29th, 2008
I remember when I used to buy all my games… the genesis was my weakness. And now a decade later all 947 of them fit with the emulator in under 1 gig… cheez. I also remember when I used to buy VHS tapes… ugh.
December 29th, 2008
Yeah the market was so crowded for the Christmas Season. So much to buy and not enough money. Don’t they know were in a recession. Those games will pick up later as the 2009 rolls on. It’s just a matter of time.
December 29th, 2008
Dead Space is truly a good game and Prince of Persia I have no clue but I’m a fan of the series. Mirriors Edge was truly crap no matter how original it was.
December 29th, 2008
dead space should be a must buy… problem is people (including me) buy a game judged on whether it would last long and on multiplayer… which is sad…
December 29th, 2008
also… I want to know why Harry Sachz is in the “official” sidebar game blorge poll???
I thought kev was our mascot/punchbag…
you guys are so biased…
December 29th, 2008
No mention of Valkyria Chronicles? I think it averaged higher review scores and sold less than all three games you guys mentioned.
-Arvis
December 29th, 2008
speaking of underperforming games…
remember some of the canceled games??? lets say… Eight days??? well I was listening to Sarcastic gamer podcast the blue show… and I found out… one of the people who were involved with the project released some videos on it…
it looks like the cover system… and so far… it looks very good… its a shame this game wont come out… because the cover system looks so natural… I hope Uncharted 2 has a cover system like this…
also… guess which game was bumped for Eight days… it was eyepet…
jesus fucking christ…
December 29th, 2008
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-bdTT6lQTc&feature=related
sorry forgot to put the link
here it is…
December 30th, 2008
darkwhitehair:
Do you currently own a PLAYSTATION 3? If so i apologize for the bad comments i left you you before. And yeah Eight Days was looking good to us. Uncharted 2 will be just like the first one perfect trust me i know a good game when i see it.
December 30th, 2008
Ivan… I dont mind being harrased on the net… Ive faced much worse in Kindergarten…
perhaps the best way for you to get some respect around a crap pest like here is by dropping the list of TV shows on your website… and perhaps having something better to say that “TEH PS3 RULEZ”
I hope Uncharted 2 is good… but it includes some new stuff like “stealth action gameplay”… which is a risk… but I have faith on the devs… but I want a fucking sly cooper game…
also… eight days was canceled because it didnt have “online features” and apparently Sony is focusing more on games with online features…
which really pisses me off…
December 31st, 2008
I own two of the three games listed and the third I am very interested in…
-Mirror’s Edge – I received as a birthday gift. I’m about half way through and had to put it down for a while. It’s an ok game. When you get your speed up and string together movements, it can be very exciting. Some of the level designs are not very good. Combat is a joke. It’s ironic that they show silhouettes of Faith doing slick, stylized fighting moves during load times. I don’t think the moves shown are even possible. All in all… average. Nothing special.
-Prince of Persia – I got for Christmas. I was hesitant at first because I would always end up getting stuck in the older games. I like the fact that the game runs a lot smoother. I can live with out load times or continue screens. His movements seem to be much easier to control, which makes for more enjoyable experience. All in all – Very good.
Dead Space – I missed, but was interested in it. I wasn’t very impressed with the demo. I might pick this up used at some point though.