Tetris Evolution 360. Brilliant Marketing Idea? or missed opportunity?

[GrandAmChandler]

So next week Tetris Evolution comes to 360. But, it's not an arcade title, it's a budget disc game. Retailing at $29.99 in the U.S, and here are the features from THQ's website:



Xbox 360™ Features

Get ready to take your Tetris® game to the next level and beyond! Tetris Evolution features all-new game play modes, multiple customizations, and Xbox Live features that will have you hooked for hours!

* Play in single, multi-player, or new multi-player LIVE mode
* Customizable themes, skins, icons, and soundtracks set you apart from the rest
* Tetriminos pop off the screen with intense HD graphics
* Crush your opponent in an exhilarating battle with the newest Tetris features



http://www.thq.com/assets/1/1268_bss_01.jpg
http://www.thq.com/assets/1/1268_bss_02.jpg

But why release this as a disc game? Is this a genius idea to make more money per unit? Or a missed opportunity to make this a great XBLA title and potentially sell more units? What do you think?

-GAC-

[heybtbm]

Here are a few reasons why I think this is a bad idea:

1.) Multiplayer Tetris has already been perfected on the DS. Most people are not getting anything new here.
2.) Tetris is better as a handheld game (my personal opinion, of course).
3.) THQ and Tetris should never be mentioned in the same sentence again(most people here know why).
4.) The existance of XBLA and the quality of the games available make this release seem like a huge rip-off to a majority of 360 users.

All this being said, I wouldn't have bought this for $10, let alone $30.

[Oobgarm]

Here are a few reasons why I think this is a bad idea:

1.) Multiplayer Tetris has already been perfected on the DS. Most people are not getting anything new here.
2.) Tetris is better as a handheld game (my personal opinion, of course).
3.) THQ and Tetris should never be mentioned in the same sentence again(most people here know why).
4.) The existance of XBLA and the quality of the games available make this release seem like a huge rip-off to a majority of 360 users.

All this being said, I wouldn't have bought this for $10, let alone $30.

WINRAR

[fahlim003]

The Grandmaster Ace probably stomps all over this game. I will say that it looks promising though.

[briskbc]

I wonder what percentage of 360 owners are on Live. I'm not. I just haven't put the effort into it. I'm in no real hurry.

I'm still not paying $30 for tetris.

[cyberfluxor]

To us it's pretty lame, to the casual gamer they may be more accepting to this practice. As a non-Xbox owner I would have thought XBL would have been a better choice.

[udisi]

I actually think they'll make more money on this in disc form. They haven't put a whole ton of money into advertising this. IE not stnad-ups in Game stop or big ads in magazines. This will pretty much just show up on store selves. The actual cost per item on production for a company ike THQ is pretty damn cheap. Even after letting the retail chains get their bite of that 29.99, THQ is gonna make more than they would have per unit on xbla.

Now he's the big payoff. Tetris is such a name and franchise, that the casual gamer who want a tetris game on a new console will buy this.

One disadvantage to xbla is that you have to be online to use it and believe it or not, the majority of casual gamer are still not online.

[Oobgarm]

Putting this game out on disc is a smart move on the publisher's part, as it's the de-facto standard when it comes to casual gaming. Pretty much EVERYONE knows what Tetris is. If they don't, they're lying to you, or they really HAVE been living under that proverbial rock.

When it comes to value, though, it's a bad move IMO.

[Nebagram]

IMO, anyone who says that this game is better NOT on XBLA should have a masked ISP technician go round to their house in the night and cut all their internet wires in half. Sheer madness from THQ!

[xfrumx]

I like owning hard copies more than downloading so it is a great idea IMO