Depressing game sale stats

[Gamereviewgod]

In the new EGM, there's a small chart about new games vs. sequels:

Number of original (new Intellectual properties) games that finished in the top 10 sales in '04: 0

Number of original properties that finished in the top 50: 1 (Fable)

Number of.... in the top 100: 4 (Fable, True Crime, Rise to Honor, Red Dead Revolver)

Ouch.

[Hiryu]

sigh...Well, it's only a matter of time.....

[njiska]

To be fair though a lot of really good sequels have been released in the last year. I admit i'd like to see more good original properties (Still-life, Killer 7, etc.)

Later year brought us some rather good sequels. GTA: SA is just hue and full of lots to do, Half-life 2's physics were unbeleivable, and MGS 3 featured new innovations to classic MGS game play and it also feature one of the deepest, most moving stories i've ever seen and i'm not just talking about games.

[Sylentwulf]

Number of sports games in '04 in the top hundred? Probly around 50. Take out EVERY single sports game, then re-compile the list, I bet it will be fairly different.

[davepesc]

Number of sports games in '04 in the top hundred? Probly around 50. Take out EVERY single sports game, then re-compile the list, I bet it will be fairly different.

Yeah, there wouldn't be 100 games because just about every company would be broke.

Sports games pay the bills and keep the industry afloat.

[GarrettCRW]

Red Dead Revolver

Wasn't this developed by/for Capcom, then dumped on Rockstar?

*calls this out as a failed Gun.Smoke revival*

[Gamereviewgod]

Wasn't this developed by/for Capcom, then dumped on Rockstar?

Capcom developed and then dropped it. Not sure how Rockstar got a hold of it.

[Slimedog]

Wasn't this developed by/for Capcom, then dumped on Rockstar?

Capcom developed and then dropped it. Not sure how Rockstar got a hold of it.

Knowing Rockstar, they either won it in a poker game or looted it off a dead hooker.

[Mianrtcv]

Number of sports games in '04 in the top hundred? Probly around 50. Take out EVERY single sports game, then re-compile the list, I bet it will be fairly different.

Yeah, there wouldn't be 100 games because just about every company would be broke.

Sports games pay the bills and keep the industry afloat.

Too true. I am definitely in possesion of way too many sports titles. Wait did I say that? Seriously, sports games put the fans in the stands.

[davepesc]

In the new EGM, there's a small chart about new games vs. sequels:

Number of original (new Intellectual properties) games that finished in the top 10 sales in '04: 0

Number of original properties that finished in the top 50: 1 (Fable)

Number of.... in the top 100: 4 (Fable, True Crime, Rise to Honor, Red Dead Revolver)

Ouch.

In that same article, they say a game needs to sell 1.2 million copies (600k in the first year and 600k over the next couple) to break even.

No wonder they play it safe.

[s1lence]

Yeah I saw that article too. I thought it wasn't possible but then I look at all the sequels that are in the marketplace. I guess it doesn't really matter as long as the games are still good, but I would like to see more original stuff.

[Mr.FoodMonster]

In that same article, they say a game needs to sell 1.2 million copies (600k in the first year and 600k over the next couple) to break even.

No wonder they play it safe.

That dosn't sound right at all. You cant just throw out some static number like that for all games. And so few games actually sell that way, there is no way thats true. Where money is made in the videogame industry is the software, and figures like that are impossible just for every game to 'Break even'. Thats a greatest hits game, so I'd say something like 20% of games do even close to that well.
(P.S., this is me calling "BS!" to EGM)

[ddockery]

I'd say the numbner to break even varies a LOT from game to game. The simpler games (which are fewer and further between these days) can break even a lot faster than the cutting edge games that make a whole new gaming engine. Throwing out a static number like that doesn't even make sense.

[Kilik Kurosawa]

In that same article, they say a game needs to sell 1.2 million copies (600k in the first year and 600k over the next couple) to break even.

No wonder they play it safe.[/quote]

1200000
X 50.
----------
$60,000,000

Actually that is not too far off for some of the bigger titles. $30 mil the first year? and another 30 over the next couple, that is a believable number imo, but I am no eco buff.

[s1lence]

That number I believe would be correct for a large release, like Halo 2 or Enter the Matrix. I don't see how that fits with games like Katamari Damacy. :/