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March 2014: God Dammit Games Industry


On 03/11/2014 at 11:03 PM by Casey Curran

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March 4th
South Park: The Stick of Truth (Win, PS3, X360)
The Walking Dead: Season Two - Episode 2: A House Divided (Win, Mac, PS3)

March 11th
Atelier Escha & Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky (PS3)
Dark Souls II (Win, PS3, X360)
Titanfall (Win, XBO)

March 14th
Yoshi's New Island (3DS)

March 18th
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster (PS3, PSVita)
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (PS3, PS4, X360, XBO)
Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z (Win, PS3, X360)

March 21st
Infamous: Second Son (PS4)

March 25th
BlazBlue: Chronophantasma (PS3)
Deception IV: Blood Ties (PS3, PSVita)
Diablo III: Reaper of Souls (Win, Mac)
Smite (Win)
The Witch and the Hundred Knight (PS3)
Titanfall (X360)

March 31st
Age of Wonders III (Win, Mac)
Shovel Knight (3DS, WiiU, Win)

These are the releases for this month. Last week had one huge retail release plus The Walking Dead, this week has three big games (as well as some weird Lolita game I'm hoping every day I don't get a review code for), next week has one of the biggest HD releases, the PS4's first huge exclusive, the next MGS game, and some crazy, but cool looking Ninja Gaiden game. After that, there's a lot of games, but none really that high profile save Titanfall on 360.

Now, let's say for sake of argument, you were interested in JUST the higher profile ones. I'd say that would mean South Park, Walking Dead, DS2, Titanfall, Yoshi, FF X HD, MGS, and Infamous. I'll be lenient and keep Ninja Gaiden/Diablo off even though a lot of gamers will still want these. WD you could have the season pass, so I'll give it a pass since someone willing to buy the rest of these would probably have the season pass. That puts you at $390 if you want everything in March day one. $10 more and you can get a PS4.

Now, no one is obviously going to get all of these games (except Monty), but therein lies a problem: The games industry banks a lot on day one purchases. And when we don't buy on day one, they bitch because they need to drop prices quickly to compete with used copies being traded in. That's just a part of capitalism, it's not perfect, but people are afraid to change it. 

From my perspective, however, if an industry relies so much on early sales and demands quite the investment from fans, why the FUCK would they overload a month so god damn much? I know, complaining about too much to play, first world problems, but it's just proof of how incompetent the industry is. I looked at the next month and outside Elder Scrolls Online, the only game resembling something big is Amazing Spider-Man 2. Are you telling me none of these games could get pushed to April? 

There's quite a few games I'd want to get off this, but am holding off. Hell, South Park, MGS, and Infamous would be too much if it weren't for trade in credit and gift cards, but I don't have time to add anything else so I'll be holding off Titanfall and Yoshi, two games I really want to play, and FF, which I could have been convinced during a slower month.

So what's my point here? Well, I'm willing to bet something will lose money or not meet sales expectations. And I just want to bring awareness to this so you can call them out, let them know they're idiots and this is all their fault. And to hold off on some of these if you want a lot because summer looks pretty barren, they'll still be there and much cheaper when you have more time. Because this industry has no right to complain about game sales when they have a month like this.


 

Comments

Halochief90

03/12/2014 at 12:53 AM

I know what you mean, there's so much stuff coming out. I don't know why some of these didn't come out last fall where there weren't any games to catch my interest.

I plan on buying all three of those March 18 games. Yaiba is going to have to wait though. FFX HD is like 100 hours of content and I don't see the point in buying anything else while I'm playing that. The only reason I'm getting Ground Zeroes is because it's apparently pretty short and I can get through it quickly.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:22 AM

Yeah, GZ being short doesn't bother me too much. Especially since I know I'll end up replaying it enough for me to get my $30 worth.

Super Step Contributing Writer

03/12/2014 at 01:09 AM

It's kind of like if the Grammys. Oscars and the Superbowl were on different channels at the same time on the same day. Only dumber. And obviously, in that scenario, the Superbowl would crush the competition, but I think you know what I mean.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:24 AM

Superbowl would also be the only one I'd give enough shits about to watch. Unless it was this year's Superbowl. Fuck that game.

Super Step Contributing Writer

03/13/2014 at 09:46 AM

Yeah, I started out rooting for the Seahawks and I'm still glad they won, but damn I wished that hadn't been so one-sided. Got boring quick. 

Of course, considering I was only rooting for them because of how much I like rain and Seattle's music scene, I guess it's fitting the Half-Time Show was the only part of that broadcast worth much.

Captain N

03/12/2014 at 01:43 AM

Yeah, I think they should choose the release dates more carefully. I mean April looks pretty slow, they could of used a slow month for big releases because said games could have that month all to themselves. Having big releases too close to each other is a bad idea and why some games might get overshadowed by other high profile releases.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:24 AM

I'm all but certain Ninja Gaiden's going to be hurt by this.

KnightDriver

03/12/2014 at 04:12 AM

You're not supposed to be into all of those games. You are either a FPS fan and get Titanfall, or a South Park fan and get Stick of Truth, or a JRPG fan and get Atelier Iris, or a Nintendo fan and get Yoshi's Island, or a fighting game fan and get Yaiba and on and on. They think each game is hitting a different demographic and so not competing with each other. Thing is, if you're hardcore, like you and I are, you want most if not all of those games. Ah, it's hard being so into games. There's just not enough time or money for it all is there.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:27 AM

Even then there's still plenty of non-hardcore gamers who would feel a little overwhelmed. Take my friend who loves South Park, said how he needed to play Titanfall when I showed the E3 footage, and FFX is his favorite game for example. He's not a hardcore gamer, but he does enjoy them and will only be spending full price on one of these games now.

KnightDriver

03/13/2014 at 02:26 AM

Yea, they do tend to pile on releases in certain months of the year. Seems a little stupid to me. Do people really get so many games in a month?

Cary Woodham

03/12/2014 at 05:34 AM

Easy fix: skip all those other games and just get Yoshi's New Island.  There, problem solved.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:25 AM

I'm waiting for a Buy 1 get 1 free sale on 3DS games so I can pick that and Kirby up together.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

03/12/2014 at 08:20 AM

march always seems to be the biggest month for games outside the holidays.  maybe because it's the end of a lot of companies' fiscal year. 

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:27 AM

That's actually a really good point.

jgusw

03/12/2014 at 08:24 AM

The Witch and the Hundred Knight (PS3) is the only game release this month I plan to get this month.  I want Sout Park too, but I'll have to get it later. 

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:28 AM

I got a review offer for that, but declined it. Looked like something I'd hate

C.S.3590SquadLeader

03/12/2014 at 03:06 PM

I want to at least pick up Yoshi's New Island, but I'm still a little strapped for cash. Shovel Knight looks good too.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:28 AM

Yoshi I'm waiting on. South Park, MGS, and Infamous take priority.

TheMart22

03/12/2014 at 03:20 PM

I think Matt might be onto something. I completely agree with you though. Seems senseless to me too

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:29 AM

Oh well, I'll have plenty to keep me busy well through April at least. Because I know I'm replaying South Park.

TripOpt55

03/12/2014 at 04:15 PM

It definitely seems like something will get lost in the shuffle, but I can't imagine what it is. I look at the big ones here and see them all selling well. Either due to the series being a big enough deal or the different platforms they are targetting. That likely won't be the case, so I will be curious to see next month's sales numbers.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:30 AM

Yeah, it is true that there are a lot of different factors. Maybe if there were a few less this could work, but I think this is taking things too far.

SanAndreas

03/12/2014 at 04:28 PM

This month is pretty loaded up, and there's a lot I want coming out, like MGSV: GZ, Atelier E&L, Dark Souls II, and of course the FFX/X2 HD Remaster. These games are also fighting for recognition against the much-hyped Titanfall, which is supposed to be the "savior" of the Xbone.

I don't think that's bad per se, even though I don't have spare money to buy everything on this list, or the time to play it. But it is unfortunate that the game industry is so reliant on day-one sales and they claim to take huge losses if a game isn't a success right out of the gate. It seems to me that games had longer tails back in the day, but maybe that could be chalked down to game industry news not being readily available on the Internet back then, and day-one sales were as important then as now.

On the other hand, unless you're talking about Nintendo titles, most games do drop like a stone after the first week.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:31 AM

Yeah, if the other companies worked like Nintendo, I wouldn't see an issue. They'll make a profit off Yoshi no matter what.

F1r3inth3H0L3

03/12/2014 at 11:47 PM

Yea, tons of good stuff there. Fortunately for me, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes is the only "must-have" game that I will buy day one, and it's the cheapest, $30.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

03/13/2014 at 01:31 AM

I hope there's enough content to justify $30 in that.

V4Viewtiful

03/13/2014 at 12:07 AM

BlazBlue is out this month? Damn!

Nicoleb1989

03/13/2014 at 01:49 AM

I really wish they wouldnt load months up with games, it drives me batty and makes me broke faster. In 2012 my bday month was ridiclous, I only survived because I got money has gifts from people. I am though prolly only buying 3 games this month, Yoshi's Island, Metal Gear Solid, and Dynasty Warriors 8:Complete Edition.

NSonic79

05/06/2014 at 01:30 PM

blog bookmakred and saved. let's see what we hear about in the next couple of months.

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