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Prey's debut sales in the UK seem quite low
- Thread starter Nirolak
- Start date
I think they focused the marketing on Twitch, but it's a singleplayer game and even if many are convinced that Twitch marketing works for everything, i strongly believe that it only works for multiplayer games and some indie games.
A lot of people who watch singleplayer games on Twitch dont end up buying the final product, i think
A lot of people who watch singleplayer games on Twitch dont end up buying the final product, i think
GreySquirrel
Member
1. When I heard that it was not in fact a sequel to the portal Native American game my interest dropped off a cliff.
2. Have too many things to play right now and making a conscious effort not to add to my backlog.
Ironically from what I gather, the gameplay is actually more to my liking than the "original" Prey. I will probably pick it up in a few months
2. Have too many things to play right now and making a conscious effort not to add to my backlog.
Ironically from what I gather, the gameplay is actually more to my liking than the "original" Prey. I will probably pick it up in a few months
It's also a "dead" franchise. Still it's sad to see it selling so bad when there was this crappy Ubisoft Tom Clancy game some time ago that sold tons.
Like many on Gaf, I hardly knew Prey released last week, although I saw that demo thread floating around.
Not really interested in the game personally, the fighting looked a bit whiffle bat floaty and the visuals seemed weird and off (but I always feel that way with Arkane games and their art style).
Good luck to the devs though, reviews seem quite good.
Not really interested in the game personally, the fighting looked a bit whiffle bat floaty and the visuals seemed weird and off (but I always feel that way with Arkane games and their art style).
Good luck to the devs though, reviews seem quite good.
It's not crappy tho
BigTnaples
Todd Howard's Secret GAF Account
Would like to support this title. But won't until I see solid Pro support. No excuse.
Turin Turambar
Member
Which in a way serves to prove a point, about marketing.
People aren't going to invest time into researching games and stuff, they are going to look a 60-90 second trailer. With luck.
So with that surface level look, they can mistakenly believe it's like another type of game, like SOMA.
The problem is, how to show off the qualities of an immersive sim, if people's attention span and/or time is so short?
It's one of the reason companies prefer to do dumbed down games: they adapt better to marketing campaigns.
This is probably a tough year for sleeper hits.
People already spent tons of money on games this year because of all the killer AAA stuff that came out and games like Prey easily go on the "yeah I'm still busy playing Zelda and Persona so I'll get it when it's cheap" list.
Add Bethesda's no reviews policy which means less day 1 internet buzz and there you go.
People already spent tons of money on games this year because of all the killer AAA stuff that came out and games like Prey easily go on the "yeah I'm still busy playing Zelda and Persona so I'll get it when it's cheap" list.
Add Bethesda's no reviews policy which means less day 1 internet buzz and there you go.
Heckler456
Banned
I'm so far behind on my backlog, I can't even entertain the notion of buying this game, even though it looks really interesting.
Bigmac1910
Member
The environments and mobs just seems so boring to me, I've seen quite a bit of promotional material and even tried to watch Twitch streams, but I couldn't stand it for more than 5 min (even from my favorite streamer). Not sure what this game is lacking but it just doesn't seem to click with me. Maybe more people are in the same boat and that's why it's not selling that well?
ISee
Member
Because it takes time to produce them and you need to book them in advance. Slots are probably already sold out. It is also a budget question. You can't just move funds around easily in a company and adds are expansive.
Phantom Head Shaver
Neo Member
I think most of these kinds of games don't sell all that well at launch but gain a cult game status through word of mouth later on. Just look at System Shock 2, Vampire The Masquerade Bloodlines and so on. Immersive sims are incredibly niche, most people don't even know they're a thing. (Also the non-descriptive name for the genre doesn't really help things either...)
Antiwhippy
the holder of the trombone
Eh, you can say the same for nier, but it did pretty well for itself.
Difference is that it actually had a marketing leadup.
Magic Mushroom
Member
Somebody in the Prey thread made a good point. Immersive sims will exist, but they will probably be lower budget.
I do hope Prey has legs though.
Spacecowboy77
Member
I imagine many people just wait on reviews. Product of Bethesda's own policies.
mcwizardry
Member
Game is excellent, hope it does better over time.
Wildlands is the best selling game of the year so far. It has an MC is the low to mid 70s.
Succinct Verbosity
Member
I have the money for the game, but I simply don't have the time. Persona suffered with this as well, so it's not like I'm picking on one game. I'm just at a point in life where I can't justify picking up games at launch that I might play.
It is a shame really, because I bought Doom at launch... But again, as a poster above me said, even that game dropped in price within months of release. Maybe that's where Bethesda hope to make the bulk of their sales.
It is a shame really, because I bought Doom at launch... But again, as a poster above me said, even that game dropped in price within months of release. Maybe that's where Bethesda hope to make the bulk of their sales.
That's a coop shooter though.
I'd say that this kind of single player story focused AAA game is pretty much exactly what people that still read (and write) reviews look for.
King Gilga
Member
That's how it is in every industry, it doesn't matter.
Spacecowboy77
Member
Reviews are not just scores. Some people just want to know if the game is for them.
Magic Mushroom
Member
Well, it matters for Arkane and everybody on the work floor.
Militaratus
Member
I enjoyed the demo, and honestly knew the game would release right around the corner as they said so in the demo announcement email, but honestly I blacked out the release of this game completely due to the amount of heart attacks every morphing enemy gave me.
If reviews are just scores than why does it matter? The demo for Prey could not have been that much worse than the beta for Wildlands. My point is that we put too much weight on MC scores and marketing when certain games appeal to the masses while others are fundamentally niche. One could argue that the worst thing to happen to the immersive sim genre was the success of Deus Ex HR and Dishonored. It fooled people into thinking that there is a massive market for these games. As we have now seen over the last 9 months, there isn't.
PS. I love the genre but it is unquestionably niche on consoles.
How about Watch Dogs or Far Cry Primal?
Di watch dogs review badly? I don't remember. Far Cry is a well established franchise too.
Anyway, I'm not trying to argue that games with mediocre reviews can't sell a lot copies. But that good reviews at release can help push that type of game and kickstart word of mouth.
As you pointed out, immersive sims are pretty niche, the exposure of such a push would certainly not hurt.
Psycho_Mantis
Banned
I had no idea this game even existed 0_0
It looks fantastic. I think it will have legs from good word of mouth. Hopefully. The blame is on the poor advertising.
It looks fantastic. I think it will have legs from good word of mouth. Hopefully. The blame is on the poor advertising.
grandwizard
Member
After DEMD, DH2 and this... yeah RIP immersive sims. See you in another ten years.
Hitman could be the saving grace.
Agreed. Personally, maybe incorrectly, I have come to the conclusion that a market for such games is more akin to smaller Japanese releases, think Yakuza or Platinum games rather than major Western AAA games. This is not judging the quality of the product per se. Just its appeal.
xrnzaaas
Member
I'm really enjoying the game, but I fully expect it to be a bigger bomb than Dishonored 2 (it's not a coincidence that they didn't announce any DLC's for D2). There's just not that much potential in selling a sci-fi/horror singleplayer game, especially one that lacked good marketing and is a brand new IP.
EdwardTivrusky
Member
I'd only know it was out because of Giant Bomb and GAF. I'll pick it up later on once i've ran down my backlog from the amazing start to the year. From what i've seen the game looks decent so like Andromeda i'll definitely get it but i'm not sure when. With finite time something has to give.
arts&crafts
Member
Are UK sales down for all games? Isnt Brexit a thing that may affect game sales? (I actually have no Idea I am across the pond)
AHA-Lambda
Member
We've had no evidence yet to suggest Brexit has impacted game sales in any significant way
wild wild rice
Member
That's a shame. I hope more people give it a shot. I'm about 5 hours in and having a great time.
Head.spawn
Junior Member
I'm about 4-5 hours in, definitely digging it so far.
I'll look forward to all the Lttp threads from our UK friends.
I'll look forward to all the Lttp threads from our UK friends.
Played demo. Felt like dishonored 2. Aesthetic not appealing to me.
Astral Dog
Member
i don't even know what Prey is
31GhostsIV
Banned
I did buy it, but after four hours with it I seem to be stuck and dying repeatedly. Instead of pushing through or looking up what I must be doing incorrectly, I just end up switching the PS4 off and doing something else with a mild feeling of buyer's remorse lingering over the whole thing.
Even ignoring the Metacritic rating or reviews overall and how effective they are, they do unquestionably add a marketing moment (well if the game reviews well lol). When like Persona 5 or w/e gets a million 9s and 10s it tends to trend on social media
There was a games writer who pointed out that Prey's searches were like lesser than games that had come out a month or two earlier and were not backed by a huge publisher. The game absolutely needed more of a spotlight and reviews could have ended up doing that. This isn't DOOM where it has brand recognition or easy to pick up and play mechanics. It's also not a game that's easily shown off in videos for the most part.
There was a games writer who pointed out that Prey's searches were like lesser than games that had come out a month or two earlier and were not backed by a huge publisher. The game absolutely needed more of a spotlight and reviews could have ended up doing that. This isn't DOOM where it has brand recognition or easy to pick up and play mechanics. It's also not a game that's easily shown off in videos for the most part.
ModernBoxes
Banned
Massafect and Calladuty fans should play Prey. Female heavy cast, you're in a space ship, you take missions for various side quests.
Even Goldenye fans should play Prey, since there is a
golden
High recommends. Though again the dishonored 2 connection doesn't have weight to it.
Big Green Anus
Member
I would not say hate, but I prefer the first Dishonored quite a bit. I stopped play two after level 3 or 4.