AnathemicOne
Banned
As much as I like the look of Destiny... wtf Activision? 500 million into a game that's not even on PC? Got to to be kidding me...
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Activision spending $500 million on developing and marketing Destiny
- Thread starter ComputerMKII
- Start date
jhmtehgamr20xx
Banned
Guys,...this could be the Death of Activision in the making. Insane expectations.
I think it's 500 million on the franchise/Bungie, not just Destiny (1).
(Edit : Wow, no. I thought because of the 10 years agreement, but apparently it's for the first entry? Wow...)
Halo 3 sold like 11m+ copies on one system, in a smaller gaming market.
Considering Destiny is promising loot based competitive PvP and PvE on 4 systems in a bigger market those numbers don't look insane at all.
Bungie is as sure a thing in the industry as it gets. And really, who cares what Activision is spending anyway when they obviously have the money to burn. If this was Microsoft they would be spending close to that in order to keep game off the PS4.
Deadly Cyclone
Pride of Iowa State
n00bsauce87
Member
As someone said, GTAV
The amount of doubt on this board. Anyone mentioned any Avatar bets? I think people need to start backing it up.
Admiral Bone to Pick
Banned
No it isn't. Activision has a market cap comparable to Sony or Nintendo. And I don't see why the expectation of 15 million copies or so is so astronomically unlikely. It's a heavily hyped title launching in fall across the 4 most popular platforms with the backing of the largest 3rd party publisher by far and (as this likely indicates) a huge marketing budget. Even if the game sold only around 5 million on the PS4 and XB1 and around 2.5 million each on the 360/PS3, it would still reach the goal. Not saying it's likely, but it's not ridiculous to think it could happen.
FUBAR McDangles
Member
Dang that's a lot of money.
Lots of the guys at Bungie seem like nice guys so I hope they can get the sales they want but expecting in excess of 15 million copies sold? I don't know about that.
Lots of the guys at Bungie seem like nice guys so I hope they can get the sales they want but expecting in excess of 15 million copies sold? I don't know about that.
You're right that there were far fewer board quests in BL2. However, I still found the story narrative quite weak. The ridiculousness and wackiness of the entire Borderlands universe prevents me from taking it seriously. At least the first one knew it wasn't serious and all you chased was loot, even the main quest's objective was to get loot. They tried to make it more serious in BL2 but that didn't work for me.
Marketing will help sell enough copies. Activision just needs to make the massive investment for the first game, with the latter iterations taking care of themselves.
With the engine completed and the game a household name, through the shear marketing effort, the next project will cost significantly less on the back end as an established IP.
A PC version not existing is particularly baffling. Call of Duty sells abysmally on PC, but that is due to a variety of reasons including high price, bad PC versions, extremely similar iterations, and low skill ceiling gameplay. Borderlands 2, which this game shares many similarities with, sold over 3 million copies on PC alone.
Source on BL2 sales: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/04/steam-gauge-addressing-your-questions-and-concerns/2/
Source on CoD selling abysmally: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=812257
With the engine completed and the game a household name, through the shear marketing effort, the next project will cost significantly less on the back end as an established IP.
A PC version not existing is particularly baffling. Call of Duty sells abysmally on PC, but that is due to a variety of reasons including high price, bad PC versions, extremely similar iterations, and low skill ceiling gameplay. Borderlands 2, which this game shares many similarities with, sold over 3 million copies on PC alone.
Source on BL2 sales: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/04/steam-gauge-addressing-your-questions-and-concerns/2/
Source on CoD selling abysmally: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=812257
LSauchelli
Member
The only 'first game in a series' (more like games) that comes to mi head that managed this kind of sales were the original Pokémon games. Red/Green/Blue sold about 10 million in Japan, and Red/Blue about 9 million in the USA and 4 million in Europe (I think that last number might be incorrect, somehow seems too low), for a total of about 23 million copies.
I guess it might be doable? But in the current market it does seem nearly impossible for them to break even just with the sales of the first game.
I guess it might be doable? But in the current market it does seem nearly impossible for them to break even just with the sales of the first game.
Huh?
Isn't it the same price as Battlefield?
Battlefield 4 was 50% off within a few months of release, Ghosts has yet to break 33% off.
The old iterations rarely go below $10-$20 on sale as the gameplay is too similar. Activision would prefer you to pick up the newest product and DLC, rather than getting an older game and getting the 'Call of Duty experience' for significantly cheaper.
Was waiting for this reply haha.
These are the types of moves that tank developers 
Hope it pans out for them but those are pretty lofty shoes to feel. The "unprecedented partnership" makes even less sense to me now. You'd think with 15-16 million needed to break even, you'd want to advertise the fuck out of the game across the board. It's not really a Call of Duty like situation where the game is already known and established.
Hope it pans out for them but those are pretty lofty shoes to feel. The "unprecedented partnership" makes even less sense to me now. You'd think with 15-16 million needed to break even, you'd want to advertise the fuck out of the game across the board. It's not really a Call of Duty like situation where the game is already known and established.
I'll take an avatar bet that they won't hit 15 million in the first year.
AnathemicOne
Banned
GTAV, Destiny is the first game in its becoming franchise.
They really have it situated perfectly in the year though. September is far enough from CoD and Titanfall will be off the radar as well. Does EA even have a shooter coming out this year?
I believe they have Visceral working on a Battlefield title for this year.
They do have the window but I doubt this is going to do COD numbers straight out the game.
Gouty
Bloodborne is shit
That's not a bet. A bet would be they don't hit 15 million ever.
silver.tongue
Member
That pretty much confirms a "plataform" type of game, meaning no sequel. Just a continuous flow of DLC, maybe even a subscription model down the road.
After the first year though, hell possibly after the first few months, you're looking at a heavy discount for the game and thus less money going back to Activision.
PdotMichael
Banned
PC is a non factor. Not sure why people think the PC is an important market for such kind of games.
The other thing we have to remember is CoD sales are starting to stagnate. Activision is possibly looking at Destiny as their third pillar. CoD, Destiny, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Skylanders.
Citation needed.
Citation needed.
Trickster
Member
Except they've said there will be a Destiny 2 and wont be any subscription model required to play ( outside of xbl and psn )
The Horror the horror
Banned
Destiny might be a fresh IP, but gamers are aware of its pedigree, and as we approach launch, mainstream consumers will become aware of it, as well.
"From the original creators of Halo and from the people who brought you Call of Duty comes the next step in the evolution of first-person gaming and the experience of the century..."
That alone will sell 3-5 million.
AnathemicOne
Banned
Yeah sure, what was the last successful MMO on the console platforms?
Killing_Joke
Member
Didn't they also think COD:G was going to beat GTAV records? Silly Activision.
But this has to be divided in their 10 year plan. Because $500mil now doesn't make a lick of sense.
But this has to be divided in their 10 year plan. Because $500mil now doesn't make a lick of sense.
jhmtehgamr20xx
Banned
Fine then; I'm willing to bet the game won't meet their expectations. They won't recoup the marketing costs by the end of the holidays. They think the game will have GTA5 selling power but it won't. Neither did TitanFall.
If I'm wrong I'll happily change my avatar to whatever you want.
Destiny has some MMO-trappings, but it is far from an MMO. Even Bungie shies away from using that connotation.
Destiny looks to be just one large instance, where small groups share smaller shards or instances. MMOs are generally defined as a large, persistent world where everyone plays at once. Destiny is just a more modern take on an online first person shooter.
I see what you are trying to say though, it does have a similar model to very successful games on PC, including Borderlands 2.
With that kind of faith/money. This game has to have some sort of local multiplayer modes (like 2 player splitscreen online or something) that will make it a game played when friends comes over and as a result expose it to more people, and spiral it into a hugely popular franchise like Halo and COD became right guys... right?
please.
LOL.
please.
LOL.
SatelliteOfLove
Member
The leader becomes the follower.
Trickster
Member
The last really successfull PC MMO released in 2004....
AnathemicOne
Banned
Not upset just baffling. But if people are upset just imagine if the game doesn't produce that much sales given the huge budget, that doesn't translate well to being a product to support in the longterm.
False, but I suppose it depends on your definition of, 'really successful.' If you use that term to refer to one of the most successful games as all time, then I can see why it may be difficult to brand others in that light.
Games such as The Old Republic and Guild Wars 2 have been very successful in the recent years. There are a few upcoming MMOs that look to do just fine in the West.
EternalTruth
Member
Ridiculous! From what they have shown I am seeing similarities to SWTOR for some reason. Game had a $600 million budget but the world ended up a boring, empty, cookie-cutter mess...
I hope Destiny doesn't turn out like that... I loved the Halo games so I have faith in Bungie. But its now so close to launch and we haven't seen much and from what I have seen it doesn't really impress and the fact that this large open shooter is also cross-gen scares me that's for sure.
Game should have dropped last gen and added PC support imo...
I hope Destiny doesn't turn out like that... I loved the Halo games so I have faith in Bungie. But its now so close to launch and we haven't seen much and from what I have seen it doesn't really impress and the fact that this large open shooter is also cross-gen scares me that's for sure.
Game should have dropped last gen and added PC support imo...
Muppet of a Man
Member
What the fuck? That could have funded like over 100 awesome mid-tier games that will never exist again because of this bs.
I think Destiny looks awesome; don't get me wrong. But was it's development worth the trading of a possible 100+ other potentially good games?
I think Destiny looks awesome; don't get me wrong. But was it's development worth the trading of a possible 100+ other potentially good games?
AnathemicOne
Banned
What is your definition of successful? Because GW2 is doing well and has just started to release in China as of last week.
Successful MMO != WoW Killer
BruiserBear
Banned
If I were Activision I'd be pretty nervous right about now. The reception to this game so far has been lukewarm.
Unlikely.
Unlikely.
krypt0nian
Banned
These mid-tier games would never exist regardless. Bungie doesn't make them.
Concern trolling?