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[TheKingsCrown]

You don't know anything about typical consumers.

Thanks, your years of predicting typical consumers show this statement to be true.

Oh wait, they don't.:lol

 

[LiquidMetal14]

This was the 1up head honcho making the call. =P

No one is calling it a bomb though. No one. Thankfully. I had the facepalm ready though...

For the record, I'll pick this up next year at some point. Too many games to even play, let alone buy right now. Plus, I have a Blu Ray habit to support ok? Don't judge me!

Plus, Street Fighter HD Remix comes out this week, so all games are officially null and void in the face of a $15 game.

I am on the exact same boat as you. I really want this game but will have to wait on it. Also, same deal on SSF2HDROMGWTFBBQ.

 

[Grecco]

As said in the OP, Assassin's Creed sold fine in the same slot last year. Of course, AC is also 2-5x longer depending on your play style, and was one of the two 'big' HD games of the month, COD4 being the other.
.

The notion that AC was "longer" is arguable. If you dont care about flags, or templars, or other stuff its a short game.

But more to the seccond point. "just COD" ? Mass Effect? Uncharted? Assassins Creed was released in a month just as stacked as ME

 

[eznark]

But that's why I don't bother with multiplayer centric titles, they always become useless junk later on unless its a local-multi game

Technically I could say you wasted your money because in 10 years L4D is just a coaster whereas the Mirrors Edge people will have a game as long as the system works

I've already gotten more than enough value out of Left 4 Dead to be satisfied. When I pick up Mirror's Edge for $15-30 bucks used, I'll think the same about that as well.

 

[Evlar]

It's not just my mindset. It's the state of competition in a troubling economy! In case you haven't noticed, people aren't buying shit lately. Retailers expect the worst holiday season in 10 years. People are getting picky and, at least the hardcore (us) are going into this mindset.

Well, maybe. I doubt people are making the kind of playtime-versus-cost analysis suggested here (particularly considering playtime is variable- it always takes me 50% longer to finish a game than the GAF/1UP estimates, and "finishing" this game may not mean you're done). People have been buying very short games at full price for a long time.

If the recession is the issue it bears more directly on marketing and, as some have said, releasing it while there's so much competition. If this game had 50 hours of single-player gameplay I don't think it would be selling any better. If it had multiplayer it would only be selling marginally better. It needed more marketing, a better explanation of what's cool about it, and a launch date that wasn't suffocated with the release of games that have been pimped for years.

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

1 player First person game with little emphasis on shooting.

Seems pretty cut and dry to me why this is tanking.

Spoiler

Yes i'm being a bit hyperbolic, but for the sum of its parts i don't see this game being a blockbuster.

 

[itsinmyveins]

Exactly. Today you can go to the store and pick up Resistence 2, Gears of War 2, Left 4 Dead or Little Big Planet. Anyone of those games has a single player campaign and a multiplayer mode. The multiplayer mode is further broken down into co-op, deathmatch, etc. That's well over 35 hours of gameplay at $60. Those games have a story, achievements/trophies etc. How can you justify $60 for 6 hour game with that competition?

Because it's that good?

I'd rather see more games with a less than 10h campaign. I'm so tired of these 20h games which just repeat themselves gameplay wise. This oviously doesn't count for multiplayer focused games, though.

 

[Barrett2]

SSF2HDROMGWTFBBQ.

Sounds like my kind of game.

 

[Sushen]

As said in the OP, Assassin's Creed sold fine in the same slot last year. Of course, AC is also 2-5x longer depending on your play style, and was one of the two 'big' HD games of the month, COD4 being the other.

This year had far more competition plus a Gears of War launch, it should've been pushed to January/February.

I'm not a big fan of AC, but it's got a lot more mass appeal to it such as art style and presentation of it than "E-surance" look. I wouldn't say pitting against Halo 3 and COD 4 was any easier than Gears 2, btw.

 

[otake]

Because it's that good?

You don't know that at the store. You do know a lot about the other games because over half your friends list are playing them.

 

[Snowden]

1 player First person game with little emphasis on shooting.

Seems pretty cut and dry to me why this is tanking.

People say they want something new. People don't want something new.

 

[Evlar]

1 player First person game with little emphasis on shooting.

Seems pretty cut and dry to me why this is tanking.

Portal wasn't exactly the harbinger of Mirror's Edge's doom.

EDIT: That's an ugly possessive.

 

[otake]

People say they want something new. People don't want something new.

They'll take something new on the cheap.

 

[SolidSnakex]

People say they want something new. People don't want something new.

And that's the sad truth.

 

[∀ Narayan]

Because it's the best game released this year.

No, it isn't.

It's certainly the most genre pushing. But the best game released this year? In my opinion, it isn't.

 

[Feral Youth]

I do - fuck that Achievement, I just blew dudes away. Punched a motherfucker off a building!!

Drop kicked a train?

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

Portal wasn't exactly the harbinger of Mirror Edge's doom.

Portal was packaged with a game that people were buying anyway. It was a surprise.

Mirror's Edge doesn't have that luxury.

 

[itsinmyveins]

You don't know that at the store. You do know a lot about the other games because over half your friends list are playing them.

But you do know the amount of time it'll take to complete ME?

Man, I'd rather pay 60 bucks for Braid than 20 bucks for Resistance 2.

Then again; I'd rather see all games being sold at a cheaper price.

 

[Mistouze]

This is europe we are talking about. 70€ (do the math american fellows) for a game you can finish 6-7 hours. I know the game is supposed to have a lot of replayability but in the mind of people who didn't play it that's still a 10€ per hour game. That's the reason I did not bought it.

 

[Mejilan]

I was always mildly interested in this game, but the mixed impressions/reviews and the combination of price and short length all conspired to turn me off.

Additionally, this season was PACKED with games, and my budget is stretched tight.

I'll reconsider when it hits budget pricing levels. On the PC.

 

[Fuu]

I just pulled a 1 million number in sales for ME out of my ass. I hope some site grabs it and uses it as fact in a blog post.

 

[Kobun Heat]

Don't worry, Simon: kobunheatpulledthesenumbersoutofhisass.net says Mirror's Edge sold 1,900,069 copies in its first day! It's a sleeper hit!

 

[otake]

But you do know the amount of time it'll take to complete ME?

Man, I'd rather pay 60 bucks for Braid than 20 bucks for Resistance 2.

Then again; I'd rather see all games being sold at a cheaper price.

It's been everywhere. Every review site and magazine has mentioned how short it is.

 

[Metal Gear?!]

Mirror's Edge is the very definition of a rental

It may or may not still sell decently

 

[Ranger X]

It's another proof that how shallow hardcore gaming market really is. Creating a game that would appeal for hardcore gamers only is a suicide mission, nowadays. I'm a hardcore gamer but I know that we're a dying breed.

It's think it's quite the opposite. The hardcore gamer is too stuck into lenghts, Gears and other shooters. Their tastes are generally narrow and they go with what they played since thousands of years.
Now there's a handfull of gamers (that are still hardcore in a way) that will have a broader range of tastes, a more intricate interest or being genuinely passionate about the medium and they are the one buying here. But we will never rake in Halo type of sales. (this gen i mean)

I just wish that someday videogames are a more respected and important medium to the eye of people so we can really push diversity without killing our potential sales. You know, having some real games market like real music can sell and like real movies are made. Not just come entirely commercial bullshit.

 

[Evlar]

Mirror's Edge is the very definition of a rental

It may or may not still sell decently

It would be if it was available at the nation's largest rental chain.

 

[MidiSurf]

I was going to say "this is the reason we can't have nice things." but even I didn't buy the game :lol

I love every thing I've seen in Mirror's Edge, it's gorgous game but I will not pay full price of it. Game is too short.

 

[george_us]

That's what you get for making an infuriating trial-and-error-fest with awful level design and combat.

 

[ToyMachine228]

It always baffles me why people are surprised when games like Mirror's Edge and Little Big Planet don't sell well. Because you make a "good game" doesn't mean it's going to sell well. If it doesn't appeal to the mainstream audience, it's not going to sell, no matter how "good" or "innovative" it is.

 

[Fuu]

I just pulled a 1 million number in sales for ME out of my ass. I hope some site grabs it and uses it as fact in a blog post.

Don't worry, Simon: kobunheatpulledthesenumbersoutofhisass.net says Mirror's Edge sold 1,900,069 copies in its first day! It's a sleeper hit!

We even posted at the same minute. :lol

 

[otake]

I doesn't help that unlike portal, ME didn't receive universal praise.

 

[itsinmyveins]

It's been everywhere. Every review site and magazine has mentioned how short it is.

I didn't think people still read reviews and only went for the score? Are you talking about the causual audience now?

I don't think I'd even want the game to be longer. That'd just mean more filler areas, which I think is a problem in a lot of video games today.

 

[Grecco]

I doesn't help that unlike portal, ME didn't receive universal praise.

We can then go back to the Assasssins Creed example again. AC did not recieve universal praise either. Didnt stop it from selling well.

 

[crowphoenix]

I was going to say "this is the reason we can't have nice things." but even I didn't buy the game :lol

I love every thing I've seen in Mirror's Edge, it's gorgous game but I will not pay full price of it. Game is too short.

I want to quote your avatar, but I feel like you already understand.

 

[Fuu]

Ok guys, more than 180 posts, let's get real. Regardless of what you think of the game, how many of you actually understand the fact that VG Chartz is full of shit?

 

[itsinmyveins]

We can then go back to the Assasssins Creed example again. AC did not recieve universal praise either. Didnt stop it from selling well.

Yeah, and that's one boring game at that! Had it been like four hours long it'd probably be better.

 

[Tieno]

We can then go back to the Assasssins Creed example again. AC did not recieve universal praise either. Didnt stop it from selling well.

B-b-b-but it was sandbox and had hours of content! So much bang for your $.

Spoiler

If you want to bang a whore who has an STD

 

[SlasherJPC]

All I can say is I bought it on day one and did my part!

 

[Kobun Heat]

We even posted at the same minute. :lol

Thus dispelling once and for all rumors that we are the same person.

 

[CajoleJuice]

B-b-b-but it was sandbox and had hours of content! So much bang for your $.

Spoiler

If you want to bang a whore who has an STD

I plead guilty.

 

[shuri]

Anecdotal, but eh, I think i've maybe seen like one person playing this on my friend list...

 

[Evlar]

Ok guys, more than 180 posts, let's get real. Regardless of what you think of the game, how many of you actually understand the fact that VG Chartz is full of shit?

Probably most all of us. We're not taking the Chartz shit as authoritative, this is just pre-emptive hand wringing. If ME ends up being a sales success I'll be both surprised and happy.

 

[The Nature Roy]

Hopefully even if it doesn't do well enough to warrant a sequel they'll use the lessons learned in Mirror's Edge for future products.

Somebody, cross Mirror's Edge with Crackdown and finally deliver us that ultimate Matrix game.

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

We can then go back to the Assasssins Creed example again. AC did not recieve universal praise either. Didnt stop it from selling well.

I don't get this comparison. Driv3r on the PS2 sold well too. high rated games don't always sell well and poorly rated games don't always sell poorly, so it's not a good barometer to use.

Beyond that, Mirror's Edge had nowhere near the hype or marketing put behind it that AC did.

 

[Jocchan]

Ok guys, more than 180 posts, let's get real. Regardless of what you think of the game, how many of you actually understand the fact that VG Chartz is full of shit?

They're just playing the same guessing game as NPD or Media Create!

 

[Fuu]

Thus dispelling once and for all rumors that we are the same person.

And since we both got that similar number from trusted asses, it's now fact!

 

[SolidSnakex]

We can then go back to the Assasssins Creed example again. AC did not recieve universal praise either. Didnt stop it from selling well.

AC's initial reviews were really high. You have to remember that UBI was doing something similar to Eidos. Eurogamer had a scheduled live chat with Jade that was canceled when their review score was only a 7. It also has a ton of hype which Mirror's Edge never managed to get.

 

[Minotauro]

For what it's worth, I'd been considering picking up the 360 version (highly considering) but am already juggling like 3 or 4 other games. Then, they announced the PC version would have improved physics so I decided to just wait for it.

 

[Grecco]

I don't get this comparison. Driv3r on the PS2 sold well too. high rated games don't always sell well and poorly rated games don't always sell poorly, so it's not a good barometer to use.

Beyond that, Mirror's Edge had nowhere near the hype or marketing put behind it that AC did.

The notion that not having universal praise is reason for it "bombing" (Alledgedly)

and ME had plenty hype and marketing. Both AC and ME have CGI based trailers as advertisement.

DICE just did not have a conveniently hired attractive female producer to plug the game.

 

[Dyno]

Look at the line-up this season. There is no way a hardcore gamer can play everything that came out for Christmas. Would I buy Mirror's Edge? Absolutely. Is it going to have to wait until I've played Fallout 3, Gears 2, Left 4 Dead, Dead Space, Resistance 2, and perhaps Fable 2? Yeah, it's going to wait, wait a while.

Many, many developers shot themselves in the foot this year. I didn't they would have to be taught this simply, obvious lesson, actually.