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NPD Sales Results for November 2013 [Up3: Zelda, Pokemon, Mario, 3DS, Wii U]

It won't matter at that point. If Titanfall is a huge success on Xbox, the sequels will be bigger on Xbox. Like Mass Effect, Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell, Bioshock, Elder's Scrolls, etc.

The install base had quite a bit to do with that, though. If Titanfall is a bigger hit, but PS4 has more units, the base will shift. All of the games you mentioned also ran better on the 360, not the case this time around.

Look at PS2 GTA sales vs Xbox, then look at this generation. Base shifted.

Edit: Beatd hard by Bruce
 
A huge reason for the games had larger success on 360 was due to install base and the 360's early lead. That doesn't matter anymore

The trend for certain games was cemented even in cases where the userbases were not in one company's favor, like Metal Gear Rising on PS3 in America, PES on PS3 in UK, or Splinter Cell on 360 in a number of European countries. It isn't just that one side gets accustomed to that brand, the other side may pick up other games in the meantime and grow attached to them, making that brand not mean as much to them. For example, Destiny might become much bigger on PS4 thanks to the TItanFall/Halo vacuum.

Edit 2: I fully expect Metal Gear Solid 5 to sell better on PS3 than on 360 or Xbox One in the US.

Of course the game will sell more total if the PS4 is in the mix, but getting the first edition (even if it was just a timed exclusive, which TF doesn't appear to be) has traditionally been a strong indicator of future franchise success on that platform.

Edit: GTA is cross-generation, and a bit of a poor example. The previous GTA games all appeared (and sold well) on the Xbox, albeit they were all timed exclusive on PS2. There was no reason for GTA owners to upgrade specifically to PS360 until after the game was out. The Xbox One will have at least one year as the only next gen platform to play TF, so it will have existing XOne owners as well as most upgrading 360 TF owners in that time (most people won't be aware that a PS4 version is in the pipeline).
 

UNCMark

Banned
Why are you guys confused that sony sold more multiplatforms and hardware? the PS4 was out longer anyway.

Several reasons played into it - out longer, buy 2 get 1 free sales, and fewer exclusives. I think PS4 will hold an advantage in the future with multi-plats, but it won't resemble these numbers. I guess Tomb Raider will be the first game to release across both platforms at the same exact time since November. It should be a pretty good indicator.
 

Hindle

Banned
A huge reason for the games had larger success on 360 was due to install base and the 360's early lead. That doesn't matter anymore

If Titanfall does revelent business for the Xbox platform, then I expect MS to at least secure the sequel as X1 exclusive. Read interviews with any MS exec and they say the franchise is a big part of thier plans and how they have a great relationship with Respawn.

Titanfall 3 is when the series goes multi IMO.
 

QaaQer

Member
Unless a price drop is in the cards, I tend to agree. 2013 was a big year for first-party software-- which is the driving force for the 2/3DS family-- and I'm not sure what Nintendo can realistically do for an encore... though if Smash Bros. arrives as expected, it can only help.

That said, a price cut sometime in the next fiscal year isn't an impossibility. $100 for 2DS could be a great number so long as Nintendo isn't losing a ton on the hardware. Sweet spot for 3DS pricing is a bit tougher to call; it needs to be a relative premium but not so expensive that it dissuades future purchases.

Game prices are what turns parents off. $99-$149 is already prime price point for hardware. I don't know what Nintendo can do about game prices while still remaining viable.
 
This is a late reply but its not possible for MS to pay EA enough money at that point to keep it on one platform. Thats incredibly unrealistic.

I've seen this kind of post multiple times, but MS doesn't have to pay EA anything after Titanfall 1, because Respawn has said their deal with EA only covers one game and MS could come in with a publishing deal for Respawn better than what EA could offer.
 
I'm reading through all November 2007 NPD thread, and still I can't find how much Mario Party DS sold in its first month. Anyone here who knows the truth? XD

EDIT: Found something - How much it sold in December

http://neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9366608&postcount=355

Mario Party DS (DS) - 385,700

Mmmh...yeeeah, not gonna happen with Mario Party: Island Tour.

In terms of total revenue, Mario Party DS was the #1 grossing DS game in November 2007, beating out The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass that released a month earlier. To be honest, I don't think Mario Party: Island Tour will achieve anywhere close to the same kind of initial success.
 
I've seen this kind of post multiple times, but MS doesn't have to pay EA anything after Titanfall 1, because Respawn has said their deal with EA only covers one game and MS could come in with a publishing deal for Respawn better than what EA could offer.

Do you know how much MS would have to pay to keep it exclusive to the platform? To cover the theoretical capital the game could make on another system especially a system that could still be leading in sales.

There is a reason Bioshock, ME and others were only 1 game deals. You don't think MS wanted to lock those franchises down or didn't try?

You need to use a bit of common sense with something like this. There is no precedent for what your describing. Its just wishful thinking.

The trend for certain games was cemented even in cases where the userbases were not in one company's favor, like Metal Gear Rising on PS3 in America, PES on PS3 in UK, or Splinter Cell on 360 in a number of European countries. It isn't just that one side gets accustomed to that brand, the other side may pick up other games in the meantime and grow attached to them, making that brand not mean as much to them. For example, Destiny might become much bigger on PS4 thanks to the TItanFall/Halo vacuum.

Edit 2: I fully expect Metal Gear Solid 5 to sell better on PS3 than on 360 or Xbox One in the US.

Of course the game will sell more total if the PS4 is in the mix, but getting the first edition (even if it was just a timed exclusive, which TF doesn't appear to be) has traditionally been a strong indicator of future franchise success on that platform.

Edit: GTA is cross-generation, and a bit of a poor example. The previous GTA games all appeared (and sold well) on the Xbox, albeit they were all timed exclusive on PS2. There was no reason for GTA owners to upgrade specifically to PS360 until after the game was out. The Xbox One will have at least one year as the only next gen platform to play TF, so it will have existing XOne owners as well as most upgrading 360 TF owners in that time (most people won't be aware that a PS4 version is in the pipeline).

Ah yeah I see what you mean. I completely agree with that notion that for the most part whatever system is branded with the IP is typically the one with the higher sales I am just talking about how unlikely any further exclusivity of the game is on one platform.
 

harSon

Banned
A huge reason for the games had larger success on 360 was due to install base and the 360's early lead. That doesn't matter anymore

That's not quite correct. Perception created by timed exclusivity, advertisement exclusivity and the underlying gaming tastes of the install base at large had a lot more to do with their success on the 360 in comparison with their direct rival
 
Do you know how much MS would have to pay to keep it exclusive to the platform? To cover the theoretical capital the game could make on another system especially a system that could still be leading in sales.

There is a reason Bioshock, ME and others were only 1 game deals. You don't think MS wanted to lock those franchises down or didn't try?

You need to use a bit of common sense with something like this. There is no precedent for what your describing. Its just wishful thinking.

This is quite true. If the game sells 3-5 million copies there's no moneyhat big enough to keep it exclusive, especially since the 360 will be quite dead by the time the sequel releases. Gears isn't a good comparison, as MS was the publisher in that case. MS would be better served spending their money propping up the next big thing and/or getting some exclusive DLC.
 

Zinthar

Member
The trend for certain games was cemented even in cases where the userbases were not in one company's favor, like Metal Gear Rising on PS3 in America, PES on PS3 in UK, or Splinter Cell on 360 in a number of European countries. It isn't just that one side gets accustomed to that brand, the other side may pick up other games in the meantime and grow attached to them, making that brand not mean as much to them. For example, Destiny might become much bigger on PS4 thanks to the TItanFall/Halo vacuum.

Edit 2: I fully expect Metal Gear Solid 5 to sell better on PS3 than on 360 or Xbox One.

Of course the game will sell more total if the PS4 is in the mix, but getting the first edition (even if it was just a timed exclusive, which TF doesn't appear to be) has traditionally been a strong indicator of future franchise success on that platform.

Edit: GTA is cross-generation, and a bit of a poor example. The previous GTA games all appeared (and sold well) on the Xbox, albeit they were all timed exclusive on PS2. There was no reason for GTA owners to upgrade specifically to PS360 until after the game was out. The Xbox One will have at least one year as the only next gen platform to play TF, so it will have existing XOne owners as well as most upgrading 360 TF owners in that time (most people won't be aware that a PS4 version is in the pipeline).

In the case of Rising, the Metal Gear Solid fanbase already owned PS3's for MGS4, so it's natural that it would sell much better on that platform.

The Titanfall case is a lot harder to predict because it's hitting really early in the generation, and is also coming out on PC & 360 simultaneously. Between that and Halo 5, it will probably push major fans of the shooter genre to go with Xbox, but they were probably leaning that way regardless. On the other hand, PS4 is likely to amass a decent install base lead in 2014-15 and will probably get the better version of Titanfall 2.

If Titanfall ends up becoming a huge franchise with broad appeal, like GTA or Call of Duty, the install base will likely end up becoming the overriding factor in how well it sells on each platform. If it were more niche, like Rising, then a large preference for the original exclusive platform would be expected. My bet is that Titanfall ends up being a case of the former.
 

Y2Kev

TLG Fan Caretaker Est. 2009
I think the 360 being out early did a few things, but its ease of development and Microsoft's legwork with the developer and enthusiast press communities were important too.

360 being out early meant that hardcore gamers went there en masse to get a taste of next gen. If you wanted next gen, you had no other option. So you had a very hardcore base of gamers that buy lots of games playing the role of evangelizer and tastemaker. I think that is genuinely important.

Then 360 just was a far better place for western developers, who were going to rule the gen, to develop. So it became lead platform and stayed lead platform for either the entire gen or most of the gen for most studios.

The lead was hugely important and not just because of how the machine sold before PS3 game out...which wasn't spectacular, but was good enough.
 

harSon

Banned
Microsoft doesn't care about exclusivity with the Titanfall franchise. They just want it to be a Call of Duty-esque situation, ie. despite being on every platform in existence, its brand is basically synonymous with the Xbox brand from a consumer perception standpoint with a sales breakdown to back that up. Timed exclusivity will do that for you, as seen by countless games last generation.

If Titanfall 2 is multiplatform, its brand will be associated with Xbox, a perception that will be reinforced at press conferences where Microsoft gives them the floor for 10 minutes, advertisement exclusives that will basically push the game as an 'Xbox game,' exclusive DLC/Map packs, etc. It's pretty much a given.
 
Microsoft doesn't care about exclusivity with the Titanfall franchise. They just want it to be a Call of Duty-esque situation, ie. despite being on every platform in existence, its brand is basically synonymous with the Xbox brand from a consumer perception standpoint with a sales breakdown to back that up. Timed exclusivity will do that for you, as seen by countless games last generation.

If Titanfall 2 is multiplatform, its brand will be associated with Xbox, a perception that will be reinforced at press conferences where Microsoft gives them the floor for 10 minutes, advertisement exclusives that will basically push the game as an 'Xbox game,' exclusive DLC/Map packs, etc. It's pretty much a given.

Yeah this is very true and likely what they are aiming for.
 

jryi

Senior Analyst, Fanboy Drivel Research Partners LLC
Respawn has said their deal with EA only covers one game and MS could come in with a publishing deal for Respawn better than what EA could offer.

Does EA really not have the right of first refusal? They are going to spend a lot of money on marketing a completely new IP, surely they are not just going to let it go free after that.
 

Zinthar

Member
Does EA really not have the right of first refusal? They are going to spend a lot of money on marketing a completely new IP, surely they are not just going to let it go free after that.

It all depends on the particulars of their contract with Respawn. The part of the agreement that was leaked a few years ago didn't specify that aspect of it, IIRC.
 
The trend for certain games was cemented even in cases where the userbases were not in one company's favor, like Metal Gear Rising on PS3 in America, PES on PS3 in UK, or Splinter Cell on 360 in a number of European countries. It isn't just that one side gets accustomed to that brand, the other side may pick up other games in the meantime and grow attached to them, making that brand not mean as much to them. For example, Destiny might become much bigger on PS4 thanks to the TItanFall/Halo vacuum.

Edit 2: I fully expect Metal Gear Solid 5 to sell better on PS3 than on 360 or Xbox One in the US.

Of course the game will sell more total if the PS4 is in the mix, but getting the first edition (even if it was just a timed exclusive, which TF doesn't appear to be) has traditionally been a strong indicator of future franchise success on that platform.

Edit: GTA is cross-generation, and a bit of a poor example. The previous GTA games all appeared (and sold well) on the Xbox, albeit they were all timed exclusive on PS2. There was no reason for GTA owners to upgrade specifically to PS360 until after the game was out. The Xbox One will have at least one year as the only next gen platform to play TF, so it will have existing XOne owners as well as most upgrading 360 TF owners in that time (most people won't be aware that a PS4 version is in the pipeline).

You're still missing the overall point--if the PS4 moves more units, then that's that.

Funny enough, your example also works for Titanfall--it is also cross-generation, but there's no guarantee that the platform itself will retain that audience--if anything, the opposite is happening.

It hasn't really been a strong indicator of anything by itself--there were more factors around it which had more of an impact.

Microsoft doesn't care about exclusivity with the Titanfall franchise. They just want it to be a Call of Duty-esque situation, ie. despite being on every platform in existence, its brand is basically synonymous with the Xbox brand from a consumer perception standpoint with a sales breakdown to back that up. Timed exclusivity will do that for you, as seen by countless games last generation.

If Titanfall 2 is multiplatform, its brand will be associated with Xbox, a perception that will be reinforced at press conferences where Microsoft gives them the floor for 10 minutes, advertisement exclusives that will basically push the game as an 'Xbox game,' exclusive DLC/Map packs, etc. It's pretty much a given.

And there's not an indication that this is going to actually matter yet--if you have all of the above, but are dealing with a 60-35-5 market split, all the PR in the world won't matter because it'll still sell better on the market leading platform.
 

mattiewheels

And then the LORD David Bowie saith to his Son, Jonny Depp: 'Go, and spread my image amongst the cosmos. For every living thing is in anguish and only the LIGHT shall give them reprieve.'
I'm late, is there a solid number for PS4 yet?
 

Hindle

Banned
Does EA really not have the right of first refusal? They are going to spend a lot of money on marketing a completely new IP, surely they are not just going to let it go free after that.

It's up to Respawn when it comes to who they partner with, and given how EA accepted a boat load of cash behind thier backs, I can't see them being best pleased with EA.
 

Pain

Banned
It's up to Respawn when it comes to who they partner with, and given how EA accepted a boat load of cash behind thier backs, I can't see them being best pleased with EA.
Why the hell did they think partnering up with the worst company in America would be a good idea?
 

Zinthar

Member
It's up to Respawn when it comes to who they partner with, and given how EA accepted a boat load of cash behind thier backs, I can't see them being best pleased with EA.

We don't know exactly what their contract with EA includes. It's entirely possible that EA has an option to publish future games in the franchise, even if they have no rights to the IP.

Regardless, where else would they go to find a giant publisher? Activision burned their bridges with Respawn, so that leaves Take Two and their 2K games label as the most likely alternative.
 

mattiewheels

And then the LORD David Bowie saith to his Son, Jonny Depp: 'Go, and spread my image amongst the cosmos. For every living thing is in anguish and only the LIGHT shall give them reprieve.'

Hindle

Banned
We don't know exactly what their contract with EA includes. It's entirely possible that EA has an option to publish future games in the franchise, even if they have no rights to the IP.

Regardless, where else would they go to find a giant publisher? Activision burned their bridges with Respawn, so that leaves Take Two and their 2K games label as the most likely alternative.

Aye, it's pointless to speculate on this, it's clear there are many variables at stake.
 

QaaQer

Member
We don't know exactly what their contract with EA includes. It's entirely possible that EA has an option to publish future games in the franchise, even if they have no rights to the IP.

Regardless, where else would they go to find a giant publisher? Activision burned their bridges with Respawn, so that leaves Take Two and their 2K games label as the most likely alternative.

Sony? lol.
 

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
West and Zampella must have re-written the contract due to Titanfall fiasko from EA´s side. They went behind the back of West and Zampella and made TF exclusive to MS forever instead of a year exclusive.
This is not how contract law works.

You don't get a new one unless your contract is actually voided which we would see a public court battle over.

If youre worried about more exclusives though their CFO basically said the next ones would be multiplat already.
 
Does EA really not have the right of first refusal? They are going to spend a lot of money on marketing a completely new IP, surely they are not just going to let it go free after that.

I don't know the specifics of the deal, but I do remember reading an interview with a Respawn employee saying they could find a new publisher after the release of Titanfall 1 if they wanted to.
 
I don't know the specifics of the deal, but I do remember reading an interview with a Respawn employee saying they could find a new publisher after the release of Titanfall 1 if they wanted to.

Where is that? I am looking through a bunch of interview stuff right now and I haven't found any quote like that.

Respawn also said that EA, through its EA Partners division, holds exclusive worldwide publishing and distribution rights for future titles coming out of the new studio. "This is like the time the Red Sox traded Babe Ruth to the Yankees," EA Games head Frank Gibeau told us.

"Respawn Entertainment marks a fresh start for Jason and me," said Zampella, who will act as the new studio's general manager, in a statement. "For the past decade we led a great development team and poured our hearts into creating an epic game franchise. We're very proud of what we built -- and proud that so many millions of fans enjoyed those games. Today we hope to do it all over again -- open a new studio, hire a great team, and create brand new games with a new partner, EA."

This is a old quote but I am not finding anything contradictory in any new interviews.
 

John Harker

Definitely doesn't make things up as he goes along.
Are you guys familiar with the term "first right of refusal?" That is likely the case here, as is how a lot of these (and most deals) are done.
 
This is not how contract law works.

You don't get a new one unless your contract is actually voided which we would see a public court battle over.

If youre worried about more exclusives though their CFO basically said the next ones would be multiplat already.

Yep, I imagine what took place with the EA and MS deal is something that doesn't somehow violate EA's initial contract with Respawn, as I can't imagine EA doing that knowingly.
 
This is not how contract law works.

You don't get a new one unless your contract is actually voided which we would see a public court battle over.

If youre worried about more exclusives though their CFO basically said the next ones would be multiplat already.

I am not worried about more exclusives, they can do what they want. But new deal require new contract or at least rework the old contract, so i was just guessing that they have reworked new terms for giving EA more exclusive distribution over their future games.
 

Pain

Banned
The real question is why didn't Respawn include a multiplatform clause or whatever on their contract with EA? Did they just assume EA wouldn't sell their game to Microsoft?
 

Chobel

Member
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