Tag Archives: games retail

Bobby Kotick believes traditional retail crucial for games industry future

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While some publishers – which as the Train2Game blog previously reported includes EA – believe digital is the future of the industry, Activision don’t agree.  They believe traditional retail still has a huge part to play in selling games.

“Retail is going to play a critically important role in the future success of entertainment,” Activision CEO Bobby Kotick told CNBC.

“When you see people lined up at store before a launch, that in itself creates the popular cultural awareness,” he added.

“I don’t think the theatre experience you have in a store is going away anytime.”

Perhaps it’s not a coincidence that Kotick revealed that special editions of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will be available. The trailer for the next Call of Duty title was revealed last month, and can be seen on the Train2Game blog.

Activision are still hesitating to enter the social and mobile market, but see it as “an opportunity” said Kotick.

OnLive see mobiles as more than just an opportunity, with the Train2Game blog reporting earlier that their service will be available on them this year.

So Train2Game, do you…agree with Kotick? Is there still a strong future for traditional retail? Or will digital take over in the near future?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum

[Source: MCV]

UK Charts: Test Drive Unlimited 2 takes pole position

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Test Drive Unlimited 2 Train2Game blog image

Test Drive Unlimited 2 – a game which some Train2Game forum users were looking forward to – has taken No. 1 in the UKIE/GFK Chart Track All Formats Top 40 in its first week on sale.

The multiformat racer provides Namco Bandai with their first Number 1 of the year and knocks Dead Space 2 down to No. 2. EA’s horror sequel spent two weeks at the top. The remainder of the top five looks familiar with FIFA 11, Call of Duty: Black Ops and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood occupying third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Nintendo’s Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-land Mayhem reaches the top ten in its second week on sale, rising five places from No. 11 to No. 6, while Mario Sports Mix climbs four spots to occupy No. 8. Just Dance 2 sits in between the two Nintendo titles in 7th spot.

Grand Theft Auto IV is back in the top ten thanks to the release of the Complete Edition which takes No. 9. (Last month the Train2Game blog reported that the entire series was almost cancelled before it begun!) The Top Ten is completed by LittleBigPlanet 2 which has dropped to No. 10 just four weeks after its chart-topping debut.

Outside the Top Ten, Ubisoft’s childrens’ dancing game Dance Juniors takes No. 12 in its first week, while Madden NFL 11 debuts in No. 14.  Namco Bandai also saw Ben 10: Cosmic Destruction re-enter the chart in No. 17 after it was released Wii, PS3, PS2 and PSP last week. It was previously available on the Xbox 360.

The UKIE GFK Chart-Track All Formats Top Ten for the week ending 12th February 2011 is therefore:

1. Test Drive Unlimited 2 (Namco Bandai)
2. Dead Space 2 (EA)
3. FIFA 11 (EA)
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision)
5. Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft)
6. Mario vs Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem (Nintendo)
7. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft)
8. Mario Sports Mix (Nintendo)
9. Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition (Rockstar)
10. LittleBigPlanet 2 (Sony)

SoTrain2Game, are you surprised to see Test Drive Unlimited 2 at the top? If you’ve played the game, what do you think? And with Marvel vs. Capcom 3 – which you can find out more about on the Thoughts of Train2Game blog – released this Friday, will Test Drive Unlimited 2 be a one week wonder?

You can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog or on the Train2Game forum. Alternatively, tell us what you think via the Train2Game Twitter and Facebook pages.

[Source: “Leisure software charts compiled by Chart Track, (C)2011 UKIE Ltd]

Train2Game, in association with DR Studios and the University of Bedfordshire, will be holding a Game Jam at the end of March. For more information, see the official Train2Game Game Jam website or the Train2Game Game Jam Facebook page. Alternatively, keep an eye on the Train2Game Game Jam Twitter account.

Nintendo CEO sees ‘rocket start’ for 3DS

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The Nintendo President predicts the 3DS will have a ‘rocket start’ in the USA , boosted by high definition graphics and the games available for the handheld.

“There will be not only our own software, but also third- party titles, which have the photo-realism that will satisfy Western gamers,” said Nintendo CEO Satoru Iwata “We expect the 3DS to get off to a rocket start, like the Wii’s debut.”

The latest handheld from Nintendo had its release date and price revealed during a press event in Amsterdam yesterday.  The 3DS is set for release on March 25th here in the UK with retailers setting prices around £220 to £230. Meanwhile the US will have to wait two days longer for the 3DS to be released on March 27th, and will be able to get it for $249.

When currency conversion is taken into account that means a Nintendo 3DS is £60 more expensive in the UK than it is across the Atlantic, a fact that has frustrated some Train2Game students.

For more news from yesterday’s Nintendo 3DS press event, see the Thoughts of Train2Game blog.

There is a huge desire for the 3DS, as evident on the Train2Game forum, and it’s reported to be the most demanded electronic device right now and analysts predict it’ll provide the game industry with a boom.

The 3DS launch should be a major catalyst for the game industry,” said Tony Wible, an analyst with Janney Montgomery Scott LLC.  “Polls have shown more pent-up demand for the product than any other consumer electronics device in the market.”

Meanwhile Michael Pachter says the 3DS will sell more than its rival the PSP2:

“I think that the 3DS will outsell the PSP2, because the 3DS is new and different, while the PSP2 is likely going to be a souped up version of the old PSP.  Thus, I think that 3DS will have greater success in capturing the consumer’s imagination.”

The 3DS may also receive some competition from mobile games on devices such as the iPhone, which the Train2Game blog recently reported have seen a massive increase user base in recent times.

Nintendo say they will ship over 4 million units of the device in its first month to prevent a shortage of stock, while it’s predicted the 3DS will bring Nintendo extra $1.8 billion dollars a year.

The Nintendo 3DS is set for release in the UK on March 25th 2011.

So Train2Game, do you agree with the Nintendo President that the 3DS will have a ‘rocket’ start? What are your thoughts on the pricing? And will you get one come March 25th?

As usual, you can leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Bloomberg]

Games on discs still reign supreme

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Discs remain the gamers top choice

80 to 90% of video games are still purchased on disc according to a report by the Entertainment Merchants Association. The D2 Report: Discs & Digital – The Business of Home Entertainment Retailing states that physical media such as DVDs, Blu-rays and other video game discs are remain the overwhelming choice of consumers.

This echo’s previous surveys that suggest despite the rise of digital distribution, especially on the PC thanks to Steam, we still prefer a physical copy of a game over one that’s been downloaded.

The report says combined DVD and Blu-ray Disc sales in the USA totalled $17.9 billion in 2009, nine times the revenue generated by digital distribution channels. 80 to 90% of games purchased were also through these traditional outlets. EMA president and CEO Bo Andersen says there’s a lot of life left in discs yet.

“While there has been a great deal of focus recently on the slippage of revenues in the DVD market, the untold story is that consumers’ embrace of home entertainment remains very strong and packaged media is the preferred delivery instrument”

“Digital distribution is clearly an important segment of the home entertainment market and will continue to grow in market share in the coming year. While it is tempting for industry outsiders to say ‘disc is dead,’ as the saying goes, reports of its demise are grossly exaggerated.”

While the EMA openly support entertainment retailers, the report used data together data from leading home video and video game industry analysts, including Adams Media Research, Digital Entertainment Group, The NPD Group, Parks Associates, and ScreenDigest.

The report also notes that transactions for ‘pre-recorded video content’ increased by 2.8% in 2009.

So Train2Game, what percentage of your games are on discs compared to being downloaded through digital distribution? Do you still think a game in a box is the ultimate form of distribution?

And what were the last games you bought through each method of purchase?

As usual, leave your thoughts here or on the Train2Game forum.

Discs vs. Digital – Round 3

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Almost two thirds of us prefer to buy our games boxed up and on a disc over downloading them online.  Research by Ipsos Media CT – which appeared on MCV – revealed that 64% of gamers preferred to buy titles on disc over downloading a digital copy.

This is compared to only 45% of music consumers preferring discs, and perhaps surprisingly, just 51% of film buyers preferring physical copies of their purchases. Who knew that downloadable films were so popular?

So why are we still so keen on buying our games in a box? Well, Ipsos Media CT Director Ian Bramley says it’s down to trade-ins and second hand sales.

“I believe the preference for physical discs amongst next gen gamers reflects the potential value they derive from the pre-owned market, which is holding up the preference for physical – this is unlike the music and film markets,”

“Physical games discs have a long and well-established history, which is a deep mindset to change – particularly when gamers build a physical collection as they fear losing digital versions. And in-store browsing is also important to buyers.”

So, Train2Game students, as the Games Designers, Games Developers and Games Artists & Animators of the future, what form of distribution would you prefer to release your games with? Or is the format not important, with it being more a matter of getting your games out there.

As usual, feel free to leave your comments either here or on the Train2Game forum.

You can also check out blogs about both Round 1 and Round 2 of the Discs vs. Digital debate for more information and other thoughts on the issue.