THQ is perhaps the fist major publisher to show a shift in strategy away from next-generation publishing, as the firm announces it has canned the Xbox 360 version of The Soprano game spin-off. Only the PlayStation 2 version now remains.
This news follows the cancellation of the PlayStation 3 version of the latest Smackdown game, one of THQ's flagship titles and the series that built the firm to the size it is today with massive successes earlier in the decade. That announcement, posted alongside somewhat worrying financials, led many to believe that THQ will go into a consolidated mode for perhaps the next year, targeting current-generation platforms with healthy installed userbases.
It's well-known fact that slow Xbox 360 production routines cost publishers dearly in the past nine months, with early adopter numbers strangled and those able to pick up a machine buying only AAA games. Consumers also showed an impressive resistance to bundles, the retailer's main route to shifting average or low-selling games early on in a platform's lifecycle. This was mainly due to the shift in buying power, away from parents easily tricked into thinking they were getting a bargain and into the hands of core gamers who intend only buying the system, an extra controller and the game of their choice, thank you very much.
We have requested a comment from THQ on the firm's current strategy and will publish it as soon as it lands.
This news follows the cancellation of the PlayStation 3 version of the latest Smackdown game, one of THQ's flagship titles and the series that built the firm to the size it is today with massive successes earlier in the decade. That announcement, posted alongside somewhat worrying financials, led many to believe that THQ will go into a consolidated mode for perhaps the next year, targeting current-generation platforms with healthy installed userbases.
It's well-known fact that slow Xbox 360 production routines cost publishers dearly in the past nine months, with early adopter numbers strangled and those able to pick up a machine buying only AAA games. Consumers also showed an impressive resistance to bundles, the retailer's main route to shifting average or low-selling games early on in a platform's lifecycle. This was mainly due to the shift in buying power, away from parents easily tricked into thinking they were getting a bargain and into the hands of core gamers who intend only buying the system, an extra controller and the game of their choice, thank you very much.
We have requested a comment from THQ on the firm's current strategy and will publish it as soon as it lands.
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Comments
thane_jaw 28 Jul 2006 09:57
1/3
Well if we're going to be sacrificing quantity for quality for the next-gen I'm not too fussed.
Can't say that I was particularily excited about this game to begin with, I imagine it'd probably have done better on PC (ala CSI) where fans of the show would have been more likely to buy it for something they already owned.
Bit bored with games based on franchises other then superheroes (and even then...). I just don't think that there's enough "meat" to justify a 10/12 hour experience.
Can't say that I was particularily excited about this game to begin with, I imagine it'd probably have done better on PC (ala CSI) where fans of the show would have been more likely to buy it for something they already owned.
Bit bored with games based on franchises other then superheroes (and even then...). I just don't think that there's enough "meat" to justify a 10/12 hour experience.
dranann 31 Jul 2006 11:11
2/3
thane_jaw wrote:
Well if we're going to be sacrificing quantity for quality for the next-gen I'm not too fussed.
I feel sorry for people like THQ. Sony and Microsoft make mad claims about how all next-gen games will be on-line, with additional downloadable content, with high-def graphics, blah blah blah and the moon on a stick. Then Microsoft don't sell a load of machines, and there is some skepticism over the PS3.... So on one hand Sony/MS say "publishers have to build all this stuff into a game and they have to pay for it" and then there are no customers so there's no money to pay for all that stuff?
thane_jaw 31 Jul 2006 13:04
3/3
Well if there isn't any funky new stuff in a game then what's the point of releasing it on a next gen platform?
Remember how everyone was saying that next gen was looking like a disapointment? if Sony and MS don't force standards amongst developers then the next gen will never get off the ground because people will see no point in upgrading to the fancy new game if all it does is up graphical resolution.
Personally I like how all 360 games have achievements, teh ability to play your own music over the top , output of 720, online capabilities, standardised menu controls etc.
If we're paying an extra £10 for next gen games (on top of high priced consoles) we should be expecting these, and besides its not as if the price would have been reduced if they weren't put in.
Remember how everyone was saying that next gen was looking like a disapointment? if Sony and MS don't force standards amongst developers then the next gen will never get off the ground because people will see no point in upgrading to the fancy new game if all it does is up graphical resolution.
Personally I like how all 360 games have achievements, teh ability to play your own music over the top , output of 720, online capabilities, standardised menu controls etc.
If we're paying an extra £10 for next gen games (on top of high priced consoles) we should be expecting these, and besides its not as if the price would have been reduced if they weren't put in.
