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[Admodieus]

Do you want Titanfall 3? If so you should care.

I don't know if I want it or not; I haven't played 2 yet. 1 was fun, but didn't have a lot of staying power.

If they wanted me to buy this at $60, they would've released it further away from their other big shooter this fall and a number of other big releases.

 

[dLMN8R]

What matters to me is simply whether the community sticks around to enable me to continue playing games.

Even with the original Titanfall and its dwindling and fragmented user base thanks to a terrible DLC model, I was still able to regularly find games on Xbox One. I'm in the US, so it was probably much worse for people in other countries though.

Titanfall 2's community on Xbox One is pretty big from what I can tell - 20,000+ concurrent players every day, which is bigger than many popular shooters. Word of mouth and the holidays will undoubtedly increase that. And then their free DLC model will prevent fragmentation of the community. Even better if they improve the configuration of current playlists to consolidate things. So I'm not really concerned about personally being able to find games.

 

[GhostOfSparta305]

I don't know if I want it or not; I haven't played 2 yet. 1 was fun, but didn't have a lot of staying power.

If they wanted me to buy this at $60, they would've released it further away from their other big shooter this fall and a number of other big releases.

^We have a winner.

 

[Dolobill]

Absolutely terrible release timing for this game.

 

[J_ToSaveTheDay]

Titanfall 2 is the best shooter I've played this year outside of Doom. I'm still not sure which I like more, but I've gone through Doom 3 times and have just barely started reaching the endpoint of Titanfall 2 -- been busy since it launched but been managing to sneak a bit of time here and there. Titanfall 2 helps in that I like its multiplayer as well, can't say the same for Doom.

... But all the factors seem stacked against Titanfall 2, so the sales not being fantastic in week 1 doesn't shock me at all. First, it is a problem that it was scheduled for release so close to Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty. That's insane to go up against, no less when Battlefield shares the same publisher. The tech test reaction, which is not a reaction at all that I shared (I liked it a lot) seemed to deter a lot of people, even people who had not even bothered to play the tech test. Combine that with relatively lukewarm long-term reception of the original Titanfall due to its multiplayer only focus and to me that seems like a storm for disaster. I came away from the tech test impressions thread knowing this game was very likely not to succeed, despite my own enjoyment of it. Seeing the really positive reviews and a dedicated thread about its campaign maybe had me hoping for a Doom style pickup in pace (which still needs more time to actually happen), but I think the fact that it's now the usual heavy-hitting fall/winter release season, that's seeing even more than just BF1 and COD coming out, kind of stacks against Titanfall 2's chances even more.

I still have hope this game ultimately succeeds, and despite the really good turn around it seemed Doom had in late spring/early summer (again, stressing that that was not a particularly heavy release season), I think Titanfall 2's up against some hard odds.

 

[old manatee]

Titanfall gave a really good first impression, but I felt like the gameplay was shallow and I got bored in a few hours. There was no way I was going to get Titanfall 2 until the dust settled.

 

[Gormenghast]

So, you'd blame the launch window, whereas everyone agrees Titanfall 2 is the better game.

I'd say the problem is the players and their habit.

It makes no sense, because after years of CoD you'd expect everyone to want something even slightly more different like Titanfall, but nope.

It's just simply baffling, there's no logic explanation why the worse game still sells more every year.

 

[Euron]

Who on GAF didn't see this coming? This is pretty upsetting considering it looks like Respawn made a hell of a campaign and a pretty solid multiplayer. But of course, EA decided to get cocky and release the game right between Battlefield 1 and Infinite Warfare. This would have done very well in the spring. I just don't see the point in paying $60 for it now when it'll inevitably get steep discounts very soon.

Though maybe it could still end up like Rainbow Six Siege as others have mentioned

 

[schwabdizzle]

Titanfall 2 is the best shooter I've played this year outside of Doom. I'm still not sure which I like more, but I've gone through Doom 3 times and have just barely started reaching the endpoint of Titanfall 2 -- been busy since it launched but been managing to sneak a bit of time here and there. Titanfall 2 helps in that I like its multiplayer as well, can't say the same for Doom.

... But all the factors seem stacked against Titanfall 2, so the sales not being fantastic in week 1 doesn't shock me at all. First, it is a problem that it was scheduled for release so close to Battlefield 1 and Call of Duty. That's insane to go up against, no less when Battlefield shares the same publisher. The tech test reaction, which is not a reaction at all that I shared (I liked it a lot) seemed to deter a lot of people, even people who had not even bothered to play the tech test. Combine that with relatively lukewarm long-term reception of the original Titanfall due to its multiplayer only focus and to me that seems like a storm for disaster. I came away from the tech test impressions thread knowing this game was very likely not to succeed, despite my own enjoyment of it. Seeing the really positive reviews and a dedicated thread about its campaign maybe had me hoping for a Doom style pickup in pace (which still needs more time to actually happen), but I think the fact that it's now the usual heavy-hitting fall/winter release season, that's seeing even more than just BF1 and COD coming out, kind of stacks against Titanfall 2's chances even more.

I still have hope this game ultimately succeeds, and despite the really good turn around it seemed Doom had in late spring/early summer (again, stressing that that was not a particularly heavy release season), I think Titanfall 2's up against some hard odds.

It's EASILY the best MP shooter I played in the best 5 years. Even though the original was also good this one just made it refined. Its basically a bad ass simulator.

 

[joecanada]

Rainbow Six Siege was a "failure", too, after launch, and has made amazing strides with post-launch support. I wouldn't write off Titanfall 2 yet.

I pray people keep buying tf2 because it deserves better. Better than R6 too although I enjoyed my time with it had those total ass servers , unlike tf2

 

[synce]

I think it has more to do with marketing. I don't play shooters but I knew there was a new COD coming out soon. Didn't even know there was a Titanfall 2 until all the news of it tanking

 

[Omega Kirby]

make a shallow first game and people don't come back for the sequel? what a shock

Assassin's Creed II

 

[Schlorgan]

Assassin's Creed II

Those were more innocent times.

 

[Skinpop]

I would probably have bought if they put it on steam. I would definitely have bought if EA wasn't involved.

 

[Izuna]

Healthy reminder that this Campaign is one of the best in FPS history and everyone should give it a go. I'mma throw some games it has been compared to.

Mario Galaxy 2, Portal, Half-Life 2, Modern Warfare (1), Doom, Wolfenstein

Since it's called TF2, you may as well call this The Orange Box

--

But yeah honestly, no one is going to "check" this game out when BF1 and CoD are out. People who play Destiny will keep playing Destiny. People who want a multiplayer shooter won't check out a new game at the same time the others release.

Titanfall 2 needs to hold interest of playing up until January. Only then will people feel like they can move over. Sadly, it's the sort of game that will be very overwhelming for people. I know, the original was the same. You couldn't convince anyone to play the original after it's launch window until it hit EA Access -- and by that point it was mostly dead.

--

If I were Respawn. I'd get that Frontier Defense mode have its own progression system like ME3 or something and make a demo of it coinciding with a free weekend.

People ain't gunna stay on a multiplayer game that has zero esports following.

 

[Lemstar]

titanfall 2 has about as many players on pc a week after launch than titanfall 1 did 8 months after launch (after the release of Destiny and AW)

not sure why everyone's complaining about ~lack of staying power~

 

[Dash_Riprock]

So, you'd blame the launch window, whereas everyone agrees Titanfall 2 is the better game.

I'd say the problem is the players and their habit.

It makes no sense, because after years of CoD you'd expect everyone to want something even slightly more different like Titanfall, but nope.

It's just simply baffling, there's no logic explanation why the worse game still sells more every year.

Maybe just maybe contrary to the GAF echo chamber more casual players actually still LIKE Call of Duty?

...Nah, they're just stupid sheep.

 

[Sword Of Doom]

I think one lost COD sale is a win for EA. Imo EA doesn't really care about Titanfall since it's not really their franchise like Battlefield. Sucks for respawn

 

[Detox]

1.1 million monthly players. Over 10 million registered users.

Where are these numbers from? It doesn't sound right.

 

[Bolivar687]

Maybe just maybe contrary to the GAF echo chamber more casual players actually still LIKE Call of Duty?

...Nah, they're just stupid sheep.

Sheeple.

I don't care about running out of funding, they should have done everything they could to get the first game on both consoles. In looking for a system seller, Microsoft absolutely buried this franchise.

 

[GhostOfSparta305]

So, you'd blame the launch window, whereas everyone agrees Titanfall 2 is the better game.

I'd say the problem is the players and their habit.

Even if you were exactly right, how do you fight that?

People do stupid things with their money all the time. Like pay $80 only to play a 10-year old game.

But it's their money at the end of the day.

 

[SlickShoesRUCrazy]

I pre-ordered and have really enjoyed the campaign so far, but they really should have launched it in March or so like the first.

 

[rezn0r]

I pre-ordered and have really enjoyed the campaign so far, but they really should have launched it in March or so.

Same here/agreed.

 

[Obliterator]

Where are these numbers from? It doesn't sound right.

It's actually bigger than I thought. It was 1.26 million daily during the last DLC launch and more users than launch

http://me.ign.com/en/m/pc/122490/news/more-people-are-playing-rainbow-six-siege-now-than-at-launch

And over 10 million players was announced during the Ubisoft investor call this week

http://m.neogaf.com/showthread.php?t=1306899

Rainbow Six SIEGE is gigantic and somehow the majority of GAF entirely missed the ball on that one

 

[YuriLowell]

Its a shame because its far and away the best MP shooter this generation.

 

[TakeItSlowDude]

I think one lost COD sale is a win for EA. Imo EA doesn't really care about Titanfall since it's not really their franchise like Battlefield. Sucks for respawn

EA probably sweetened the deal by giving Respawn the Star War game and giving Respawn favorable publishing terms. They had to know that serving as the follow up punch to Battlefield 1 in EA's effort to finally dethrone CoD would mean reduced sales so they likely negotiated decent terms and probably made plans to collect long tail revenues after the holidays. My guess is that there will be a price cut that coincides with the release of additional content to drum up sales.

 

[vasametropolis]

I pre-ordered and have really enjoyed the campaign so far, but they really should have launched it in March or so.

They should have launched in March. I remember Bad Company 2 came out in March and it was so refreshing after sinking time into MW2. February / March can be a great window if your game kicks ass. I have TF2 already and it's great.

 

[tearsintherain]

I bought the game as well on PC and don't have any regrets due to the price I paid ($33 with best buy) but its a bummer. I already see the number of players online dropping daily when I play 15 minutes during "happy hour", it went from 10k earlier in the week to 6k last night. Be interesting to see it tonight with COD up. Its funny how if you try the two game modes in the "second page" (which nobody ever goes to) it can take a long time to find a game.

I bought all 3 games (BF1, Titanfall 2, Infinite Warfare) all digital, two on PC and one on PS4 so I don't really don't have a dog in any fight. Still think T2 would have done much better with a few more months of polish and a clear release window. Polish wise, I think the maps still are pretty meh, happy hour is 80% there but has a lot of flaws (I just constantly hop networks to find one with an happy hour while I am playing which is dumb), and networks is a great concept but still needs a lot more work to be functionally great.

 

[Schlorgan]

EA probably sweetened the deal by giving Respawn the Star War game and giving Respawn favorable publishing terms. They had to know that serving as the follow up punch to Battlefield 1 in EA's effort to finally dethrone CoD would mean reduced sales so they likely negotiated decent terms and probably made plans to collect long tail revenues after the holidays. My guess is that there will be a price cut that coincides with the release of additional content to drum up sales.

I think this is possible.

 

[thepenguin55]

So this looks like an interesting read but I've noticed two things that stood out to me:

- Titanfall 2 actually launched on the same number of platforms as the first game. People in the industry forget about the 360 version of Titanfall 1 but I'm sure that version didn't sell an insignificant amount.
- I don't remember if it was West or Zampella but didn't one of them not only leave Respawn but also the industry as a whole?

I get that these are nitpicky things but they stood out to me.

 

[ThePizzaGuy]

Never played the first Titanfall. From what I've played of the campaign so far, it is utterly amazing. It has Portal 2 vibes.

 

[Jb]

So this looks like an interesting read but I've noticed two things that stood out to me:
- Titanfall 2 actually launched on the same number of platforms as the first game. People in the industry forget about the 360 version of Titanfall 1 but I'm sure that version didn't sell an insignificant amount.

I can't imagine that version did very well. I seem to remember a lot of those cross gen games doing pretty poorly on the old consoles at the time.

 

[samn]

I want to play Titanfall 2 but I can't justify paying full price for a multiplayer game that might be dead in a year's time. So I won't buy it.

 

[Karamsoul]

Healthy reminder that this Campaign is one of the best in FPS history and everyone should give it a go. I'mma throw some games it has been compared to.

Mario Galaxy 2, Portal, Half-Life 2, Modern Warfare (1), Doom, Wolfenstein

Since it's called TF2, you may as well call this The Orange Box

--

But yeah honestly, no one is going to "check" this game out when BF1 and CoD are out. People who play Destiny will keep playing Destiny. People who want a multiplayer shooter won't check out a new game at the same time the others release.

Titanfall 2 needs to hold interest of playing up until January. Only then will people feel like they can move over. Sadly, it's the sort of game that will be very overwhelming for people. I know, the original was the same. You couldn't convince anyone to play the original after it's launch window until it hit EA Access -- and by that point it was mostly dead.

--

If I were Respawn. I'd get that Frontier Defense mode have its own progression system like ME3 or something and make a demo of it coinciding with a free weekend.

People ain't gunna stay on a multiplayer game that has zero esports following.

Actually, I disagree. I play Overwatch, Gears of War 4, and Destiny (since it came out, all expansions, 395 light level) all heavily, and dropped them all like a rock because Titanfall 2 multiplayer just won't let me go. Actually hit level 50 in multiplayer and about to start my first re-gen.

 

[TheSinkingKnight]

Studio performance evaluations are made partly on sales, no? West and Zampella's creative freedom is contingent on the success of their projects. If their game flops, EA has an excuse (maybe a codified one) to exercise more control over Respawn.

I think we all know why the game bombed. It has nothing to do with quality, it has nothing to do with a waning desire for first person shooters. The issue is the release date. They launched it between the two most popular shooters of the holiday, by a matter of days. Who decides the release date? The publisher. Not Respawn.

EA sent this game to die. I don't buy their argument that somehow Call of Duty, Battlefield, and Titanfall all share separate and distinct audiences. We all know that's bullshit. I think it was a political decision that allows them to leverage more authority over Respawn and the Titanfall IP.

West doesn't work at Respawn.

 

[OldMan]

A game released before Black Friday is never a failure.

 

[thepenguin55]

I can't imagine that version did very well. I seem to remember a lot of those cross gen games doing pretty poorly on the old consoles at the time.

Oh that may very well be the case but I mostly just wanted to point out that technically T2 launched on the same number of platforms as the original and potentially could have sold fairly well as it was on a 360 which was a platform with a still-even-at-that-time large user base.

 

[gypsygib]

EA broke one leg by giving exclusivity to the beleaguered (at the time) XB1 pissing off a lot of PS4 gamers and eroding the tremendous hype the game had, as, right or wrong, PS4 fans were going to hate and hate they did. They dwindled a perfect opportunity to become an established franchise on a first try. Gamers were starving for games, but Titanfall's hype was only matched by PS4 owners hate and jealousy. Instead of mass console success, more gamers celebrated its failure and Titanfall to the bargain bin.

Then, EA breaks the other leg by releasing it in between two of the biggest FPS franchises in the market when it has yet to be established, AND in the same year that a new major FPS (Overwatch) released. PC gamers also have Paladins which seems to be doing very well as well and is free.

There's only so many people in the market for these online focused MP FPS games, let them get a little bored first, then release.

Respawn may be wishing they went with a different publisher. There's no way MS paid enough for them losing an open net to widespread success in 2014. Everyone was so hungry for something new and different on their shiny new consoles and all they got was hate from the majority fanbase. Now, EA did the equivalent of Activision releasing Overwatch and COD at the same time, but worse, because the games appear even more similar.

 

[Izuna]

Actually, I disagree. I play Overwatch, Gears of War 4, and Destiny (since it came out, all expansions, 395 light level) all heavily, and dropped them all like a rock because Titanfall 2 multiplayer just won't let me go. Actually hit level 50 in multiplayer and about to start my first re-gen.

My point is that those who gravitate to BF1 and CoD, which make up pretty much all console shooter players, are going to stay with one of the two.

I dunno, I love Titanfall 2 but I can't hold onto it for more than a week. The progression system is a mess. Half the time I don't even know what level I am.

 

[RibMan]

Excellent part in the article:

This isn't how good commercial decision making works; risks should be calculated and balanced against rewards, which means not taking a franchise in its infancy and flinging it against the industry's 800-pound gorilla just because you've got some vainglorious dream of proving yourself the king of the castle.

Sandwiching the game was a risky move that doesn't seem to have paid off, at all. Hopefully when/if they make another Titanfall, they do their best to give it its own window in the market. I assume EA didn't want to launch Titanfall 2 early next year as the first one failed during Q1, but as a number of AAA titles have proven, a summer release can absolutely lead to big numbers. I'm interested in seeing what EA does with the franchise -- they can go a lot of places with the IP.

 

[SapientWolf]

Excellent part in the article:



Sandwiching the game was a risky move that doesn't seem to have paid off, at all. Hopefully when/if they make another Titanfall, they do their best to give it its own window in the market. I assume EA didn't want to launch Titanfall 2 early next year as the first one failed during Q1, but as a number of AAA titles have proven, a summer release can absolutely lead to big numbers. I'm interested in seeing what EA does with the franchise -- they can go a lot of places with the IP.

It's way too early to call. There is a massive boost in game sales during the holidays. If the numbers still look bad in February then yeah, they goofed.

 

[Night Hunter]

Seriously, I don't understand EAs decision to send this game out ow at all.

Normally, when publishers send a game to die at this time of year just to show shareholders how much confidence they have in the game it's still stupid, but at least understandable. With this ... I just have no idea what they were thinking.

 

[Jb]

Oh that may very well be the case but I mostly just wanted to point out that technically T2 launched on the same number of platforms as the original and potentially could have sold fairly well as it was on a 360 which was a platform with a still-even-at-that-time large user base.

That's certainly a possibility. I don't really pay close attention to NPD threads so I wouldn't be able to say for sure.

 

[Ri'Orius]

Wow, I somehow missed that this was on PS4. Never even occurred to me that that was a possibility.

I definitely need to at least RedBox it.

 

[thepenguin55]

I want to play Titanfall 2 but I can't justify paying full price for a multiplayer game that might be dead in a year's time. So I won't buy it.

The problem with this approach is that this almost assures that this will happen. It's a self fulfilling prophecy situation. BTW, I'm not trying to put this all on you or whatever I'm just saying that this thinking doesn't really make sense to me personally.
I don't really know what kinds of games you like and I'm not saying that you're like this but I've known people who have taken a similar approach with a multiplayer focused game but then went and bought something like Bioshock Infinite for full price instead. So they bought a, like a lets say, 8 hour game when they instead could've bought a game with an 6-8 hour campaign AND hours and hours of multiplayer fun. Now you might argue "but Bioshock Infinite has a better story than Game X" which is fine but I feel like that argument flies in the face of the "dollars per hour" "most fun for my money" approach to buying games that many people take. This all gets muddier when the multiplayer game has a good/entertaining story like Titanfall 2 does.

What I'm getting at is I find the game buying mental gymnastics some of us do to be pretty funny.

 

[Triggerhappytel]

Guess I shouldn't hold my breath for TF3 then.

There will be one. I just hope it isn't compromised in the same way TF and TF2 have been. They should settle on April and stay well away from BF and COD.

Wasn't it only based on a day of being on sale compared to its predecessors 4?

Both games released on a Friday in the UK and had two days of sales before placing in the charts.

Aren't we at the very front of the holiday buying season? TF2 will sell well before the end of the year, I'm sure.

It has the chance to do well, but the vast majority of AAA games sell the most during launch period and then steadily decline.

 

[LiquidMetal14]

Game just came out. I'm not ready to count it out yet.

 

[Z3M0G]

wtf wow...

I always assumed that TF1 left people with the anticipation of a better TF2... we got it (and boy did we ever), and it only sells 1/4 what TF1 did?

- the competition with the other games releasing at same time?
- bad reaction to Technical Demo?

 

[The Citizen Kane of Games]

'By some estimates’ - still quoting that UK sales thing, sigh.

 

[SpecialAgentDaleCooper]

wtf wow...

I always assumed that TF1 left people with the anticipation of a better TF2... we got it (and boy did we ever), and it only sells 1/4 what TF1 did?

- the competition with the other games releasing at same time?
- bad reaction to Technical Demo?

Its not universally seen as better by those who enjoyed the first game.