In case you hadn't heard about the Best Seller Logo of Doom (tm), let me explain. Recent Nintendo published titles that have had retailer preorders of 250,000 or more (Paper Mario, Mario Power Tennis) have been released to stores in two versions: one with the standard box art, and one with a flashy Best Seller logo in the bottom right corner of the cover. This has led to much wailing and gnashing of teeth, especially as no one has been able to come up with a logical reason for Nintendo's new emblem of pride.
Until now.
First, I'm assuming that most GAFfers would agree that GameCube owners are often lumped into two camps: those more fanatical than your average Xbox or PS2 owner, and those who are "family casual" gamers. "Family casual" gamers might be enticed to buy a game with the Best Seller logo ("Hey, it must be good! It's a Best Seller!"), but the fanatics don't seem to be enticed by this at all. Rather, the fanatics are more likely to refuse to buy a Best Seller version of a game, instead opting for the original box art.
Now, if only a portion of the shipment of a game contain the "standard" boxart, and the majority contain the dreaded Best Seller box art... what is going to happen?
Nintendo fanatics will run like crazy to the store, intent on buying the game before the ghastly Best Seller version appears.
If this is true, Nintendo stands to sell its titles more quickly than usual, which could very well result in more reorders from the stores. There's also a chance that sales could increase, as the fanatics crowd will have had more time to demonstrate the game to their friends, thus creating more opportunities for potential sales to the more "casual" crowd. If Fanatic Man sees a game he wants, but decides to wait on until 8 months after release, his best friend Casual Dude won't be exposed to the game during the height of its marketing campaign. However, if Fanatic Man buys the game on the date of release, he now has plenty of time to demonstrate the game to Casual Dude while the marketing thrust is hot, thus increasing the odds of Casual Dude buying the game as well.
This might seem a bit too much like a conspiracy theory, but it does seem to explain why Nintendo would release two versions of a game on the same date. Publishers seem to like preorders and early sales, and this Best Seller business might very well increase both without the need for expensive gimmicks like the Zelda bonus discs.
Oh, for the record, I'm a Nintendo fanatic who just drove all over town to find a non-Best Seller version of Mario Power Tennis. I think there are a lot of folks doing the same thing. This "conspiracy" theory (selling through fear of inferior second runs) may be insane, but it might just be working.
Until now.
First, I'm assuming that most GAFfers would agree that GameCube owners are often lumped into two camps: those more fanatical than your average Xbox or PS2 owner, and those who are "family casual" gamers. "Family casual" gamers might be enticed to buy a game with the Best Seller logo ("Hey, it must be good! It's a Best Seller!"), but the fanatics don't seem to be enticed by this at all. Rather, the fanatics are more likely to refuse to buy a Best Seller version of a game, instead opting for the original box art.
Now, if only a portion of the shipment of a game contain the "standard" boxart, and the majority contain the dreaded Best Seller box art... what is going to happen?
Nintendo fanatics will run like crazy to the store, intent on buying the game before the ghastly Best Seller version appears.
If this is true, Nintendo stands to sell its titles more quickly than usual, which could very well result in more reorders from the stores. There's also a chance that sales could increase, as the fanatics crowd will have had more time to demonstrate the game to their friends, thus creating more opportunities for potential sales to the more "casual" crowd. If Fanatic Man sees a game he wants, but decides to wait on until 8 months after release, his best friend Casual Dude won't be exposed to the game during the height of its marketing campaign. However, if Fanatic Man buys the game on the date of release, he now has plenty of time to demonstrate the game to Casual Dude while the marketing thrust is hot, thus increasing the odds of Casual Dude buying the game as well.
This might seem a bit too much like a conspiracy theory, but it does seem to explain why Nintendo would release two versions of a game on the same date. Publishers seem to like preorders and early sales, and this Best Seller business might very well increase both without the need for expensive gimmicks like the Zelda bonus discs.
Oh, for the record, I'm a Nintendo fanatic who just drove all over town to find a non-Best Seller version of Mario Power Tennis. I think there are a lot of folks doing the same thing. This "conspiracy" theory (selling through fear of inferior second runs) may be insane, but it might just be working.
