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Do you think sales figures justify your hardware and software purchases?

W

Willco

Hollywood Square
I'm just curious if some of you think the sales figures justify your purchases. I honestly believe there are two general reactions in this forum:

1. GAME A SOLD X AMOUNT, WHICH IS LIKE THE GREATEST SALES FIGURE EVER ON THE FIRST SATURDAY OF APRIL OF ALL-TIME, AND THAT MEANS IT ROCKS SUCK IT DOWN HATERS!

+/- Spin Factor!

2. GAME B SOLD Y AMOUNT, WHICH IS SUCH A LOW FIGURE BECAUSE THE GAME IS UNDERGROUND AND TOO COOL FOR THOSE CASUAL SHEEP TO LIKE IT, OH WELL MORE COPIES FOR ME!

+/- Damage Control!

Now, who will own up and admit that they tend to do that? Even better, who will admit they get a chub whenever NPD sales figures are released?
 
Personally, I'm not satisfied with a purchase until the next month's NPD. I learned fast after thinking I liked Panzer Dragoon Orta, then I saw that it bombed. I'll never make that mistake again...
 
Only reasons I care about sales numbers are:

1) Possibility of a sequal if the game sells well enough.

2) The sheer comedy gold that comes from a game that has been dubbed "bad" or even better a non-game that sells MUCH higher than expected.

3) Judging how fast the game will drop to $20.

Everything beyond that I just ignore.
 
EDIT: ^^^ these are all very valid reasons for caring about NPD results.

Sometimes I accept that there's a margin of opinion... a whole kaleidoscope of tastes and preferences. I accept that maybe people just didn't like that thing that I happen to like.

But a lot of the time I'm so convinced of the pant-shitting awesomeness before me that either I have faith renewed in humanity, or become more bitter towards the world with every NPD. I'm enthusiastic about the stuff I like, and I'll admit - sharing that enthusiasm is better than enthusing alone. The more people who buy into the things I like, the better I guess.
 
DS sales figures reassure me that my cash wasn't wasted on VIRTUAL BOY 2

And Nintendogs sales info makes me grin, other than that, my purchases (software) are based on the concept of the game + some Gaffers impressions (if I'm on the fence about a game)

If monkey ball had have sold 1 copy, I would have used that figure to convince myself that the world is stupid.
 
Honestly, as far as my puchase goes, I could care less either way. OTOH, I do like to see a game that I bought and liked to do well in the market place.
 
Nope, sales figures don't justify my purchases. I bought P.N. 03, 1080 Snowboarding, Custom Robo and Ikaruga. The only one I kind of regret buying is Custom Robo, but it was only $10. I did buy them all for $20 or less, but if sales figures had any influence on me, then I would've skipped over them.
 
no, a brief glance at my library shows sales bombs like Crazy Taxi 3 (which i love and have probably put over 100hrs into) and blockbusters like Halo 2, San Andreas and many many Nintendo games
 
I do get a mild chub when sales figures are released, but as for your question, absolutely not, and I think people who do are missing the entire point of the hobby, to me. That does not mean I won't defend or dispute sales numbers if someone is fallaciously spewing them to prove their arguement, but no, sales figures should have absolutely zero influence on an argument of a game's quality, just as I believe a game's price should not influence how the quality of a game is percieved (Though it definitely accounts for that game's relative value, i.e. the fact that Steel Battalion costs $200 should have no bearing on how good it is considered, but obviously it should when it comes to your wallet, and how it's value stacks up to the monetary worth to you.). Which, is also why I get a lot of hate on my views in terms of the PC and Xbox, and their overlap. The better game is what I go for. As cliche as it is, it's all about the games.
 
Sales figures matter to me in only two ways:

01. If I like a game and it sells well, I can be optimistic that either another installment will be released, or other developers will try to make a game similar to it (and hopefully try to improve on whatever areas the game in question fell short)

02. If a game is selling like shit and I haven't bought it already, I'll wait a few weeks so I can get it at a lower price. There's no point in running out to buy a game for $50 if it's going to drop in price very fast.
 
Jive Turkey said:
Only reasons I care about sales numbers are:

1) Possibility of a sequal if the game sells well enough.

2) The sheer comedy gold that comes from a game that has been dubbed "bad" or even better a non-game that sells MUCH higher than expected.

3) Judging how fast the game will drop to $20.

Everything beyond that I just ignore.
Click to expand...

Thank you for saving me some time. :)
 
Well I like to look at japanese software sales as they are usually a good indicator of what games are going to come out here.

The DS vs. PSP sales are pretty interesting. While I would be pretty upset if the PSP tanks, I cheer on the little DS when it does well. I buy game systems based on what games are on them, not who makes them or how many have sold. So far the DS has nothing on it I really want. PSP had me at GTmobile.

So no I don't feel like hardware/software sales justify my purchases. I am a little upset when things I like tank, but it really doesn't affect my enjoyment of the product. (i.e DC bombed pretty hard, but I still love it)
 
Link316 said:
of course! better hardware & software sales = more 3rd party support
Click to expand...

This is the jist of it. When a console does really well, developers see this. They want to increase support and make more money. Granted, it doesn't always work that way for every developer (exclusivity deals and whatnot aside), but that's generally the way it goes in this industry.

Thus, if you see that the console you're interested in is selling spectacularly and its games are doing very well, you're almost certainly assured:

- A plethora of games
- Great support throughout the consoles lifetime
- Good exclusives if you're #1
- Etc

That's why I always make the system with the most third party support my "go-to" platform per generation, regardless of company. I always end up w/ all three anyway, but third party support is where it's at, yo.
 
Jive Turkey said:
Only reasons I care about sales numbers are:

1) Possibility of a sequal if the game sells well enough.

2) The sheer comedy gold that comes from a game that has been dubbed "bad" or even better a non-game that sells MUCH higher than expected.

3) Judging how fast the game will drop to $20.

Everything beyond that I just ignore.
Click to expand...
That pretty much sums it up for me also.
 
I'm saving all these posts with rational explainations for their interest in sales data the next time the latest NPD figures turn into an all out flame war.
 
I like it when a game I enjoy sells like shit. It justifies my dislike for mankind little by little and validates my reluctance to follow market trends.
 
Razoric said:
Great name, great song, Metallica 4 Lyfe!
Click to expand...

I had lost that CD for about three years, and recently found in UNDER my stereo. :lol

That song is awesome. "Dear mother dear father!!!"
 
The only time I've ever cared was when Golden Eye :Rogue Agent came out. My roommate rented it we played it for like 10 minutes then turned it off in disgust.....I kept checking the boards to see if it had bombed...for some reason I really wanted it to.
 
Sales are important such that they may determine whether a series will continue, or a genre will continue to be pursued in a given territory. They do not ultimately decide (or support) what I do or do not purchase.
 
I don't directly look out for game sales...though if I know that a fairly new game is supposed to be good and is on sale for under $20...then I assume that it sold poorly and make with the purchase

system sales? NPD data? monthly/weekly salescharts? never gave a shit about that tom fuckery
 
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