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[Agent Icebeezy]

So do you think that I am right to susspect that LBP is going to sell poorly?

It's like this and I've said it here plenty of times. Cute looking exterior, too smart for most consumers. This is all academic for me because I've gone to school for marketing. IMHO, for platformers these days, it takes more than just bookending LBP in a commercial with GT5P and MGS4. We understand what it is about, we see that Sackboy is lovable, but in this Mario or the highway world that we seem to live in concerning platformers, I don't know. There are way too many good games vying for attention this year. I would like to see Sony do what Microsoft has done for the Rare games and give it a better chance. Then again, I fear that a lot of games are going to falter in October because Guitar Hero 4 is going to destroy all in its path.

 

[HamPster PamPster]

Not sure if this is the thread for this but I had to ask - what is the deal with Fading Shadows being Gamestop exclusive? I mean its a marble puzzle game.

Did Gamestop say, damn we NEED this one locked up or else, or was the publisher like, hey Gamestop boy do I have a deal for you...

How often are full games, not just bonuses, store specific anyway?

 

[cakefoo]

We just got our first shipment of 80GB and 160GB PS3s in two days ago. Sold two of them personaly yesterday.

Not that I doubt you, but it's hard to believe they'd ship the 160GB so early- they weren't supposed to go on sale until November.

 

[Somnia]

Hope it's not too off-topic to ask but what's the 360 Premium trade-in value is at Gamestop?

$100 without hard drive I think...can't remember off hand

 

[Somnia]

Not that I doubt you, but it's hard to believe they'd ship the 160GB so early- they weren't supposed to go on sale until November.

Ya I dunno where he is located, but 160gb's are set for Nov. from the last of my knowledge

 

[Bearillusion]

He sold two 80 gigs for a combined total of 160 gigs. Really guys it's simple math.

 

[Somnia]

He sold two 80 gigs for a combined total of 160 gigs. Really guys it's simple math.

:lol :lol classic

 

[jrricky]

Hey, let me jump in; Gamestop:

Wii - Sold out of shipments we got this week. Madden isnt fairing as well as the PS360 counterparts as expected but selling on par with the ps2 version I guess, doesnt represent overall sales unfortunately. Fair amount of preorders for Sluggers. No Wiifits. Got restock of Mario Kart on Friday, sold about 4 since. Others of note that are selling some - M&S, Smash, Rock band, second highest amount of preorders for Star wars, including mine.

360 - Selling fairly well, mostly 60 gigs. Madden is top on this platform of course. Too Human is selling slowing but decent, still didnt sell out of initial shipments, got preorder cancels cause of bad buzz though. I have a feeling NPDs going to be interesting for Too Human though, to see if bad press actually killed it. Others of note - Lions share of Star wars preorders, some Call of Duty here and there.

PS3 - Sold the last one on friday, we havent gotten any in a while though, and if we did it wasnt a lot. Madden is second on this platform. Nothin else of note really. No LBP preorders.

DS - Still selling quite decently, we are always stocked with a lot of them though it depends on the colors. Sold all guitar hero bundles, hasnt been restocked since. Sold all Pokemon special editions. Titles of note - Mario Party, M&S, NSMB, FFIV, Pokemon, Imagine line, Guitar Hero. First Preorder of lock's quest by me i think lol .

PSP - Sold all madden bundles and some decent sales of the slim. Nothin else of note sadly.

 

[Sean]

$100 without hard drive I think...can't remember off hand

Thanks. I assume that doesn't count the "$20 Extra Hardware Trade Bonus listed on their site? Doesn't seem like a whole lot, but I wanna offload my older one (have an Elite now) ASAP before it's worth even less because of the price drop coming a few days from now :lol

I find it interesting that X360 20gb sales slowed down (even with the $299 clearance price) but people seem to be buying the higher-priced 60GB's, even though the news about those being $299 on Sept 7th is pretty widespread.

 

[Snipes424]

No LBP preorders.

Not a one? That surprises me a little. But to be honest, I don't usually pre-order PS3 games because I know that they will be in stock. I actually only pre-order extremely huge AAA titles, like GTA4 or MGS4. I did pre-order LBP though for Kratos, but maybe the pre orders will start rolling in once Sony starts putting a lot of commercials on TV for LBP and once it gets to closer to October.

 

[Private Hoffman]

Not a one? That surprises me a little. But to be honest, I don't usually pre-order PS3 games because I know that they will be in stock. I actually only pre-order extremely huge AAA titles, like GTA4 or MGS4. I did pre-order LBP though for Kratos, but maybe the pre orders will start rolling in once Sony starts putting a lot of commercials on TV for LBP and once it gets to closer to October.

Reviews should help LBP as well.

I don't pre order games either, and never will. But I'll be picking up LBP day 1.

 

[duk]

week of sept 7th will be interesting

 

[Guy Legend]

week of sept 7th will be interesting

XB360 sales will rise...

 

[Sushen]

Not a one? That surprises me a little. But to be honest, I don't usually pre-order PS3 games because I know that they will be in stock. I actually only pre-order extremely huge AAA titles, like GTA4 or MGS4. I did pre-order LBP though for Kratos, but maybe the pre orders will start rolling in once Sony starts putting a lot of commercials on TV for LBP and once it gets to closer to October.

The current hype level of the game seems very unhealthy. It could turn out to be one of the NeoGaf games, if you know what I mean. It'll be a fun game, but I don't see a second coming of jesus.

 

[Ike]

The current hype level of the game seems very unhealthy. It could turn out to be one of the NeoGaf games, if you know what I mean. It'll be a fun game, but I don't see a second coming of jesus.

I agree with this post 100%. The hype of LBP is getting outrageous.

 

[Snipes424]

The current hype level of the game seems very unhealthy. It could turn out to be one of the NeoGaf games, if you know what I mean. It'll be a fun game, but I don't see a second coming of jesus.

I think it has to do with that the game is like almost failproof. I mean, name me 5 negative things about the game, because I sure can't.

Looked what happened when everyone thought the game was region locked, instant internet shit storm because there was finally something negative about the game.

Also sackboy makes you smile

 

[Xenon]

I agree with this post 100%. The hype of LBP is getting outrageous.

Truly, Truly outrageous.

 

[worldstiniestpenis]

i think you guys underestimate the amount of advertising sony will invest in littlebigplanet close to / following the game's release. it's going to be the biggest title of the year in terms of marketing, and i see it easily going through to christmas

 

[sciplore]

i think you guys underestimate the amount of advertising sony will invest in littlebigplanet close to / following the game's release. it's going to be the biggest title of the year in terms of marketing, and i see it easily going through to christmas

Wait so Resistance 2 is coming out in 09?

 

[worldstiniestpenis]

no

but littlebigplanet will be the most marketed titled of the year

 

[Snipes424]

Wait so Resistance 2 is coming out in 09?

bsjezz is right, they are putting the most marketing into LBP, but I'm sure you will see marketing for R2 as well.

edit: Actually you are already seeing it, with the live action stuff for R2.

 

[painful fart]

Wait so Resistance 2 is coming out in 09?

No that´s Killzone2.

You honestly think Resistance 2 will be getting more marketing money than LBP?
LBP is a far more strategic investment in the long run when Sony wants to start tap in to the casual crowd.

I wouldn´t be surprised if MS put more marketing money into Viva Pinata and Banjo than Gears 2 as well.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

No that´s Killzone2.

You honestly think Resistance 2 will be getting more marketing money than LBP?
LBP is a far more strategic investment in the long run when Sony wants to start tap in to the casual crowd.

I wouldn´t be surprised if MS put more marketing money into Viva Pinata and Banjo than Gears 2 as well.

My fear for the Rare games is that the $39.99 is the marketing. I hope that isn't the case. I think that Microsoft might do a collage of games in a commercial for Christmas and that be there. If Banjo gets his own, I'll be elated.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Not a one? That surprises me a little. But to be honest, I don't usually pre-order PS3 games because I know that they will be in stock. I actually only pre-order extremely huge AAA titles, like GTA4 or MGS4. I did pre-order LBP though for Kratos, but maybe the pre orders will start rolling in once Sony starts putting a lot of commercials on TV for LBP and once it gets to closer to October.

Little Big Planet has been in commercials for quite a while.

 

[Wollan]

Little Big Planet has been in commercials for quite a while.

You keep saying this. Where exactly?

 

[SIP YEK NOD]

You keep saying this. Where exactly?

Saw a commercial on TSN today that featured LBP, GT:5P and MGS4

 

[Jive Turkey]

Except you'll be able to actually buy those.

Wait...Really? Any ideas on pricing? I really want a Sackboy!

 

[gofreak]

I agree with this post 100%. The hype of LBP is getting outrageous.

It's getting the hype an amazing looking game deserves. There's nothing outrageous about it.

 

[sciplore]

No that´s Killzone2.

You honestly think Resistance 2 will be getting more marketing money than LBP?
LBP is a far more strategic investment in the long run when Sony wants to start tap in to the casual crowd.

I wouldn´t be surprised if MS put more marketing money into Viva Pinata and Banjo than Gears 2 as well.

I actually think Sony may do a MS and just do a quirky marketing for LBP and just invest all the money in Resistance 2 (ala Viva Pinata 1 and Gears of War 1) but seeing how this is Sony first holiday with titles like these two its no telling what will happen but I still place my doubts on them giving LBP more marketing money than Resistance 2.

 

[Sean]

So far Resistance 2 seems to be getting quite a bit more marketing. Right from the reveal they had a Game Informer cover story, then the Qore episode, the viral marketing ARG (Project Abraham or whatever), and most importantly a beta is going on.

LBP has the pre-order bonus stuff going on but I would think most people excited about a Kratos/Nariko skin for the sackboy have already made up their mind on purchasing the game.

 

[painful fart]

My fear for the Rare games is that the $39.99 is the marketing. I hope that isn't the case. I think that Microsoft might do a collage of games in a commercial for Christmas and that be there. If Banjo gets his own, I'll be elated.

Don´t worry, $39.99 is great marketing, it puts the game in the shovelware bin right from the start. You can ask EAs Wii division any time.

 

[painful fart]

I actually think Sony may do a MS and just do a quirky marketing for LBP and just invest all the money in Resistance 2 (ala Viva Pinata 1 and Gears of War 1) but seeing how this is Sony first holiday with titles like these two its no telling what will happen but I still place my doubts on them giving LBP more marketing money than Resistance 2.

Viva Pinata 1 was a premature game from the market point of view, but MS knew that it was the start of a long journey that finally will cater to the casual gamers, but MS was pretty much alone on the market in the fall of 2006 so they were not in a rush. Peter Moore even stated it was sort of a market experiment.

Sony is in a somewhat different position and really needs to start building a brand among casual gamers so they can compete with MS and Nintendo.
If LBP is a big success Sony will be well positioned for 2009 if they manage to cut the price of the console to decent levels.

 

[BlackGoku03]

Not that I doubt you, but it's hard to believe they'd ship the 160GB so early- they weren't supposed to go on sale until November.

I'll check the shipping label tomorrow again. I only opened two of the four boxes we recieved. Could have sworn the other two boxes said something different and assumed they were 160GB but maybe I misread.

 

[daegan]

Saw a commercial on TSN today that featured LBP, GT:5P and MGS4

and this ad has been running for MONTHS.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

and this ad has been running for MONTHS.

This is the commercial I'm talking about Wollan, it has run for almost the entire year.

 

[Zoe]

I wouldn't consider the advertising to be in full force until it gets dedicated ads. It's easy to overlook those montage types.

 

[Wollan]

What kinda channel is TSN?

 

[Cheez-It]

It's getting the hype an amazing looking game deserves. There's nothing outrageous about it.

I personally agree with the notion that it is getting unhealthy levels of hype. The game will now have to be essentially perfect in order to not dissapoint certain people. I don't understand why people latch onto games before they are released and try to pump up expectations. It is much better to simply go into the game with little or no expectations.

 

[thuway]

That "We Few" commercial is such a joke. I don't think anyone takes it seriously. Little Big Planet needs its own commercial.

 

[Sean]

What kinda channel is TSN?

The Sports Network. But that commercial has been playing all over for months and LBP is heavily featured in it.

Youtube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=HTVf9SVnsw8

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

ESPN plays it a lot as well.

 

[Zoe]

I never watch sports channels. It must be months since the last time I saw one of the PS3 commercials :\

 

[thuway]

You can hardly call that a commercial for Little Big Planet. Its a television spot which features two other games, runs under 30 seconds, and does nothing to explain why LBP is special. Ask yourself something: What would you think if your only exposure to LBP was that commercial?

There are some amazing trailers - from the Dreams to Sackzilla. If I were Sony, I'd cherry pick phrases from previews ("The Most Innovative title since Super Mario Brothers"), combine them with the story based trailers, and encourage going to a website that explains what is Little Big Planet. Or they could do a commercial similar to the trailer for Eyepet.

 

[Cheech]

I personally agree with the notion that it is getting unhealthy levels of hype. The game will now have to be essentially perfect in order to not dissapoint certain people. I don't understand why people latch onto games before they are released and try to pump up expectations. It is much better to simply go into the game with little or no expectations.

You know what's funny, is I fired up Fable for the first time last week and am amazed at what a good game it was. I couldn't remember why I passed on it the first time around, and talking to a buddy of mine he reminded me of all the negative hype that surrounded it.

Reading the old LTTP Fable threads, it's clear that a lot of others were in the same boat. It's a shame when the fanboy or "overexcited gamer" contingent latch onto games like this, because it actually has the reverse effect they anticipate.

Of course, now I have an issue because I'm digging Fable so much I'm actually going to complete it (originally I just tossed it in because I wanted to see if I'd enjoy the sequel). The problem with this is that Fable 2, Fallout 3, and Gears 2 all drop week-after-week-after-week. LBP happens to fall on the same day as Fable 2, and boy, I can tell you which one is going to lose that fist fight. :lol

Also, you know what confuses me about the LBP hype in general? That on a hardcore gamer board such as GAF, people aren't more excited about Resistance 2. That is the PS3 game *I'm* excited about for the holiday, anyway.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

You can hardly call that a commercial for Little Big Planet. Its a television spot which features two other games, runs under 30 seconds, and does nothing to explain why LBP is special. Ask yourself something: What would you think if your only exposure to LBP was that commercial?

There are some amazing trailers - from the Dreams to Sackzilla. If I were Sony, I'd cherry pick phrases from previews ("The Most Innovative title since Super Mario Brothers"), combine them with the story based trailers, and encourage going to a website that explains what is Little Big Planet. Or they could do a commercial similar to the trailer for Eyepet.

It is run for quite a while. I'm sure some mindshare is gleamed from it. Enough to at least prompt a person to check it out on the net or store. I will admit that it is curiously placed in this ad but I see this commercial so much and with the frequency that it is shown, a regular person has to have some kind of idea that the name of the game is little big planet

 

[sphinx]

I can't help to think that Little Big Planet will be the PS3's Loco roco.

...in every sense.

 

[thuway]

It is run for quite a while. I'm sure some mindshare is gleamed from it. Enough to at least prompt a person to check it out on the net or store. I will admit that it is curiously placed in this ad but I see this commercial so much and with the frequency that it is shown, a regular person has to have some kind of idea that the name of the game is little big planet

Personally, I don't think that commercial has done anything for the game. The main game that stands out in that commercial is GT5. During the LBP section, it has a few sackboys jumping up and down, and its so irrelevant and random, that any sane person would ignore it. I'd like (key word being like, this is Sony here) to think Sony has a number of REAL commercials that incorporate the magic we see in the trailers.

 

[pr0cs]

My fear for the Rare games is that the $39.99 is the marketing. I hope that isn't the case. I think that Microsoft might do a collage of games in a commercial for Christmas and that be there. If Banjo gets his own, I'll be elated.

QFT.
If Microsoft does the same work they did with Viva Pinata then even the price for Banjo will do little for the sales.
I seriously hope Microsoft has advertising that does the game justice.

 

[Brashnir]

My fear for the Rare games is that the $39.99 is the marketing. I hope that isn't the case. I think that Microsoft might do a collage of games in a commercial for Christmas and that be there. If Banjo gets his own, I'll be elated.

VP2 is out in a couple weeks, isn't it? I wouldn't expect much, if any marketing push for it. It has a saturday morning show, they may advertise some during it, but I don't expect much beyond that. Banjo is still a big question mark. It comes out a few days after Gears 2, so it is in a position to really get swallowed up as far as attention goes unless they do a good job promoting it.

 

[radjago]

Those Imagine games actually sell outside of the holiday season? Oh, the humanity!