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 Nick
Williams, OTX Research
One
summer release I'm keeping my eye on is Too Human for the Xbox 360.
Platform exclusivity has always had a significant influence on hardware sales,
and this console cycle is no different.
Microsoft has done a superb job of
minimizing Sony's historical advantage with regards to exclusive software
content. But with the PS3 launch of Metal Gear Solid 4 this summer, the
pressure is on Microsoft to continue putting out quality exclusive content.
Too
Human is next in line for the Xbox 360, and I would not be surprised if it
had a similar impact on the market as BioShock did last August.
One
game that could end up being a pleasant surprise this summer is Alone in the
Dark. Atari is looking to lay the foundation for a more stable future, and
the launch of Alone in the Dark could be a big step towards this goal.
One
platform that could stand out is the iPhone. Apple recently announced a flurry
of new international partnerships, and there are also rumors swirling of a new
iPhone launch this summer. All signs point towards significant sales growth
over the next few months, and that means a larger audience of potential gamers.
EA, Sega and Gameloft all have iPhone games in development, and I suspect we'll
start to see new releases towards the end of the summer.
Atari's Alone in the Dark
In my
view, the movie-verses-game debate is being completely over-analyzed, and I
really don't think there is much there right now. As long as the experience of
going to a see a movie is different from playing a game, the large majority of
consumers will have time in their schedules to do both. That is not to say that
publishing studios should ignore what games and movies are coming out; they
should use this information to gauge potential cross-promotional partners,
rather than competitors.
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Really it kind of makes sense. As a gamer myself I don't see a lot of movies, but for instance even with planning to get wii fit as soon as I can I'd like to see ironman before it leaves theaters. Not saying I'm joe average america or anything but really he's got a point. This debate is mostly moot for now and is going to stay that way till some major shifts in media occur.
Also, Michael, didn't you just prove the point of the article in your second paragraph, stating "As a gamer myself I don't see a lot of movies, but for instance even with planning to get Wii Fit as soon as I can I'd like to see Ironman before it leaves theaters." You've obviously chosen that you'd rather spend the little time you've got playing video games, and then hope that you have time later on to catch a movie (if you do at all). There may not be a significant impact as of yet, in terms of video games summer revenue overcoming Hollywood summer blockbusters, but you have just stated what the article is all about. Time is finite, and Hollywood wants all the time it can get so viewers can spend it in a theater, but just as you've said, you'd rather spend it playing Wii Fit or something else, and then eventually (if you do) see Ironman in theater (or DVD rental, on-demand, etc...) But do you see the point? You are part of this "analysis" that felt just brushed upon rather than the depth I'm used to from this site (examples being the RPG retrospective and the Dragonquest retrospective).
This debate should be looked at further because this is the first summer where there are multiple AAA titles coming out compared to the past where it has usually been a barren wasteland. Look at all the titles I listed on top of the titles each analyst listed. Surely there is more to be said than just a few sentences per each question, right?
With movies there are genres where for me, it's a no brainer that I'll enjoy it, for games as well. I find myself being more "cavalier" with my movie choices than my game choices only because even if I don't like the movie I rented, there is likely some enjoyment in watching it. With games however, I find that I am way picky about things. If a game rubs me the wrong way them it's done in 5 minutes (ahem Jenga for the Wii = POS).
So for me, as of right now, I watch WAY more movies than I play games.