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RaychelSnr · 08-15-2012, 12:01 PM

Commissioner Gary Bettman and the NHL owners confirmed Thursday that the league is prepared to enter a lockout if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached by September 15, 2012.

With EA Sports' NHL 13 hitting stores September 11, 2012, it is becoming extremely likely that the sole surviving NHL video game franchise could release during a league-wide work stoppage which on the surface seems an exceedingly bad idea.

Could this lockout impact the sales of NHL 13? To decide, let's review a few recent league lockouts and see how their video game equivalents fared during those years.

Read More - Could a Lockout Affect NHL 13's Sales?

gopher_guy · 08-15-2012, 12:10 PM

Gotta think they will figure something out.

They are in negotiation mode right now, so they may say they are prepared for a lockout now, but when it comes down to the wire, they all know how damaging another lockout would be to the sport.

dukebeatsuncagain · 08-15-2012, 12:24 PM

If it happens, I don't think it will effect sales much. The casual NHL fans will still be drawn in by all the new features in the game this year, and the die hard NHL fan will buy it because it might be the only NHL on their TV for a while.

Retropyro · 08-15-2012, 12:34 PM

Lockouts or strikes have never influenced my buying decision personally.

Matthewkyleyoung · 08-15-2012, 12:37 PM

It really comes down to the game, as NBA 2k proved.

With the new physics engine, and connected careers, I think it will out sell last year no matter what. The only thing a lockout might affect are the late winter or spring sales. When people might be getting excited for the playoff run of the NHL and want to purchase the game if they havent, instead people will turn to the new baseball season, or the NBA, thereby losing potential sales. But overall, sales will have the same initial boom as always.

mercalnd · 08-15-2012, 12:51 PM

What the article failed to take into consideration is that the lockout in 2004 actually caused teh entire season to be cancelled. NBA 2K12 sales, while low at first, picked up once the lockout ended and the season started.

I highly doubt that the NHL will be stupid enough to cancel another season so, with teh game as good as it seems, any damage to early sales due to a lockout should be mitigated once the league gets up and running again.

Vikes1 · 08-15-2012, 01:06 PM

Matt pretty much summed up my thoughts.

If God forbid a lockout dragged on deep into the season, maybe people who didn't buy the game at launch, might lose interest in buying months later.

A lockout would be a major drag. Seems like the NHL is now really back on it's feet. Another lengthy dispute imo, would be very bad for all. The two sides just can't let this happen again.

BaylorBearBryant · 08-15-2012, 01:18 PM

I'd be SHOCKED if we miss any regular season games. Worst case scenario, we have a shortened season like the NBA.

08-15-2012, 12:01 PM	#1
RaychelSnr Executive Editor OVR: 57 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 4,846 Blog Entries: 490	Could a Lockout Affect NHL 13's Sales? Commissioner Gary Bettman and the NHL owners confirmed Thursday that the league is prepared to enter a lockout if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached by September 15, 2012. With EA Sports' NHL 13 hitting stores September 11, 2012, it is becoming extremely likely that the sole surviving NHL video game franchise could release during a league-wide work stoppage which on the surface seems an exceedingly bad idea. Could this lockout impact the sales of NHL 13? To decide, let's review a few recent league lockouts and see how their video game equivalents fared during those years. Read More - Could a Lockout Affect NHL 13's Sales? Platform: Xbox 360 / PS3

08-15-2012, 12:10 PM	#2
gopher_guy The Kaptain OVR: 22 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 7,390	Re: Could a Lockout Affect NHL 13's Sales? Gotta think they will figure something out. They are in negotiation mode right now, so they may say they are prepared for a lockout now, but when it comes down to the wire, they all know how damaging another lockout would be to the sport. Simple Mathematics and Vikes1 like this. __________________ University of Minnesota Golden Gopher Hockey Minnesota's Pride on Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions "The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back." -Herb Brooks

08-15-2012, 12:51 PM	#6
mercalnd MVP OVR: 18 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 4,267	Re: Could a Lockout Affect NHL 13's Sales? What the article failed to take into consideration is that the lockout in 2004 actually caused teh entire season to be cancelled. NBA 2K12 sales, while low at first, picked up once the lockout ended and the season started. I highly doubt that the NHL will be stupid enough to cancel another season so, with teh game as good as it seems, any damage to early sales due to a lockout should be mitigated once the league gets up and running again.

08-15-2012, 01:06 PM	#7
Vikes1 Proctor, MN. Go Rails! OVR: 23 Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 4,115	Re: Could a Lockout Affect NHL 13's Sales? Matt pretty much summed up my thoughts. If God forbid a lockout dragged on deep into the season, maybe people who didn't buy the game at launch, might lose interest in buying months later. A lockout would be a major drag. Seems like the NHL is now really back on it's feet. Another lengthy dispute imo, would be very bad for all. The two sides just can't let this happen again. __________________ 1969 NFL Champions

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08-15-2012, 12:24 PM	#3
dukebeatsuncagain Banned OVR: 24 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Rochester NY Blog Entries: 96	If it happens, I don't think it will effect sales much. The casual NHL fans will still be drawn in by all the new features in the game this year, and the die hard NHL fan will buy it because it might be the only NHL on their TV for a while.

08-15-2012, 12:34 PM	#4
Retropyro Pro OVR: 8 Join Date: Jul 2010	Lockouts or strikes have never influenced my buying decision personally.

08-15-2012, 12:37 PM	#5
Matthewkyleyoung Rookie OVR: 2 Join Date: Jun 2012 Blog Entries: 1	It really comes down to the game, as NBA 2k proved. With the new physics engine, and connected careers, I think it will out sell last year no matter what. The only thing a lockout might affect are the late winter or spring sales. When people might be getting excited for the playoff run of the NHL and want to purchase the game if they havent, instead people will turn to the new baseball season, or the NBA, thereby losing potential sales. But overall, sales will have the same initial boom as always.

08-15-2012, 01:18 PM	#8
BaylorBearBryant Sic 'em Bears! OVR: 10 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Houston Posts: 1,541 Blog Entries: 3	I'd be SHOCKED if we miss any regular season games. Worst case scenario, we have a shortened season like the NBA.