No Demo for NHL 2K10

[CarryTheWeight]

Re: No Demo

Here comes a huge drop in sales. I can hear it as I type. It stings like nails on chalkboard but it's getting louder by the second.

Yes, it's true that 2K10 will sell boatloads with hardcore 2K series gamers only. But buys have turned into rents almost instantly for those who are skeptical (hint: everyone on these forums except for the few EA fanboys that detest it and the few 2K fanboys that love it no matter what).

Is 2K trying for a word-of-mouth following with this game? If the game turns out to be the most surprising sports title of the year, then fine. But if the game is 2K9 with a few extra bells and whistles or (God forbid) a MLB 2K8 worthy step back for the series...they have a lot of 'splainin' to do...

This is more fodder for EA fanboys. And guess what? It's well warranted. Unless this game turns out to be the surprise of the year, I'm convinced that this is one of the worst things that can happen to this series.

[CupCrazyManiac]

Re: No Demo

2k's inept marketing never ceases to amaze me.

How do they think they can attract a casual fan to the series without a playable demo? Many cities in non-hockey markets don't even have hockey games to rent...or if they do it will more than likely be EA's game due to brand recognition.

They shoot themselves in the foot year after year with this type of stuff...if sales are low again this year and the series is in jeopardy, they have no one to blame but themselves.

randy, i absolutly agree! here in germany we don't even have hockey games to rent (only a few here and there).
i really cant believe it 2 k!!!!!!!!!

[Money99]

Re: No Demo

2k's inept marketing never ceases to amaze me.

How do they think they can attract a casual fan to the series without a playable demo? Many cities in non-hockey markets don't even have hockey games to rent...or if they do it will more than likely be EA's game due to brand recognition.

They shoot themselves in the foot year after year with this type of stuff...if sales are low again this year and the series is in jeopardy, they have no one to blame but themselves.

Hard to argue anything you said.
I actually feel worse for the developers and programmers. They put in all this work and aren't given the resources to show it to the masses.

I'm more convinced than ever that 2K10 will be awesome, but because of poor marketing the series will suffer in sales and will be shutdown after this year.

[onlybygrace]

Re: No Demo

I'm pretty pissed...

not so much about the demo, but about what 2k has become.

[tgalv]

Re: No Demo

i'd blame the developers more than i'd blame the marketers whether or not the developers had a fair shot with a lack of resources.

makes more marketing sense to pick up some uniformed sales rather than release a demo and have every person who's played both demos choose the other game.

[Flyermania]

Re: No Demo

I'm more convinced than ever that 2K10 will be awesome, but because of poor marketing the series will suffer in sales and will be shutdown after this year.

I agree Money99...I think the game will be a great improvement, but if it continues to have low sales totals this series may be on its last legs.

[sharks]

Re: No Demo for NHL 2K10

Just so you guys know I relayed the news that Ronnie gave me. I had no idea about any of this. Ronnie was either misinformed or he lied to me. Great community interaction Ron.

[sharks]

Re: No Demo

1) Come to our office in Novato, CA (just north of San Francisco) We are so ecstatic about this game that we will accept a visit any day of the week.
2) Check out the game at The Best Buy in New York City on 622 Broadway, New York, NY 10012
3) Check the game out at the NHL Store in New York City on 1185 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036. You will get a special opportunity

This is real close to me. I might do this. Oh yeah I will do this. It sounds like a lot of work to make this happen. I don't know if I am going to go through all that. But I am sure we will get some good feedback.

If you go, don't forget the tomatoes!

[Money99]

Re: No Demo

i'd blame the developers more than i'd blame the marketers whether or not the developers had a fair shot with a lack of resources.

makes more marketing sense to pick up some uniformed sales rather than release a demo and have every person who's played both demos choose the other game.

I don't know tgalv. I've read before that creating demo's takes a lot of time and effort away from the main project. But it can be done if there's enough man power or resources to get it to happen.

I'm more concerned with what this could do to 2K down the road. I can't help but wonder if this is the real reason they knocked the price down. They knew a demo wouldn't be released so they figured this was the best way to get people to buy it.

I'm really going to be ticked if 2K10 ends up being a tremendous hockey game only to go the way of the do-do bird.

[pf8363]

Re: No Demo for NHL 2K10

well i was gonna buy 2k10 this year, but only after a demo was available. after 2k9 im not just gonna go and throw $50 dollars away on a game that is EXPECTED to be good when i already know that nhl 10 will be a solid game (demo). 2k, you have terrible marketing, just terrible

[RealmK]

Re: No Demo

I agree Money99...I think the game will be a great improvement, but if it continues to have low sales totals this series may be on its last legs.

Agree with both you and Hank and honestly its sad. I had a feeling a few years ago that the marketing department was running the show when it came to the actual development of the game (cinemotion, zamboni driving, mini games, the list goes on and on) and if thats not the worst way to develop a yearly sports title I don't know what is.

I wonder if this stems from a lack of cofidence again this year and all these improvements are just smoke being blown up our collective butts. Guess this goes back on the gamefly first list. I would imagine the game is better than 2k9 (not hard) but not having a demo is just setting up 2k10 for a sales disaster. If you have confidence in your game, release a demo, get the casuals on board and show the hardcore guys you're game is as improved as your claiming. The lack of concrete videos on higher difficulty levels with sim settings hasn't helped either.

If this ends up being another year of around 20k total copies being sold on the 360/PS3 kiss the series goodbuy.

[RealmK]

Re: No Demo for NHL 2K10

Just so you guys know I relayed the news that Ronnie gave me. I had no idea about any of this. Ronnie was either misinformed or he lied to me. Great community interaction Ron.

Or you lied to us which is more likely.

[Scottdau]

Re: No Demo

If you go, don't forget the tomatoes!

Dude give it a rest! If he he told you that big whop life goes on. People don't believe you who cares. They did nothing wrong. I still say if it is rocks people will buy it!

[ocho cuatro]

Re: No Demo for NHL 2K10

As a marketing professional who works in the gaming industry, I'm 99% sure that this wasn't a marketing decision - unless the demo was an absolute joke and would have damaged their brand and deterred potential buyers.

Most game publishers view demos as a great way to get free, though low impact, exposure on the large gaming sites. However, demos are almost always an afterthought for the developers, and often get pushed back/cancelled b/c the real game development took too long.

[sharks]

Re: No Demo for NHL 2K10

Or you lied to us which is more likely.

Ask Ron. Let me know if you need a link.