Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

[MAzing87]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

I'm actually shocked in a way to read this. I always thought that the majority were gamers who bought Madden by tradition, hype machine, the extravagant galas they do for the game, word of mouth, or all of the above. I didn't realize that the people getting fed up or refusing to buy the game was growing at this pace. It's great to see though. Though I don't think EA will do anything, if at all. Not until a very significant low output really dents their pockets. I hope I'm wrong and they focus on putting out a Madden game dedicated to the hardcore faithful that has followed the franchise from the very first game.

[Hooe]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

This article has me curious about two things:

• if video games are due for a price drop across the board
• if yearly sports games such as Madden might operate better using a subscription model with periodic downloadable title updates and boxed expansion packs, a la World of Warcraft

I think that a subscription model in Madden's case would be viable if online leagues were fleshed out a TON. Like, at least on par with the NHL games' online component.

That said, if a subscription model does emerge, I hope it doesn't come at the expense of the single-player experience.

[Clutch masta]

To whom's suprise???

[roadman]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

Upon further review of the article, I didn't see where the article stated that Maddens sales were off from last years. Just indicators that retailers were cutting the prices of Madden.(doesn't prove a thing, just draws speculations)

Madden still has the beginning of football season and the holiday area where it spikes up in sales.

[JaymeeAwesome]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

To a casual gamer madden has gotten amazingly better. Ea just needs to figure out what will get the hardcore gamers back in. They lost many hardcore gamers throughout the years

[reverend_heat]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

This is the first year I wasn't even the least bit tempted to buy Madden. I am an offline franchise player and the franchise mode is going to need quite an upgrade to pull me back in.

Ditto, just about had it with the series.

[Palo20]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

While sales may be down, will they still bring in the same revenue from all the Online stuff they're selling now? Scouting reports, Madden coins, etc.

That's why Ultimate Team > Franchise this year. Cause it might bring in extra $$.

[RayAllen20]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

Many of my friends are casual gamers and they don't like Madden at all. Not much changes, and they'd rather play Blitz on the nintendo. Now they all liked playing NFL 2K5, and they enjoy NCAA 11 a decent bit, but not Madden. If it's not going to change a lot then why?

And Madden is catering to the new gamer but I don't think they realize how hard it is to understand for the new gamer. They can't get a good game out of the box, you need sliders. For franchise mode, you need to control all 32 teams and do a lot of work for it to be somewhat realistic. Way too much work for the new gamer who wants to just pick up and play, or take the Lions to the super bowl.

[mvb34]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

$60.00 + is just too much for a sports video game that dosn't change much. They are going to have to lower their prices on sports games. I say bring it down to $35.00 to $40.00.

peace

Not just sports game but all games should be lowered...

[MAzing87]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

First year since the late 90's I didn't buy Madden. The demo felt flat, and I rented it from Blockbuster, played it twice, and took it back. Same ol, same ol. Hopefully weak sales will force them to revolutionize the product. The FIFA and NHL teams understand that, and that's why their games get better and better, despite already being the best-reviewed sports games available.

Is it really to revolutionize or innovate? I think everyone just want what they feel should be included in the game. What is actually seen on a typical Sunday game. I have similar expectations in that I just want to see the fundamentals of blocking/tackling/fighting or jocking for position and other physical contacts in the game because I think this gen, we have consoles powerful enough to deliver that type of realistic yet fun content.

It wouldn't wow me if all that I mentioned was in the game, since I'd have those expectations but I'd be very very happy and content!!!

[threes_co]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

This is really good news. Hopefully, this is really stirring up the folks at EA. I only bought 11 b/c I didn't buy '10.

[Flamehead]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

Game industry sales are down to flat this year overall, depending on your source. That's not a good sign in ANY industry. With one of the yearly staples likely not doing well at all, that's just not good news for the industry as a whole. The guy CNBC quoted is usually pretty good at forecasting these types of things in the gaming industry.

I still think AAA titles will do just fine, but if you have a game like, say, NBA Elite or something just as niche, you'd better hope you have a lot of quality because the sales might not come otherwise. Talked about this on my blog earlier this week:

http://www.operationsports.com/MMChr...me-developers/

With us beginning another leg down or recession in an ongoing depression, there has been a secular shift in the economy away from spending on things like games. Just how it is when you are worried about keeping your house, cars, etc. It's not unlike the '30s, Hollywood had to go through a similar situation then.

I don’t disagree with your general point, but what I disagree with is the underlying premise of the article: that if Madden’s sales are flat, it just HAS to be because of factors external to the game itself.

In other words, there’s an assumption that Madden is (still) a high-quality title that people can’t get enough of. Therefore, if it’s selling less, it MUST be the economy or general trends in the industry. Very convenient excuse for EA to remain complacent.

Never is there a remote possibility in articles like these that among various reasons for flat sales, one of them might be that the title itself has become subpar and stagnant and people are just getting tired of it. One can get the sense that if Madden is such a struggle to get right on this gen’s consoles this many years in, we may as well just move on.

I can understand why more people are saying “why bother?” when there’s so many other outstanding games worth our money and attention.

[NDIrish98]

This is what 'license exclusivity' will get you. Not sure exclusivity is even a word but you get my point.

[thdudeabides]

Re: Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

This article reminds me of something from a college statistics course. There is a direct correlation between fatalities of children in the US under 18 years of age and the sales of ice cream. As the sales of ice cream go up the number of children who die in the US goes up. A knee jerk reaction to that fact is (Ice cream kills kids) for course thats not true. The truth is ice cream sales go up in the summer. Also in the summer, kids are outside doing things like biking, climbing trees, crossing the street etc. that are more likely to get them killed then sitting in the house during the winter. Just because theres a correlation does not mean they are related. If Madden was producing a quality game, people would buy it. Without a doubt people are more sane with their spending habits now, but AAA games that are not stale and broken as Madden has been for years will continue to sell, even at $60, even in this economy.

[charter04]

I did buy Madden, but this is the first year I didn't buy it first day. I really wasn't even that excited about it. The only reason I got it was to play online franchise and use the players from NCAA 11 in Madden. I still feel like I waisted 60+ dollars but what choice do I have? I love football and the NFL to much to not get Madden. If they came out with a great game, then I could get buy with not getting the new one becuase the last one would be good enough. But, if it was great you would be excited for a the new game and wouldn't do that. Just a lose, lose. I just can't believe or even understand why they just can't seem to do what they need to do to make a great game. I know they make a lot of money, but you can't tell me the main developers don't want to make a great game. I just don't get it.