New AFL Video Game - Part 5 - READ FAQ BEFORE POSTING

[illnino]

It is BEYOND idiotic to suggest that this title will come out at Christmas, BEYOND idiotic, I am re-iterating because anyone who suggests it clearly has no sense as to what hype and interest does to sales.

This is where I stopped reading mate, almost Hitler-esque in that it's your opinion or nothing - to suggest anything other than what you believe is beyond idiotic.

My initial point still stands - It's far from idiotic to release any game during the most profitable and highest selling month on the calender. The start of next season is obviously the best time for a release (in our opinion anyway) and I have said this since part 1 of this thread. You completely shot down my notion that there was a slight chance the game could be released in December, just a possibility, so I have tried to explain to you why the idea is not impossible and far from idiotic......If you can't see that it's quite feasible (though not likely) for a december release, then fair enough. Stranger things have happened than a game coming out in one of the video game industries busiest months.

Again, I, illnino, DO NOT believe this game will, or should, be released in December. Do I think it's possible - yes!

 

[illnino]

Because if the game is released right at the end of the season then it still is forgotten about quickly. While there will invariably be many Christmas sales, you cannot say that people who have a passing interest in AFL will be interested when it's not being played at that time.



Because you're comparing it to other sports games. Other sports games can release it off season because there will still be millions worldwide egerly awaiting the game. For this game there is a tiny market, and as such they must capitalize on interest when it can be sustained for many months.

Both very valid points, the same points that I have expressed numerous times to those who belive the game is better off coming out this year, rather than next year. I am not one of those people. I have stated numerous times I believe Jan-March next year would obviously be the optimum time for a release to maximize interest in the game and profit.

December would not be the most strategic move, no doubt, however If it were to come out this year, as some still believe it will, then December would be the only option, hence why I say it's far from impossible.

 

[HBK619]

Blah, Blah, Blah.

The problem is you seem to be thinking that it's opinion. It's not, it's factual evidence based on looking at marketing trends and actually watching the gaming market over the years (something which you have no doubt not done). You see I'm not basing this on thoughtless opinions and hope, it is based on knowing a gaming industry and how it works against other titles, competition, marketing, hype and overall interests.

We should get our resident marketing genius in, in Midorigreenwood and he would tell you the exact same thing (because he has an idea, unlike those suggesting Christmas could work).

It's not opinion to suggest a Christmas release date is terrible, it's fact. It is a terrible time to release a tiny market game outside of it's natural marketing area. It's not feasible, it's not viable and it is in no way logical, it's just not because it is not a natural mainstream worldwide title that would release to great sales regardless.

It's the same basing that see's developers running scared of a title's like Call of Duty. They're basing all of it on pure fact that there title won't sell at a time like that because there is either too much else to compete with or there is not enough interest and needs more marketing.

The fact that you cut off a post before even reading half the facts, this is the funniest part though.

I've looked at your "Christmas is the most profitable and highest selling month on the calendar" comment and I'll offer up something to what I said in my previous post.

Let's look at the AFL game releasing in Christmas 2010. Let's entertain this wonderful thought process that so many seem to think could work.

Call of Duty: Black Ops - A title expected to sell 12 million units on one console alone and upwards of at least 20 million units over 3 consoles and a series that has sold more than 40 million units over it's past 3 iterations.
GT5 - A series that has sold more than 50 million units worldwide over it's 12 year history.
Halo Reach - a series that in it's last iteration sold 11 million units and has sold 30 million units worldwide throughout it's series.
LittleBigPlanet 2 - A new IP (notorious for poor sales) that sold more than 3.50 million units worldwide set for an even bigger and better selling sequel.

So let's put some projections in place here. Call of Duty to (at least) do 20 million units. GT5 on trends will do at least 10 million units. Halo Reach on trends will do at least 10 million units and LBP2 is set for around 5 million. So we have around 45 million units of titles (AT LEAST) worldwide potentially coming in the last few months of the year. Then let's chuck in a title that has very, VERY minimal market, low interest, no real scope for a proper marketing campaign (generally marketing during or around AFL matches or at least coverage is when it works, how much AFL coverage is there in the off-season? Little to none) and what we have is a recipe for the biggest disaster of ET Atari days proportions.

Again, I am not just 'thinking' this won't work. I KNOW FOR A FACT IT WILL NOT. This is why I am saying it is pure idiocy to suggest it would and if in some alternate universe where morons run HES/Tru Blu then I will 100% fully expect to see the AFL series be dead by next year.

The good thing is I know that HES/Tru Blu aren't run by idiots who think that Christmas could work because there are so many factors working against it that it just won't.

 

[Ochre]

Thank you 'illnino' for saying something about 'HBK619'. I have to say 'HBK619' is very annoying, he never says anything productive. he always think he's right and anyone who disagrees with him is an idiot. so HBK619 FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE, SHUT THE HELL UP.

for someone who joined this month you seem to know a lot

btw, Hutch is normally right

(yes, i actually said that, and I know it may be sigged)

 

[dynamite_kid]

Thank you 'illnino' for saying something about 'HBK619'. I have to say 'HBK619' is very annoying, he never says anything productive. he always think he's right and anyone who disagrees with him is an idiot. so HBK619 FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE, SHUT THE HELL UP.

for someone who joined this month you seem to know a lot

This, if you have an opinion on the matter please share it mate, otherwise kindly piss off.

 

[RobV]

/snip

Again, I am not just 'thinking' this won't work. I KNOW FOR A FACT IT WILL NOT. This is why I am saying it is pure idiocy to suggest it would and if in some alternate universe where morons run HES/Tru Blu then I will 100% fully expect to see the AFL series be dead by next year.

The good thing is I know that HES/Tru Blu aren't run by idiots who think that Christmas could work because there are so many factors working against it that it just won't.

I agree with your points, to release such a small game for a small market at xmas would be a shocking and very bad decision. To go against the games you've mentioned plus more would kill this game.

The best time to release it would be Feb/March, same as other sports games come out near the start of their season, for example Fifa 11 will be released soon and their season just started.

I reckon all this release date talk should be stopped, no one knows and no one from tru blu/HES is going to say anything till the press release.

 

[Ochre]

the only way a christmas release would work is if they had almost 2 releases

release december, advertising leading up to release

after christmas, stop advertising until march/april then start advertising again

 

[illnino]

The problem is you seem to be thinking that it's opinion. It's not, it's factual evidence based on looking at marketing trends and actually watching the gaming market over the years (something which you have no doubt not done). You see I'm not basing this on thoughtless opinions and hope, it is based on knowing a gaming industry and how it works against other titles, competition, marketing, hype and overall interests.

We should get our resident marketing genius in, in Midorigreenwood and he would tell you the exact same thing (because he has an idea, unlike those suggesting Christmas could work).

Well you can hardly say that it is evidence when there has never been an AFL game come out in December (to my knowledge anyway, I may be wrong) to compare it to. It's an opinion you have formed after taking into account sales figures and other circumstances. Again, despite what you may think, your opinion is not fact.

It's not opinion to suggest a Christmas release date is terrible, it's fact. It is a terrible time to release a tiny market game outside of it's natural marketing area. It's not feasible, it's not viable and it is in no way logical, it's just not because it is not a natural mainstream worldwide title that would release to great sales regardless.

Well it is feasible and if you don't believe that I suggest you google the word feasible. Never mind, here you are...

Feasible: Capable of being accomplished or brought about; possible

It is in no way impossible for this game to be released in December. Extremely, highly, very unlikely? YES! Feasible? Also yes. I completely agree that it would be illogical for many, many reasons, however I disagree that it is impossible, and incapable of being done as you seem to think it is.

It's the same basing that see's developers running scared of a title's like Call of Duty. They're basing all of it on pure fact that there title won't sell at a time like that because there is either too much else to compete with or there is not enough interest and needs more marketing.

Totally agree, as I have for months now, with this. Has nothing to do with whether or not it is possible that HES/Trublu may decide to release the game in december or not though. As i keep repeating, a december release is definitely unlikely based on the points you are making, but all I'm trying to get through to you is that it is, in fact, possible. We're not talking about pigs flying (impossible) we are talking about a game possibly coming out in a month that wouldn't be ideal (possible).

The fact that you cut off a post before even reading half the facts, this is the funniest part though.

So I went back and read the rest, and whilst a very cool story bro, I can honoustly say I didn't miss much.

I've looked at your "Christmas is the most profitable and highest selling month on the calendar" comment and I'll offer up something to what I said in my previous post.

Let's look at the AFL game releasing in Christmas 2010. Let's entertain this wonderful thought process that so many seem to think could work.

Call of Duty: Black Ops - A title expected to sell 12 million units on one console alone and upwards of at least 20 million units over 3 consoles and a series that has sold more than 40 million units over it's past 3 iterations.
GT5 - A series that has sold more than 50 million units worldwide over it's 12 year history.
Halo Reach - a series that in it's last iteration sold 11 million units and has sold 30 million units worldwide throughout it's series.
LittleBigPlanet 2 - A new IP (notorious for poor sales) that sold more than 3.50 million units worldwide set for an even bigger and better selling sequel.

So let's put some projections in place here. Call of Duty to (at least) do 20 million units. GT5 on trends will do at least 10 million units. Halo Reach on trends will do at least 10 million units and LBP2 is set for around 5 million. So we have around 45 million units of titles (AT LEAST) worldwide potentially coming in the last few months of the year. Then let's chuck in a title that has very, VERY minimal market, low interest, no real scope for a proper marketing campaign (generally marketing during or around AFL matches or at least coverage is when it works, how much AFL coverage is there in the off-season? Little to none) and what we have is a recipe for the biggest disaster of ET Atari days proportions.

Again, can't argue with that, and I never tried to. Still no reason to believe it is inconceivable to think that it could actually, despite the obvious reasons not to, be released in December.

Again, I am not just 'thinking' this won't work. I KNOW FOR A FACT IT WILL NOT. This is why I am saying it is pure idiocy to suggest it would

This one is easy. Show me where I said the game would be successful if it were to be released in December. I didn't. What I said, and have been saying all along, is that it is possible that the game will be released in December, despite the warning signs not to.

I can't see it coming out before december seeing as we havn't even had the press release yet, combined with the fact that Big Ant's website still says 2010, and that's reason enough to suggest that the possibility (albeit a small possibility) of a December release is far from an idiotic suggestion. Basically, if the game did come out this year (which I very highly doubt btw in case you haven't got that) then it would have to be late november or in december IMO. In the likely event (what I believe will happen and would be the smarter move) the game comes out next year as we have both been saying it will/should, it will/should see markedly better results.

I really think you have confused me saying that December is a possibility, with December is the better option or a good option. Feb-March of next year is what I have been saying all along and you don't seem to understand that we both agree on that.

 

[Glenno23]

Wow......so far off the mark. Doesn't matter what kind of game it is, December is the highest selling month for games across the board on all platforms. Definitely not as idiotic as releasing in a few weeks from now like some are saying.

Oh and there are plenty of cases of sports games coming out after the season has ended.....but I see researching facts is far from your style

EDIT: In fact (again facts are something you should try out) December of last year holds the all time record for the highest video game sales month the industry has ever seen. Agree that at the start of the season next year is the best time but simply proving that a december release isn't as 'idiotic' as your previous post.

That could also have something to do with the fact that MW2 (highest selling game of all time and its been out less than a year) was released at the beginning of November. 6-7 weeks before Christmas. I think this game might have had something to do with last year being the biggest selling December of all time. It was and is a juggernaut of epic proportions

And its no wonder, you should have seen the amount of stock we got for this game. I have never had so many copies of 1 game shipped to me in my career in retail

Was massive.

Chuck in Forza 3, AC 2, ODST and you got yourself some big games to support MW2.

AFL will not see a December release. its September, February or March

I trust Tru Blu are smart enough for this

 

[illnino]

I think this game might have had something to do with last year being the biggest selling December of all time. It was and is a juggernaut of epic proportions

I have no doubt MW2 had 'something to do with it', and I'd go a step further and say it had 'alot to do with it'. This doesn't affect previous year's game sales figures however, in which December has been a strong month for the industry regularly.

AFL will not see a December release. its September, February or March

I trust Tru Blu are smart enough for this

You would think so. But again, it isn't impossible and I've seen more 'idiotic' things happen before.

 

[Fwoy]

Ok, you can choose to distrust me on this, as I have yet to post in any of the five editions of this thread, but this is absolute truth, and I will not reveal my source. Suffice to say I have been following the development in the game and actually know someone that played a part in its production along the way. I asked for some clarification on a release date recently, and the reply was 2011 for PS3 and Xbox and Wii up in the air a bit. I don't think I'm betraying a trust in saying this, as the information was handed over fairly easily, but that is as far as I will discuss it out of respect. Sorry it's not the news most want to hear.

 

[illnino]

Sorry it's not the news most want to hear.

It's the right decision if that is the case. A 2010 release doesn't make much sense, as has been discussed to death over the last page or 2.

/end release date speculation.

Am eagerly awaiting the press conference, and a trailer. Will be great to see what Big Ant Studios has in store for us.

 

[Ochre]

Sorry it's not the news most want to hear.

It's news, which is what all wanted to hear.

Thanks

 

[Byron_Clanger]

As long as it has the same canned animation marks from the first couple games then I'll be happy

 

[RoyalRoughead]

That could also have something to do with the fact that MW2 (highest selling game of all time and its been out less than a year)

No it isn't, Super Mario Bros. 3 for NES is. And in terms of gross profits, WoW is because of the subscriptions players pay.


Regardless, I don't care when AFL will be released because realistically we should see it within 6 months, whether that be during the season, at its end or before the 2011 Season.

We have proof that it exists and is virtually completed. All we need is just a little patience.

 

[Ant_]

Calm down guys, no point getting heated over a release date.

 

[Alan_Didak_4]

Calm down guys, no point getting heated over a release date.

Thank you!! Haha last 2 pages written on here are just back and forth massive debates going on about who has better facts or marketing ideas or anything irrelevant to this specific game. As long as it actually comes out within a year from now which is a 100% certainty then who cares? More we wait the better it gets when we finally get our hands on it.

 

[432OneForAll]

Ok, you can choose to distrust me on this, as I have yet to post in any of the five editions of this thread, but this is absolute truth, and I will not reveal my source. Suffice to say I have been following the development in the game and actually know someone that played a part in its production along the way. I asked for some clarification on a release date recently, and the reply was 2011 for PS3 and Xbox and Wii up in the air a bit. I don't think I'm betraying a trust in saying this, as the information was handed over fairly easily, but that is as far as I will discuss it out of respect. Sorry it's not the news most want to hear.

ummmm dont think ur telling the truth or know wat ur talking about because didnt they make it clear that the game isnt getting released on wii? Do you actually know someone or are you just pulling our legs??

 

[Alan_Didak_4]

ummmm dont think ur telling the truth or know wat ur talking about because didnt they make it clear that the game isnt getting released on wii? Do you actually know someone or are you just pulling our legs??

He's straight up pulling our legs mate. First lesson of the internet is never believe the news you hear unless it is properly sourced. I could just as well say my cousins fiancee's brother's nephew works at BigAnt and he said Wayne Carey has his own challenge mode similar to Jordan in 2k11. Bottom line is dont believe what you hear unless its from Ross or Ant in terms of this site.

 

[432OneForAll]

sweet as mate, sweet as

 

[Ant_]

Ok, you can choose to distrust me on this, as I have yet to post in any of the five editions of this thread, but this is absolute truth, and I will not reveal my source. Suffice to say I have been following the development in the game and actually know someone that played a part in its production along the way. I asked for some clarification on a release date recently, and the reply was 2011 for PS3 and Xbox and Wii up in the air a bit. I don't think I'm betraying a trust in saying this, as the information was handed over fairly easily, but that is as far as I will discuss it out of respect. Sorry it's not the news most want to hear.

This game is not being released on the wii.

Tell you what, if this "prediction" comes true you can stay infraction free.

 

[grrofunger]

that wayne carey mode sounds awesome - cant wait

man i hope this game comes out in December

 

[432OneForAll]

hopefully the press release is this monday. *fingers crossed*

 

[HBK619]

ummmm dont think ur telling the truth or know wat ur talking about because didnt they make it clear that the game isnt getting released on wii? Do you actually know someone or are you just pulling our legs??

This game is not being released on the wii.

Tell you what, if this "prediction" comes true you can stay infraction free.

Would need to go back through previous interviews but there has most definitely been talk of a Wii version being in development.

for someone who joined this month you seem to know a lot

btw, Hutch is normally right

(yes, i actually said that, and I know it may be sigged)

WUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH!!!

 

[maximus steel]

First with the news, this guy.

i hope theres no sarcasim there