Comments on: What Makes A Game Successful? http://blog.raptr.com/2009/07/31/what-makes-a-game-successful/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:47:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Mike http://blog.raptr.com/2009/07/31/what-makes-a-game-successful/comment-page-1/#comment-1557 Mike Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:52:51 +0000 http://blog.raptr.com/?p=568#comment-1557 I think building a huge hype machine is a major part of the process. If you look at all of those games, you see that they had a huge publisher. You also see that the games either had a huge add campaign or built off the success of it's previous iteration (people love nostalgia). Hype in and of itself can lead to huge sales, just look at what COD Modern Warfare 2 is doing for pre-orders. But the games that sustain success are the ones that develop the hype and live up to it. I remember being really hyped for Silent Hill Homecoming, but not buying it until it eventually hit $10 because the reviews were universally mediocre to bad. Games that are heavily hyped, but suck, are just sold for other's to buy which cuts into the games sales. Further DLC to spice up the title also helps, but I think ultimately, with a few exceptions, a game's success is driven by how many people know about it, how foaming at the mouth excited they are for it when it comes out, and how satisfied they are when it finally gets here. I think building a huge hype machine is a major part of the process. If you look at all of those games, you see that they had a huge publisher. You also see that the games either had a huge add campaign or built off the success of it’s previous iteration (people love nostalgia). Hype in and of itself can lead to huge sales, just look at what COD Modern Warfare 2 is doing for pre-orders. But the games that sustain success are the ones that develop the hype and live up to it. I remember being really hyped for Silent Hill Homecoming, but not buying it until it eventually hit $10 because the reviews were universally mediocre to bad. Games that are heavily hyped, but suck, are just sold for other’s to buy which cuts into the games sales.

Further DLC to spice up the title also helps, but I think ultimately, with a few exceptions, a game’s success is driven by how many people know about it, how foaming at the mouth excited they are for it when it comes out, and how satisfied they are when it finally gets here.

]]> By: Greg http://blog.raptr.com/2009/07/31/what-makes-a-game-successful/comment-page-1/#comment-1508 Greg Fri, 31 Jul 2009 21:17:01 +0000 http://blog.raptr.com/?p=568#comment-1508 I think the game developers' primary concerns when it comes to these charts is keeping the game off the used market by keeping it in players' hands. Obviously, downloadable games like Steam provides are one way of doing that, but multiplayer and add-on content are a big part of it too. I think the game developers’ primary concerns when it comes to these charts is keeping the game off the used market by keeping it in players’ hands. Obviously, downloadable games like Steam provides are one way of doing that, but multiplayer and add-on content are a big part of it too.

]]> By: Ryan Hoover http://blog.raptr.com/2009/07/31/what-makes-a-game-successful/comment-page-1/#comment-1506 Ryan Hoover Fri, 31 Jul 2009 20:36:03 +0000 http://blog.raptr.com/?p=568#comment-1506 You're right! Defining a game and why it is fun is nearly impossible. Some have concluded that successful games capture a short burst of enjoyment and continually repeat it throughout the game. This is clear in multiplayer shooter such as Call of Duty as players progressively struggle for another frag, and another, and another.... It's like crack! XD You’re right! Defining a game and why it is fun is nearly impossible.

Some have concluded that successful games capture a short burst of enjoyment and continually repeat it throughout the game. This is clear in multiplayer shooter such as Call of Duty as players progressively struggle for another frag, and another, and another…. It’s like crack! XD

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