Raptor-chan
10-05-2009, 11:27 AM
For gamers, 2010 is shaping up to be a virtual smorgasbord, with dozens of hotly anticipated titles rolling out in the first half of the year.
But for publishers, the embarrassment of riches could mean new properties get overlooked.
SEE 7 GAMES THAT WON'T MAKE IT OUT IN 2009 >> (http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/the-great-game-delay-of-2010-six-potential-pushbacks/1359357/2)
Several games that were expected to hit shelves during 2009's lucrative holiday period have seen their release dates pushed back to early next year. So many, in fact, that the first half of 2010 could be just as ferociously competitive as the holidays -- if not more so.
That has led to speculation that some titles might be pushed to an even later date to avoid the blast zone of major titles. Which are most likely to move? We spoke with several gaming industry insiders to get their take.
While the people we talked to both work in and observe the gaming industry, none have official knowledge of any future delays. They do, however, have hunches about certain titles -- and they’re all betting on some slippage.
"There's either going to be carnage or delay of key products," said one insider.
Here are their collective thoughts on the games most likely to be pushed back.
Starcraft II
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/star-craft_150.jpg (http://videogames.yahoo.com/pc/starcraft-ii/)
Falling in line with developer Blizzard's "it's done when it's done" credo, this long awaited sequel officially doesn’t have a release date. After missing this holiday season, though, it’s currently expected in the first half of next year.
But if ever there was a holiday anchor for publisher Activision, this could be it. And with the rabid fan base of the original Starcraft poring over every screenshot, Blizzard’s not going to release this one until it’s absolutely certain that every detail is done right.
Don’t mistake this perfectionism for caution. If there’s any game the rest of the industry would love to see moved further out, it’s Starcraft II, as that would free up both time and money for gamers (and give other titles more breathing room).
Dante’s Inferno
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/dantes-inferno_150.jpg (http://videogames.yahoo.com/xbox360/dantes-inferno/)
Due Feb. 9, this hack and slash game has been repeatedly (and justifiably) compared to Sony’s popular God of War franchise. Trouble is, God of War 3 (http://videogames.yahoo.com/ps3/god-of-war-iii/) -- the series’ first installment on the PS3 (http://videogames.yahoo.com/ps3/) -- is due out the following month.
Electronic Arts has put a lot of (occasionally dubious (http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/ea-mails-journos-200-checks-to-promote-game/1352737)) marketing muscle behind Dante's Inferno, and there’s even a film tie-in. If it’s not a hit, that could put a lot at risk – and, as one insider noted, "it's not going to compare well." Getting it out from under God of War might be a smart move.
I Am Alive
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/i-am-alive_150.jpg
Though it's expected in the second quarter of 2010, Ubisoft hasn't said much of anything about this action/survival title since it was unveiled in 2008. Earlier this year, the company kicked the original developer to the curb and took production in-house. In late July, the game was moved back from the first quarter of 2010 to the second. It's quite possible the publisher will delay it again, perhaps making it one of the tentpoles of its holiday 2010 release schedule.
Heavy Rain
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/heavy-rain_150.jpg (http://videogames.yahoo.com/ps3/heavy-rain/)
While Sony’s atmospheric noir thriller will likely be completed by early next year -- when it’s slated to be released -- this is precisely the sort of title that could be drowned out by the slew of other games in more traditional genres. After all, when's the last time a dark, story-driven adventure game stormed the sales charts? Lucky for Heavy Rain, it's got some nice buzz. If Sony takes the time to further polish the game and give it a little distance from the competition, it could have a new hit franchise on its hands.
Alpha Protocol
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/alpha-p_150.jpg
Technically, this game is still due before December, but there are increasing signs among retailers that Sega is planning to delay it. That’s not a bad thing. The action role-playing game only had a so-so showing at E3 in June. Plus, fans of the espionage genre are only thinking about Ubisoft's Splinter Cell: Conviction (http://videogames.yahoo.com/xbox360/tom-clancys-splinter-cell-conviction/) (releasing February 2010) these days. By pushing Alpha Protocol until next summer (which seems likely), developers will get a chance to better balance the action and role-playing – and gamers will have put Sam Fisher behind them by then, and may be looking for a similar title.
Aliens vs. Predator
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/avp_150.jpg (http://videogames.yahoo.com/ps3/aliens-vs-predator/)
Forget the schlocky movies -- the AvP first-person shooter series has a history of getting gamers pretty worked up. In turn, the revival of this franchise has a lot riding on it. Sega’s already working on the follow-up title, but this one needs to make a splash. The action genre is a very crowded one in the first quarter, which could hurt the chances of AvP becoming a retail smash. A delay would be disappointing, but maybe the wisest move Sega could make.
Courtesy: Plugged In via Yahoo
But for publishers, the embarrassment of riches could mean new properties get overlooked.
SEE 7 GAMES THAT WON'T MAKE IT OUT IN 2009 >> (http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/the-great-game-delay-of-2010-six-potential-pushbacks/1359357/2)
Several games that were expected to hit shelves during 2009's lucrative holiday period have seen their release dates pushed back to early next year. So many, in fact, that the first half of 2010 could be just as ferociously competitive as the holidays -- if not more so.
That has led to speculation that some titles might be pushed to an even later date to avoid the blast zone of major titles. Which are most likely to move? We spoke with several gaming industry insiders to get their take.
While the people we talked to both work in and observe the gaming industry, none have official knowledge of any future delays. They do, however, have hunches about certain titles -- and they’re all betting on some slippage.
"There's either going to be carnage or delay of key products," said one insider.
Here are their collective thoughts on the games most likely to be pushed back.
Starcraft II
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/star-craft_150.jpg (http://videogames.yahoo.com/pc/starcraft-ii/)
Falling in line with developer Blizzard's "it's done when it's done" credo, this long awaited sequel officially doesn’t have a release date. After missing this holiday season, though, it’s currently expected in the first half of next year.
But if ever there was a holiday anchor for publisher Activision, this could be it. And with the rabid fan base of the original Starcraft poring over every screenshot, Blizzard’s not going to release this one until it’s absolutely certain that every detail is done right.
Don’t mistake this perfectionism for caution. If there’s any game the rest of the industry would love to see moved further out, it’s Starcraft II, as that would free up both time and money for gamers (and give other titles more breathing room).
Dante’s Inferno
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/dantes-inferno_150.jpg (http://videogames.yahoo.com/xbox360/dantes-inferno/)
Due Feb. 9, this hack and slash game has been repeatedly (and justifiably) compared to Sony’s popular God of War franchise. Trouble is, God of War 3 (http://videogames.yahoo.com/ps3/god-of-war-iii/) -- the series’ first installment on the PS3 (http://videogames.yahoo.com/ps3/) -- is due out the following month.
Electronic Arts has put a lot of (occasionally dubious (http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/plugged-in/ea-mails-journos-200-checks-to-promote-game/1352737)) marketing muscle behind Dante's Inferno, and there’s even a film tie-in. If it’s not a hit, that could put a lot at risk – and, as one insider noted, "it's not going to compare well." Getting it out from under God of War might be a smart move.
I Am Alive
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/i-am-alive_150.jpg
Though it's expected in the second quarter of 2010, Ubisoft hasn't said much of anything about this action/survival title since it was unveiled in 2008. Earlier this year, the company kicked the original developer to the curb and took production in-house. In late July, the game was moved back from the first quarter of 2010 to the second. It's quite possible the publisher will delay it again, perhaps making it one of the tentpoles of its holiday 2010 release schedule.
Heavy Rain
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/heavy-rain_150.jpg (http://videogames.yahoo.com/ps3/heavy-rain/)
While Sony’s atmospheric noir thriller will likely be completed by early next year -- when it’s slated to be released -- this is precisely the sort of title that could be drowned out by the slew of other games in more traditional genres. After all, when's the last time a dark, story-driven adventure game stormed the sales charts? Lucky for Heavy Rain, it's got some nice buzz. If Sony takes the time to further polish the game and give it a little distance from the competition, it could have a new hit franchise on its hands.
Alpha Protocol
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/alpha-p_150.jpg
Technically, this game is still due before December, but there are increasing signs among retailers that Sega is planning to delay it. That’s not a bad thing. The action role-playing game only had a so-so showing at E3 in June. Plus, fans of the espionage genre are only thinking about Ubisoft's Splinter Cell: Conviction (http://videogames.yahoo.com/xbox360/tom-clancys-splinter-cell-conviction/) (releasing February 2010) these days. By pushing Alpha Protocol until next summer (which seems likely), developers will get a chance to better balance the action and role-playing – and gamers will have put Sam Fisher behind them by then, and may be looking for a similar title.
Aliens vs. Predator
http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/ga/buzz/feature/vg22/avp_150.jpg (http://videogames.yahoo.com/ps3/aliens-vs-predator/)
Forget the schlocky movies -- the AvP first-person shooter series has a history of getting gamers pretty worked up. In turn, the revival of this franchise has a lot riding on it. Sega’s already working on the follow-up title, but this one needs to make a splash. The action genre is a very crowded one in the first quarter, which could hurt the chances of AvP becoming a retail smash. A delay would be disappointing, but maybe the wisest move Sega could make.
Courtesy: Plugged In via Yahoo