Enslaved: Odyssey to the West

[nCogNeato]

Enslaved is one of those games that you play when theres nothing else to do and you DONT want to feel like you wasted your time playing it when youre done.
just how i feel :/

I agree with that.

[GamerMan316]

Low Enslaved sales blamed on poor timing

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West underperformed because it was released at the wrong time of year, publisher Namco Bandai has claimed.

Marketing VP Carlson Choi told Siliconera that it was a mistake to release the Ninja Theory-developed adventure title in October, during a packed holiday season.

"It really didn't do what we anticipated," he admitted.

"To be perfectly frank, I think as a company prior to us reforming this organisation, going to market, I think the game went to market at a very busy season. It launched in the midst of a busy holiday season. Last year, there were like 4000+ games for consoles.

"We didn't do a good job finding the right time for it because when you look at the quality of the game it speaks for itself. An 80+ rated game is guaranteed a hit. We got DLC that came out that got 10 out of 10. Ultimately, I think that game had the quality needed to address the gamers.

"I think it's a matter of getting into the market at the right time, which is something you will see us do much better," he promised.

Earlier this month, Namco revealed that the game, which won an 8/10 from Eurogamer, had only sold 460,000 copies. That's well below the million the publisher was aiming for.

Despite its poor performance, a sequel hasn't been entirely ruled out. When asked if Namco had plans to build on the franchise, Choi offered hope, albeit slight.

"You tell me. Do you think gamers want more? I can assure you, a title like Enslaved, and every title we've worked on in the past, we're going to re-examine them and say what is the potential for the game?" he explained.

"We've been doing a lot of studies, consumer engagement, and community engagement... let's put it this way one of these days stay tuned there will be more news to come."

[nCogNeato]

"I think it's a matter of getting into the market at the right time, which is something you will see us do much better," he promised.

I'll believe it when I see it.  It's the same tired pattern that has never made sense t me.

Publisher X:  "We have a great game releasing this Holiday season."

Publisher X:  "Our great game didn't do well because it was released in the overcrowded Holiday season."

Publisher X:  "We have another great game.  It will be released next Holiday season."



If I made scheduling decisions for a game publisher, I'd limit Holiday releases for sequels and overhyped AAA titles.  New IP's would only be released in the Spring & Summer where they have room to gain attention.  But I don't, so what do I know.   

[Failed]

I agree, i often buy new IP's early in the year as there's less released and i can get hyped by games like Bulletstorm.

Later in the year when it's packed with games i have tend to just go for something i've played before and know i will like. I will always buy games from my favourite developers or series. Which reminds me i still need to buy Tri-Ace's last game. Resonance of Fate.

[nCogNeato]

I agree, i often buy new IP's early in the year as there's less released and i can get hyped by games like Bulletstorm.

Later in the year when it's packed with games i have tend to just go for something i've played before and know i will like. I will always buy games from my favourite developers or series. Which reminds me i still need to buy Tri-Ace's last game. Resonance of Fate.

OFF-TOPIC:
I think I'm getting RoF soon in a trade on cheapassgamer.com, but I think FF13 will be the next JRPG I play.



OFF-OFF-TOPIC:
I am completely in love with cheapassgamer.com right now.  I've gotten so many great trades over the past few months (including Legion), and I just got a swarm of new offers this morning.  I am going to have soooooooo many games to play this Summer.   

[GamerMan316]

Ninja Theory: marketing let Enslaved down

Ninja Theory's under-performing 2010 adventure Enslaved: Odyssey to the West was let down by a stingy marketing spend, reckons studio boss Tameem Antoniades.

Speaking in an interview with Gamasutra, Antoniades explained that new IP needs a big sales push to inform consumers that it exists, and publisher Namco Bandai failed to deliver on that front.

"I think it's always a difficult equation, isn't it? It's like it's not enough to just make a game," he said.

"All the ducks have to be lined up, and those ducks include the creative ducks, like the theme and the content. I wonder whether Enslaved was a bit too fantasy, or off the mainstream fantasy, on one hand.

"But it needed support, it needed a drive, a big push, and I don't think it necessarily got that. I really kind of hate it when people make, say, 'Oh, marketing didn't support it,' but a new IP needs to be visible, and I didn't feel like it was. A lot of people still even haven't heard of the game."

He added that he's always "puzzled" to see publishers under-spend on new titles.

"Why bet on triple-A if you're not going to spend for triple-A? You can't have it both ways. But, you know, I think we're proud as a team that we've got the game done, we got it on time. We thought that we did our job."

Ninja Theory's game picked up positive reviews when it launched back in October 2010, but failed to find a big enough audience to justify a sequel, selling 730,000 units as of April this year.

The Cambridge-based studio is currently working on DMC for Capcom, though elsewhere in the Gamasutra Q&A Antoniades revealed work will soon get underway on a second project too.

[Failed]

If they make an Enslaved 2 i will be a 1-man marketing whirlwind of positive promotion and epic love for this amazing game.

(ditto to Mirrors Edge 2 *sobs mournfully*)

[ASYLUM NINJA]

Me too loved Enslaved

[Failed]

I didn't love Orb collecting. That's why i have 950G.

[GamerMan316]

Great game, still waiting for the DLC to be reduced.

[Failed]

yeh, 400msp and i'll buy the DLC. Then have 1200G in it >_<

[nCogNeato]

If they make an Enslaved 2 i will be a 1-man marketing whirlwind of positive promotion and epic love for this amazing game.

(ditto to Mirrors Edge 2 *sobs mournfully*)

Make that a 2-man marketing whirlwind!   

[Failed]

Twin Whirlwind love for Enslaved

[nCogNeato]

ha