Discussion on what makes a game sell well.

I have always wondered what makes a game sell well since so many great games don't sell well.


Here is what I think are the 4 most important things for a game to sell well.

1. Has to to fun to play.
2. Easy to control(includes good camera).
3. Nice on the eyes.(ie not ugly)
4. Acceptable music.

But sometimes that is not even enough. How can GT3 easily sell a million and make people buy the console just for the game, yet Rallisport can't even make 100k in sales? From what I understand RSC is just as good as GT3.

hype and/or a popular license.

If it has Madden somewhere in the title?

Other than that, I honestly have no idea anymore.

Sony superbly handled the Gran Turismo marketing - back in 1998, when the original came out on PSX. By the time it came out, everybody needed to have it. It was the dope ill type shit. Gran Turismo 3 sold so much more because of Sony's 1998 efforts. Microsoft didnt push RSC as much or as well.

Remember, you can't buy what you don't know about.

Mass Appeal
Good for single or multiplay (can also mean "fun to watch as well as play")
Popular License
Good Graphics (don't have to be the best)
Easy to learn controls
Good marketing/press
Good reviews from major magazines/shows

As for Gran Turismo, back in 98', i salivated over GT1/2's insane number of cars (i had never seen any game at that time with so many cars to choose from), and excellent graphics...

The number of cars was stressed by nearly every magazine, and it was a point that definitely could sell the game in droves

So what happens with the games from smaller companies who don't have as much marketing muscle as the big companies? Like how did Dynasty Warriors sell so well? Koei is hardly a big company in the US, and from what I remember, it hardly had much advertising for it, yet it sold extremely well.

I am starting to believe it is blind ass luck. :(

Dynasty Warriors success:

-Many positive reviews
-It was the only good game on the first PS2 demo disc
-It was one of the few good PS2 launch titles (i think, correct me if i'm wrong if it wasn't at launch)
-It is fun to watch and easy to play

Quote:

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Originally posted by Yoshi
I am starting to believe it is blind ass luck. :(

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Words out of my mouth, Yoshi. Words out of my mouth. ;)

Hype and recognition(played earlier games in series). Unfortunately, that is the only 2 things that I believe can do it.