Is the Madden franchise really on a decline? - RUFFNREADY's Blog

RUFFNREADY's Blog

Is the Madden franchise really on a decline?

Posted on July 22, 2011 at 12:38 AM.

(4)

For the 2nd straight year in a row, i went in to preorder Madden at my local Ebgames/Gamespot; and once again i got another rude awakening. "Sorry,, but there will be no midnight launch.."; and my opposing question was "Why? again.."; "Not enough preorders to submit for a midnight launch".
I asked to compare it to last year, and was told that there are way way fewer (preorders) than last years; at this sametime. i asked if it could be that there is a lockout? the answer blew my mind away: "It's a videogame! People aren't paying to see real life players and their salaries...They either want to spend their money on a good game; or not! And they as a group (employees)chimmed in and explained that games like MLB 11 the SHOW, and NBA 2K11, raised the bar for games on these next-gen consoles, with graphics and gameplay; and alot of "You, Me (customers), and gamers are not going to be hyped out of $60 by EA no more.
All those numbers that these Big companies like EA and others like to show off; are those number of games that are sold to the "Distributors"; they make up the numbers that get polled and show how well the game is selling.
Each store will get 5-10 copies of big name title for "free", and then they place there orders on top of that; so say the store orders 200 copies; those games are already paid for by the store to EA. EA has now made their money. The store has the task of selling those 200+ games to make a profit for themselves.
Now in this case; of my local store, did not put in a big order because of 2 years prior, where they had too many copies and too many returns. they didn't make any money on Madden for the last two years.
I was shocked to hear that; but not surprised. My store is getting read for Gears of War3, Battlefield3, MW3; those are their meat and potatoes for this year.
As i picked up my jaw in awe! A employee told me that NCAA12 didn't even sell that well here either; and they believe EA better get their act together soon, as he sees a disturbing trend.
I don't know what to say; but i still preordered it; and plan to checkout my local Wal-Mart to see if they are having a Midnite launch; and try to find some EA scoopage!

Do stats really tell all? Are numbers all that matter to EA?
IMO, word of mouth still trumphs ALL! If i tell 2 friends, and they tell 2 friends, and so on, and...I can see that EA's flagship has some major holes, and needs to be fixed fast.

cheers

Comments

# 1 gmitch23 @ Jul 22

Where do you live???

# 2 RUFFNREADY @ Jul 22

@mitch23
I have live in Toronto, Canada; And, no the CFL does not impeed on the sales of Madden, just in case you thought that. It's a big market over here.
cheers

# 3 gmitch23 @ Jul 22

Yea thats pretty odd, i'm in Oklahoma City Oklahoma and our gamestops still have midnight releases.