Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Game Industry

[headsteez]

It ain't the economy . Its that Madden is getting whacker and whacker by the year. When me and my boys can think back about previous installments that let us get closer to the game then we can get now with this so called next gen era, its a big problem. Little things equal more then any of the gimmick slogans ever will. We as a society always want and will be entertained, so money is not the main factor. Its that we have more ways to spend our money now. Dlc wasn't any option ten years ago. I could by Madden but, I can also buy map packs for Cod or the other games that are good also. I have tons more ways to spend my hard earned money now than ten years ago. Data plans for phones, netflix, gamefly, movies, and tons more stuff to. Madden aint getting $60 bucks with that deeper, faster garbage. Show me a great franchise mode. Show me a on-line franchise mode thats not stripped down. Better on field game-play and animations. Then u can get my $60 bucks. Stop running away from the main problems by thinking of the causal user. The causal user is just a follower of the hardcore player. If the hardcore player will live and die by the game, than the masses will follow.

[happymadison]

hopefully the NFL will take notice of the declining sales of madden the past few years and see that EA isn't getting the job done having the exclusive license and not give EA or anyone else the exclusive license when the contract is up, there needs to be competition.

[Radja]

Quote: Originally Posted by markprior22

This is the first year I wasn't even the least bit tempted to buy Madden. I am an offline franchise player and the franchise mode is going to need quite an upgrade to pull me back in.

THIS!!!!! ^^^^^

i read no franchise updates and i decided i can continue my madden 10 'chise.

[Radja]

Quote: Originally Posted by Flamehead

Based on the reviews the NHL demo is getting, it certainly looks that way. Meh, I think the author is too eager to produce a cause and effect with Madden sales numbers and what *might* happen with the game industry in general. How about "Weak Madden Sales Signaling Trouble for Madden?" Of course, Peter Moore and Co. will look at this as more evidence that the game needs to be "simplified" further. Much easier to believe you've overcomplicated it rather than produced a game more people are becoming disenchanted with because you're not responding to repeated community requests and instead implementing changes no one asked for.

the gaming industry needs to start innovating enough for us to merit spending $60 for more than a couple more race tracks or a couple more moves in a game or slightly better visuals. years ago tomb raider lost it's core audience when the third versions only real upgrade was the levels became almost impossible.

the hardcore have for several years been the parakeet in the coal mine saying madden needs to fix the game play first. the casual are finally catching on too.

the ea ceo can spin it any way he wants. the metacritic score is the proof.

[rooney8]

Quote: Originally Posted by mrprice33

First week numbers... Madden 10 360-575,624 Madden 10 PS3-363,256 Total-938,880 Madden 11 360-542,803 Madden 11 PS3-445,648 Total-988,451 They're up about 23% on ps3, down about 6% on 360, up about 5% overall. Good research on that article.

Sarcasim and research fail for you i'm afraid mate. Article FTW.
Those numbers for Madden10 are for two days sales and the numbers for Madden11 are for five days sales.

“Madden NFL 10” takes the top spot on this week’s worldwide chart, with over 1.25 million units sold in the first two days of release. The platform breakdown is as follows (note this is worldwide figures, but of course the majority of Madden sales occur in the US):

Overall, first week Madden sales are down 23% from last year, but much of this difference comes from the fact that Madden 09 released on a Wednesday so had 4 days of sales in the tracking period whereas Madden 10 released on a Friday and only had two. Comparing directly to the first two days of sale last year, Madden is actually only down 12% year on year.

As you can all see the numbers from M11 to M10 are bad and to M09 are awful even though M11 had an extra day. So all those (roadman, Only1LT) who needed proof I hope this will satisfy. Madden11 sales are terrible lets continue to celebrate and hope this will change the arcade approach to sim, sim, sim.

[frankstallone83]

Don't put too much hope in the NFL - they love exclusive deals and their ego is enormous. They threatened to sue a church a few years ago b/c they charged 5$ (for expenses) to a "Super Bowl Party." (no joke: http://www.engadget.com/2007/02/01/n...ings-to-blame/)

Basically they're going to do what is most profitable - hopefully that could work out in our interest but I won't hold my breath.

[mrprice33]

Quote: Originally Posted by rooney8

Sarcasim and research fail for you i'm afraid mate. Article FTW. Those numbers for Madden10 are for two days sales and the numbers for Madden11 are for five days sales. “Madden NFL 10” takes the top spot on this week’s worldwide chart, with over 1.25 million units sold in the first two days of release. The platform breakdown is as follows (note this is worldwide figures, but of course the majority of Madden sales occur in the US): Overall, first week Madden sales are down 23% from last year, but much of this difference comes from the fact that Madden 09 released on a Wednesday so had 4 days of sales in the tracking period whereas Madden 10 released on a Friday and only had two. Comparing directly to the first two days of sale last year, Madden is actually only down 12% year on year. As you can all see the numbers from M11 to M10 are bad and to M09 are awful even though M11 had an extra day. So all those (roadman, Only1LT) who needed proof I hope this will satisfy. Madden11 sales are terrible lets continue to celebrate and hope this will change the arcade approach to sim, sim, sim.

For now then I guess we'll just have to wait to see whether or not the first 2 week or first month sales match up. If not, then fine, sales are down.

Yay?

[stead21]

Oh well, karma is a biyah.