The producers are blaming boxing for this game failure

[SHAKYR]

A game will sell by word of mouth, no matter how good or bad the so called gaming sites review it. EA dropped the ball on this game big time. There were too many mistakes. It wasn't because the sport isn't that popular as it used to be.

[mike24forever]

I completely disagree with you. Unfortunately boxing has taken a back seat to the bastardization of Martial Arts in the form of MMA. The age group that it caters to is in the age group that video games aim for. That 18 to mid 30's males category. The kids today do not appreciate the Sweet Science. So those "people" you speak of at EA Sports are correct. The masses like MMA, therefore the sales of a boxing game will suffer, no matter "how much word of mouth a game gets.

[aholbert32]

Quote: Originally Posted by SHAKYR

A game will sell by word of mouth, no matter how good or bad the so called gaming sites review it. EA dropped the ball on this game big time. There were too many mistakes. It wasn't because the sport isn't that popular as it used to be.

Couldnt disagree more. Most consumers dont frequent message boards and arent as neurotic about "sim" games as we are. They have no clue about the issues with stamina or the jab spamming or that one punch Kos were taken away. They buy the game solely on commercials, marketing and interest in the sport.

Boxing isnt even the most popular combat sport anymore much less a popular sport. I'd rank football, baseball, basketball, hockey, Golf, Nascar, soccer and MMA as more popular sports right now. So when you have the 8th most popular sport in America, you cant expect blockbuster sales.

Also FNC did not have the graphics advantage FN3 had. When FN3 dropped, that was one of the first games that really took advantage of next generation console's power so people rushed to buy it even if they werent boxing fans.

Finally, they made a mistake with the roster but part of it is the sports fault. The roster is geared toward old people like me who watched Leonard, Hagler, Hearns etc and hardcore boxing fans who know who Anthony Mundine, Sergio Mora and Cris Arreola. There are only 3 well known current fighters in the game, Pac, Cotto and Judah (maybe 5 if you add the Klitchkos). That makes it hard to sell a game.

[SHAKYR]

So, you guys are saying if Fight Night Champion was on the level of what NBA 2k11 depth and gameplay-wise that Fight Night Champion would not have sold well?

Fight Night Champion sold badly because it had major issues; glitches, bugs, and other blaring issues. You can not dispute this at all and say this didn't play into the game not doing well. I'm a huge boxing fan and after playing the demo and my brother's copy I didn't buy it because it wasn't a true representation of boxing.

I have had boxers and trainers on podcasts I did for Fight Night and they said the series is lacking in gameplay. There is no excuse for the producers. They really didn't research the sport.

No one can say the game would not have sold stronger if a better effort was applied to the game.

Quote: Originally Posted by aholbert32

Couldnt disagree more. Most consumers dont frequent message boards and arent as neurotic about "sim" games as we are. They have no clue about the issues with stamina or the jab spamming or that one punch Kos were taken away. They buy the game solely on commercials, marketing and interest in the sport. Boxing isnt even the most popular combat sport anymore much less a popular sport. I'd rank football, baseball, basketball, hockey, Golf, Nascar, soccer and MMA as more popular sports right now. So when you have the 8th most popular sport in America, you cant expect blockbuster sales. Also FNC did not have the graphics advantage FN3 had. When FN3 dropped, that was one of the first games that really took advantage of next generation console's power so people rushed to buy it even if they werent boxing fans. Finally, they made a mistake with the roster but part of it is the sports fault. The roster is geared toward old people like me who watched Leonard, Hagler, Hearns etc and hardcore boxing fans who know who Anthony Mundine, Sergio Mora and Cris Arreola. There are only 3 well known current fighters in the game, Pac, Cotto and Judah (maybe 5 if you add the Klitchkos). That makes it hard to sell a game.

The roster means nothing. If the game made up names with top notch gameplay it would have sold very well. The issues and gameplay is what killed this game dead on arrival!

[Money99]

Boxing is as popular as it was 2 years ago when FNRd4 sold very well.
I also believe word of mouth has a lot to do with poor sales this time around.

There's a couple of guys in my office that bought Rd4 last year based on what I told them.
This year I didn't buy and I suggested they don't either. They haven't.

Who's to say this isn't happening in hundreds of other scenario's?

FNrd4 sold over 2.6M copies.
So far FNC has sold 600K. It's only been out 3 months while Rd4 has been out for over 2 years so that number will certainly go up.
But considering that FNRd4 was released in late May of 2009 and had sold close to 1.1M copies by July says a lot in comparison.

Just look at UFC undisputed. The game sold 3.5M copies for 2009.
2010 has sold just over 2M. 2010 has been flamed by hardcore fans across the internets and the sales have reflected that (IMO).

I can give other examples of games where sales have slipped based on internet opinion.
Madden's a good example. And for the hockey fans out there, you'll remember a time when 2K was trouncing EA. EA had a strangehold on the hockey market, but 2K came out with a winner with 2K3. It helped propel 2K4 and 2K5 to the top of the pile.

I could be wrong. But I sincerely believe that sites like OS and other places have turned a lot of prospective buyers off.
I've purchased nearly every boxing game known to man and I passed - my choice not to purchase has nothing to do with the current state of pro boxing.

[SHAKYR]

Quote: Originally Posted by Money99

Boxing is as popular as it was 2 years ago when FNRd4 sold very well. I also believe word of mouth has a lot to do with poor sales this time around. There's a couple of guys in my office that bought Rd4 last year based on what I told them. This year I didn't buy and I suggested they don't either. They haven't. Who's to say this isn't happening in hundreds of other scenario's? FNrd4 sold over 2.6M copies. So far FNC has sold 600K. It's only been out 3 months while Rd4 has been out for over 2 years so that number will certainly go up. But considering that FNRd4 was released in late May of 2009 and had sold close to 1.1M copies by July says a lot in comparison. Just look at UFC undisputed. The game sold 3.5M copies for 2009. 2010 has sold just over 2M. 2010 has been flamed by hardcore fans across the internets and the sales have reflected that (IMO). I can give other examples of games where sales have slipped based on internet opinion. Madden's a good example. And for the hockey fans out there, you'll remember a time when 2K was trouncing EA. EA had a strangehold on the hockey market, but 2K came out with a winner with 2K3. It helped propel 2K4 and 2K5 to the top of the pile. I could be wrong. But I sincerely believe that sites like OS and other places have turned a lot of prospective buyers off. I've purchased nearly every boxing game known to man and I passed - my choice not to purchase has nothing to do with the current state of pro boxing.

I totally agree and even a couple of 2K/Visual Concepts producers said the same thing when I asked him. EA try to cut corners too much and the true to the sport fans will not buy into what they are selling.

Boxing isn't doing as bad as many are saying because Fight Night Fights and 6 other boxing shows wouldn't exist. Pay-Per-View is still making money from fans.

[Hova57]

I personally think its a combination of all of your responses

1. The game was shipped with alot of old boxers, not many current boxers that people would know. EA and the boxers are at fault for that.

2. Sport isn't popular as it used to be because of exposure. We all know that you can watch ESPN , HBO AND Showtime but others don't . Boxing isn't on Wild world of sports man it isn't even shown during the olympics anymore. Boxing was great in its hayday cause you didn't need special channels to watch unless it was a big fight.

3. Though to us @ OS thought there were minor issues that could make this a good game. We chose to overlook the footwork of the game. Though one of the more important aspects of boxing we chose to overlook for the good of the game. We knew before the drop that there were no clinching , clinch fighting. That's our fault as the consumer for not holding FNC to the same standards we do other sport games.

4. This goes hand in hand with my second point. MMA has weakened boxing, especially the heavyweight division. In boxing now you have the russian boxers who holds the belts, that will never unify them cause they are brothers(i don't blame them i wouldn't fight my brother either). You have some boxers with potential, but being brought up to fast the lose and disappear. Also its hampered by old boxers not willing to give it up. MMA took all the fit boxers that would fight heavyweight. So now the Heavyweight division is full of overweight , sloppy looking boxers. Let's keep in mind that since the very beginning the heavy weight division was the face for boxing. Especially in USA we have no Champs in the heavyweight division, I believe only one in all the weight classes.

[mike24forever]

Quote: Originally Posted by SHAKYR

I totally agree and even a couple of 2K/Visual Concepts producers said the same thing when I asked him. EA try to cut corners too much and the true to the sport fans will not buy into what they are selling. Boxing isn't doing as bad as many are saying because Fight Night Fights and 6 other boxing shows wouldn't exist. Pay-Per-View is still making money from fans.

I have said this to you before, you are a EA troll, and you will say anything disparaging against EA. You box art in you Arena says it all. "EA cutting corners"? Come on. You have also called them liars. You are so biased it hurts, and that's okay...you just try to slight EA by state things as if they were facts. So, what corners do you actually know EA cut? Not things you do not like or flaws in the game, but actual areas of development where you know that the developers said, let's cut this corner to save money or that it would take to much time to develop. Provide proof. Anything else is SPECULATION.


I would respect your point of view and your opinions if you would admit you are not a fan of EA Sports, instead of hiding behind obvious biased statements.