Comfort food: Sequels devoured in 'uncertain times'

by James Ransom-Wiley { Dec 30th 2008 at 2:58PM }

What do you do when you're short on cash? You reach for what you know and get on out. That's what gamers are doing this year -- and more specifically, this holiday -- focusing a tremendous amount of their "limited" game purchases on sequels, reports Reuters. While the industry hasn't been as "recession-proof" as some would have us believe (think of all those layoffs, doomed studios and golden parachutes), game sequels are doing well at retail.

Activision is the proud parent of two such standouts, both the latest in their respective lineages (actually, this year's Guitar Hero is more like a set of siblings than a single entity). The Call of Duty franchise topped 35 million in total sales following the release of World at War in November, and the Guitar Hero series has seen its total sales surpass 23 million with a handful of installments continuing to clutter up your living space in 2008. In fact, add in Rock Band sales, and the music genre outsold the mighty Madden-led sports conglomerate, solidifying itself as the new regent of redundancy. So then, the industry's New Year's resolution: Let's do it again ... again!

Tags: activision, call-of-duty, guitar-hero

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 30th 2008 3:05PM

"Who let the fridge open?"

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 30th 2008 3:06PM

But on topic: YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT A MAJORITY OF GAMERS BUY GAMES THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH??? NO WAI!!!

This isn't anything new. People tend to buy sequels since they know exactly what they'll be getting. It's alot safer then picking up that innovative new IP.

sicsided @ Dec 30th 2008 3:15PM

I really wasn't expecting anything from CoD WaW, especially with Treyarch at the helm. From what I hear though, they copied CoD4 exactly, and well, some like that.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Dec 30th 2008 3:24PM

The thing is, the average person doesn't realize that CoD: WaW is made by a different developer.

sicsided @ Dec 30th 2008 3:27PM

Yes, so sad, yet so true. Well, let them spend money, as its the only thing they can do.

ill trooper @ Dec 30th 2008 3:42PM

"Yes, so sad, yet so true. Well, let them spend money, as its the only thing they can do."

Like you're in some secret club, a club of people who REALLY understand fun games. Not like those guys, who only THINK they're having fun.

Haggard @ Dec 30th 2008 3:45PM

But they could be having more fun!

Mr Khan @ Dec 30th 2008 3:08PM

It's going to be an interesting year. A lot of weeding in the ranks

Though that always comes with the groups that shouldn't be weeded out, but are. Something like, say, platinum games

Mike @ Dec 30th 2008 3:23PM

Maybe we should wait until Platinum has released at least one game before we make that call, no?

Mr Khan @ Dec 30th 2008 3:28PM

MadWorld promises to do relatively well, i think. At least 300k lifetime sales, and probably more, which Platinum would go ape over. Bayonetta might hedge closer to 700,000 combined, low estimate

I'm just saying that the groups that seem to come up with the edgy, original ideas seem to be the ones on the chopping block in lean times

Courtney @ Dec 30th 2008 3:17PM

I was about to brag about supporting original IPs, then I started counting which games I bought this year. There are several 2s and 3s and 4s currently stacked up in my gaming library. It's almost impossible to avoid sequels and be a serious gamer.

Still, I did buy a lot of original games this year too. I was happy to contribute to World of Goo and Dead Space within the last week. Mirror's Edge will come once I've chewed through the Christmas haul.

Alien Lord @ Dec 30th 2008 3:19PM

Well yeah squeals are easier and cheaper to make so of course publishers and developers are going to turn out more in these times because people will more likely buy a game from a series they know is fun instead of an unproven IP.

ill trooper @ Dec 30th 2008 3:50PM

Easier and cheaper squeals? I'm all for it.

Markez (Anti-Panda Death Murder Squadron) @ Dec 30th 2008 4:27PM

HIYOO!!!!

Shagittarius @ Dec 31st 2008 3:28AM

Never go full retard man.

why not the LS2LS7? @ Dec 30th 2008 3:31PM

I think there are other factors at play here.

For example, W@W is a very good game. And Guitar Hero has gotten huge benefit by being the premiere Guitar game on Wii (GH1 & 2 are not avail, and Rock Band hasn't made a big impact).

I know being a sequel does help a lot. But I think it's overstated here.

In A World (XBL) @ Dec 30th 2008 3:38PM

[Add Comment]... full-page ad ... [Back]... another full-page ad... [F5]... blank joystiq website... [F5]... 8 comments... [Add Comment]... comment won't post, now only 5 comments **waits 5 minutes** still not posted... [F5]... full-page ad...

Oh, and btw, the [Close X] button on the ads don't work either.

Alien Lord @ Dec 30th 2008 3:47PM

I know what you mean man.

JaneWellsJr @ Dec 30th 2008 3:55PM

in before obligatory blah blah get adblock blah blah get noscript comment

(not that it doesn't help/solve the issue)

seriously the ads are terrible.

NaeemTHM @ Dec 30th 2008 4:15PM

Yeah...can we please get rid of the ridiculous ads Joystiq? I have to refresh the page when I want to vote someone up or post a comment.

And YES I have Ad-block on...for some strange reason I still get this huge orange page.

T @ Dec 30th 2008 4:26PM

Agreed. Obtrusive fullpage ads are made of fail. To the point that it actually DISCOURAGES me from buying the product being advertised.

You should probably run that comment by your sponsors...

Mr Khan @ Dec 30th 2008 4:28PM

Huh, FireFox 3 for XP doesn't get it at all (no adblock) and FireFox 3 for Vista has them work like they should

I don't know. What i do know is, don't use IE7 with this site. Just don't

Premature ejaculation man @ Dec 30th 2008 4:58PM

Sure adblock gets rid of it for those users. But this shouldn't be solved by having to get thrid party modifications to not have to deal with it. Plus the more users that get adblock, the worse the situation would get for ad revenue.

So get rid of the damn ad. Write an angry letter to AOL and sign it under my name. They will immediately remove it. I promise!