Three million units at least. That is, the estimated sales of Electronic Arts game Mirror’s Edge. At least, if the Dice marketing director Martin Frain. Game developer Dice we all know of the Battlefield series, but Mirror’s Edge is a totally different concept. The first-person jump – and – rengame throws at the press already high eyes, not in the least place because of the unique look of the game.
Or Mirror’s Edge actually three million units will be sold is yet to be seen. The game aims in terms of originality with names like Gears of War 2 and Call of Duty: World at War past, but are names that the general public knows. In addition, the gamer can have money but a time issue. And the competition is fierce in the coming months.
Take Gears of War 2, for example: the first part was the flagship for the Xbox 360 and put the then relatively young console firmly in the market. The helping grease the skids the way for Halo 3 – the best-selling Xbox 360 game to date. But Fable II is going to score high this year in sales numbers. The first Fable was a few millions of times over-the-counter and part 2 is again much is expected.
Call of Duty: World at War, particle 5 again, a inkoppertje. That series, with part 4, many fans acquired, and almost all who are fans ge lwa interested in the new part. Even though part 4 a different developer at the helm than part 5 – Infinity Ward vs Treyarch -the average gamer will that sausage being. If ‘ie the lwa berhaupt already know of the separation.
Another shooter where I’m both in terms of content and commercial expecting too much from is Far Cry II. The so-called ‘buzz’ around the game is cleverly constructed and graphically know the game to a personality, both on pc as on consoles. It is also one of the first real open-world shooters, and the name Far Cry is firmly anchored in the collective memory of the gamer.
Innovation in games is a great thing, but the problem with Mirror’s Edge is the so called momentum. The interest and excitement around the game is only now just a little bit ahead, while a new franchise as Assassin’s Creed by Ubisoft for nearly two years has been professionally built up to eventually reach the peak. Mirror’s Edge has such a structure not would so but once you get in can be snowing by the outpouring of well-known names. Because sequels like Resistance 2, Red Alert 3, FIFA 09, Need for Speed; Undercover and Midnight Club Los Angeles are ready.
Prince of Persia has a bit of the same problem. The game is actually only ‘net’. Just in time for Christmas, december 4, the game must come out. Now will worldwide the christmas sales the success of this game determine and not our local secret saxton-party. The game is pretty much the last hit that comes out this year and get it for that reason alone, heavy. And while the new Prince of Persia the brave decision has been taken the series again to find out; with a brand new graphic style and bold gameplay mechanisms (the player cannot, for example, death).
In an ideal world, Prince of Persia and Mirror’s Edge are the blockbusters of the autumn, but I guess that is proven, safe franchises eventually with the commercial lwa le honor to get beat. Fortunately, in most cases, the sequels and franchise hits on this autumn’s content is also fine, but the innovator in me hopes that eventually that Martin Frain will get right.
