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Is the release date of a console or game really that important? I mean is it strategically planned by developers or just when it's ready to be released? Most consoles have a huge release and in many cases supplies run out very quickly, this is because so much hype is created that surrounds the console, also the release date is known long before it happens to allow people to save money and buy it as soon as they can.
I think that most release dates are not planned just release the game when it's ready. Which is a good idea as I would rather have a complete game than a poor rushed effort at a game. But surely some must be strategically planned for certain times of the year.
Christmas time
A lot of developers would rather wait a few weeks to release a game closer to Christmas time, reason to try and get maximum sales at that time of year and also to try and beat rivals. Games may also receive a little more publicity if they are the highest seller at this time meaning they may well sell more copies throughout the year. It is at this time of year that most games are sold and important for developers to get the release right and to publicise it as much as they can. If the game isn't ready before Christmas as planned then the developer could lose out.
To compete with rivals
Games may be released earlier or later than planned, not just because they are finished early or not yet complete but because it is similar to when a rival releases a game. Developers may wish to do this so that people save their money for their title and don't buy a rivals game.
I for one don't really see a point to this. If I like a game I will buy it, if I have to wait for the release then I will because its up to the developers when they choose to release it. If they keep pushing back the release it is unlikely that I will go buy a different game and no longer buy the game I was waiting for unless it no longer appeals to me. But I am sure there are some who would buy another as they aren't patient enough to wait.
So could that be another problem for developers?
If they fail to meet deadline after deadline could they loose a lot of customers? If the game is good it will sell no matter when it is released but if you make people wait to long you probably will loose out on some people, probably only a small percentage though.
I don't think there has been any game I can think off that has met its original release date. Most get delayed by a certain amount of time. Some games get delayed and delayed and sometimes without warning the game gets canned. More should be done to notify people about the delays and games getting canned.
So what about consoles? As with most games and consoles Japan usually gets them first. USA is next and then the rest of the world. This annoys a lot of gamers who don't like the wait. I think this is ok as it lets you see exactly what to expect before it reaches us here. Sometimes though the wait gets to long and I go and buy import games. Some of which are better than what we get here.
I would imagine that most console releases are planned. Soon the x-box and Gamecube will be released, but is the closeness in the two dates there for a reason, has Microsoft or Nintendo planned these dates for a reason or is it just by chance. Personally I would say they are planned to try and attract the most buyers in an attempt to outsell its rivals. This could be good for Sony who released the PS2 a long time back as with the choice of two consoles sales for the other two may not be as good as when the PS2 was launched. On the other hand it could be bad as some who don't own a PS2 may instead buy one of the others after they have seen what they can do.
The main objective of any release date whether it be a console or game is to maximise sales, many developers will try get the game advertised well in magazine before it is released just to help boost sales. Also if a big named title is due to be released the same day some of the other developers may choose to delay their release as it may not sell to well against the big named game.
So what are your views? Is there any point to strategically planning a release date or are they released when they are ready? Should developers be allowed to release a date they plan on releasing the game so early on or should they wait until they can be more definite as to when they plan to have it finished.
I think that most release dates are not planned just release the game when it's ready. Which is a good idea as I would rather have a complete game than a poor rushed effort at a game. But surely some must be strategically planned for certain times of the year.
Christmas time
A lot of developers would rather wait a few weeks to release a game closer to Christmas time, reason to try and get maximum sales at that time of year and also to try and beat rivals. Games may also receive a little more publicity if they are the highest seller at this time meaning they may well sell more copies throughout the year. It is at this time of year that most games are sold and important for developers to get the release right and to publicise it as much as they can. If the game isn't ready before Christmas as planned then the developer could lose out.
To compete with rivals
Games may be released earlier or later than planned, not just because they are finished early or not yet complete but because it is similar to when a rival releases a game. Developers may wish to do this so that people save their money for their title and don't buy a rivals game.
I for one don't really see a point to this. If I like a game I will buy it, if I have to wait for the release then I will because its up to the developers when they choose to release it. If they keep pushing back the release it is unlikely that I will go buy a different game and no longer buy the game I was waiting for unless it no longer appeals to me. But I am sure there are some who would buy another as they aren't patient enough to wait.
So could that be another problem for developers?
If they fail to meet deadline after deadline could they loose a lot of customers? If the game is good it will sell no matter when it is released but if you make people wait to long you probably will loose out on some people, probably only a small percentage though.
I don't think there has been any game I can think off that has met its original release date. Most get delayed by a certain amount of time. Some games get delayed and delayed and sometimes without warning the game gets canned. More should be done to notify people about the delays and games getting canned.
So what about consoles? As with most games and consoles Japan usually gets them first. USA is next and then the rest of the world. This annoys a lot of gamers who don't like the wait. I think this is ok as it lets you see exactly what to expect before it reaches us here. Sometimes though the wait gets to long and I go and buy import games. Some of which are better than what we get here.
I would imagine that most console releases are planned. Soon the x-box and Gamecube will be released, but is the closeness in the two dates there for a reason, has Microsoft or Nintendo planned these dates for a reason or is it just by chance. Personally I would say they are planned to try and attract the most buyers in an attempt to outsell its rivals. This could be good for Sony who released the PS2 a long time back as with the choice of two consoles sales for the other two may not be as good as when the PS2 was launched. On the other hand it could be bad as some who don't own a PS2 may instead buy one of the others after they have seen what they can do.
The main objective of any release date whether it be a console or game is to maximise sales, many developers will try get the game advertised well in magazine before it is released just to help boost sales. Also if a big named title is due to be released the same day some of the other developers may choose to delay their release as it may not sell to well against the big named game.
So what are your views? Is there any point to strategically planning a release date or are they released when they are ready? Should developers be allowed to release a date they plan on releasing the game so early on or should they wait until they can be more definite as to when they plan to have it finished.
hey thanks. Thats my third win.
hey. well done. u won GAD. is that ur first?
A lot of games or consoles are not released with any strategic thought. For instance, I remember a WWF game released, and then another console released another WWF game a few days later, no good for business for either console.
I think gaming is quite a natural... hobby, if you will. There is no point rushing games, because in the end you just want another game quicker and so you plough your way through 8 rushed games where as you may only have completed 3 good games in the same time.
Release dates matter only to the companies. Nintendo don't care when Microsoft release the X-Box. They believe that the Gamecube has a big advantage over Microsaofts lumbering powerhouse, and in some areas they do. Price, (Gaming) Brand-Name and fan favourites... to name most.
Nintendo's (US) delay may or may not lose them a few sales, but really, if a child wants a Gamecube, parents WILL wait 2 more weeks to make him or her happy.
I suppose the release date that effects us the most is the European one... the PS2 launch was quite badly received, but the Gamecube launch, which should boast a considerable amount of good 3rd party titles should be able to provide, especially as the Gamecube is gaming only... it doesn't even play CD's!
Release dates are big and they do matter, for consoles... games not so much because with the varying dates and the shifting schedule, it's hard for developers to finish the work on time...
A rushed game is like rushed sex... less play-time, less satisfaction, less time you can stand between 'games'. :D
Release dates matter only to the companies. Nintendo don't care when Microsoft release the X-Box. They believe that the Gamecube has a big advantage over Microsaofts lumbering powerhouse, and in some areas they do. Price, (Gaming) Brand-Name and fan favourites... to name most.
Nintendo's (US) delay may or may not lose them a few sales, but really, if a child wants a Gamecube, parents WILL wait 2 more weeks to make him or her happy.
I suppose the release date that effects us the most is the European one... the PS2 launch was quite badly received, but the Gamecube launch, which should boast a considerable amount of good 3rd party titles should be able to provide, especially as the Gamecube is gaming only... it doesn't even play CD's!
Release dates are big and they do matter, for consoles... games not so much because with the varying dates and the shifting schedule, it's hard for developers to finish the work on time...
A rushed game is like rushed sex... less play-time, less satisfaction, less time you can stand between 'games'. :D
Is the release date of a console or game really that important? I mean is it strategically planned by developers or just when it's ready to be released? Most consoles have a huge release and in many cases supplies run out very quickly, this is because so much hype is created that surrounds the console, also the release date is known long before it happens to allow people to save money and buy it as soon as they can.
I think that most release dates are not planned just release the game when it's ready. Which is a good idea as I would rather have a complete game than a poor rushed effort at a game. But surely some must be strategically planned for certain times of the year.
Christmas time
A lot of developers would rather wait a few weeks to release a game closer to Christmas time, reason to try and get maximum sales at that time of year and also to try and beat rivals. Games may also receive a little more publicity if they are the highest seller at this time meaning they may well sell more copies throughout the year. It is at this time of year that most games are sold and important for developers to get the release right and to publicise it as much as they can. If the game isn't ready before Christmas as planned then the developer could lose out.
To compete with rivals
Games may be released earlier or later than planned, not just because they are finished early or not yet complete but because it is similar to when a rival releases a game. Developers may wish to do this so that people save their money for their title and don't buy a rivals game.
I for one don't really see a point to this. If I like a game I will buy it, if I have to wait for the release then I will because its up to the developers when they choose to release it. If they keep pushing back the release it is unlikely that I will go buy a different game and no longer buy the game I was waiting for unless it no longer appeals to me. But I am sure there are some who would buy another as they aren't patient enough to wait.
So could that be another problem for developers?
If they fail to meet deadline after deadline could they loose a lot of customers? If the game is good it will sell no matter when it is released but if you make people wait to long you probably will loose out on some people, probably only a small percentage though.
I don't think there has been any game I can think off that has met its original release date. Most get delayed by a certain amount of time. Some games get delayed and delayed and sometimes without warning the game gets canned. More should be done to notify people about the delays and games getting canned.
So what about consoles? As with most games and consoles Japan usually gets them first. USA is next and then the rest of the world. This annoys a lot of gamers who don't like the wait. I think this is ok as it lets you see exactly what to expect before it reaches us here. Sometimes though the wait gets to long and I go and buy import games. Some of which are better than what we get here.
I would imagine that most console releases are planned. Soon the x-box and Gamecube will be released, but is the closeness in the two dates there for a reason, has Microsoft or Nintendo planned these dates for a reason or is it just by chance. Personally I would say they are planned to try and attract the most buyers in an attempt to outsell its rivals. This could be good for Sony who released the PS2 a long time back as with the choice of two consoles sales for the other two may not be as good as when the PS2 was launched. On the other hand it could be bad as some who don't own a PS2 may instead buy one of the others after they have seen what they can do.
The main objective of any release date whether it be a console or game is to maximise sales, many developers will try get the game advertised well in magazine before it is released just to help boost sales. Also if a big named title is due to be released the same day some of the other developers may choose to delay their release as it may not sell to well against the big named game.
So what are your views? Is there any point to strategically planning a release date or are they released when they are ready? Should developers be allowed to release a date they plan on releasing the game so early on or should they wait until they can be more definite as to when they plan to have it finished.
I think that most release dates are not planned just release the game when it's ready. Which is a good idea as I would rather have a complete game than a poor rushed effort at a game. But surely some must be strategically planned for certain times of the year.
Christmas time
A lot of developers would rather wait a few weeks to release a game closer to Christmas time, reason to try and get maximum sales at that time of year and also to try and beat rivals. Games may also receive a little more publicity if they are the highest seller at this time meaning they may well sell more copies throughout the year. It is at this time of year that most games are sold and important for developers to get the release right and to publicise it as much as they can. If the game isn't ready before Christmas as planned then the developer could lose out.
To compete with rivals
Games may be released earlier or later than planned, not just because they are finished early or not yet complete but because it is similar to when a rival releases a game. Developers may wish to do this so that people save their money for their title and don't buy a rivals game.
I for one don't really see a point to this. If I like a game I will buy it, if I have to wait for the release then I will because its up to the developers when they choose to release it. If they keep pushing back the release it is unlikely that I will go buy a different game and no longer buy the game I was waiting for unless it no longer appeals to me. But I am sure there are some who would buy another as they aren't patient enough to wait.
So could that be another problem for developers?
If they fail to meet deadline after deadline could they loose a lot of customers? If the game is good it will sell no matter when it is released but if you make people wait to long you probably will loose out on some people, probably only a small percentage though.
I don't think there has been any game I can think off that has met its original release date. Most get delayed by a certain amount of time. Some games get delayed and delayed and sometimes without warning the game gets canned. More should be done to notify people about the delays and games getting canned.
So what about consoles? As with most games and consoles Japan usually gets them first. USA is next and then the rest of the world. This annoys a lot of gamers who don't like the wait. I think this is ok as it lets you see exactly what to expect before it reaches us here. Sometimes though the wait gets to long and I go and buy import games. Some of which are better than what we get here.
I would imagine that most console releases are planned. Soon the x-box and Gamecube will be released, but is the closeness in the two dates there for a reason, has Microsoft or Nintendo planned these dates for a reason or is it just by chance. Personally I would say they are planned to try and attract the most buyers in an attempt to outsell its rivals. This could be good for Sony who released the PS2 a long time back as with the choice of two consoles sales for the other two may not be as good as when the PS2 was launched. On the other hand it could be bad as some who don't own a PS2 may instead buy one of the others after they have seen what they can do.
The main objective of any release date whether it be a console or game is to maximise sales, many developers will try get the game advertised well in magazine before it is released just to help boost sales. Also if a big named title is due to be released the same day some of the other developers may choose to delay their release as it may not sell to well against the big named game.
So what are your views? Is there any point to strategically planning a release date or are they released when they are ready? Should developers be allowed to release a date they plan on releasing the game so early on or should they wait until they can be more definite as to when they plan to have it finished.