March 2010 release compared to expected Dec 2009

[Gumuz]

Since the very recent news of Japan being confirmed that they will get the longly anticipated GT5 in March 2010, how badly do you think it will affect the sales of the game compared to the wrongly expected release date of December 2009.

In December it would have meant a possible bundle package with the new PS3 slim for those who buy ps3s along with GT5 being a possible Christmas present. However in March it seems it wont have the same impact buy of course it will be sold in the millions, but i still think it will definantly affect sales, what do you folks think?

 

[Vonie]

Very little.

 

[Obli]

Perhaps Sony feel that the new price and Slim are selling enough units, along with some incoming big titles such as Uncharted 2. Perhaps they don't feel the need for a GT game to help sales right now...

 

[Stratosphere03]

It will affect sales some because of two factors:

1. Those people trying to decide between Forza 3 and GT5 will probably choose Forza 3 since it is coming out soon

2. God of War 3

 

[FLASH48]

I think it will hurt big time! Especially in the U.S.like you said, they are going to lose out on sales for the Holidays!!





P.S Xbox360 and Forza3 sales are going to pickup a bunch, over the Holidays!!!

 

[arvin charles]

I think it will hurt big time! Especially in the U.S.like you said, they are going to lose out on sales for the Holidays!!

Yep, they won't have kids begging their parents to buy them a PS3 & GT5.

 

[G.T.Ace]

Jack Tretton said they sell more units than they can produce.
So they think there will be shortages at the end of the year.

Do i think thats the reason why GT5 gets a release in 2010? Ha, no.

 

[Obli]

Oh man, this is funny. Looks like a Microsoft employee got caught trolling regarding GT5's release date

http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2009/09/24/want-to-troll-the-gt5-date-dont-get-caught/

 

[alfy13]

wow, i am some what amazed by how many ppl actually lack common sense these days. if sony is able to sell 1mill slims in 3 weeks, do you honestly think sony is worried about the holiday season. because they dont have GT5 on shelves by xmas?

 

[chrisczc]

my guess is they are just going to see how much forza would sell, and within a span of 6 months do "major advancements" to GT5 and market it out.

they would make it look like i have what you have, just that i am doing it better.

 

[FLASH48]

wow, i am some what amazed by how many ppl actually lack common sense these days. if sony is able to sell 1mill slims in 3 weeks, do you honestly think sony is worried about the holiday season. because they dont have GT5 on shelves by xmas?

Yes i do!! The one million is reduced price, plus fad buying!

 

[TheDabbinDave]

As Jordan stated on the News page, something had to happen to cause them to unexpectedly announce this particular date.

 

[Maggot666PL]

P.S Xbox360 and Forza3 sales are going to pickup a bunch, over the Holidays!!!

Let me say it again: not quite. Assumption that XO sales are gonna skyrocket because of FM3 aren't 100% accurate - FM3 is a sequel to FM2, so if a game sold XO's, it was the former. GT5 has a slightly different situation, since it's the first full iteration for PS3. So yes, Forza will sell, and no - it's not like it is really stealing sales impact from GT5, only some publicity. It would be worse if PD didn't deliver on December, than GT5 delivering in March (bad reviews, claims of throwing PD off the throne etc. If they get it right, even later - the chase is still on).

But if they screw up in March - it's bad.

 

[Griffith500]

... what do you folks think?

Very little.

I think it will hurt big time! Especially in the U.S.like you said, they are going to lose out on sales for the Holidays!!

P.S Xbox360 and Forza3 sales are going to pickup a bunch, over the Holidays!!!

You know, I might just book a holiday when GT5 comes out - good thinking, that man! (/ woman / hermaphrodite / transgender / space-critter / etc.)
[/dispel_awkward_feeling_of_prejudice]

Oh man, this is funny.

The funniest part is the way the mod handled it! That dood really was a rem, though

I was gearing myself up for an Easter release, so March is good news for me.
Oh, but Kaz said "within six months", not "in six month's time" by the way...

Either way, March ties in with Amar's first wind () - I predict (as so many others have) the 17th of March, 2010 as being the absolute latest it'll come out.

Outside of Japan, GT has, historically, been released after the winter solstice anyway (exc. GT2 in the US). Curiously, it's always sold well.

 

[alfy13]

Yes i do!! The one million is reduced price, plus fad buying!

lmao FAD buying? so your telling me, ppl are buying the ps3 due to a fad? not because of GOW 3, UC2, GT5 ? well you believing that makes you sleep better at night, then i cant blame you. sleep is very important

 

[FLASH48]

lmao FAD buying? so your telling me, ppl are buying the ps3 due to a fad? not because of GOW 3, UC2, GT5 ? well you believing that makes you sleep better at night, then i cant blame you. sleep is very important

No i'm saying there buying the slim, just because it is different!

 

[alfy13]

No i'm saying there buying the slim, just because it is different!

lmao , really? so they just throw down 299.00 because it looks different? wow just wow. so 1million ppl in 3 weeks told them selves, hey i am buying a ps3 slim with 120 hd vs thd old one that only has 80.because it looks different, i dont care if i pay 300 for it. just as long its different. wow ppl amaze me

 

[Gumuz]

As Jordan stated on the News page, something had to happen to cause them to unexpectedly announce this particular date.

Yeh its either major changes to support the GT fans or its possibly a marketing strategy to find out more about Forza in terms of sales etc and how many units it can sell when its the only major racing game release. Also it will make it a better comparison between Forza 3 and GT5 because those who play Forza will have a good few months of Forza play and then when GT5 does get released it will be interesting as to what people will think in regards to the better game. (excluding hardcore fan boys obviously)

 

[Jtrek]

sales will not be affected at all.. its a product everyone wants, ppl can complain all they want, but they will still buy it in the end

 

[alfy13]

I think it will hurt big time! Especially in the U.S.like you said, they are going to lose out on sales for the Holidays!!





P.S Xbox360 and Forza3 sales are going to pickup a bunch, over the Holidays!!!

lmao you really think that? then why didnt 360 and forza 2 sells go up? why did a game called GT5p out sold forza 2, even though forza 2 came out before gt5 p? i love the way you think man, i really do. like i said earlier, if living in a fantasy world is your thing, i cant down you. what ever makes you sleep better at night.

but hey, its your opinion. even though it looks like you didnt put any thought in any of post in this thread, i must admit, they are pretty funny.

 

[Devedander]

Of GT Planet members, I think the damage will be very minor. Most of the users here are GT fans and will end up buying it pretty much no matter what.

Of all gamers, I think people who were looking forward to GT will still mostly eventually buy GT although they may not spring quite as much for it (ie not as many pre orders and more waiting for sales or second hand). Some sales losses will be incurred relating to those who don't normally just drop $60 on a game, but around xmas might do so.

However of bigger concern I would think are those who weren't particularly interested in GT but might have bought had they seen and been enticed around xmas. This would have been a great time to pick up more fans, and missing the xmas opportunity is going to hurt there. A parallel concern for Sony and PD should be sales for MS. In a competitive game you don't want sales going to your comptetitor even if the don't necessarily loose you a sale right now.

Remember just having a 360 means you now have the easy option to buy the competition, and also your $$$ must now be split between two consoles which means less available for sony. Basically you don't want to give any reason for your users to buy products that aren't yours, most often that will lead to lost revenue, directly or indirectly in the long run.

However I think the biggest hurt is the missed potential sales from bundling with the slimPS3... right now excitement around slim PS3 and the price drop is big, put GT5 alongside that and you have a killer 1 2 punch setup for the holidays. Break it apart and the effect of the excitement of both simultaneously is lost.

 

[chrisczc]

yes forza 3 and xbox360 is going to sell during the holidays. but i doubt Sony is concerned because for a fact that GT5 is not the only game on the PS3 console. there are other titles like uncharted 2 etc etc.

so i guess Sony would be waiting for the uncharted 2 and other craze to die down, and then unleash GT5(in march 2010) to boost their sales of the PS3.

it wont be wise for them to throw in both titles together as people would be deciding which game to buy. and if you spend more time on lets say encharted, it would mean people will be playing encharted 2 instead of GT5(assuming saving the best for last), which would lead to lost revenue on DLC.

and it would be better for them to release GT5 at a later date to make further advancements on their products.

 

[TrievelA7X]

Look at it this way, in a freak twist of events, I might get my tax refund before GT5 comes out, then buy a 360, forza 3, and a wheel for that, then, GT5 could wait just long enough that I've spent my whole refund, and I won't have the cash to buy it for a while, neat ain't? Or are they thinking tax refund will cause people to have the money to buy, rather than Christmas time?
It's a shame, If they actually released GT5 at the beginning of Nov, and actually produced enough copies that it couldn't sell out right away, maybe they could set sales records, to bad, never happen in march, or april, or may, or june....

 

[H3avyM3tal]

Wasn't the game supposed to have a world-wide same-time release? Why was the release date confirmed for Japan only?

 

[Machony]

I rather have a more polished game than one rushed for the holiday season. I coulda predicted it would be delayed, cause we still don't have many details about the game in concrete yet!

 

[alfy13]

Look at it this way, in a freak twist of events, I might get my tax refund before GT5 comes out, then buy a 360, forza 3, and a wheel for that, then, GT5 could wait just long enough that I've spent my whole refund, and I won't have the cash to buy it for a while, neat ain't? Or are they thinking tax refund will cause people to have the money to buy, rather than Christmas time?
It's a shame, If they actually released GT5 at the beginning of Nov, and actually produced enough copies that it couldn't sell out right away, maybe they could set sales records, to bad, never happen in march, or april, or may, or june....

or sony is thinking taht ppl buy consoles during the holiday (like normal ppl) and buy games that come out , that are close after the holiday season is over. i cant tell you how many of my friends bought a ps3 slim just for GOW 3.

i wonder if some of these posters know what the holiday season is for. well let me remind you, its the time for buying presents.

if you guys really think ppl are not going to buy a ps3 as presents for their kids, or who ever. then i want to live in that world. looks like t he cigs there are really good.

 

[rofajole]

Wasn't the game supposed to have a world-wide same-time release? Why was the release date confirmed for Japan only?

Because maybe the game will still be released in 2009 in US and/or EU! (POSITIVE THINKING!!) 👍

 

[Machony]

Because maybe the game will still be released in 2009 in US and/or EU! (POSITIVE THINKING!!) 👍

Alil too positive!

 

[Devedander]

Alil too positive!

Nothin new around here...

 

[Maggot666PL]

Of GT Planet members, I think the damage will be very minor. Most of the users here are GT fans and will end up buying it pretty much no matter what.

Dead on.

Of all gamers, I think people who were looking forward to GT will still mostly eventually buy GT although they may not spring quite as much for it (ie not as many pre orders and more waiting for sales or second hand). Some sales losses will be incurred relating to those who don't normally just drop $60 on a game, but around xmas might do so.

I'd think it's more of shops' concern rather than Sony's, since for all I know they'll be the ones earning less on each copy sold below those $60. Sales numbers at the beginning might be potentially less, but GT's strength is in it's longevity and long term sales.

However of bigger concern I would think are those who weren't particularly interested in GT but might have bought had they seen and been enticed around xmas. This would have been a great time to pick up more fans, and missing the xmas opportunity is going to hurt there. A parallel concern for Sony and PD should be sales for MS. In a competitive game you don't want sales going to your comptetitor even if the don't necessarily loose you a sale right now.

I disagree. I don't feel there is really much folk looking for a game so narrowly targeted (and if Forza widens it - it has a competition from Shift, or even Burnout-like titles), besides - you don't shop so much for yourself during Christmas, rather for your kids/family (so I'd even say you are less likely to spend those $60, given the GTPlanet demographics). And if I was an "aimed for GT" kid, I'd want a PS3 + another game, and then I'd save and wait for GT. Also - the argument of Sony focusing on other important franchises (very, very important) such as GoW and Uncharted is 100% valid.

Another fact - "forzamen" often already do have a console, so not much system-selling there.

Remember just having a 360 means you now have the easy option to buy the competition, and also your $$$ must now be split between two consoles which means less available for sony. Basically you don't want to give any reason for your users to buy products that aren't yours, most often that will lead to lost revenue, directly or indirectly in the long run.

Yup. But you got it wrong - GT5 released 2 months after FM3 might = no sale for "dual-wielding" gamer (these games take long to fully appreciate). GT5 released 5-6 months later = gamers already "quite done" with Forza (I mean those who enjoy both games, not extremely dedicated fans) and already looking for another, fresh experience. GT sells better.

It's not just about competition not selling anything. Your product selling good is the most important thing.

However I think the biggest hurt is the missed potential sales from bundling with the slimPS3... right now excitement around slim PS3 and the price drop is big, put GT5 alongside that and you have a killer 1 2 punch setup for the holidays. Break it apart and the effect of the excitement of both simultaneously is lost.

Well yup, some potential here is surely lost.

To sum up - I'm not happy about the wait (I was convinced it will be out soon), but I understand the possible consequences. And probably not having a GT5 around will help me get through the semester more easily, those frigin' mechanics won't master themselves ; ).