The Plight of Licensed Titles
Most people know that the worst titles to grace video game consoles are usually those that focus on licensed intellectual properties (IPs). For many, the reason that developers and publishers keep releasing this trash is somewhat of a mystery. Do they just enjoy ruining the property that they license? I think the answer lies deeper into the pockets of the developers; specifically, what their pockets tell them.
In my experience, those that buy licensed titles are usually the overwhelming majority of gamers; a market segment commonly known as the “casual gamer”. This kind of gamer generally buys games that they can relate to – sports titles, movie titles, and possibly an extremely hyped shooter. Since these gamers are generally the bulk of the population, they make up a lot of sales. What do sales tell developers/publishers? The (sometimes bad) game is well liked and therefore inherently good! So, they pump out more of this half thought out drivel for the uneducated masses to consume. Rinse and repeat.
The formula for this would look like:
licensed video game + casual gamer = money where money = success
I hope that one of two things happens; either licensed titles get better or they stop getting so many sales. Casual gamers, wake up and smell the bad games!
Filed under: Gaming | 2 Comments
Hehehehe!
Jon has pro writting skillz =D
Haha, I always find it funny when they make games based off of children’s movies… You know the kids will ask their parents to buy it from them because they felt that they enjoyed the movie.
Even funnier, I think I saw a GBA game for March of the Penguins… Not sure what they were trying to get at there. At least a game for Shrek the Third, I could maybe understand… but March of the Penguins?
By the way, I just played Guitar Hero for the first time ever on my friend’s XBox 360 yesterday night. I feel like buying Guitar Hero 2 for my PS2 now… but it’s expensive…!