Now, this isn’t thread about how we should delay HX1 “'cos it’ll be rubbish”.
I’m thinking more in just general terms, why not release Halo games in the spring or summer?
I know publishers think that releasing the game before Christmas allows for A) The general consumers who buy it anyway, and B) Parents buying it for their kids, or significant others as Christmas presents. Makes sense right?
I would argue that releasing in January/February has the same effect. You still get your general consumers, and anyone who was hoping to get it for Christmas, would instead save their Xmas money to buy the game when it came out.
I know as I was growing up I started asking for less presents and more for money as I was generally saving to buy something, like a console, which is a bit much to ask from one person alone. But now I’m 22 and have a job so it’s not really an issue anymore.
Anyway, another problem with releasing in the Autumn slot, is that you go up against heavy competition. Halo 3 launched within 2 weeks of COD 4 and the same with Halo 4 and Black Ops 2. But there wasn’t just COD to go against, there were numerous AAA games releasing around the previous games, tugging on your wallet.
The likes of Mass Effect 2 and by extension 3, launching in the early months of their years, and they did pretty well, as did Bioshock Infinite, Last of Us and Metal Gear Solid.
How do you think Halo would do launching in the Spring/Summer?
In terms of HX1, do you think it would be wiser to release it say in March next year, as apposed to late this year? (Not from a development perspective, but a marketing one.)
I can agree with your thread.
Why release a supper AAA shooter while other games are coming around the same time is pretty stupid.
Not everyone going to go for a halo game when every other popular shooter game is coming out. (but I would)
I agree starting in the early parts of the year less games come out its a better solution. Plus by the summer and spring time more people will be playing it sense no school.
Releasing a product shortly before Christmas time will have the highest potential to gain large profit.
Simply said: people are having enough money around that time. People are looking for potential presents. People are in the mood to spend money on something.
After Christmas there is only a very short time where people going out to buy things.
When the year ends and the new year begins people are generally a bit tight (Christmas presents/food, bills, etc) and therefore aren’t in the mood to spend money on things.
January and especially February are quite dead months in regards to selling because of that.
Going up against your competition isn’t stupid either. Since there are the chances to outdo it and the only chance/time to actually compete with it.
Generally, people will have to decide if their either spend their money on your product or on the product of your competition when they get released around the same time.
In conclusion, I think you can release it around Spring/Summer but then you likely leave out a large amount of potential consumers that you could gain before/during Christmas time.
From what I understand, most games are released in the fall due to financial events such as Black Friday and Christmas, which will undoubtably give the games more sales than any other time in the year.
And if people are perplexed on why one would want to release their games beside their competitors, if their game is worth the competition, then that shouldn’t be a problem or a fear.