Compared to the same time last year, sales are down 28% (from $718.9 million to $516.5 million) overall. This is being attributed to a number of factors, including the advantage May had last year with Nintendo’s 3DS price drop, and the rise of online free to play games as possible reasons for this drop off.
What’s even more disturbing is the follow up by the Seattle Times that reveals that this is merely the latest entry in a six month tailspin of sales figures the video game industry has posted.
While most of the time I would dismiss these figures as this is traditionally accepted as the slow time of the year for games, and a big release like the next “GTA” or the equivalent would quickly turn these numbers around, its troubling that in a month that included highly anticipated sequels (“Diablo 3” and “Max Payne 3”) as well as exciting new projects (“Dragon’s Dogma”) that sales would still drop to such a degree.
The truly frightening part is that these numbers are following a weak E3 showing that was criticized for its lack of original properties and exciting ideas. If sales continue to plummet like this, we could be in for a long and frightening stretch of big developers playing it safe, and indie developers struggling for a chance, and the industry could begin to regress instead of using its unprecedented popularity as a platform to push forward on.
For the sake of all gamers, I hope that isn’t true.
As a rule, I try not to get caught up in conspiracy theories, but as a mega fan of the “Batman: Arkham Asylum” games (especially “Batman: Arkham City”), it’s hard not to find this one intriguing.
First, some backstory. Recently, developer Rocksteady announced that for all of the fan devotion in finding “Arkham City” Easter eggs, and there is a large devotion to this subject, there are still undiscovered secrets in the game. What lends particular excitement to that statement is that it took months after “Arkham Asylum’s” release before anyone discovered that the game’s biggest secret, a hidden office, was still undiscovered. When the office was found, it was revealed that it contained a blueprint that outlined the idea for an “Arkham City” section of Gotham, essentially alerting fans of what the next game was going to be.
Because of the large nature of that particular secret, the hunt for sequel clues has been a Day One priority for “Arkham City” fans, and has so far yielded a plethora of potential hints that come in the form of Harley Quinn’s left behind pregnancy test, odd tape recordings, an identity thief’s master plan to look like Bruce Wayne, a secret boat apparently in use by Scarecrow, and many more. If you want some idea of the trail so far, this video does a good job of giving the highlights.
While the hunt for sequel clues has felt all-inclusive, today a video appeared on YouTube that may yield the biggest hint of them all… if it can be believed. The video shows a puddle in the Arkham City museum (Penguin’s hideout) with an interesting reflection. If you look at it right, you can see a skyline in the puddle that doesn’t seem to exist anywhere in the room, or in the entire game world for that matter. In fact, the closest thing the image does resemble is the far-off skyline of Gotham City that you can view along the game’s edges. The nature of the mysterious reflection is exasperated by the fact that it is located next to a book that is otherwise illegible except for the word “Gotham” and a plaque that reveals the words “Sanity Fighting the Madness,” which was also a saying that appeared throughout “Arkham Asylum” in connection with warden Quincy Sharp.
Put it all together and you have a new theory in the works that says the next game will take place in Batman’s traditional stomping grounds of Gotham City.
Now, the uploader does point out that this puddle is a reused texture that is actually repeated throughout the game, but it is odd that the reflection is not as clear in other places as it is in that particular location with the Gotham book and Sharp’s mantra. While this is, admittedly, a pretty weak theory based solely on this evidence, there has long been the idea that the next game will take place in Gotham based off of the games’ other hints and the fact that there is little else to take the series.
If nothing else, it does make for an interesting “huh” moment to your day, as well as the excuse to play “Arkham City” again and scour every last detail.
Yes, yes it is. With as much that’s changed in the world of video games over the years, its somehow comforting to know that E3 is still around to exhibit the best of the industry in a big atmosphere way. Unfortunatley the age is starting to show on the old gal, and the show hasn’t been as captivating the last couple of years as it probably should have been. While this years was more of the same, there was still enough on exhibit to be worth talking about. It’s not quite done yet, but I’ve seen enough to start naming the best, worst, and most memorable of E3 2012.
Best Presentation – Sony
This is more of a choice made out of necessity than something I absolutely fell in love with. While there was very little mind blowing here, Sony managed to put together a tight presentation that was loaded with games that people actually came to see. While the storybook segment was a complete bomb, in the end Sony managed to show better than any other company that they have plenty of sure fire greatness ready for their fans. If only “The Last Guardian” had made a surprise appearance, this one might have been more memorable.
Worst Presentation – Microsoft
Poor Microsoft. Sure their market share an income is absurdly large, but they cannot seem to put together an E3 presentation that doesn’t make their fans feel awkward. While this years showing wasn’t as bad as last years Kinect centric, child actor filled disaster, it’s scarily close. Bad celebrity appearances, uninspiring game footage, and boring presentations more at home at lame board meetings than the world’s most extravagant trade show for your industry were the unfortunate highlights of this years Xbox showing.
Biggest Surefire Hit – “Assasins Creed 3”
“Assassins Creed” has been a money in the bank franchise since the series second installment. So far it looks like there is absolutely no reason to suspect any less out of the “Assassin’s Creed III”. What I love most about it is that Ubisoft has found a perfect way to make the franchise feel fresh again, by changing the time period and location to the rarely explored American Revolution, they also seem intent on really making everything that was great about the series perform at its absolute best. The jaw dropping E3 footage only confirms that this will most likely be the smoothest and most exciting “Assassin’s Creed” yet. Unlike the British troops in the game, this one isn’t likely to miss.
Biggest Surprise – “Watch Dogs”
Ubisoft strikes again. Garnering no real press prior to the event, the demo for Ubisoft’s “Watch Dogs” showcased something truly intriguing. You play as a man who has an incredible array of technological abilities that essentially give him super powers over the modern gadget obsessed world. The idea is cool enough, but the way that it seems to be implemented creates so much potential for amazing moments. The world of the game is also absolutely gorgeous, and begs you to re-watch the demo several times to gather all the little details. There is nothing like a fresh idea from an established developer, and Ubisoft seems to have exactly that.
