News
Metal Gear Solid 4 producer admits to sales pressure
Ben Parfitt Nov 30 2007, 11:37am
Comments (8)
High development costs mean Konami’s stealth romp must sell one million copies to break even
It’s been in development for a long time, and the expectations of it are phenomenal – and now Konami has admitted that its PS3-exclusive Metal Gear Solid 4 must sell a million copies just to recoup the cost of its development.
Reuters claims that producer Ryan Payton said “the new Metal Gear Solid needs to sell over a million copies on the first day it goes on sale due to its costly production."
However, talk of the game going multiplatform in an effort to maximise returns appears to have been thrown out of the window, with Payton stating: "The PlayStation brand has always been good to us, and we're pretty bullish on the PS3.
We're telling our fans that if you want to play Metal Gear Solid 4, you have to buy a PS3."
The rising development costs that have accompanied the arrival of next-gen machines mean that the pressure is for triple-A titles to match critical hype with commercial success. IDC analyst Billy Pidgeon told Reuters:
"You might be able to weather one title coming in at 500,000 in sales, but two or three failures like that and even big publishers are going to be hurting."
Comments
“No need to buy a PS3”
Posted by: Ryu Hyabusa - Nov 30, 12:05pm
There are plenty of other titles on the Xbox 360 or coming to the 360 like Lost Odessy, Ninja Gaiden 2, Fable 2 that are clearly better than one game like MGS4.
I have a PS3 and will NOT be buying MGS4 because I do not like that kind of game.
These developers will be forced to make games for the 360 sooner or later over 13million 360 owners and around 6million PS3 owners?
“Re: No need to buy a PS3”
Posted by: Totoro - Nov 30, 1:57pm
Rya, The 360 has been out far longer than the PS3 as I'm sure you're well aware and the sales figures for the PS3 are on the up constantly. Even if you don't buy MGS4, I'm pretty confident that it will sell well over 1 million copies and no one will be forced into making games for any particular platform.
By the time MGS4 ships, there will be millions more PS3s in homes.
Multi-platform games are rarely as good for either platform than a game that appears on only one platform - whether that be a PS3, PS2, 360, PSP, Wii, PC, DS or whatever. If game developers are happy working on one platform to keep costs down then they will.
PS why do you spell your name Ryu Hyabusa when the character from DOA/Ninja Gaiden is Ryu Hayabusa? Just interested...
“Woops”
Posted by: Ryu Hayabusa - Nov 30, 3:15pm
Good shout at the spelling of the name I didnt even realise I was making an error woops!
You make a good point so I guess its all about the games playing catch up as the hardware is selling.
“1 million...hum.”
Posted by: counting guy - Nov 30, 3:57pm
Hi,
I think the producer needs a good math lesson. If this game sells a million copies (which it will certainly) then Konami will probably have lost at good 20 M$ in this production. I guess that to break even, this game must sell 1 mio units Day 1, and another 2 mio between day 2 and day 90 (first three months) to break even... But it will break even, no doubt, especially if it launches Q3 or Q4 2008.
“Re: Woops”
Posted by: Rorkimaru - Dec 2, 2:06pm
dude, wow. i must say i am amazed at your ability to resist the flamewar that dude was tempting you with! honest to God (or whatever your belief may be) you are the most mature poster i have ever found. people like you restore my faith in the internet
“Re: Woops”
Posted by: Ricky - Dec 3, 10:58pm
Thats very true! I don't know if mgs4 will sell a million copies its first day. I know past games have sold millions, but in weeks or months. But than again, there is so much money and anticipation involved in this game it wouldn't surprise me. Because I know part 1,2, and 3 didn't have this much attention. I don't own a ps3 but plan to buy one when this game comes out. Been a fan for a long time!
“One-platform???”
Posted by: Simon - May 4, 12:24am
i dont understand why they are only releasing it on one platform ok they wanna keep costs down but surely u make the game for people aswell there are millions of people that own a 360, a PS3 are quite expensive and i am a massive fan of MGS always loved them but to find out that you wont be releasing it on 360 its shocked me!!! i would have thought if you needed to make money back on it surely you would have brought it out on other consoles?
“Re: One-platform???”
Posted by: sigma6 - Jun 14, 9:18am
I laugh those who don't think this game is worth buying.. And who go on about X360 blah blah blah... I own a 360 and would have bought a PS3 if I didn't have... You have got to be kidding me if you don't think this game is off the charts... If you do than you truly don't know what a masterpiece is even if it hit you in the face... And you are truley are a fan boy...