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Post by abrannan on Jan 28, 2005 13:33:08 GMT -5
Two press releases from Konami yesterday:
1) DDR sales in North America for 2004 were 1.2 Million, bringing the series total North American sales to 2.5 million (That's almost 50% of total DDR sales over the last year)
2) The Konami 2005 game release line was announced, and there is no DDR game on the list!
I mean, c'mon folks! You've got a series that is popular enough to sell 1.2 million copies in a year (Yes, I know there are bigger games out there), and you aren't planning to follow it up within a year? They cranked out three versions of Karaoke Revolution within a year, so song licensing costs can't be the problem (every song in KR is licensed).
Andamiro, if you're out there listening, since Konami won't give us a DDR game this year, maybe you could slide a Pump it Up mix or two over to the US sometime in the next 12 months? Pretty please?
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Post by SSC on Jan 28, 2005 14:53:11 GMT -5
How bogus!
DDR is quickly becoming one of the most popular games around.
However, I'm sure it doesn't take 12 months to develop a DDR game, so perhaps they'll decide to dish one out May-June-July.
Or perhaps they want use to buy the Dancing Stages and Fusions and stuff.
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sly rax
Heavy Mode
Exhausted
Posts: 392
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Post by sly rax on Jan 28, 2005 18:04:42 GMT -5
However, I'm sure it doesn't take 12 months to develop a DDR game, Other than throwing together an interface, new songs, and new minigames, they should be able to crank out a DDR game instantaneously. They would be completely stupid if they did not use some kind of modular design where they could just drop in the "module" of the song and *poof* it is in the game. That being said, I'd like them to take time on those three other things (well, I don't care about the minigames that much), but over a year without a new game is still excessive. They were churning out a new DDR game almost every six months in Japan. I understand why they would not make the releases quite as fast here: Japan got oversaturation which made people eventually sick of DDR. Still though, 1 a year is far from oversaturation. |
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Skycania
Light Mode
The Sky is the limit
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Post by Skycania on Jan 30, 2005 20:28:40 GMT -5
Do we really need a new one this year? I believe that what we got is good enough. It is already super popular everywhere, and noone is complaining.
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StarDrifter
Heavy Mode
You're neve gonna find it if you're never gonna try.
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Post by StarDrifter on Jan 30, 2005 21:21:56 GMT -5
I'm disappointed. With DDR being a large part of my regular workout routine, having access to new songs and challenges is always a good thing. The game itself holds so much influence because of its variety - more can only be better. Maybe someone should start writing letters. They do have a contact page. |
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Post by SSC on Jan 31, 2005 6:52:09 GMT -5
Do we really need a new one this year? I believe that what we got is good enough. It is already super popular everywhere, and noone is complaining. I'm glad you've been elected to speak for all of us. Yes, some of us are complaining, and I'm one of them. Making DDR games really is not that difficult, and should be able to dish out atleast 1-2 byhe second quarter. |
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Post by abrannan on Jan 31, 2005 7:06:23 GMT -5
Do we really need a new one this year? I believe that what we got is good enough. It is already super popular everywhere, and noone is complaining. Um, hi. I'm the one complaining, so it isn't nobody. And yes, I do think we need a new one this year. Far more than we need another 3 Metal Gear Solid Games, more than we need ESPN Madden 2006 with the slightly tweaked hit stick and enhanced owner mode (Now you can choose what material the seats in your stadium are made from, it affects how cold your fans butts get during the game!). Exergaming is just beginning to hit mainstream (See the articles published about this year's CES), and in order for it to push through to the mainstream, you need new games to do that. 14 months (assuming no new games until Jan 2006) without a new DDR release will likely kill a lot of the momentum of the Exergaming movement. At least make the announcement that one is coming, or that you'll make an announcement at E3 in May. Yes, I just advocated making an announcement that you'll make an announcement. |
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Post by SSC on Jan 31, 2005 23:03:40 GMT -5
Um, hi. I'm the one complaining, so it isn't nobody. And yes, I do think we need a new one this year. Far more than we need another 3 Metal Gear Solid Games, more than we need ESPN Madden 2006 with the slightly tweaked hit stick and enhanced owner mode (Now you can choose what material the seats in your stadium are made from, it affects how cold your fans butts get during the game!). Exergaming is just beginning to hit mainstream (See the articles published about this year's CES), and in order for it to push through to the mainstream, you need new games to do that. 14 months (assuming no new games until Jan 2006) without a new DDR release will likely kill a lot of the momentum of the Exergaming movement. At least make the announcement that one is coming, or that you'll make an announcement at E3 in May. Yes, I just advocated making an announcement that you'll make an announcement. No no no! Madden's main engine changes every year, the hit stick buttons etc. are just nice additions that can dramatically affect gameplay. For instance, if you're down 14-21 as the Packers against the stupid Eagles, you can get Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila to sack the QB, hard with the hit stick making the QB fumble while pumping up the crowd and gaining the edge!!! Woo! |
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Pyrochaos
Challenge Mode
Rapscallion
How dirty girls get clean.
Posts: 704
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Post by Pyrochaos on Feb 1, 2005 11:09:02 GMT -5
The target market isnt nearly as high for DDR as it is for Metal Gear Solid. They will continue to put higher priority on the games that will make them more money.
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Post by abrannan on Feb 1, 2005 11:55:48 GMT -5
MGS will gross more, but after factoring in production costs (3d modellers, texture artists, music composers, engine programmers, voice actors, cut scene renderers, advertising, etc), I'd wager they could get a better return on investment from DDR.
Half-Life 2 cost $50 million to produce, and has sold 1.7 million copies to date. I seriously doubt all of the DDR games put together cost anywhere near $50 million to produce, and have sold 1.2 million copies in the US alone over the last year.
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sly rax
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Post by sly rax on Feb 1, 2005 14:05:23 GMT -5
LOL, that reminds me of Kung Pow. They were not looking for a blockbuster...the movie cost a really small amount. An opening of $7 million was enough to immediately begin turning a profit. Mission accomplished!
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Post by abrannan on Feb 1, 2005 14:29:52 GMT -5
Exactly. Why do you think there were so many Ernest goes to X movies? They all turned a tidy profit. I think Blair Witch is the current champion (Cost $35k, grossed $140M USA only, theater only, no video sales). That's $4000 for every dollar spent making the movie.
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Post by SSC on Feb 1, 2005 18:21:13 GMT -5
Exactly. Why do you think there were so many Ernest goes to X movies? They all turned a tidy profit. I think Blair Witch is the current champion (Cost $35k, grossed $140M USA only, theater only, no video sales). That's $4000 for every dollar spent making the movie. Actually, it has been contested. Napolean Dynamite took a measly $6,000 some to make, and has grossed [thus far] over 53 mil. |
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Skycania
Light Mode
The Sky is the limit
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Post by Skycania on Feb 1, 2005 22:16:18 GMT -5
I stand corrected...
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Post by abrannan on Feb 2, 2005 8:29:17 GMT -5
Actually, it has been contested. Napolean Dynamite took a measly $6,000 some to make, and has grossed [thus far] over 53 mil. Working off the IMDB page, Napoleon Dynamite took $400K to make and has thus far made $44M Domestic Box office. The movie was edited with a $6000 Macintosh computer. |
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Post by SSC on Feb 2, 2005 21:13:58 GMT -5
Ah, I must have gotten my numbers all mixed up.
Touche.
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Post by abrannan on Feb 3, 2005 8:52:57 GMT -5
I'm on a roll, correcting people left and right in this thread.
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MATS
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I am a Taxi Driver in Calcutta.
Posts: 694
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Post by MATS on Feb 4, 2005 18:30:05 GMT -5
DDR is dead.
Play ITG.
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Post by abrannan on Feb 4, 2005 22:53:42 GMT -5
Hey, find me an In the Groove machine and I'll be happy to play.
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Post by abrannan on Feb 14, 2005 11:30:48 GMT -5
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