I really enjoyed Heavy Rain, it had a lot to live up to after Quantic Dream's last effort, Farenheit, came from left field to become one of my favourite PS2 titles in the early 2000's. This is why it pains me to hear that they have estimated a loss of up to $13 Million due to second hand sales of the PS3 thriller.
According to Guillaume de Fondaumiere, the co-founder of the studio, two million units were sold first hand but more than three million unique players have been identified through the trophy system on Playstation Network. That represents a whopping One Million units in lost sales!
I won't pretend that i disagree with people buying used games, i do it myself and think it's a right of any individual to sell on their games/music/books etc once they're done with them. This is a capitalist economy after all, and nobody came here for a lecture on communism. de Fondaumiere was quoted saying that "I've always said that games are probably too expensive so there's probably a right level here to find, and we need to discuss this altogether and try to find a way to I would say reconcile consumer expectations, retail expectations, but also the expectations of the publisher and the developers to make this business a worthwhile business."
I sympathise with the guys at Quantic Dream though, because it must really hurt to put all that effort into a game only to find out that your sales have been dented by as much as 33% due to second hand sales in Game, Game Station, HMV and for any American readers out there, Gamestop.
Speaking of Gamestop, it turns out that they'll be releasing their own branded Android tablet next year. Plenty have wondered what will happen to Video games retailers as the market inexorably moves towards digital distribution as it's preferred method of delivery. It seems that Gamestop have decided that the old adage "if you can't beat them, join them" has some wisdom to it.
By all accounts this new tablet will support mobile apps, while the true goal is to create a piece of hardware that can support full retail releases. Gamestop President Tony Bartel has also claimed that Gamestop are working with developers to create titles especially for the Gamestop Tablet.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution has been slated for release on the Mac OS "this Winter 11/12, while details of system requirements and pricing are to follow later on this year we do know that Feral Interactive will be porting the game. The GM of Eidos Montreal, Stephane D'Astous, revealed "We are delighted to partner with Feral, a leading expert in development for the Mac platform, to bring the acclaimed Deus Ex: Human Revolution to Mac players."
Given some of the reviews of the game, already on PC and Console, you do have to wonder why they're bothering.
Finally today, here's the brand new UK top ten on all formats -
1 - Dead Island
2 - Warhammer 40K: Space Marine
3 - Driver: San Franciso
4 - Resistance 3
5 - Deus Ex: Human Revolution
6 - Zumba Fitness
7 - Rugby World Cup 2011
8 - Lego Pirates of the Caribbean
9 - Star Fox 64 3D
10 - Gran Turismo 5
Congratulations to Dead Island for shuffling to the top of the pile. Unsurprisingly Rugby World Cup 2011 has made the cut after the tournament proper kicked off at the weekend, while Lego Pirates and Zumba are still in the top ten! Also nice to see the revamped, re-skinned Star Fox 64 squeezed onto the list, after having played it at the IGN UK 100th podcast i think it deserved a place at the top.
Right, that'll do for Monday. Until next time friends...
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