I've found that giving game reviews the same weight as opinionated buying advice invariably works out for the best. I can only be fleeced so many times per month for those costly $60 games.
News Blips:
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick believes "good is the new bad" in terms of game reviews. Moderately positive review scores still help a game's image and sales numbers, but Zelnick claimed that "making good games just isn't enough." He also stressed the importance of reviews, saying, "Reviews really can influence the success of a newly-released title. In fact, if your ratings go below a certain level, it can really hurt your ability to sell the title, and above a certain level can make a real difference in your success." Zelnick went on to tout Take-Two's "ability to have high scores over and over and over again" as a crucial advantage towards driving sales and maintaining strong franchises such as Grand Theft Auto and BioShock. I give Zelnick's thoughts a 7 out of 10: a solid effort, but some logical blunders keep them from being a slam-dunk. [Gamasutra]
The PC platform could become EA's largest market, according to EA Games President Frank Gibeau. Gamasutra reports that while Gibeau considers PC retail sales "a big problem," his overall outlook towards the platform is favorable. "The user base is gigantic," he said. "PC downloads are awesome and the margins are much better, so we don't have any rules in terms of first-party approvals. From our perspective, it's an extremely healthy platform. It's totally conceivable it will become our biggest platform." Thank goodness, because I shudder to think of a world devoid of PC gaming. It would be terrible and scary. Also, the TV is locked in my roommate's bedroom.
Capcom U.S. Vice President Christian Svensson portends "major new IP risks" for the company. In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Svensson said the United States and Europe is "a ways away" until they see a new intellectual property from Capcom. "Well, to clarify a bit," he explained, "when I say no more new IP, I mean no new IP in the West. I think you will see us actually taking some major new IP risks." I should ask Svensson if he feels the same way in the future after Resident Evil 5,000 is released.
Where did this year's first-party Wii games go? Nintendo head Reggie Fils-Aime has the answer. "We have had to effectively prepare for the launch of 3DS as well as effectively prepare for the launch of Pokemon Black and White," he told IGN. "We've pushed out some Wii launches so we can focus on our handheld business. We're already juggling two big balls. To add a third would be a little bit challenging. Or a fourth or a fifth." Fils-Aime promised to satisfy the empty stomachs of Wii gamers by this year's E3 with some new content. I honestly think juggling two big balls isn't that difficult. Once you reach five balls, however, you're either a clown, a professional juggler, or a professional juggler of clowns.
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