Today, Activision reported that Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock enjoyed $115 million in first-week sales in North America. The number was an upward revision from the $100 million seven-day figure Activision announced yesterday, which itself led to the company to revise its holiday quarter earning's forecast up to $1.05 billion and full-year guidance to $2.07 billion.
With the publisher already counting its chickens, industry watchers today weighed in on whether Activision can carry its stellar Q2 momentum through the last half of the fiscal year and in to fiscal 2009. Believing Activision to be playing conservative, Wedbush Morgan's Michael Pachter sees growth of $1.06 million for the October-December months, and a full year haul of $2.11 billion.
However, with the market more interested in growth than dollars-in-hand, Pachter believes Activision's current fortunes may spell ill tidings for next year. "We think that the company has the potential to grow publishing revenues above the level we expect in FY:08, but acknowledge that the success of its lineup this holiday creates a formidable hurdle to revenue growth," he surmised.
'The economy is in shambles and these companies are still talking about sustaining growth instead of sustaining their business.'
They should just make games. That sounds crazy, I know, but, hear me out.
No need for dev-times to.take 3+ years. Just stick to formula. Not every game needs to be bigger & better than everything else. Not every game needs to be GaaS. Not every game needs to completely re-invent the wheel.
They KNOW how to make a cool Splinter Cell game; Interesting story, 8-10 levels, just go and make it. Give the people want they know, want and love. It doesn't need to be a shared online experience. It doesn't need to be an epic big open world. It doesn't need celebrity voice-acting. Just make a cool new SC game, and the fans will be happy and pick it up. Easy. Done. Next one.
Same for Prince of Persia, Watch-Dogs, Assassin's Creed, Trials, Rayman, Brothers in Arms, etc.
The State of the Game Industry reports US-based tariffs are impacting 38 percent of business leaders in the game industry, affecting financial decisions.
Revenue rose by only 0.2% year-on-year, while downloads increased by 4.6%
