A Closer Look - How Far Do Reviews Dictate The Success Of Video Games?

I was reading an article earlier today concerning the projected sales of the highly anticipated Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2. Analysts project that the multi platform title will sell 11.1 million copies within two months of its November 10th 2009 release. This carefully thought out prediction takes into account the developer’s high profile marketing campaign, the high quality of the original game and its existing user base, and the massive popularity of the franchise worldwide.

Although I’m in no position to comment upon the numbers, I’m sure that the analysts are bang on the money when they say that this will be an absolutely huge game. But it got me wondering, in the face of such forecasts, will the forthcoming reviews of the game have any effect upon on its sales. Even if the game is useless, unlikely as that sounds, will it still sell by the bucket loads? Ultimately, do gamers pay much attention to reviews?

I have written about this conundrum very briefly in the past. Universally panned games like the Imagine range of DS games or 50 cent Bullet-proof sell by the truckload, whilst a title like Okami has been unable to translate gushing reviews into commercial success.

Perhaps people are more attached to the franchise, wrapped up in the outward appearance of the title as opposed to actual gameplay. Numerous movie tie-ins stand witness to this. Time and time and again we see games of the movie hurriedly put on the shelves to coincide with a theatrical release, despite glaring issues, bugs and generally shoddy gameplay mechanics. One only need look back a couple of weeks at the game incarnation of this summer’s first blockbuster, Terminator Salvation. Aside from receiving lukewarm reviews, the PC version was entirely recalled due to an error that rendered it unplayable. Yet such games continue to generate revenue as fans of the movie rush out to buy them, either ignorant of, or choosing to ignore the damning reviews that they have received.

I have to admit that game reviews only influence my purchases to a very limited degree. If it’s a product that I believe I will enjoy, I will rarely be disheartened by a negative review, though a positive review has on occasion encouraged me to purchase a title that otherwise I wouldn’t have considered. Reviews only tend to reinforce my existing opinion about the game. When I read a review, I am looking for details that will enable me to shape my own reading of the games worth; what kind of game it is, the story, how many hours of gameplay are there, the level of difficulty etc. In this way I find a well written review a thoroughly worthwhile read, irrelevant of whether I concur with the final grade or not.

Of course when a game is critically acclaimed, its chance of commercial success dramatically increases. But actually being good doesn’t seem to be the be all and end all when it comes to sales. Hence we see an increasing number of bland, safe sequels and movie tie-ins, and why a well informed analyst can safely predict great things for a title that is months away from being reviewed.