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MCV 08/10/10 13 NEWS Sub-standard Sonics de-listed
Sega retires titles with average Metacritic scores to increase brand value and avoid franchise fatigue by Chrisopher Dring
POOR OR AVERAGE Sonic The Hedgehog games can no longer be bought at retail. Sega has de-listed certain Sonic titles in order to ‘increase the value of the brand’ and avoid confusing the consumer.
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“We have to do this and increase the value of the brand. This will be very important when more big Sonic releases arrive in the future. “We could make a lot of money on back-catalogue Sonic titles, but let’s keep the number of Sonic games available under
We have to increase the value of the brand. This will be very important for future big Sonic releases.
Jurgen Post, Sega
The firm plans to launch three new Sonic games this Christmas – Sonic Colours and Sonic Free Riders at retail, plus the episodic Sonic 4 via XBLA, PSN and WiiWare. “Any Sonic game with an average Metacritic has been de- listed,” explained Sega’s SVP of EMEA Jurgen Post.
control. Otherwise you can have cannibalisation. If there are ten Sonic games on the shelves, with people seeing Sonic Rush DS or Sonic Rush Adventure, this may not help our overall strategy.” Sonic’s fanbase ranges from young gamers to core fans who played the games back in the
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DVD DISTRIBUTOR Galapagos has set up a dedicated games division, opening a new channel into Poland for publishers.
The company is already well known in the region for its DVD distribution service for Warner, Cartoon Network and the Discovery Channel. Galapagos has already signed two games publishers and is preparing to distribute its first titles: Tecmo Koei’s Quantum Theory and Black Bean’s World Rally Championship. “We are delighted to be working with two such well- known and respected
publishers,” says Galapagos MD Andrzej Ludzinski. “They have
Ludzinski wants to help publishers crack Poland
been very supportive of our launch into games distribution. “We are sure that we can offer maximum focus for publishers and launch their titles into the market with the effort that they deserve.”
Don’t worry, Sonic – only your best games will be available at retail from now on
early ‘90s. Sega is targeting both audiences with its multiple titles this Christmas. “Colours will play well to our younger Sonic fanbase, but should also appeal to the older fans once they realise there are no unwanted surprises,” added brand director David Corless.
Polish film distie the latest to enter games market
According to Galapagos, the Polish games market is growing – particularly for PlayStation 3 – with titles selling tens of thousands of copies. However, there are only a handful of distributors available, which makes the firm’s new games division a blessing for publishers. Tecmo Koei’s VP of sales and marketing Will Curley added: “It is great that Poland has, at last, a fresh alternative to the long established distribution network. I am sure that Galapagos will take its professionalism from films and add something different to games distribution.” Galapagos: +48 (22) 885 26 76
“It’s the first console title for a while that’s clearly influenced by Sonic’s platform past but also keeps the series moving forward with new ideas and innovations that complement that legacy. Sonic 4 on the other hand is old school and primarily for those core fans who remember the
originals. But there are also a number of younger gamers who’ve recently discovered the classics on the iPhone or XBLA, PSN and WiiWare so it’ll appeal to them as well.” Check out our full interview with Jurgen Post on page 26. Sega: 020 8995 3399
Digital hit released on the High Street
PC PUZZLER and download success Deadtime Stories lands at retail today (Friday, October 8th).
The budget title is being published in the UK by THQ’s ValuSoft division and distributed by United Software Distribution. It has an SRP of £8.99. Earlier this year it featured in various PC download charts during a 40-week
period. It topped five charts including MSN, Big Fish Games, Game House, Pogo and GameFools.
Deadtime Stories also spent 36 days in the Amazon
download chart, making it to No.2, and was chosen as a Yahoo featured download. It also stayed in the Game House chart for 42 weeks during the summer. “Deadtime Stories is a huge release within the casual games sector,” United Software Distribution director Dave Cotton told MCV. “We
certainly expect its
digital success to be replicated in the PC boxed chart.” The game features a mix of hidden object puzzles and adventure gameplay. USD: 07881 138922
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