Gamespy on VF4E (US PS2 release)

http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/august03/vf4evops2/

Pretty cool read, but not a deep evaluation.

 

Re: The Press in General

You know before all the reviews started coming out, I kind of shrugged off or discounted the American press as less-than-diligent enough to actually give evo its due. What I'm seeing, however, is something that I didn't expect.

It seems every magazine on the shelves this month, and every online magazine this week, has a huge SC2 spread or cover shot, and yet inside on a one page review they'll declare VF4Evo "The Best Fighting Game Ever Made." It's kind of vindicating in one sense, yet outrageous in the other. If it's the best, why is it relegated to the one page review in the back of the magazine? Why doesn't it garner the cover? VF4 has now outsold Soul Calibur, so it's not a mater of more people liking Soul Calibur, at least, they didn't prove it with their dollar. I've heard all the conspiracy theories surrounding "buying off" editors, and I tend not to believe them since I've seen little proof of anything remotely like it in the industry (now Tomb Raider making it through Sony's infamously strict bug testing makes me wonder...).

The only valid argument I have heard regarding SC2 getting the covers is that it's coming out on all 3 platforms. This is something I cannot deny, and it's really not debatable that SC2 will make itself available to more people, thus the magazines will be attractive to more people if they put SC2 on the cover. I really hope that's all there is to it.

I will say this: Sega has won a major war in that the western world now regards VF as the premier 3d fighting game series. Now they have to win the second war, the one fought at the counter of EB and Toys R Us.

 

Re: The Press in General

[ QUOTE ]
It seems every magazine on the shelves this month, and every online magazine this week, has a huge SC2 spread or cover shot, and yet inside on a one page review they'll declare VF4Evo "The Best Fighting Game Ever Made." It's kind of vindicating in one sense, yet outrageous in the other. If it's the best, why is it relegated to the one page review in the back of the magazine? Why doesn't it garner the cover? VF4 has now outsold Soul Calibur, so it's not a mater of more people liking Soul Calibur, at least, they didn't prove it with their dollar. I've heard all the conspiracy theories surrounding "buying off" editors, and I tend not to believe them since I've seen little proof of anything remotely like it in the industry...

[/ QUOTE ]

Well I saw VF4 (non-Evo) on the cover of magazines, and all over online game sites. And the reviews of VF4 were featured at the time they came out, but then again, VF4 wasn't released along side SCII /versus/images/graemlins/mad.gif(Sega wtf??).
[ QUOTE ]
The only valid argument I have heard regarding SC2 getting the covers is that it's coming out on all 3 platforms. This is something I cannot deny, and it's really not debatable that SC2 will make itself available to more people, thus the magazines will be attractive to more people if they put SC2 on the cover. I really hope that's all there is to it.

[/ QUOTE ]
As SCII is across all platforms as far as the current consoles go, most magazines are going to publicize the most atttractive games they can, being SCII. Would it make sense, especially considering we are capitalists, to market a game that will sell less copies (not to be pessimistic but, a single platform game with decreasing popularity, VS a wildly hyped game on three platforms, that already has a significant arcade presence in America, I mean come on, not to mention you can't go into a video game related store and not see SCII adds/banners etc. all over the place).
- - - - - -
Even if they say that VF Evo is the best fighting game of all time, why should someone who owns a Gamecube or X-box give a rats ass about it? They shouldn't really, as VF Evo is a PS2 only game, so unless you have a PS2, SCII is the best game on the console you own /versus/images/graemlins/smirk.gif.
[ QUOTE ]
I will say this: Sega has won a major war in that the western world now regards VF as the premier 3d fighting game series. Now they have to win the second war, the one fought at the counter of EB and Toys R Us.

[/ QUOTE ]
Sega is not going to win this war, they are not even close. Take a look at MKA's sales, and now SCII's, both will outsell VF4, and most likely Evo.

And VF is not the premier fighting game series IMO in America, I mean this is the same place that DOA3 sold enough copies to get a volleyball spin-off....unfrotuantely I think that the SC series is the primary focus of the average (aka casual) fighting gamer is America, and then some hardcore as well.

The problem is that when the press says things like "VF is deep, complex, rewarding; it is the best..." but then they follow up with things like, "VF is for hardcore gamers, it takes alot of time to get good at...." which only deterrs newcoming and casual gamers alike from purchasing VF, which takes away from VF's popularity. I wouldn't say that Sega was victorious, but they are taking steps in the right direction. It is like they tell you in school, don't compare yourself to others, try to beat your personal best. If VF tries to compete with SC in America, no constest. But if Sega tries to outsell each VF from the previous incarnation of the series, then you will see more progress than directly competiting with other fighting game franchises. But like Dennis Miller says, " that's just my opinion, I could be wrong."

 

Re: The Press in General

Emp I'm not really sure what you were trying to say in your post. You quoted alot of stuff I said and then seemingly repeated the exact same points I was trying to make. I explicity stated that it's undenyable that SC2 is a cross platform game and as such the magazines will appeal to a larger audience by featuring the cross-platform title on their covers. Oh well, maybe I'm not explaining myself well enough.

VF is a viable product in the West; VF4 proved it. Every single magazine you pick up will declare VF4/Evo as the best 3d fighter, if not overall best fighter ever; I think that counts for something, since a couple of years ago Tekken 3 (or arguably Soul Calibur) was considered the pinnacle of console fighting games. VF4 sold almost copy-to-copy with tk4. My point regarding "the war" was not to imply that Evo was somehow going to outsell SC2; it shouldn't even come close, really. What I'm trying to say is that this is a long-term campaign to get the western audience to not only recognize VF's technical prowess, but to get it regarded as mainstream enough to be mentioned in the same breath as the tekkens and the doas and the SCs.

Regardless of how you personally perceive the state of the American fighting game market, VF sells copies now. It is a viable, mainstream, "Greatest Hits" product. This is not the Dreamcast days of horrible ports and "acquired taste" perception. This is simply about changing the way the media regards VF.

 

Re: The Press in General

[ QUOTE ]
sixtwo said:


The only valid argument I have heard regarding SC2 getting the covers is that it's coming out on all 3 platforms. This is something I cannot deny, and it's really not debatable that SC2 will make itself available to more people, thus the magazines will be attractive to more people if they put SC2 on the cover. I really hope that's all there is to it.


[/ QUOTE ]

Here's another reason. Soul Calibur 2 is a $50 game being heavily advertised and making waves among the Gamecube set in particular because of Link's appearance. Consequently, people want to hear about it because they're already hearing about it. VF4E is, meanwhile, a budget title being treated by Sega as though it's not worth the time and money to raise awareness (but then, Sega does that to plenty of full-price games too cough Rez choke). As sad as it is, telling people about overlooked gems isn't the kind of thing that sells magazines or web subscriptions. It's kind of sick, but they can't hype something that isn't being hyped by the fan community and the company already, and it's better business to use the flash title to get attention and hope the reader looks at the one-page article on the Overlooked Gem and gives it a try. It doesn't always work (or Marvel would still be publishing Black Panther), but it's the way fan journalism of any kind works, unfortunately.

Peace,
Zach (who may not get Soul Calibur 2, but is ordering the strategy guide with CD for sure)

 

Re: The Press in General

It's all politics, really. They know that a lot more people know Sc, and are looking forward to Sc2. That said, if they put Sc2 on the cover, a lot more people will buy it or at least look at it simply because it's Sc2. If they put Vf4: Evo not as many people would be attracted to the mag.

 

Smart

Did anyone ever think that this was a smart move on SEGA's behalf? Aside from the fact that it was little advertised, it will most likely be up as a newer game at larger stores (alibet I have heard it being stuck in the budget/clearance racks). When whiny little kids are being dragged around the mall picking up last minute clothes for school and see the soul caliber 2 stuff in the windows they will go in and then see that VF4:evo is $20 new and they dont have to wait till the end of the month.

It is also smart because SEGA knows that games sell as constantly in US as in JP. If this game was released at full price then only Hardcore VF fans and people who don't have it would get it. This makes it accessable to New VF fans (aka, me) and then also is cheap enough to warrent the owners of VF4 to get it again.

I think that this is extreamly smart marking for the US. From a casual purchase standpoint.