The Biggest Entertainment Launch in History?
Earlier this week, Microsoft and Bungie released the third installment in their massively popular Halo series. As predicted, the launch was a huge financial success, dragging in $170MM in sales and inspiring pundits to dub it (insert reverb) The Biggest Entertainment Launch in History.
But was it? Really?
Microsoft Game Studios VP Shane Kim called the launch a “pop-culture phenomenon,” and one that is “redefining entertainment.” I’m not so sure. The event was largely confined to males 12-34, a group that comprises ~17% of the population. The rest the nation watched semi-interested from the sidelines. I would expect a “pop-culture phenomenon” to be relevant to a wider swath of the population, no?
The point? When it comes to video games and interactive entertainment, we are where we were. Three years ago, Halo 2 hit the shelves, grossed $125MM in 24 hours, and was dubbed… yup, you guessed it, The Biggest Entertainment Launch in History. A generation of hardware later (and billions in investment) and the medium is still largely confined to a niche hardcore audience of young males. It’s a big business to be sure, but Microsoft has lost $5 billion since the original Xbox launch in a gambit to bring interactive entertainment to the masses.
They’ve captured the hardcore, but what about the rest of us?
Technorati Tags: Halo 3, Hype, Master Kitty
September 28th, 2007 at 1:58 pm
Halo 3 < Donkey Kong
September 28th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Myst>Donkey Kong>Halo3
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:20 am
Tron rules
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:40 pm
http://kotaku.com/gaming/atari/the-great-atari-landfill-a-legend-dissected-217100.php
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:32 am
There is also a story that a large number of early 20th century films - thought to be lost — were rediscovered in a swimming pool in Alaska. Apparently the last stop on the distribution chain for prints of films was Alaska and a theater owner dumped hundreds of prints in a swimming pool being covered over. When they dug up the pool they found the only copies of films thought lost.
October 3rd, 2007 at 3:26 pm
You have to wonder what an archaeologist would make out of that. Galaxy Quest and the “Historical Documents” come to mind.
October 4th, 2007 at 11:03 am
October 4th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Halo captured the “hardcore,” but Wii captured everyone else. Actually, a huge chunk of Halo 3 owners will only buy Halo 3 for their Xbox 360 this year, maybe with their yearly Madden purchase. These guys aren’t hardcore gamers, but they’re hardcore about Halo… and that’s about it.
Halo has sold so well because it really is THE casual gamer’s first-person shooter. Yes, Microsoft, $170M is wildly impressive for a game launch, but to compare it to Spiderman 3’s opening in dollars? Last time I checked, it didn’t cost $59.99-129.99 to go to the movies.
Though to answer your point, Wii is the real pop culture phenomenon, not Halo. You’re right, Halo 3 is stuck up its own ass and it’s not going to get grandma off the couch. Except for this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR9allAs8k8
October 8th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Ben - I agree, there’s a lot riding on the Wii. Love the grandma video!