Majority of 360 owners narrow-minded?

[ezee ryder]

Funnily enough we were having a conversation loosely based on this topic at work today. One of the guys at work mentioned "oh they might be releasing Viva Pinata 2". I personally enjoyed the game alot and would welcome a sequel and said that isn't a bad thing. He agreed but stated that Rare and Microsoft would just have a game which will be branded as kiddy and won't sell alot at all. The whole conversation then ventured in to the whole "narrow-minded" gamers thing but in the end we agreed a console needs such gems being released, they might not be hugely popular but they give a sort of diversity to the range of games on the console and at least gives gamers the option of at least trying them.

[Profit]

The perceived childish designs in Viva Pinata are justifiably enough to put people off. Style is just as or more important then game mechanics.

[Dogg Thang]

I was put off by Viva Pinata. Not by the designs. By the fact that nobody could actually explain to me what I do in the game. Does that make me narrow-minded?

I think it had less to do with the look and more to do with the type of game it was. Zelda WW's look, for all the moaning, didn't actually seem to put anyone off. And those who walked away hating it did so because of the game design, not the look.

[MikeF]

I'm willing to give any game a go as long a I feel that I may enjoy it. I owned VP for a while but did get rid of it as I found it to get boring rather quickly, but I have also gotten rid of many driving games, fps games etc just as quickly

[anephric]

Nobody bought VP because Bill Gates said it was for teh girlz. And he should know, because he runs like one.

[ezee ryder]

Nobody bought VP because Bill Gates said it was for teh girlz. And he should know, because he runs like one.

Give this man the job of Prime Minister!

[EvilBoris]

VP was released as a 1st party title in order to expand the userbase of the 360 and get a few more sales outside of 25 year old males.
I think it was quite obvious it wasn't going to sell great, but at least the effort was made to offer up something different.
Perhaps in a couple of years time when the console is £99 and a few more kids own the console, then VP2 will sell well.

If you were a 25 year old male 360 owner who didn't check the internet and only occasionally read the reviews of games in the sun and only bought a game every 5 weeks then if you walked into GAME and had the choice between F.E.A.R. or Viva Pinata you probably wouldn't pick up the latter.
I'm sure if something as sickly sweet as VP was released on PS3 1 year after it's release then it'd be the same there.

Why do you think Fifa and Need for Speed outsell the likes of games like SotC and Okami probably 100:1?

[Prophet Hero]

Personally was looking forward to playing Viva Pinata when I got round to buying it, three hours in found it too much like The Sims and the novelty wore off very very quickly, two days later it was sold on.

I didn't actually buy the game but I feel that's the pattern I probably would have followed. I didn't have enough cash to spare at the time to take that 'risk' and now I'm not really that bothered.

Saying that, I can't help but have the nagging feeling I'd enjoy this on a handheld. A quick 20 minute play before going to bed (so to speak) rather than sitting in front of the TV for a dedicated session.

[Charlie]

VP was released as a 1st party title in order to expand the userbase of the 360 and get a few more sales outside of 25 year old males.
I think it was quite obvious it wasn't going to sell great, but at least the effort was made to offer up something different.
Perhaps in a couple of years time when the console is ?99 and a few more kids own the console, then VP2 will sell well.

If you were a 25 year old male 360 owner who didn't check the internet and only occasionally read the reviews of games in the sun and only bought a game every 5 weeks then if you walked into GAME and had the choice between F.E.A.R. or Viva Pinata you probably wouldn't pick up the latter.
I'm sure if something as sickly sweet as VP was released on PS3 1 year after it's release then it'd be the same there.

Why do you think Fifa and Need for Speed outsell the likes of games like SotC and Okami probably 100:1?

That's what I'm getting at, the average 360 owner. You'd think, and hope, they'd delve into something a little different every so often rather than sticking to the latest release in an established series like FIFA or NFS that, most agree, seldom offer anything different over the last installment. I dunno, folk tend to stick to what they know I suppose.

[Keith]

Did you buy "Barbie's Horse Adventure", Charlie?

Not having a go or anything, but like Boris says, the "average" 360 owner wouldn't have been following VP, and as such there'd really be no incentive at all for them to even pick it up off the shelf, given what it looks like from the box.

[Charlie]

I see what your saying but the thread's not really about Viva Pinata. I'm just worried there'll come a time when there'll be nothing different available on the 360 as they don't sell well enough.

[Dogg Thang]

That's why you also need a Wii or a DS or something.

[Ajay1986]

That's what I'm getting at, the average 360 owner. You'd think, and hope, they'd delve into something a little different every so often rather than sticking to the latest release in an established series like FIFA or NFS that, most agree, seldom offer anything different over the last installment. I dunno, folk tend to stick to what they know I suppose.

Yeah but its not just a 360 thing is that, look at the best selling games on any console PS2, Xbox, GC, PS3, Wii whatever and the EA annual releases will be near the top for all of them.

As you say people stick to what they know, id say the 360 is at least going to have more variety then the Xbox due to more support in Japan from Capcom, Namco and Mistwalker amoung others. Games like Trusty Bell, Lost Oddessy, Infinite Undiscovery and Blue Dragon will probably sink sales wise over here.

But i know i'll be buying them just as i bought VP, so at the very least at least some people will get the chance to try new games on the 360, even if the masses dont want to. All we can hope is that good developers keep the faith and keep making non generic games for the 360.

As others have said tho the problem isnt jsut 360 related, the PS3 lineup is even less insipring and id argue the 360 is looking much more varied and intresting then it is. Hopefully Nintendo will keep us going with intresting new releases for the DS and Wii.

[EvilBoris]

That's what I'm getting at, the average 360 owner. You'd think, and hope, they'd delve into something a little different every so often rather than sticking to the latest release in an established series like FIFA or NFS that, most agree, seldom offer anything different over the last installment. I dunno, folk tend to stick to what they know I suppose.

That is just mainstream gaming for you, its the same across all formats.
You only have to look in HMV and game and see Okami in the bargain bin to realise that the average PS2 owner opted to buy something godaweful
instead

[Keith]

I see what your saying but the thread's not really about Viva Pinata. I'm just worried there'll come a time when there'll be nothing different available on the 360 as they don't sell well enough.

Fair point.

I think though, that if MS are really that keen on having "new" and "fresh" games on the 360, then it'll happen. It's not like there's not money there to back whatever projects MS want, right?