Why is Elite Beat Agents selling so poorly?

[Ady]

I'm surprised to see people on an import gaming site moaning about the price of domestic DS games...

[Lyris]

I'm surprised to see people on an import gaming site moaning about the price of domestic DS games...

I'm not, I think the people that actually import games here are in the minority!

Not meaning to be elitist, I don't think figuring out how to use a credit card and air-mail service makes you smarter or a better person - just baffled!

[in5ane]

If I was going to accept that in the UK I would get ripped off, then ?25 would be a fairish price.

I paid ?25 for the UK version from play.

[IanE]

Because everybody already imported it months ago.

Well, no. It's being advertised on Channel 4 to millions, they aren't the type that import games. They won't have heard of this before.

Think about what you just said.

If NOA fails at something do you really expect Nintendo Europe to manage it?

They're advertising it more than NOA did.

[Profit]

It's not looked on too positively by retilers as well - difficult to get stock of and difficult to sell. That and this isn't the best time to sell games generally.

[steveb07]

I remember the guys on the 1Up show/1Up Yours podcast going on about this game a lot. I might be tempted in a couple of months when I fancy a bit of a change. Someone by then will be selling it reduced

[Ady]

Not meaning to be elitist, I don't think figuring out how to use a credit card and air-mail service makes you smarter or a better person - just baffled!

No, it doesn't make you a better person, it just means you don't end up paying silly money for DS games...

[gunrock]

I think it's because the advert (the one I've seen, anyway) gives you no idea what the game is about. It's all loud and bombastic and shows in game graphics, but doesn't really show off the nature of the game.

It came on the telly, I said to the wife, 'Ooh, I like this one', and when it was all over, my missus said 'What the hell was all that about, then?'

[Commander Marklar]

I've played the game and I've still no idea what its about. Maybe it isn't selling because it isn't very good?

Surely noone really needs to ask why it isn't selling, huh?

[Nisa]

Maybe it isn't selling because it isn't very good?

This is blasphemy, this is madness.

I got a mate of mine to pick it up earlier so +1 sales, hooray!.

[Dogg Thang]

I think it's because the advert (the one I've seen, anyway) gives you no idea what the game is about.

This is exactly it. My wife watched the whole ad and said, "Oh, it's Phoenix Nights!" She meant Phoenix Wright but it showed all you could get from the ad was character art. There was no hint as to what kind of game it was.

And, just like Viva Pinata, if people don't know what the hell it is, why would they consider buying it?

[prinnysquad]

Yeah, Dogg. My missus saw the advert and said:

"That looks GASH"

When I gave her a go she quite liked it, because it's simple and uses the touch screen, much like her other faves, 42 classics, bust a move and zoo keeper.

tbh I wouldn't know what the hell was going on using that advert as an indicator if I didn't already know about Ouendan.

[Lyris]

As the thread video geek, I'll have to say that the UK advertisers cropping the ad (badly) into Widescreen doesn't make the actual gameplay that easy to see either.

[Wools]

Why did thousands of other brillant games not sell well?

So many factors such as advertising, intrest, reviews and word of mouth all contribute.

The PS2 was / is the biggest selling console in the UK but that does not mean that because the userbase is huge they will buy the best possible games. Look at Ico, Rez, Sands Of Time, Katamari and tens of others.

Just because they own a DS does not mean they will buy the best possible games, just like every other media.

[Nisa]

The difference between Elite Beat Agents and games like Ico, Katamari and Rez is that they are not aimed at the "casual" market that Nintendo is going for. Nintendo made EBA a part of the Touch Generations series i.e. all the casual ****e like Brain Training & Nintendogs, the soundtrack which has crap like Madonna & Avril Lavigne is another good indicator of who it's being aimed at.

My point is that this is a game that seems tailored for the masses, it's simple gameplay which is basically tapping the DS screen to the beat of cheesy pop tunes is something anyone can pick up and enjoy. I'm amazed that Nintendo can convince millions(myself included) into buying Brain Training which after about two weeks of playing is about as fun as a kick in the balls yet can't sell what is one of the most fun games on DS right now.