Weekend Reading: We Need Less Videogame Launches in One Year

I do not have the time to play all the videogames I would like to. My backlog includes games from 2003. And I am the kind of guy who plays at work, at home and sometimes on the side while also barbequing with friends somewhere in the middle of nature. I am also fairly focused in my gaming. My job requires me to be familiar with all the big releases but otherwise I tend to gravitate towards strategy, both turn based and real time, role playing games and simulations.

The main effect is that I feel frustrated and tend to concentrate on a core number of games, some of them older releases, which I really like. I will play those and ignore the deluge of current releases. Why get Command & Conquer 4 when I can fire up Europa Universalis III, a proven classic, with yet another Germanic minor? Why get the new Medal of Honor when I can play some more Unreal Tournament 2004 with my group of gaming friends?

Another problem is that potentially big videogames get pushed back for long periods of time, in significant part because of the packed schedule. Witness the situation of Mafia II, which has been under work at 2K Czech for quite some time and is eagerly awaited by the fan base of the first title.

Initially, Take Two talked about putting the historical open world action adventure out last year but because of the black hole effect created by the launch of Modern Warfare, the game was pushed to February 2010. Then, the publisher announced again that it would be delayed, with the date now being set to sometime between August and October 2010.

Of course, it might be that the game needs more time for better levels, more complex gameplay or something else related directly to the experience, but, judging by the images and video we've seen taken from it, the main reason seems to be the packed schedule, which limits its chances at seeing big sales.

Fewer games launched would mean more big hits, satisfied customers, and talk about particular titles. Electronic Arts and Activision have made some noise about putting out a smaller amount of games, mainly because of the way the recession affected sales in 2009, but it appears that they have not yet done so. I personally hope they will.