Another Halo 2 Thread, but money gets another thread.

[schild]

Article Here.

Word from Microsoft is that Halo 2 will not meet sales expectations for its launch day. In fact, the title will blow expectations out of the water. The original figure of $100 million for one day, has given way to the reality of around $125 million in one day. This puts it right up there with blockbuster movie openings, fueling the movies vs. games meme that’s been growing in the last few months. From the article:

“Not only has “Halo 2” exceeded video game sales records, but entertainment records as well. “Halo 2” has generated more money on day one than any of the biggest movies in box office history including “Spider-Man 2” (Sony), “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (WB) and “The Matrix Reloaded” (WB).* In addition, “Halo 2” surpassed this past weekend’s box office favorite, “The Incredibles,” which grossed $70.5 million (U.S.) in three days compared to the $125 million pulled through by “Halo 2” in one day.”

So, I guess it is the second coming of robot jesus - or at least for Bungie's stockholders.

[Shannow]

Pixar's contemplating hiring some coders about now?..:P Still this comparison is a little silly since movies will make more money in the long run considering continueing ticket sales, international sales, merchandise, DVD/video sales.

edit: In regards to marketing I agree, can't remember ever seeing the release of a video game get a story in major newspapers before.

[stray]

Actual game issues aside, that's pretty fucking amazing. It won't happen again though, unless it's made by Microsoft. This was marketing like I've never seen. Hell, even my Dad knows about it.

[HaemishM]

Let's stop and think about this shit for a moment.

Average price point on movies: $8/ticket.

Average price point per console video game: $50

Average movie budget: $80-$100 million

Average big-budget video game budget: $20-$30 million (?)

Video games are almost certainly more profitable per unit, but they also cost the consumer an assload more. To make $125 million in one day is about 2.5 million copies of Halo 2 sold. 2.5 million tickets sold to a movie = $20 million.

A lot more people are seeing movies, and the price point is causing the video game market to generate just as much money.

[Xilren's Twin]

Let's stop and think about this shit for a moment.
Average price point on movies: $8/ticket.
Average price point per console video game: $50
Average movie budget: $80-$100 million
Average big-budget video game budget: $20-$30 million (?)
Video games are almost certainly more profitable per unit, but they also cost the consumer an assload more. To make $125 million in one day is about 2.5 million copies of Halo 2 sold. 2.5 million tickets sold to a movie = $20 million.
A lot more people are seeing movies, and the price point is causing the video game market to generate just as much money.

So as an investor, which would be more appealing, the one with lower development budget and higher per sale return, or the movie :-P  

It's getting to be $50 purchase is accepted as equivalent to actually going to a movie; 2-4 tickets plus concessions =  prob 25-50 right there.  Not to mention the the entertainment per hour cost factor....

Ya hear that your venture capitalists; pony up the 20m so we can make hats out of money already.
Xilren

[Fabricated]

What's funny is that overall San Andreas will probably sell more units overall this holiday season. Halo had an insane initial blitz though.

[geldonyetich]

The sad thing is, Halo 2 is selling from hype alone on day one before the game was actually released.    Thus, more overhyped, unoriginal, possibly crappy games for us.   (Halo 2 should, at least, be spared the crapiness.)  

So, I take it Halo 3 is a given.

[plangent]

Let's stop and think about this shit for a moment.

Average price point on movies: $8/ticket.

Average price point per console video game: $50

Average movie budget: $80-$100 million

Average big-budget video game budget: $20-$30 million (?)

Video games are almost certainly more profitable per unit, but they also cost the consumer an assload more. To make $125 million in one day is about 2.5 million copies of Halo 2 sold. 2.5 million tickets sold to a movie = $20 million.

A lot more people are seeing movies, and the price point is causing the video game market to generate just as much money.

You forgot to mention that a game offers at least 40 hours worth of play whereas a movie lasts for 3 hours tops.  When you break it down to price per hour of entertainment on the production or consumption side games are waaayyy ahead.  It's the lack of celebrities I think...

[Riggswolfe]

 It's the lack of celebrities I think...

Except games get celebrities now too. Read the voice credits for Halo 2. It's got Michelle Rodriquez and one or other celebreties in it. No A-list stars sure, but people who I know by name and voice.

[MrHat]

 It's the lack of celebrities I think...

Except games get celebrities now too. Read the voice credits for Halo 2. It's got Michelle Rodriquez and one or other celebreties in it. No A-list stars sure, but people who I know by name and voice.

I think that's besides the point.  Those are celebrities from other media lending their fame to the games.  Not celebrities from gaming.

[eldaec]

“Not only has “Halo 2” exceeded video game sales records, but entertainment records as well. “Halo 2” has generated more money on day one than any of the biggest movies in box office history including “Spider-Man 2” (Sony), “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (WB) and “The Matrix Reloaded” (WB).* In addition, “Halo 2” surpassed this past weekend’s box office favorite, “The Incredibles,” which grossed $70.5 million (U.S.) in three days compared to the $125 million pulled through by “Halo 2” in one day.”

You can't pre-order a movie. Oh, and games have effectively unlimited daily capacity.

Who wants to bet that the 3 day total for Halo 2 is <$150 million? Also, what does the total gross over time for a blockbuster movie look like (include dvd, merchandise, and tv sales)?

Not to say that console games aren't acheiving breakthrough, but this does need to be kept in proportion.

[HaemishM]

The thing about price per hour entertainment is something I've never bought into. I spend $8 at the movie and $50 on the game. I feel the hit more when I buy the game (unless I'm getting popcorn at the movie, then I talk to my loan shark). For the movie-making industry, the price of concessions doesn't enter into it; those are profits for the movie-exhibition industry.

[Shmtur]

 It's the lack of celebrities I think...

Except games get celebrities now too. Read the voice credits for Halo 2. It's got Michelle Rodriquez and one or other celebreties in it. No A-list stars sure, but people who I know by name and voice.

David Cross and Orlando Jones too, I think.

[Krakrok]

"Halo 2" is the #1 search term on Yahoo right now (it could be the last 7 days number). Also apparently there is a Halo 2 book (wtf?) that is selling better than the Clinton book did for Randomhouse (whatever that means).

Milk that $cow, Microsoft.

[Shannow]

Its the official strategy guide thats the topselling book this week. Um ok who the f' actually goes and buys those strategy guides for an FPS???!?!?

[HaemishM]

My $20 strategy guide for an FPS.

"Shoot faster."

That'll be $20 plzkthx.

[stray]

Top selling book? That's even more remarkable than the game sales.

[Shannow]

Remarkable or really fucking sad. People are sheep.

[Shavnir]

Its like watching a steady stream of lemmings dive off a cliff.

But without the satisfaction of watching them get impaled on the rocks below and have their corpses be crushed by the corpses of ther brethren.

[Sky]

My $20 strategy guide for an FPS.

"Shoot faster."

That'll be $20 plzkthx.

$20? Shoot higher.

$25 - WoW
$35 - HL2

Milk 'em baby, milk 'em.

[WayAbvPar]

My $20 strategy guide for an FPS.

"Shoot faster."

That'll be $20 plzkthx.

$20? Shoot higher.

$25 - WoW
$35 - HL2

Milk 'em baby, milk 'em.

If they shoot higher they will miss, and then get pissed and return the guide. Do I have to do ALL the thinking around here?


$35 for a guide? That is fucking criminal.

[schild]

I saw some really nice looking hardback guides that were THICK for HL2 in EB the other day. Perhaps those were them?