No sale: 2010's most disappointing games

Yahoo: Several titles that were expected to be big sellers -- or at least impressive ones -- have fallen flat, the victim of the economy, gamers’ continued interest with other titles or just plain old bad luck.

There’s still time to recover, of course -- the year’s only half over. But while these six titles may have mostly met critical expectations, they still failed to set the sales charts ablaze.

[Natsu X FairyTail]

AW is a good game when they'll release the sequel they shouldnt put it against other big title games like a Multiplatform ROCKSTAR game. thats the dumbest move ever

yes i was and the game is still 69.99$ right now at gamestop/ebgames Canada and I dont buy Pre-owned games . That dint stop me from Playing it. I havent bought it but I've played it.

[Elven6]

Alan Wake had the release date first, Red Dead Redemption was constantly being delayed before that. There was no guarantee that Red Dead could hit that date until days before launch and by then it was too late to do anything.

Weren't you the one complaining that Alan Wake was too expensive at full price?

[Anon1974]

$70 in Canada. They pretty much guaranteed that it'll be a rental only at that price. I went in to the store to buy Alan Wake and walked out with Red Dead for $50 and Demon's Souls for $40. Even now they still want $70 for the game, and if I were to order it from the US it would still cost me about $70 when I factor in shipping costs, tax, duty and everything.

There's no way I'm going to spend $70 on a game that's only 8 hours long. I still planning on picking up Alan Wake, but I waited 5 years for the title. I can wait another year until it hits the bargain bin's for $15 like Brutal Legend (and that's a travesty. Brutal Legend was a blast).

[poopface1]

sorry Dride, AW is alot longer than 8 hours. Nice attempt to troll tho, but your clearly clueless.

[ZombieAutopsy]

I don't think darkride was trying to troll he was just stating how long he has prolly heard the game was and from a simple google search the average seems to be between 9-12 hours.

The only one on that list i was suprised didn't sell well is Blur since the PGR team was behind it.

[Boody-Bandit]

Alan Wake is what you make of it as far as duration goes. It can be beat in 8 hours if you go from point A to B without exploring for hidden items (pages and thermos). My first run through of AW only took 10 hours. The first couple chapters I just ran through but later on I actually did some exploring.

[Elven6]

Darkride66: So how did a title you waited for nearly 5 years for go from "not buying at $70" to "will pick it up in the bargain bin"?

Alan Wake can easily last you 10 hours, with The Signal, you can add 1 hour 30-2 hours to your play time for free.

[hennessey86]

i loved it from begining to end and im going to get it again for the dlc

[Playerz8]

None of these games are disappointing, they just didn't sell.

And Alan Wake didn't fail because it was against Red Dead Redemption, there was just no marketing. RDR was basically a new IP and unproven (This was like a reboot of RDRevolver), but it just happened that it was really good and fun. It's not like everyone knew it going to sell great.

[avengers1978]

Yes that is what the article is about disappointing sales, I don't think anyone is saying these are bad games just that they didn't sell well. IMO Alan Wake didn't do well because there was virtually no advertising for it. Like most games it's the hype that sells them(to a majority of people)

[36T]

Alan Wake didn't sell well because it's a single player game priced at $70CDN + tax. A game with no multiplayer should never be priced that high no matter how long the game took to develop. At least that's my opinion.

[spooky205]

Who the hell calls themselves a gamer if they base a games greatness on sales? oh wait....fanboys do. *double facepalm*

[TheBlackSmoke]

8 hours is about right, max 10 if you get lost easily and/or suck.

[scofios]

I'am a big horror fan i have bought alan wake yesterday for 20€ , i didn't want to spend 60€ on it , when it was released because the reviews of that game where mixt so i was afraid that it wasn't worth 60€ , normally i will receive the game on friday , then finally i can jude for my own if it's a great game or not .

[Gamerbee]

Wouldve sold at least 1 million on PS3. Or well . Thats what you get Rockstar. Now you realise unless its shooter, braindead Bots wont touch it.

[0mega4]

a gaming using the light to fight the darkness sounded more interesting than it actually was.
additionally the game could be played threw one sitting

the game lacked in too many categories to make it a major player this year

[KingKiff]

Completely agree. Was very boring and I finished it in one sitting, glad it was only a rental...

[Trebius]

me and my friend beat it in one sitting. but I'm not gonna lie and say it wasnt an enjoyable experience. It just wasnt a $60-$70 experience.

[-SIXAXIS-]

The problem with Wake was NOT that RDR was released on the same day, but that it was NOT RELEASED on PC and PS3. I bet they would've sold at least double if they released it multiplat. They're genuinely stupid for letting MS buy them out.

[dirthurts]

Disappointing sales maybe, but not games.

[Shaka2K6]

.

[TheHomerPimpson]

Go away. Don't support stereotypes man, not every 360 gamer only cares about FPS's. Guess people got this in their head because every 12 year old gets a 360 to play Halo on, but the 360 does have a hardcore fanbase that does care about story-driven games. Alan Wake didn't do well because (like people said above) it was up against RDR and there were literally no adverts on TV, and very few through the other outlets. And to say it's a bad game is your opinion, while it wasn't a game that will be remembered through the ages (it will by some, as it does have those who loved it) it is still a solid game that is worth every penny. Just my 2 cents as a 360 gamer (not fanboy) that cares about quality games made for mature audiences.

[palaeomerus]

Shaka2K6 didn't play it and probably doesn't know what kind of a game it even is.

[dragon82]

I have to disagree with you. I actually think Alan Wake is one of the better games on Xbox 360. I will admit I don't buy too many games for my Xbox 360 as I do most of my gaming on my PS3 but I do try to at least buy the exclusives and Alan Wake is right up there with the best exclusives I have played.

[-SIXAXIS-]

Alan Wake was an amazing game, but because it was released on 360 only caused them to lose so many sales. I'm just stereotyping here, but the 360 has a larger percentage of "immature" players compared to PC/PS3. If they released it multiplat, it would've sold at least double.

[Chimerhazzard]

That's NOT true!

What about Mass Effect eh? It sold pretty well! And it's an RPG! With eh... some shooting elements.. ok maybe with a lot of shooting... bah nevermind.

No but seriously, Fable 2 and Mass Effect sold well and they are not FPS, so I wouldn't say the XBOX360 is just for FPS. BUt I can't deny that it has a LOT of shooters, and shooters are the games that undeniably sell better.

[nycredude]

Shaka is only stating facts as proven by sales figures. The audience on the 360 is a bit different that the Ps3. Look at heavy rain. No shooting and one can arguably say it was a bit boring and slow but it sold really well on Ps3 with a smaller user base. I love this kind of game but too bad i sold my 360. I will buy it when it releases on the pc, which it will cause they need to make back some of that cheese.

[jlemdon]

I need AW anyways. I'm gonna buy it soon.

[dkgshiz]

I personally dont see any replay value in AW. Its just not really a memorable experience to justify to even replay the game.

[dragon82]

You could say that about 95% of the games on the market.

[lelo2play]

What about 3D Dot Game and Modnation Racers? They had very poor sales. Why so much hate against Alan Wake in recent articles? It's one of the best games this year.

[ToastyMcNibbles]

no one is hating on alan wake.. you just assume so and in turn mention 2 games that just so happen to be ps3 exclusive...maybe the reason those 2 games you brought up are not mentioned is because maybe they happened to sell pretty well when compared to alan wake.. maybe they didn't... i think the point is everyone expected alan wake to do really well but it fell a bit short... doesn't mean its a bad game though

[coolbeans]

You bring a great point that I agree with but neither Modnation nor 3D Dot Game Heroes has more sales than Alan Wake, unless Modnation on PSP is doing fairly well.

@disagrees
What? I'm just grabbing stats. How can that be disagreed upon?

[ToastyMcNibbles]

i honestly have no clue how many copies of modnation racers or 3d dot game heroes were sold.. i'm just saying that i'm guessing the reason they're not mentioned in sales articles is because maybe they sold pretty well but i could be completely wrong who knows.. i'm not saying they sold better than alan wake though

[coolbeans]

Don't have a problem with that, just giving you the info. Considering Split/Second had a backing with Disney advertisement, I'd put that as more disappointing than Modnation anyway. No one consider 3d or Modnation to sell boatloads anyway.

[HolyOrangeCows]

Yahoo almost never acknowledges anything Ps3 anyway.

[zero_gamer]

ModNation Racers has very poor sales? Never thought I'd hear that.

[dkgshiz]

AW was really hyped and it never fully delivered. It was originally an open world game then it turned into a linear 8 hour game.

[1942]

don't bother if he didn't know that was the reason then he is just a 360 fanboy trying to act like the game is a victim. we all know aw was hyped to death by the 360 fanboys which is why it is a massive failure. they said it would do so much but didn't do anything.

[TheLastGuardian]

I bought Modnation Racers over Blur and Split/Second and I was a kinda dissapointed I wish I wouldn't have bought any of them. I'm not much of a Racing game fan and the only other kart racer I've ever had was CTR and I loved that game.

[Rich1631]

Personally, I thought Alan Wake was average, not bad but nowhere as good as I was hoping. I mean 5 years and the developers of Max Payne, and that was it? Good story, great atmosphere, but bland game play, and too much repetition and lacking in variety.

I don't think Red Dead Redemption killed its sales, it was the lukewarm reviews (only an 83 on metacritic) and the crap marketing, which is surprising since Microsoft usually markets the hell out of their exclusives (Fable, Forza, Halo, Gears).

As for the other games, the Guitar Hero/Rock Band craze is officially over, every one has been bombing in sales for the last year. And there was 3 racing games all released too soon together...not a smart move.

[QuantumWake]

Yeah, Alan Wake sure did suffer from repetitive gameplay. Thats something I hope Remedy fixes in their future games.

But I kind of disagree with how you said Alan Wake did not sell because of its metacritic score. 83 is actually pretty good. Considering games like MAG (73 on meta), Heavy Rain (87 on meta), Splinter Cell: Conviction (85 on meta), all managed to sell pretty good.

But it might due to Microsoft's marketing. Not much going on there since I barely saw any TV commercials for it. I've only seen a couple off billboards here and there.

[IHateYouFanboys]

did you get the first DLC for Alan Wake?

if they hadve used the new mechanics from that - the 'floating words', the 'chase' sequence - in the full game, it wouldve made the gameplay less repetitive, and mightve given it some higher review scores.

personally, Alan Wake is my game of the year so far. i cant remember the last time i was so enthralled with a game. Bioshock maybe? its a brilliant game, and i feel sorry for PS3-only owners who cant play it.

[palaeomerus]

Floating words that become things were in the last episode of the main game when he enters the lake.

[IHateYouFanboys]

not used in the same way though, or to the same extent.

[ChickeyCantor]

Just goes to show people like to have a bias selective way picking a "good" game.
Its a pity.

[NYC_Gamer]

they should just remake alan wake with better gameplay/full content and throw it on pc/ps3

[John Kratos]

God I wish Alan Wake sold more. It is one of the best games I played in a while. And it would be a fucking shame if it didn't get a sequel just because it didn't sell that well. Espeicially since Remedy are so eager to make a sequel.

[Rich1631]

We will probably get a sequel. It will cross 1 million lifetime on the 360, and I am willing to bet there will be a PC version early next year with the DLC included. Hopefully they get a sequel out within 2-3 years, and not another 5.

[gamer7804]

I 100% agree with you. One of my favorite games in recent years. I downloaded the dlc episode as soon as it came out. I hope they finish it with a sequel, or atleast w/ dlc episodes. Fantastic ride so far.

[adonis183]

cant wait to go to the halo reach launch day im going to go throw eggs at the people buying it

[DaBadGuy]

LOL right. You don't have the balls. It's you against who knows how many people waiting outside for the store to open, possibly in the rain or cold, IDK it's september. And you throwing eggs is going to accomplish....what? Pissing everyone off? You don't want the game, that's perfectly fine. Other people like the game and that should be perfectly fine too. I own a PS3 and a 360 and I can play Reach and Killzone if I want to dammit. But if you do throw your eggs, you think you're gonna make it out alive? Nah. You in the jungle baby. You gonna die.

[palaeomerus]

I hope the cops give you 90 days and you spend them being Bubba's new favorite arm rest.

[Trroy]

The Prince of Persia game is actually pretty good, especially if you haven't played Sands of Time. It's on sale this week for only $19.99 at Target, too -- that's where I picked it up, and its totally worth it, IMO. I've played through Sands of Time a couple times (on PS2 and on PC), so I avoided it at first, but the game levels in Forgotten Sands are totally fresh and different, even if the plot is semi-familiar. Its good fun.

Then again, I dig all PoP games, Tomb Raiders, Uncharteds, etc. so take my words with a grain of salt -- I'm a big fan of the genre.

[dorron]

Yeah, it is a great and fun game to play. Still, it is supereasy to beat...

[PS3-247]

AW don't have online and it's not a shooter. It's no surprise it didn't sell well.

[ukilnme]

LMAO. Clowns like you like to claim that PS3 exclusives don't sell well because of the diversity of the PS3 library. Check the charts and you will see that shooters are constantly the top sellers on PS3 as well.

I know it hurts, but my words are truth.

[raztad]

yet Heavy Rain "the movie", as was deemed, was arguably a resounding success.

[ukilnme]

@ raztad

I'm glad for Heavy Rain's success although it was not my cup of tea so to speak. I hope you did not miss my point.

[1942]

your point isn't valid because when you look at ps3 sales most games are all around the 3 mil mark with some shooters doing more. the 360 has huge sales for shooters and very low sales for everything else. so yes all 360 owners buy is shooters while ps3 owners buy more diverse games.

[ukilnme]

@ 1942

My point is very valid. The charts prove it constantly. I do understand though that PS3 fanboys such as yourself have to stick with certain ideas/claims about 360 gaming purchases vs PS3 gaming purchases.

Again, I know it hurts, but my words are truth.

[1942]

lol your words are the truth? then explain why the 360's sales go halo 3 10 mil, gears 2 5 mil and then drops to 3 mil and less for every other none shooter. while on the ps3 it is mgs4 4 mil, gt5p 4 mil, uc2 3.5, lbp 3 mil and keeps going. if you weren't a 360 fanboy with your head up M$' @ss you would see that nothing but shooters are really successful on the 360. how much do platformers sell on the 360? because lbp sold 3 mil. how much have rpgs sold on the 360? because ff13 sold 4 mil on the ps3. how do racers sell on the 360 because gt5p sold 4 mil. ho much do stealth games sell on the360? because on the ps3 mgs sold 4 mil. how much do action adventure games sell on the 360? because uc2 sold 3.5 mil. they only games that do well on tghe 360 are shooter and big name games like gta nothing else. you just have to exect the fact that 360 are shallow and have no tast in anything but mindless shooters which is fitting seeing as they aren't that brright.

@palaeomerus
all those games flopped you idiot which proves my point that you buy nothing but shooters. kee3p your mouth shout next time if you don't want to end up looking dumb.

[Aloren]

@1942 So forza 2 and 3 flopped ? fable 2 flopped ? Sorry but you're the one who's looking dumb right now... and are you even aware that saying that lost odyssey flopped is basically like saying that all PS3 exclusive RPGs flopped ? (and is therefore very stupid)

[PS3-247]

No you the clown. The only thing I claim about PS3 exclusives is that they are 10x better and more fun than what the 360 offers. I don't have to say anymore becuz 1942 have mad a foul of you for me. Thanks 1942.

[palaeomerus]

" AW don't have online and it's not a shooter. It's no surprise it didn't sell well."

Actually Alan Wake IS a third person shooter. Shooting is what you do in the game when you aren't runing or hitting switches. It's sort of funny you didn't know that yet claim to know what it failed. LOL.

@ 1942

So Forza 3, PG4, Lost Odyssey, and Fable 2 are all shooters? LOL. Moron.

[corneliuscrust]

Is a lost cause.

Example:
Krayzie Bone
"Or get pirated very heavy as this was supposed to be an open world PC title and PC gamers haven't forgotten the Gravity of Microsoft's bad decision to make this a linear 360 exclusive!"

MS had nothing to do with ***REMEDY's*** choice to change the design of the game to be more linear and story driven. That's their call. If you don't like it, maybe shoot them an email stating your distaste for the direction they took in a game you never played.

The only thing MS did was to keep this as a 360 exclusive. Bad move? maybe...but according to the SDF "360 has no exclusives that arent on PC"
So MS keeps a game (in this case, AW) as 360 exclusive... but apparently MS needs more exclusives on 360 AND should be putting those exclusives on PC as well...somehow. Amazing.

[nycredude]

Corenlius

If you think Alan wake isn't going to pc you are fooling yourself. I will buy it when it releases on PC for $30. They need it to recoup some money.

[PS3-247]

Actually sir AW is not a third person shooter. It's a thriller. Just becuz he use a gun in the game don't make it a shooter so you FAILED not me.

[orange-skittle]

Alan Wake is an action shooter moron. That's what you do in the whole game while being attacked by The Taken.

The game is also longer than most games especially Heavy Rain and God of War. Heavy Rain should've been on that list too. I was shocked how quick that was to beat. Why would I play through that again if I saved everyone? You think I wanna hear all that nonsense all over again or go through the detective files as if I dont know who the killer is. It's just a QTE game hopped up on pills. After beeating Alan Wake, you felt like you couldn't wait for Chapter 2. The only thing I would change is the animation. He runs kinda weird and it wasn't as fluid as Uncharted.

[ATi_Elite]

Alan Wake poor sales? come on 360 owners only want Halo or Modern Warfare everybody knows this.

Release a PC version of Alan Wake w/ Dlc included and you will make some money.

Or get pirated very heavy as this was supposed to be an open world PC title and PC gamers haven't forgotten the Gravity of Microsoft's bad decision to make this a linear 360 exclusive!

That Nobody bought.

[N4PS3Fanboys]

I thoroughly enjoyed Alan Wake as a rental. Got the full 1000 achievement points and had a good time. Great atmosphere and lighting effects.

[kraze07]

Personally, I don't think AW lived up to the hyped. It just didn't impress me. Even though they're different games I actually liked Siren: Blood Curse more.

[chidori666]

wow 360 fans still in same excuses against Red Dead Redemption.... .-.

[WitWolfy]

Alan Wake seemed like a good game, but sadly turned into a Alone in the dark clone at the end of the day with 576P graphics... 5 years of my life wasted waiting for an awesome horror/survival game.

Remedy must be kicking themselves for not making this multiplat. this game could've been so much more if it had the free roam as well. If you finnish the game once, then there isnt really a reason to go back a second time now is there?

[peeps]

PGA11 is an interesting 1. Would things in his personal life really put gamers off playing a game that is basically just using Tiger as the front cover.

anyway i personally have never bought a PGA game but might pick 11 up when i buy move in september

[WitWolfy]

I just think most people are getting tired of these franchise games. Why by tiger 11 if you already own 08,09 and 10 as well, the tweaks every year is so small you barely notice them anyways, including the graphical upgrades.

I'd say release a new Tiger game every 2nd or 3rd year, and the sales will be much higher then the year on year released put together.

Think about it, would you buy a new version of the same game every year , if it fell in to this category?

[saimcheeda]

i consider it disappointing that it didnt score at least 88+, not sure what its sales were!

[gypsygib]

Alan Wake is still $70 in Canada but it's discounted in every other country? That means Remedy and MS won't get any of my money, at that price I'll just rent it.

I don't care if it drop in price next year because there are way too many great games comming from now to 2011 for me to maintain any interest in it.

[Microsoft Xbox 360]

AW was a huge disappointment. It didn't deliver on it's overhyped graphics, features, gameplay, and it left PC gamers out in the cold.

[TheFaggot_]

Nice try to hide your PS fanboyism by calling yourself "Microsoft Xbox 360"

[mochi]

in my opinion
God of war 3 is most disappointing

[WitWolfy]

Me myself also felt underwhelmed by this AAA monster, but that's not to say its a bad game, i just prefer games that are more like Demon's Souls, or MGS.

I borrowed it by my brother in law and let my friend play while i watched, good story. Was just the mechanics didn't appeal to me

[TheFaggot_]

Everyone in the comments is a PS fanboy, if you want to buy this game do not listen to those filthy maggots. This game is brilliant, filled with an amazing story and visuals.
Funny how PS fanboys always complain about the Xbox ones without knowing that they are far worse.
The problem is that you fanboys don't hide your jealousy at all.
You see no one talks about how Killzone 2 sucked because no one wants it on their Xbox!
But now I know that you want Alan Wake on your PS and you can't do anything about it so you just make up things about this great game.

[RyuDrinksTheDew]

Alan Wake is my GOTY.

everyone knows why it didnt sell well. a little game called Red Dead Redepmtion that released on the SAME day. Microsoft didnt think it out to well.

[orange-skittle]

Alan Wake, Blur, and Split Second should not be on that list. They didnt sell well, but that doesnt mean they were disappointing. The author is an idiot. Where is BackBreaker, Singularity, Army of Two 2, or Just Cause 2? Tiger Woods has been the same for years, so I can't understand this list whatsoever. This article is a complete fail.

[Whackedorange]

Alan Wake was a top notch game that have not sold as well as it should, but to be honest i am more dissapointed about the sales for Blur.

[Ronster316]

I'm glad Tiger Woods 11 sold like crap................

I got to 985G's and only needed to watch a video to get the full 1000......... anyway, there was no video to watch until about 3 weeks after its release, so i kept hold of it instead of selling it straight away so i could 1000 it once the video was up, 3 weeks later theres finally a video up online and low and behold my copy of crappy woods 11 had stopped working, Damn you EA and your timed achievements, DAMN YOU TO HELL....!!!!!!!!

By the way............ Blur online is fantastic & Split seconds "campaign" is great too, both games deserved better sales.

Finally, Alan Wake most definately deserved better sales when you consider some of the crap out there that has outsold it this year.

[El-Fenemeno1213]

Alan Wake is a good game, enjoyed it. However, it should have been multiplat, because the general 360 gamers only love bullets and explosions.

[Pika-pie]

Its sad news for gaming when games like Alan Wake dont do so great. I like a game with great story telling, atmosphere, mature themes, aswell as awesome graphics, gameplay and music along with it.

Games like that need to do great to encourage developers to think different, and not spew out a COD or Rockband clone year after year. Dont get me wrong, I love a good shoot em up from time to time but they need to know that there is a strong market for other genres.

Im glad Heavy Rain did good though.

[Demarco156]

alan wake is ps3 pc game release on the 360

starcraft 2 and demons soul would sell nothing in the 360

[witchking]

Wow, lots of AW discussion here. I'll admit that I'm one of the gamers who believe that AW suffers from 1, being released the same day as RDR, 2, releasing a moody, atmospheric game in the middle of May vs. October and 3, being considered "too short" for $60. Whether you play it in 8 hours or play it for 12-15 hours, a single player game these days just can't stack up against a game that has MP in terms of value for the dollar.

I plan on getting AW later for less $.

That being said, I also waited on PoP: TFS. Picked it up for $37 at Target about a month after its release. It was a fantastic game. Whoever was the artist for the Prince has severe issues. Gotta admit that the character just looked horrible. But the gameplay was great.

[Skadoosh]

I own Alan Wake and Blur. 2 absolutely fantastic games that should not be missed. Rented Split Second and also pretty fun. I only have room for one racer and I chose Blur.

[PS3ROCKS]

was so awesome. But I just rented it. Ill buy the 2nd.

[iliimaster]

muhahaha horrible new ip microsoft im pretty sure there will be no part 2

[blazed13]

im gonna be completely honest here. i enjoyed AW more than FF13.