Madden 11 Impressions

[Rodster]

Well one sign might be discounting, which Target has done for $50 this week.

Kmart is doing one better this week. Madden 11 @ $44.95 with a $20 videogame GC.

[ScoopBrady]

Stores also use popular titles that sell well as loss leaders to get people in their store. Permanent price drops are an indicator, not one-week sales. Who would possibly imagine a sale for the NCAA football game on the week NCAA football starts and a sale for the NFL game the week leading up to the start of the regular season?

There might be a downward trend in sales but we are in a very tough economic period in our history, everything pretty much has a downwards trend in sales. If the drops were bigger I'd put more weight in the fact that people are becoming more and more fed up with the product.

[JRod]

They may not be lose leaders but rather these box stores want to liquidate their inventory. They may have overbought to anticipate demand and when the sales where not met, they just need to push the games out the door to better manage their inventory. Stores lose money when products sit on their shelves.

[GTHobbes]

There might be a downward trend in sales but we are in a very tough economic period in our history, everything pretty much has a downwards trend in sales. If the drops were bigger I'd put more weight in the fact that people are becoming more and more fed up with the product.

True, we're in a terrible economic period. But Madden's overall sales have dropped for 6 straight years now, ever since the exclusive license went into effect, in fact. If you look at Madden's total sales from 2004 and compare them with the total sales of Madden 11 (when all is said and done), I think you just might find the evidence you're looking for that "people are becoming more and more fed up with the product."

[bkrich83]

I love the agenda's that get pushed by the same people every year in the Madden/NCAA forums. Never gets old.

[GTHobbes]

It also never gets old reading the same counter-agendas from the same people every year. I would've thought that those people would've gotten tired defending EA/Tiburon and their lazy/incompetent efforts after all these years, but apparently not.

[bkrich83]

It also never gets old reading the same counter-agendas from the same people every year. I would've thought that those people would've gotten tired defending EA/Tiburon and their lazy/incompetent efforts after all these years, but apparently not.

Lame. Apparently my post struck close to home.

[dbdynsty25]

I know I'm not one to talk, but wow, this isn't much of an impressions thread anymore.

[bkrich83]

I know I'm not one to talk, but wow, this isn't much of an impressions thread anymore.

How can it be? The same guys who don't even play the game, but have the same lame agenda year in and year out continually take it over.

[DivotMaker]

How can it be? The same guys who don't even play the game, but have the same lame agenda year in and year out continually take it over.

[ScoopBrady]

Okay, I went to vgchartz and looked at numbers a little differently than some of you guys. Rather than look at total units sold I looked at 3 systems in particular; the 360, the PS3, and the PS2. Why? Because I figured one of the big reasons there was such a discrepancy in sales numbers from in the past 6 or so years is the PS2 and PC sales dropping. If you look at sales statistics by system you will actually see that Madden is on an upward trend for the 2 current next gen systems (Wii is not next gen IMO) and a downward trend on the dying PS2.

Here's the breakdown in millions of units sold:

360
Madden 06 - .68
Madden 07 - 1.91
Madden 08 - 2.42
Madden 09 - 2.42
Madden 10 - 2.57


PS3
Madden 06 - not released
Madden 07 - .49
Madden 08 - .94
Madden 09 - 1.71
Madden 10 - 2.03

PS2
Madden 06 - 3.92
Madden 07 - 3.65
Madden 08 - 2.2
Madden 09 - 1.37
Madden 10 - .94

If you look at those numbers you would think that the major versions of Madden are not experiencing any dip in sales and the dip is seen elsewhere.

[DivotMaker]

Good info Scoop....nice to see facts injected into discussions full of opinions.....

[GTHobbes]

Scoop, isn't the total number of units sold the most important thing? If Madden sales across all platforms used to be 7 million, and if now they'll probably struggle to sell 5 million, isn't that really all that matters? At $30-$60 a pop, that's a LOT less revenue, particularly with the additional extra cost involved with the exclusive license.

I understand why EA feels they need the exclusive -- Madden probably wouldn't have survived without it, at least not with this bunch at tiburon in charge -- but when sales are down between 1 to 2 million units overall from 6 years ago, that's a lot less money available for development.

[Leebo33]

Scoop, isn't the total number of units sold the most important thing? If Madden sales across all platforms used to be 7 million, and if now they'll probably struggle to sell 5 million, isn't that really all that matters? At $30-$60 a pop, that's a LOT less revenue, particularly with the additional extra cost involved with the exclusive license.

I understand why EA feels they need the exclusive -- Madden probably wouldn't have survived without it, at least not with this bunch at tiburon in charge -- but when sales are down between 1 to 2 million units overall from 6 years ago, that's a lot less money available for development.

I hate to get in the middle of this because I think you have some sort of agenda and have often wondered if you work for a competitor or have otherwise been affected by the exclusive license outside of just not having the best possible football game to play, but I agree with you here. EA has to be disappointed in those figures. Sales numbers in dollars is at very best flat over the past 4 years. Even if they are making more for micro-transactions they have to be disappointed because more game sales would equate to even more micro-transactions.

It would be interesting to see how the overall sales numbers for all games is looking over the past few years and compare that to the Madden trending. Is the hole pie shrinking due to the economy or are people spending the same amount of money but buying different games?

In the grand scheme of things it not that important to me because I really like the game....even if Danimal's daughter could beat me.

[greggsand]

isn't it too soon to compare last year's #s vs this year? I'd think you'd have to wait until post-holidays to have a fair comparison. It's weird how much "sales" talk madden gets on the web.

[Danimal]

How can it be? The same guys who don't even play the game, but have the same lame agenda year in and year out continually take it over.

I've been saying this for 3 or 4 years and usually am the one to get chastised for it. Finally nice to see other people speaking up. If it bugs you I would advise the ignore feature, of course it will knock the backbreaker thread down to about 8 posts but what can you do.

[Danimal]

....even if Danimal's daughter could beat me.

Kid has skills and she is not a cheeser either I would never take her on in Wi sports sword battle lol

[ScoopBrady]

Scoop, isn't the total number of units sold the most important thing? If Madden sales across all platforms used to be 7 million, and if now they'll probably struggle to sell 5 million, isn't that really all that matters? At $30-$60 a pop, that's a LOT less revenue, particularly with the additional extra cost involved with the exclusive license.

I understand why EA feels they need the exclusive -- Madden probably wouldn't have survived without it, at least not with this bunch at tiburon in charge -- but when sales are down between 1 to 2 million units overall from 6 years ago, that's a lot less money available for development.

GT, in all fairness I'm starting to wonder what you are trying to say. You say Madden sucks this year (360 or PS3 version) and the lack of sales proves that more and more people feel the same way. I post numbers indicating that the 360 and PS3 versions are both trending higher in sales each year and you come back with this. The numbers show that people are happy with 360 and PS3 Madden.

Now, to address less sales over all platforms, what's the big deal? That means nothing about the product IMO. We've already mentioned the economy as a reason but there's another huge reason; piracy. Piracy is at an all-time high. You can easily pirate games on every system out there right now. The PS3 and 360 require a chip but every other platform EA releases Madden on is easily piratable. Wii, easy as hell. PSP, even easier. iPhone? You can download it right from your phone and install it if it's jailbroken and jailbreaking it is as easy as visiting a web site now.

One of the reasons you see EA, and other companies, pushing micro-transactions is because it helps recoup loss from piracy. As long as they continue to see an upwards trend on the 360 and PS3 and a steady increase in micro-transactions how could they not be happy? The only thing I would be concerned about if I was EA would be the poor sales on the Wii. But as with every Nintendo console, titles not made by Nintendo typically don't sell very well. Say what you want but if you really think the market today is the same as it was 5-7 years ago then you might have to prove you don't work for the RIAA.

[JRod]

Good info Scoop....nice to see facts injected into discussions full of opinions.....

That's kind of insulting to GT. Was he just making up numbers from VG charts. Come on Tim, this is a lazy statement.


I'm not busting out math skills but if Madden looks at total units (which is stupid because the PS2 will not increase in sales) then yes Madden has seen a decrease. Numbers don't lie but you can swing them anyway you want. Less sales in the PS2 market does hurt EA Sports because they aren't making up for those sales in the next-gen market. However, logically, EA has probably estimated a decrease in PS2 sales and adjusted internal budgets accordingly.

[JRod]

How can it be? The same guys who don't even play the game, but have the same lame agenda year in and year out continually take it over.

I've been saying this for 3 or 4 years and usually am the one to get chastised for it. Finally nice to see other people speaking up. If it bugs you I would advise the ignore feature, of course it will knock the backbreaker thread down to about 8 posts but what can you do.

I think Jared should probably just close down the board because what's the purpose of a discussion board if we only select views, as logical or illogical as our own, to respond to. That's really what you want Danimal to have people agree so as not to have any "heated" discussion.

[DivotMaker]

Good info Scoop....nice to see facts injected into discussions full of opinions.....

That's kind of insulting to GT. Was he just making up numbers from VG charts. Come on Tim, this is a lazy statement.


I'm not busting out math skills but if Madden looks at total units (which is stupid because the PS2 will not increase in sales) then yes Madden has seen a decrease. Numbers don't lie but you can swing them anyway you want. Less sales in the PS2 market does hurt EA Sports because they aren't making up for those sales in the next-gen market. However, logically, EA has probably estimated a decrease in PS2 sales and adjusted internal budgets accordingly.

Sorry, but I can see the "agenda" that a few of you have against Madden and anything EA and I do believe it taints many of your posts. Above, Scoop produces numbers that show Madden increasing in sales while you and GT claim the game is losing sales "for six consecutive years". So whose numbers do we believe? Frankly, I do not believe any of them. EA has numbers they work with and if what you and GT speculate were actually true, EA would have already made wholesale changes in the Madden Dev Team. Talk of TW11 sales being down did not influence EA making wholesale changes with their TW console Dev Team as they are already working on TW12 with all but 2 members of the 11 Dev Team. I think some of you are using the sales numbers to make yourselves feel good about and to justify your disdain for Madden and EA. You spare no opportunity to run Tiburon in the ground here, but do either of you actually post in the EA Madden forums? If you don't, then why do you care what the game is like? Ranting and raving here is not going to change a damn thing about Madden or ANY EA Sports game. If you want to impact ANY game, you have to become vocal in the forums and the EA Sports Dev Blogs.

[GTHobbes]

I remember being told to shut up 6 years ago for always getting on Tiburon about Mario Running, suction blocking, 20 yard drop back quarterbacks, lousy presentation, terrible looking tackles (remember the shotgun blast in the back), etc. I used to annoy the same people back then. They'd say, it's just a videogame. If you don't like it, don't buy it.

Now, when a lot more people are complaining AND not buying the game, they still respond the same way.

[bkrich83]

I've been saying this for 3 or 4 years and usually am the one to get chastised for it. Finally nice to see other people speaking up. If it bugs you I would advise the ignore feature, of course it will knock the backbreaker thread down to about 8 posts but what can you do.

It doesn't bug me. It is what it is. I was merely responding to DB's post. You just have to take certain people's posts with a grain of salt, as their agenda is clear. EA could make the greatest football game in history, and for whatever reason they would still try their hardest to find issue with it. I don't get it, but just accept it for what it is. Rubbish.

[greggsand]

Maybe we can make a separate 'Madden Sales Trends' thread? I was digging the thread when it was about sliders & gameplay. It seems there's enough interest to start a new thread.

[10spro]

Maybe we can make a separate 'Madden Sales Trends' thread? I was digging the thread when it was about sliders & gameplay. It seems there's enough interest to start a new thread.

Not a bad idea.