With the holiday season fast approaching, it's that time of year when everyone analyzes pre-order sales in order to determine which games will make the biggest splash this year. Data for the Americas has recently rolled in, indicating very strong numbers for many Xbox 360 titles. This doesn't come as much of a shock, as the 360 is much more popular in North America, but what does come as a bit of a shock are the relative locations of the year's two biggest exclusives. Microsoft's Gears of War 3 currently tops the chart with 1,220,810 pre-orders, while Sony's Uncharted 3 holds 11th place with only 145,739. These numbers are shockingly drastic, but is it something that Sony should be worried about?
Here are three reasons why Naughty Dog and Sony shouldn't stress about Uncharted's lackluster pre-order numbers.
3. Gears of War is Right Around the Corner - Perhaps the reason for so many Gears numbers has to do with the fact that the game launches in only a couple months. Many people won't bother pre-ordering a game that is still four months away. It's in our nature to procrastinate and look for immediate satisfaction, so it comes as no surprise that the most pre-ordered game is also the one closest to release. On the other hand, Mass Effect 3 is still many months away, with a March 2012 release and yet it's ranked rather high with 168,198 pre-order sales for the 360 version. This may have something to do with the fact that it was initially supposed to release this year then got pushed back, or maybe it really is just that popular.
2. Pre-Order Bonuses, Midnight Releases, Etc - I don't know about you, but I almost never pre-order games. Unless there is a midnight release or some sort of exclusive content, most retailers come stocked with every game no matter how popular, so I don't really see the point. That is why it is so important to note the fact that Gears of War 3 offered beta access when you pre-ordered the game. I know a number of people who don't normally pre-order games, who rushed out to their local game store so they could drop their $5 down to score access into the beta. Uncharted 3 did not have a similar promotion, instead their beta access was tied to PlayStation Plus which nearly everyone had at that time due to the "Welcome Back Program."
1. These Numbers Only Represent the Americas - It is important to recognize the fact that the United States is primarily an Xbox nation, while places like Europe and Japan typically hold the PS3 as their platform of choice. As such, the numbers on a global scale are likely very different than the Xbox-favorted stats we received from VGChartz. While Uncharted 3 may not necessarily be on the top of the list, the disparity between Gears of War 3 and Uncharted 3 will be much smaller.
There's no denying that the average gamer wants a shooter with nonstop action and a robust online multiplayer experience. That is why Gears of War, Battlefield and Modern Warfare are all among the top most pre-ordered games. It's truly disheartening to see the lack of variety in the top pre-ordered titles. And while it's hard to argue against the fact that high pre-order sales equate to overall success, I will step out there and say that lower pre-order sales don't necessarily equate to lackluster performance.
