Can a GOTY edition actually hurt game revenues?

[dagens24]

I was thinking about this earlier, would you guys agree that the rise in GOTY editions can actually hurt game revenues? The reason I bring this up is Dragon Age Origins 2 is coming out soon and I will NOT be getting it. This is due to the fact that I know I'll be able to get it in a year from now with all the DLC included for about half the price of the stand alone game at launch. I understand game companies release GOTY editions to try and grab every last possible consumers (those that wouldn't have bought it at launch to begin with) but now I find myself actually waiting for those editions where as if I wasn't so sure that there would be a GOTY edition I would just buy the game at launch.

Are there any others out there who follow these same buying habits? Do you think that it's possible the rise in GOTY edition could actually hurt game revenues?

Edit: Another question; do you think we'll ever see GOTY editions surpassing the sales of 1st edtions?

 

[migo]

I don't think it necessarily hurts sales, they get them either way, just not all clumped together.

 

[evilmrgerbik]

I think it can. I am also going to wait and see if a Dragon Age 2 Goty is released. Not all game companies do it, but when I see a pattern(I'm looking at you Bethesda), and I'm not so excited that I need a zero-day product, I tend to wait and see if a better version gets released.

 

[dagens24]

I don't think it necessarily hurts sales, they get them either way, just not all clumped together.

Sorry, I should have said revenue. The sales may be the same but if I buy the game at launch and then buy all the DLC the company is going to make a lot more money than if I wait for a GOTY edition and then buy that.

 

[Danceofmasks]

It also hurts sales in another way.

EB games has this retarded habit of putting the normal versions of games on shelves and the GOTY edition in the back room.
And charging almost the same amount for both.

It hurts sales 'cos people who go into the store to look for the GOTY edition will just be disgusted at the store's lack of respect.
I mean sure .. you have dead stock you want to move, but I'm not about to buy anything from a store that don't give a rat's ass about their customers' gaming experience.

 

[Dumbfish1]

If you're right then it would hurt only the launch sales, but it then all the people who saved themselves for the game of the year edition would buy it then.

But personally, I don't know many people who wait for the Game of the year edition, most of my game playing friends buy it straight out, or not at all, So the impact is probably minor.

 

[migo]

A savvy consumer might decide not to buy a game at all knowing it's incomplete without DLC, so the GOTY edition would get them to buy something they normally never would. I figure it probably balances out.

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

It hurts initial sales. Bit of a difference there from overall sales.

 

[dagens24]

Changed sales to revenue. Sorry for the confusion all.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Christ you people need to calm down on the "oh noes lost sales", you are planning on giving them money yet worry you don't give enough?! I'm sure you could give them a kidney also...

The sales spread out, some are pre-ordered, some are bought on launch, some or bought second hand, some on sales and some with GOTY editions, and that is how you MAXIMIZE your sales.

 

[Lucane]

I don't think it necessarily hurts sales, they get them either way, just not all clumped together.

Sorry, I should have said revenue. The sales may be the same but if I buy the game at launch and then buy all the DLC the company is going to make a lot more money than if I wait for a GOTY edition and then buy that.

It's a good thing your not the only customer Your situation is like when someone pays for a ticket to a new movie to make an illegal copy to sell/provide free copies on the net.

Not everyone who wants the game is gonna want to get it right away or be able to afford it at the start, so they want people who'll go out the 1st few days to pay what they will and then later (Say when it's a GotY is released or it's a greatest hit) they open their net wider to get people who want to spend a little less since they either get to a point when there is a slow in sales or they've all ready earned a targeted amount of capital at the starting price.

 

[dagens24]

I don't think it necessarily hurts sales, they get them either way, just not all clumped together.

Sorry, I should have said revenue. The sales may be the same but if I buy the game at launch and then buy all the DLC the company is going to make a lot more money than if I wait for a GOTY edition and then buy that.

It's a good thing your not the only customer Your situation is like when someone pays for a ticket to a new movie to make an illegal copy to sell/provide free copies on the net.

Not everyone who wants the game is gonna want to get it right away or be able to afford it at the start, so they want people who'll go out the 1st few days to pay what they will and then later (Say when it's a GotY is released or it's a greatest hit) they open their net wider to get people who want to spend a little less since they either get to a point when there is a slow in sales or they've all ready earned a targeted amount of capital at the starting price.

Sorry, but I don't understand the 'ticket to the new movie, analogy? Can you please explain?

 

[Lucane]

I don't think it necessarily hurts sales, they get them either way, just not all clumped together.

Sorry, I should have said revenue. The sales may be the same but if I buy the game at launch and then buy all the DLC the company is going to make a lot more money than if I wait for a GOTY edition and then buy that.

It's a good thing your not the only customer Your situation is like when someone pays for a ticket to a new movie to make an illegal copy to sell/provide free copies on the net.

Not everyone who wants the game is gonna want to get it right away or be able to afford it at the start, so they want people who'll go out the 1st few days to pay what they will and then later (Say when it's a GotY is released or it's a greatest hit) they open their net wider to get people who want to spend a little less since they either get to a point when there is a slow in sales or they've all ready earned a targeted amount of capital at the starting price.

Sorry, but I don't understand the 'ticket to the new movie, analogy? Can you please explain?

Oh a lil off topic on my part but it's like what happens when movies start in theatres and then go to rental/dvd/blu-ray it starts at say $10 a person per ticket but it becomes sorta discounted when you just buy the movie and never have a limit on how many times you watch it If you watch the same movies as say 3 friends it'd be cheaper to split the price of the dvds than buying tickets but you'd have to wait longer for that benifit like waiting for a GoTY.
Basicilly you may get it cheaper but you pay by having to wait longer to get it.