Uh-oh; things don't look good for upcoming music game DJ Hero, at least according to analyst Doug Creutz of Cowan and Company.
"On DJ Hero, despite some recent positive comments from company management about pre-orders, we remain very cautious about the title's prospects at launch," wrote Creutz in a note to investors. "A survey of online retailers indicates a demand profile that is well below what we would have expected to see just a few days before launch for a title that was destined to be a big (or even modest) success."
Creutz anticipates that DJ Hero will only sell 600,000 units in the US during the fourth quarter, compared to Cowan's previous 1.6m estimate. Creutz predicts the title will sell 950,000 (instead of 2.5 million) for the year. Not terrible, but far from blockbuster status.
This doesn't surprise me: The combination of slumping music game sales, a high-price tag, a never-before-tried control scheme and the relatively niche-oriented appeal of "DJ" music all could add up to slow sales of this title. Which is a shame, honestly. From what I've seen, it's a rad game.
DJ Hero hits shelves tomorrow; and while this is far from a random sampling, I'd be curious how many of you plan on picking it up or asking for it for Kwanzaa. Answer in the comment section.... although I'll take disinterest in this entire post as a "no" vote.
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Lunar_Savage
DJ Hero is a terrible idea. Whoever came up with it needs to be fired. Activision is the company responsible for ruining the music game genre. They flooded the market trying to milk the cash cow and now we're all paying for it. Quantity over quality seems to be the rule at Activision. If Harmonix had any sense, they'd slam Activision in there next marketing campaign for Rockband 3 so the general public knew where the real quality music games are coming from.
ajac09
lol who ever though this was a good idea for a game should be shot anyway
The Emperor's Champion
They should make "Guitar Hero:Linkin Park" or something and add this controller to the game as part of the full set of gizmos. Bet it'd sell quite a few copies of this game if people had a bigger reason to use the turntable controller.
Galloc
I think the demand for DJ Hero is going to be similar to the original Guitar Hero. sales were slow for te first months, but when more people get a chance to play, the demand will rise. The sales did not pick up until a few months after the release for Guitar Hero. It will sell, and from the demo i have played, it is fun.
minty160
im picking it up tomorrow :D
JRRyan
I have enough plastic music peripherals in my house, still rocking out with Rock Band, that is after purchasing Guitar Hero II and 3. Can't see dropping another $100 plus for another music game, and the fact it's a single player experience really takes it out of the party game genre.
That and the fact I already picked up ODST, and am planning on buying Tekken 6 and Modern Warfare 2 when they come out. Bad timing in a kick ass season of video game releases.
IcemanMX
Can't afford it right now. No time or money. I'd like to try it out though. It looks... interesting to say the least.
-M
Whiteboypimpin13
I would love to try this game out. Its a great idea and I think I would like it. I just don't want to waste my money on something that I might not like. Its not like a normal game because you need the turn table and I am not risking it. Too Expensive.
poker909
lame for sure. Guitar/band hero is different because playing a real instrument takes a lot of time and practice, and the game fulfills a rock and roll fantasy that many people have. DJing only requires the ambition to do so and good taste in music. Digital USB DJ controllers have been availible for about a decade now, and allow the amature the ability to "beat match" like the pros with a press of a button, playing any track you have on your computer. The only DJ in DJ hero is the person who picked the set list for the game.
bedrockk
I'm waiting on Scratch: The Ultimate DJ to come out next year ....
tonysiouxprano
i dont like the way the game is set up. i dont like the mash ups between songs. when seeing the song lists it was all songs mashed together and there should at least be a option to just play the song. dont want no lady gaga and hootie and the blowfish mix. just rap please. yeah there is too much music out on the market this is a ship that should have sailed long ago
KnightswordX
I also find it ironic that the title that gave birth to this type of gaming is also going to be responsible for its death.
KnightswordX
I blame Activision for bloating the market with its constant stream of music games, at least two releases a year. This year is just ridiculous. I think the music game genre would have been fine with fewer new titles and continued DLC. Rockband had the right idea this time around. I respect that they have let RB2 live a long happy life.
tentaro
I will get it eventually but right now, money is just too tight to waste $120 and of course really I want the renegade edition so I can get the case/stand. Always was a DJ at heart but life made me drop my dreams for reality. and now I can at least fake it :)
@kilamic
The only reason you might think that is that Activision unfortunately has flooded the freaking market with so many freaking GH games that sales for all of them start to drop.
kilamic
Music games are on the way out. While we have used them as great party games, they really are failing. Retailers can't even give away GH: Van Halen. So this is a last effort to make $120 before it's as dead as HD DVD. I'll download songs for my Rock Band 2, and Beatles but I'll never buy another full game or it's plastic toy to play it.
IdiscojI
I am most definitely picking up this game tomorrow. I love the whole dance/electronic feel and I think it's the perfect game for me. Already beat the hell out of guitar hero, now it's time for something new!
BaneRuleOfTwo
@ZyloWolfBane
One of the great thing about music games is that it exposes you to music that you might not otherwise hear. I have been playing guitar hero/ rock band games since they first came out and it heavily influenced what i listened to. My love for classic rock in particular was born from playing playing these games.
OneEyedMonsta
Kwanzaa lol. Guess we know who buys into this garbage rave music crap.
ZyloWolfBane
Geez, did they REALLY expect people to run out and buy another expensive music game in which the special control unit does not work with any other game? really? in this economy?
The music game genre has worn out is welcome, neither Harmonix or Activision have any idea as to what "Music" really is to todays generation and they need to just stop now for a while before they ruin it forever like DDR.
I mean really, GH Van Halen? RB Beetles? show me even 1000 people between the ages of 10-18 who even know one song from either title or even know who either band even is, yet they thought those were great ideas.
And now DJ hero? come on, everybody already thinks they are a freakin DJ nowadays and now they make a game about it?
stdTrancR
The butt-rockers have had their fun, now its our turn.
I mean, I always wanted to try a 'band hero' game but I just cant handle the lamo rock music. I like electronic dance music and I hope this game is all its cracked up to be. I am buying it and I hope they have more trance/dance add-on packs available soon.
Daft Punk ftw.
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