GTSport takes 1 in Japanese game sales for the week!!

[ImaRobot]

They want to deem my review unreliable while holding value giving credit to these "fishy" Amazon reviews

What's fishy about them? What reviews aren't fishy, then?

 

[Johnnypenso]

Did those high week one sales in japan resulted in a very high number of negative reviews from misinformed amazon customers?!? Did these consumers have access to social media to learn more about the game prior to purchasing?!?
Did Amazon represent the largest % of week 1 sales in Japan?!?



I think reviews are not held at high standards and only serve as a guide to help similar people get an insight about the game. I don't think reviews should be used to trickle moods, change the rate of potential sales and force game companies to change development decisions. Also, I don't think my 10/10 review score of Gran Turismo Sport on meteoritic caused this massive #1 week sales in Japan but it is obvious that some here do not appreciate this. They want to deem my review unreliable while holding value giving credit to these "fishy" Amazon reviews.


What I get from all this is that people are not happy that Gran Turismo Sport reached #1 sales in Japan for the week.

I see the source of your confusion. You're imputing a negative motion onto some people because you think they are dissing your game and your superficial review. You're taking it personally. No to the bolded part. Look at the other sales figures. Given the huge amount of front end loading in video game sales it would have been utterly shocking, as in earth shattering, had a game with the budget and market familiarity of GT not reached number one. The discussion around the reviews has nothing to do with people being unhappy GT reached number one and everything to do with thinking that the poor review scores do not bode well for the long term viability of this new concept. Early sales are influenced greatly by the historical performance of a title and marketing. Long term performance is more dictated by gameplay and market reception after launch. Early bad reviews can kill a game in the long run but some games or series have the ability to overcome that simply because they stick to the same tried and true formula with better graphics and more features. COD comes to mind.

We worry that the game is not going to do well in the market after a week or two, with lots of returns, people picking up used instead of new copies and it turning into a budget title pretty quickly. Bundling through the holiday season will artificially inflate the sales no doubt but maybe less so in the past given the critical reception the game has received. What does all this mean for long term support? Will it affect DLC levels? Will it mean PD goes to work on a title that's more like a GT7 vs. GTS2 sooner rather than later, drawing resources away from this game? We don't know because this is foreign territory for this franchise.

 

[CopperySinger]

I see the source of your confusion. You're imputing a negative motion onto some people because you think they are dissing your game and your superficial review. You're taking it personally. No to the bolded part. Look at the other sales figures. Given the huge amount of front end loading in video game sales it would have been utterly shocking, as in earth shattering, had a game with the budget and market familiarity of GT not reached number one. The discussion around the reviews has nothing to do with people being unhappy GT reached number one and everything to do with thinking that the poor review scores do not bode well for the long term viability of this new concept. Early sales are influenced greatly by the historical performance of a title and marketing. Long term performance is more dictated by gameplay and market reception after launch. Early bad reviews can kill a game in the long run but some games or series have the ability to overcome that simply because they stick to the same tried and true formula with better graphics and more features. COD comes to mind.

We worry that the game is not going to do well in the market after a week or two, with lots of returns, people picking up used instead of new copies and it turning into a budget title pretty quickly. Bundling through the holiday season will artificially inflate the sales no doubt but maybe less so in the past given the critical reception the game has received. What does all this mean for long term support? Will it affect DLC levels? Will it mean PD goes to work on a title that's more like a GT7 vs. GTS2 sooner rather than later, drawing resources away from this game? We don't know because this is foreign territory for this franchise.

Its' true, I think GT Sport is a really good game. If we take it at face value not determined by its history we would not have to deal with controversial game having "fishy" reviews imo. I am not convinced all these negative reviewers were actually misinformed about whats in the game. I believe that many predetermined the action to wipe dirt on GT Sport because they knew beforehand that the game was not going to be what they wanted to be. I believe their intentions were to manipulate GT Sport's sales forecast. Some unhappy reviewers seem to want GT Sport to go on sale at a discount quickly in hopes for them to lose revenue. I do feel it as a personal attack when being attacked by those who are unhappy with the positive sales numbers in efforts to suppress my positive mood on GT Sport, I can't help but wonder are these the same people who are responsible for some of those Amazon reviews?!?


While predictions are not always true, based on this factor I predict positive sales numbers for weeks to come.

 

[Scaff]

Its' true, I think GT Sport is a really good game. If we take it at face value not determined by its history we would not have to deal with controversial game having "fishy" reviews imo. I am not convinced all these negative reviewers were actually misinformed about whats in the game. I believe that many predetermined the action to wipe dirt on GT Sport because they knew beforehand that the game was not going to be what they wanted to be. I believe their intentions were to manipulate GT Sport's sales forecast. Some unhappy reviewers seem to want GT Sport to go on sale at a discount quickly in hopes for them to lose revenue. I do feel it as a personal attack when being attacked by those who are unhappy with the positive sales numbers in efforts to suppress my positive mood on GT Sport, I can't help but wonder are these the same people who are responsible for some of those Amazon reviews?!?


While predictions are not always true, based on this factor I predict positive sales numbers for weeks to come.

The sales numbers are not clearly positive, now if the were close to GT5 numbers I would agree, but they far closer to the numbers of the lowest initially performing GT title in recent history.

That should be a concern for any publisher.

Now in regards to your claim that people predetermined reviews of GTS to deliberately impact on sales figures. You do realise we have been discussing verified purchasers, if your buying a title to post a negative review, to impact sales' figures then your doing it wrong. Particularly as you don't need to buy it to post a review, positive or negative.

You also seem to be claiming that members here are attacking you personally because you have rumbled this plot.

Now those are some bold claims that make some quite serious allegations about members here, so I do hope you are able to back that up.

That's quite an overstatement though. Most information available before the release of the game pointed towards a game centered on the online experience. Yes, there is one 5 second clip from Malaysia where Kaz says that only 15% of the game is online (which is a very vague statement, how is that even measured?), but everything else pointed massively towards a game without a traditional career mode, with a smaller car and track list than what we're used to from past titles, and an e-sports focus.

The GTS website isn't even consistent on the content, nor does it make it clear at all that the traditional GT Model was gone.

The main detail page for GTS states four sections to campaign mode (the online manual states three), Racing Etiquette apparently teaches me about flag rules and safety car procedures (both missing from my copy of GTS), no mention of the always online saving is main on the main details page of the website at all (plenty of warnings that I will need a UHD TV for certain features and a PSVR for VR, but nothing at all about online only saves or the need to be connected to use anything barbone feature (and not be able to save and progress on that feature).

Sure, people who don't follow sim racing might have missed the news (just like they also would have missed the 15% quote), but if you don't do at least a minimum amount of research before buying a game you can't really blame the studio or the publisher.

If this was a brand new IP I would agree with you 100%, but it's not.

It's a series that's been running for two decades in which the core single player element of full price releases has not changed one bit.

Given that I can't agree that this is a consumer issue at all.

Sony and PD have spent 20 years building and re-enforcing a brand in the eyes of its audience, don't then blame the audience if that's what the expect from your brand.

 

[rono_thomas]

Wrong. It was made clear from the start. I'm sure you don't remember that though, since your only interest in Gran Turismo seems to be to complain about it.

Which part of his post was wrong?

 

[Johnnypenso]

Its' true, I think GT Sport is a really good game. If we take it at face value not determined by its history we would not have to deal with controversial game having "fishy" reviews imo. I am not convinced all these negative reviewers were actually misinformed about whats in the game. I believe that many predetermined the action to wipe dirt on GT Sport because they knew beforehand that the game was not going to be what they wanted to be. I believe their intentions were to manipulate GT Sport's sales forecast. Some unhappy reviewers seem to want GT Sport to go on sale at a discount quickly in hopes for them to lose revenue. I do feel it as a personal attack when being attacked by those who are unhappy with the positive sales numbers in efforts to suppress my positive mood on GT Sport, I can't help but wonder are these the same people who are responsible for some of those Amazon reviews?!?


While predictions are not always true, based on this factor I predict positive sales numbers for weeks to come.

There's no doubt some of the reviews are contrived. It's not an all or nothing thing however, you don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. When many reviews come from verified purchasers you're basically suggesting that they wasted $70 just to be able to put up one bad review out of hundreds. That stretches the bounds of credibility. You're also suggesting a worldwide conspiracy. Reviews in Asia, Europe and North America are all saying basically the same things. So either there's widespread agreement among many fans that the game has serious shortcomings in their eyes or there's a worldwide conspiracy amongst gamers to downvote this game for some nefarious reason. Which sounds more likely?

I have not seen any evidence that people are unhappy with positive sales numbers here as you allege. Can you give me some examples?

Last, I don't think anyone is trying to suppress your positive mood regarding the game. They are simply questioning the statements you make and cannot prove or have no basis for. This works both ways. Inaccurate statements, both positive and negative, are almost always questioned.

 

[ghostrider135]

I think there is one thing we can take away from all this, GT:Sport seems to be the No Mans Sky of 2017.

Over-Promised and Under-Delivered
Looks pretty, Lacks content
Supposedly sets a new standard for gaming
No Mans Sky was panned right from the start, GT:Sport thus far is only doing slightly better based on nothing more than the history of the GT name.

 

[CopperySinger]

I think there is one thing we can take away from all this, GT:Sport seems to be the No Mans Sky of 2017.

Over-Promised and Under-Delivered
Looks pretty, Lacks content
Supposedly sets a new standard for gaming
No Mans Sky was panned right from the start, GT:Sport thus far is only doing slightly better based on nothing more than the history of the GT name.

Nah, Gt Sport seems to be the evolution Gran Turismo of 2017.

Everything is promised from what Ive read about the game in September
Looks pretty, full of different content
Sets the new standard for racing, Sport mode matches you with players with similar abilities
Gran Turimo Sport does not provide the nostalgic feeling but is clearly the best in this generation.

Ghostrider, week 1 sales has reflected this, get over it.

 

[Scaff]

Nah, Gt Sport seems to be the evolution Gran Turismo of 2017.

You appear to not know what evolution means in that case.

Everything is promised from what Ive read about the game in September

Why September?

Looks pretty,

Yep

full of different content

Nope

Sets the new standard for racing,

Nope

Sport mode matches you with players with similar abilities

Yep

Gran Turimo Sport does not provide the nostalgic feeling but is clearly the best in this generation.

At what?

 

[CopperySinger]

dp

 

[turnupdaheat]

The sales numbers are not clearly positive, now if the were close to GT5 numbers I would agree, but they far closer to the numbers of the lowest initially performing GT title in recent history.

That should be a concern for any publisher.

As a matter of interest, what is the split between GT Sports physical and digital sales and how do the digital sales compare to GT5?

 

[ArR29]

I think there is one thing we can take away from all this, GT:Sport seems to be the No Mans Sky of 2017.

Over-Promised and Under-Delivered
Looks pretty, Lacks content
Supposedly sets a new standard for gaming
No Mans Sky was panned right from the start, GT:Sport thus far is only doing slightly better based on nothing more than the history of the GT name.

What the...? No man sky was overhyped as ****. PD delivered what they promised since the Copper box event. Scape, Photography, Livery Editor, better sound simulation, Sport mode, lobbies, Split screen, a good looking 60fps game, campaign that will teach the player to be a better driver, and over 150 cars is there in the full game. So tell me what did they over promised? Sport mode set standard in racing in console gaming. Give a racing game that has accessible, quick, fair matchmaking online racing mode without spending time looking for good race then?

 

[Tired Tyres]

Ghostrider, week 1 sales has reflected this, get over it.

You mean LOWER than GT6 in Japan and between GT6 and GT5P numbers in the UK you mean?

 

[eran0004]

Which part of his post was wrong?

The one where he said that my post was wrong. Why do you ask?

If this was a brand new IP I would agree with you 100%, but it's not.

It's a series that's been running for two decades in which the core single player element of full price releases has not changed one bit.

Given that I can't agree that this is a consumer issue at all.

Sony and PD have spent 20 years building and re-enforcing a brand in the eyes of its audience, don't then blame the audience if that's what the expect from your brand.

What I find hard to believe is that someone who played Gran Turismo so much in the past that they know what to expect from the series gets so hyped when they see a GT Sport ad that they decide to buy it as soon as they can - but they're not quite hyped enough to look for any information about the game, even though they most likely found out about it with plenty of time to spare before the release.

 

[CopperySinger]

As a matter of interest, what is the split between GT Sports physical and digital sales and how do the digital sales compare to GT5?

im not sure if all the digital information is available to us.

What the...? No man sky was overhyped as ****. PD delivered what they promised since the Copper box event. Scape, Photography, Livery Editor, better sound simulation, Sport mode, lobbies, Split screen, a good looking 60fps game, campaign that will teach the player to be a better driver, and over 150 cars is there in the full game. So tell me what did they over promised? Sport mode set standard in racing in console gaming. Give a racing game that has accessible, quick, fair matchmaking online racing mode without spending time looking for good race then?

I agree with you, most certainly. As a matter of fact, people do like GTSport.


here is some data from the playstation 4 console

current likes received from a few racing games as of today

Project cars----33.2k lifetime
Project 2 -------4.2k after one month
Driveclub-------125k lifetime
GTAV -----------1.89M lifetime
GTSport --------63.4k after one week!

Like Mc Hammer always say,

 

[rono_thomas]

The one where he said that my post was wrong. Why do you ask?

Yes which part of his response to you was wrong as you posted?

 

[Scaff]

As a matter of interest, what is the split between GT Sports physical and digital sales and how do the digital sales compare to GT5?

Currently we have no idea, it may well have been massive and more than bridged any gap, but until numbers come out we will not know 100%.

 

[Johnnypenso]

im not sure if all the digital information is available to us.



I agree with you, most certainly. As a matter of fact, people do like GTSport.


here is some data from the playstation 4 console

current likes received from a few racing games as of today

Project cars----33.2k lifetime
Project 2 -------4.2k after one month
Driveclub-------125k lifetime
GTAV -----------1.89M lifetime
GTSport --------63.4k after one week!

Like Mc Hammer always say,

PCARS2 sold well over a million copies and only has half the likes of a week old game? Sounds fishy right?

 

[Scaff]

What I find hard to believe is that someone who played Gran Turismo so much in the past that they know what to expect from the series gets so hyped when they see a GT Sport ad that they decide to buy it as soon as they can - but they're not quite hyped enough to look for any information about the game, even though they most likely found out about it with plenty of time to spare before the release.

Why do you find it hard to accept!

That's how the majority of people buy games, be it FIFA, COD, Assassin's Creed, FM or GT.

If it has a long established brand they will buy it based on that.

 

[TorqueHappenS08]

Unrelated...but I can't beileve the x1 only 68 units..

 

[turnupdaheat]

Currently we have no idea, it may well have been massive and more than bridged any gap, but until numbers come out we will not know 100%.

Exactly, so statements like this, based on incomplete data, are premature.

The sales numbers are not clearly positive, now if the were close to GT5 numbers I would agree, but they far closer to the numbers of the lowest initially performing GT title in recent history.

That should be a concern for any publisher.

When similar comments were made about the week 1 percentage drop in sales of PCars2 compared to PCars1 the poster was taken to task with responses such as these.

Indeed they are, quite possibly because those UK sales figures don't track digital sales at all, which the author describes as "Because in the UK, we're not tracking digital sales, and it's gone beyond a farce.".

For example the article also states that these results show that Destiny 2's sales have fallen by 50% as well, because again digital sales are not included.

So as the author also says "But when it comes to how brands are performing, or how the overall market is developing, it's almost an irrelevance."

Physical sales are falling and digital sales are increasing, and these figures show only half of the story.

Physical sales are down in one country using less than a complete month for comparison. Your continued releasing of a tiny slice of data and making sweeping conclusions again reveals your agenda.

Where's the balance?

 

[Johnnypenso]

Where's the balance?

Balance of what? In the absence of massively overwhelmingly positive or negative data (eg. 400 units sold or 2.5 million units sold) these partial glimpses into sales offer nothing conclusive. One need only look at past data that has been posted and try to predict the sales outcomes that we know to be true. It doesn't work.

In terms of Scaff's remarks I think he's taking to task a specific comment that sales are clearly positive. They aren't clearly positive for the reasons given. He's not saying that the results themselves are clearly not positive. Small difference but an important one.

 

[turnupdaheat]

So how can @Scaff say sales are clearly not positive (or negative for that matter) based on incomplete data. I'm simply repeating a point both he and you made before about the other title.

 

[Skiddy]

So using your business model...

“PD Customer services meeting:

Memo to heads of department, don’t worry about any customer complaints they cannot be verified and therefore not trusted.

What a great job guys!

End of meeting, whos going for pint?”

Your argument is illogical.

Well, would you trust some data you cannot verify?

 

[Scaff]

So how can @Scaff say sales are clearly not positive (or negative for that matter) based on incomplete data. I'm simply repeating a point both he and you made before about the other title.

Because I'm talking specifically about physical sales.

Also word order.

I said that they are 'not clearly positive' which doesn't limit one position or the other.

Had I said that they were 'clearly positive' or 'clearly not positive' you would have a point. However that's not what I did, can I ask why you have not taken the person who said they were 'clearly positive' to task?

Let alone the conspiracy they are suggesting that people are part of an organised campaign to buy GTS so they can post negative reviews about it on Amazon to drive down global sales numbers!

Well, would you trust some data you cannot verify?

The comments from verified purchasers are from people they know have bought the title, how much more verification would you want?

 

[Johnnypenso]

So how can @Scaff say sales are clearly not positive (or negative for that matter) based on incomplete data. I'm simply repeating a point both he and you made before about the other title.

Already explained it. In reference to this thread it has to do with the order of the words completely changing their meaning. Also, see above^^. In reference to my remarks on the other thread, at no point did I say sales were not clearly positive or negative or clearly positive or clearly negative. I said nothing of the sort. If you feel I did, please quote it.

 

[rono_thomas]

Well, would you trust some data you cannot verify?

How does one go about complaining to PD? How is that then verified?

There isnt a mechanic in place for the customer to provide any feedback direct to PD, other than they can prove they bought it and they leave a review.

As such an amazon verified purchase.

As scaff said.

With regards to all the Facebook, Amazon, and anywhere else negative comments they shouldn’t be ignored because they can't be verified. This is the Gran Turismo brand that is being damaged, agree with it or not.

 

[Skiddy]

How does one go about complaining to PD? How is that then verified?

There isnt a mechanic in place for the customer to provide any feedback direct to PD, other than they can prove they bought it and they leave a review.

As such an amazon verified purchase.

As scaff said.

With regards to all the Facebook, Amazon, and anywhere else negative comments they shouldn’t be ignored because they can't be verified. This is the Gran Turismo brand that is being damaged, agree with it or not.

I think you are all taking this situation a bit to serious. I mean, it's a game, clear case of first world problem.

 

[ImaRobot]

I think you are all taking this situation a bit to serious. I mean, it's a game, clear case of first world problem.

Such an awful way to try to discredit someone. You've been very vocal against those with these opinions, which is odd if you're going to turn around and essentially say "get over it, its just a video game."

 

[TrevorPhilips]

Because I'm talking specifically about physical sales.

It's foolish to compare GT5 physical vs GTS physical because if Japan was the same as other territories then GT5 was not available for digital purchase, retail was the only outlet. But if you want to compare them, then it could be argued that around 280,000 consumers did get the message from PD of a limited single player campaign versus, what? 3 or 4 hundred Amazon customers. Have a think about that.