Why Publishers Need Licensed Games to Survive - OMG Nintendo

So, who actually buys licensed games? Folks who write about games mostly hate them. I'd be surprised if many of my readers didn't hate them. Yet apparently licensed titles are some of the most reliable moneymakers in the industry. This financial report from GameSpot has the lowdown:

THQ noted in its report that games based on its three biggest brands--World Wrestling Entertainment, Pixar, and Nickelodeon--accounted for 54 percent of its net sales over fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2008. The same trio accounted for 47 percent in fiscal 2006. ...

Having sold off its internal development studios, fellow publisher Atari is also leaning more heavily on licensed games, specifically Dragon Ball Z. According to its annual report, Atari garnered more than 49 percent of its annual revenues for fiscal 2008 from Dragon Ball Z, compared to 45.7 percent in fiscal 2007.

Are casual gamers using big brand names as assurances of quality the way more hardcore gamers follow developers and publishers? I can't think of any other explanation.

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diablo2lod
Jul 03 2008 at 03:46:39:PM PST

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kinda makes sense.... people figure, hey i liked the movie, the game is probably just as good... and they never realize what garbage they are playing because they've never experienced a decent one.... the only movie based games i own are from the HP series.... tats not because i thought the games would be good, i knew full well they were going to be garbage.... but since it was based on HP i didn't care too much.....

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mitjmac
Jul 03 2008 at 04:32:21:PM PST

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Kids and their parents, I mean that's why the game industry is perceived as being a kid industry as sorts. Kids see a new cartoon/show and want everything that is out for it. Toys, games, clothing, etc. I have a 4 year old daughter and while I've bought only a few of these licensed games the fact is that she has a blast while playing the games. Does she care that the controls suck? No, because I'm the one who helps her get past the bad parts.