How big will Halo 3 be? I recently wrote about some of the hype regarding the highly anticipated Xbox 360 title, specifically the record-setting preorder demand and the bounty of product tie-ins, marketing events and promotions surrounding Halo 3. We all know the game is going to be huge, but exactly how huge? Where will the game rank in terms in the history entertainment blockbusters? And can it take down the current champ?
In terms of numbers, Microsoft isn’t looking to best another game’s performance with Halo 3 but is instead setting its sights on something different: a movie. “Spider-Man 3’s” recent box office opening, to be exact. The comic-book blockbuster set a new record by raking in $151.1 million in its opening weekend back in early May (which was surprising, since the movie wasn’t all that great). Now Microsoft is aiming to outdo the biggest movie debut in history with Halo 3. According to a report in the entertainment magazine Variety, Microsoft wants to reach $155 million in sales for Halo 3 in the first 24 hours!
Impossible? Maybe not. Remember that Halo 2 has one of the biggest openings in the entertainment business back in 2004, selling $125 million worth of games in a 24-hour span. Whether you thought Halo 2 was a great sequel or a glorified expansion pack, the performance of the title was a watershed moment for the gaming industry because it proved that games could in fact be as big as feature films.
Sure, the comparison between movies and games, economically speaking, is a bit like apples and oranges. For one, games cost more $60 a pop, and while movie tickets are absurdly over-priced, the average ticket is still under $10. Then again, you can buy one copy of Halo 3 and the whole family can enjoy it, plus it can theoretically offer 10 times the amount of entertainment hours.
Halo 3 will surely outdo Halo 2’s benchmark performance, but can it top “Spider-Man 3”? Let me know what you think.
Comments (6)
If Halo 3 doesn't generate more dollar sales in the first 24 hours than Halo 2, I'd be shocked. With the Legendary Edition at $130, the Collectors at $70, and the regular at $60, I suspect the ASP is going to be close to $75, although of course that depends on the exact sales mix. Doing the math, at two million in sales (very possible, given the one million pre-order benchmark) in 24 hours, it's highly probable to hit $150 million.
Posted by McTurkey | August 15, 2007 12:14 AM
Posted on August 15, 2007 00:14
I dont think Halo is that big to top a comic book hero like Spiderman, and I don't even like Spiderman.
Posted by Bill | August 15, 2007 12:20 AM
Posted on August 15, 2007 00:20
And oh yeah! Just because Halo 2 sold 125 million worth of games in a 24-hour span doesn't mean anything.
How much did Halo 2 sale for? Im pretty sure it was more than the 5-12 dollar movie tickets...
Posted by Bill -Again | August 15, 2007 12:22 AM
Posted on August 15, 2007 00:22
hmmm.
Spiderman DOMESTIC gross in its first weekend was $150M+
Take the number of Xbox360 in the US x .40 (ambitiously assuming 40% of all domestic 360 owners will buy it on or before opening weekend) X average retail price of $70 (in consideration of premium packages of the game). What do you have?
6,000,000 xbox 360s x .4 x 70 = $168,000,000.00
so yes its possible, but the big question is will 40% of all xbox 360 owners really pre-order or purchase H3 on opening weekend.
I think... anything is possible.
Posted by Rayhawk Corporation | August 15, 2007 12:46 AM
Posted on August 15, 2007 00:46
Did you just say the whole family can enjoy Halo3? Doubtful, unless your family consists wholly of 15-30 year old males. This is Halo, not Mario Party!
Also, it'll be better than 10 times the amount of hours for the serious player.
As far as the actual comparison (movies vs. games). This is something that Nintendo has been going after with the wii. I read an article recently that tv watching has been down in Japan and they blamed the wii for taking up people's time for entertainment.
Posted by Carlton | August 15, 2007 1:22 AM
Posted on August 15, 2007 01:22
Carlton,
I think you will find that there are more female gamers that are fans of HALO than you think. And yes, HALO has been a family event at my house since HALO CE for Xbox!
What I think may kill sales is the fact that HALO 3 no longer has the 4 split screens. That was a major reason HALO and HALO 2 were popular at my house. We used to system link 2 xboxes and play teams of 4 without having to worry about lag and punks online.
I'll probably get the game anyways, but I doubt it will get the play time that HALO and HALO2 got. It's a shame, really. Just the other day I had some friends over at my house and two had to leave so we could play GoW together. I figure hey, I've got a screen big enough to accommodate 4 players, why not let me use it?
BobT
Posted by BobT | August 15, 2007 5:33 AM
Posted on August 15, 2007 05:33