Despite Bad Reviews & Controversy, Analyst Sees Gold in Left Behind Game

Despite Bad Reviews & Controversy, Analyst Sees Gold in Left Behind Game

January 5, 2007
The controversial Left Behind Eternal Forces may not be a very good game (GameSpot gave it a 3.4), but a leading financial analyst expects it to turn a profit and generate a sequel.

Michael Pachter, Managing Director of Research for Wedbush Morgan  Securities, told GamePolitics that it's tougher than normal to track Left Behind's numbers due to its unusual sales channel:
Tough to answer on Left Behind (sales figures), since the developers relied heavily on distribution through Christian bookstores, and my guess is that most of them don't report to the NPD Group.

I'd venture a guess that the game sold quite well (at least 200,000 units), and that it will continue to sell well, particularly overseas. I don't think that the controversy had any impact on consumers who frequent Christian bookstores...

And I think that there will be a sequel if the developers broke even or generated a profit (they should have been profitable at 200,000 units), since the book series is so deep.

Comments

@ JasonTerminator
He's right about both Bully and this. Bully cost a bunch to make and according to the numbers isn't selling well despite being a good game in many peoples opinion, and because of this, it probably won't get a sequel. Left Behind here didn't cost that much to make and to break even needs a lot less to sell, plus these guys are more likely to make another one if they only break even. In addition, just because it's crappy doesn't mean another won't be made, have you seen all the crappy Christian movies and music, while some are good (Veggietales, Third Day, etc.) the vast majority is crap by mainstream standards yet still sells.
"I’d venture a guess that the game sold quite well (at least 200,000 units), and that it will continue to sell well, particularly overseas."

How did he come across these figures? "I'm guessing the game sold really well and made lots of money, because that's what I think and I'm right because this is the case. I know it because it happened, and I'm certain of that. I think." o0?
There's a mistake in the headline: It should be "because of", not "despite".
Remember, there is no such thing as bad press. Controversy = Sales, it's an old formula.
Chuck Jeffe seems to a better anaylst than Michael Pachter. http://gamepolitics.com/2006/09/12/left-behind-bad-investment-says-analy...
Of course there's gold here. Just take a look at the amount of people who listen to Jerry Falwell's drivel. And I won't even begin to count the followers of his fellow retards.

They're sitting on a goldmine!
Is this the same analyst that said Bully would be a critical failure, or that said the PS3 would be the winner of this console generation?
Gah, this only encourages more yahoos to base bad games off bad book series... blech...

Successfull books, it's the new cheap-ass movie-to-game crossover.
A quick look back to the Bully article shows that it is the same guy making these predictions.

I love how he thinks a terrible Christian game has a higher chance of getting a sequel than a great satire about school life from Rockstar.

I should get into that business, since it's obvious you don't need actual prediction skills in order to succeed.
I figured it had to be one or the other. Both made such wild claims that this third claim had to be one of theirs. One said Bully wouldn't sell well, and the other said that the PS3 would win this console generation.
So...tired...of...Left...Behind...stories...don't...care...
Is this the same analyst who is convinced Bully won't have a sequel? I personally do not think that sales from Christian bookstores would amount to enough to propel a sequel, but then again I'm neither a devout Christian nor an economic analyst. With the controversy surrounding the title I think it might be ignored, people do tend to want to politically correct and all, the Convert-or-Die™ gameplay just might not click with buyers. Still, I'm no expert, just highschooler with an opinion.
Well, the game is acutally fun once you get into it and some of the reviews talk about that. Most of the reviews, including the 3.4 from Gamespot didn't go into the gameplay. They simply couldn't get past the Christian element.

It's not like the reviews are going to hurt the sales for this game because most of the gamers who would buy it don't visit or trust those reviewing sites. Especially those with an agenda - like Game Reveolution. Anyone who starts off their review of a game with "if you beleive in any religion you're an idiot" is not going to have any credibility.

Well, maybe with a 15 year old, but the audience buying this game is much older and eductated.
Unforantely they are not treating this as a game and handicapping alot of gameplay and story elements,they probably will make another one it wont be any better unless they wise up make a full game out of it.

GamePolitics ShoutBox

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Posted 11/07/09 at 10:58am
JDKJ: Which could be explained by both (a) and (b).
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:56am
Austin_Lewis: JDKJ: You forgot C) the fact that, for some reason, every time he did something that would suggest he shouldn't be in the military, let alone an officer, higher ups ignored it or let it slide.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
JDKJ: Part of the problem is, I believe, that (a) the Army had a lot of time and money already invested in him and which they were unwilling to simply write-off and (b) an increasing need for the type of skills and services he provided.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:48am
JDKJ: And that even if he was begging not to get cut loose, he was apparently a real good candidate for being cut loose, anyway.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:11am
JDKJ: @chada: And while Kennedy once noted that there's usually more than enough blame for everyone to get a slice, the possibility that the Army was unwilling to cut loose someone who was asking to get cut loose could be a factor.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
ZippyDSMlee: *noms on his feet*..nomnomnomnom*droooll* ...wuuutttttt uuu looking at?
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:05am
JDKJ: I'm no psychologist, but I'm told that crazy people have a tendency to do crazy things.
Posted 11/07/09 at 10:03am
chadachada321: Whoops, was out of the convo for awhile. I do wonder what type of ammo he used etc, but the real issue is WHY he did it, not HOW
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:56am
JDKJ: But if it turns out that they actually did, they'll have Hell to pay.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:45am
JDKJ: And I'd tend to rule out the possibilty of FN Herstal supplying restricted ammunition to someone merely because they're ordering it from a military base.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:37am
JDKJ: I know you don't leave your gated community and get around much in dark alleys, so you may be surprised to learn that there's this thing called "the black market" where, if you've got enough money, ain't too much of anything which can't be bought.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:36am
Austin_Lewis: Or, maybe he or someone else at the base ordered the SS190 from FN Herstal.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:32am
Austin_Lewis: the hands of private owners. They run about 300 dollars minimum for a box of 50, and boxes of AP 5.7 are extremely scarce, mainly residing in the hands of Class III stores or individuals who for one reason or another got a demo box of it.
Posted 11/07/09 at 09:30am
Austin_Lewis: There are other firearms that fire the 5.7. However, I too would like to know where he got the ammo and what kind was used. Maybe Hasan, planning not to live through this, went out and bought one the boxes of SS190 that are floating around in
Posted 11/07/09 at 08:44am
JDKJ: And it isn't yet clear what type of ammunition Hasan used. It's strange that he purchased a gun but didn't purchase ammunition for it at the same place and time. Especially because the calibre required is peculiar to the actual gun.
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