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Darksiders might not be selling so f*ck you in advance photo

An analyst has recently revealed that evidence from THQ's Q3 earnings report may suggest that Darksiders sold well under the publisher's expectations. Signal Hill Capital's Todd Greenwald believes that the excellent action/adventure game couldn't shift a million copies, despite the critical success and significant marketing campaign. 

"[Darksiders] didn't perform up to THQ's expectations," explains Greenwald, "likely selling less than 1 million units despite heavy marketing dollars [and] 2-3 years of development costs." The analyst also adds that the game was being discounted in stores after only two weeks of sale. 

If this is all true, then I'd like to mount a significantly large f*ck you to the gaming public in advance. Darksiders was awesome, and if we don't get a sequel now because a bunch of spunkdrenched c*ckgiraffes would rather buy a load of bullshit, then there are some frigging executions that need to be had.

If a game like Darksiders can't sell, when Darksiders had everything needed in order to sell, then screw everybody in the so-called civilized world because they're all f*cking stupid and have no idea how to have proper lives. They can all go back to Modern Warfare 2 as soon as they're done sucking my gigantic cock.

Darksiders Not Performing Up to THQ's Expectations, says Analyst [Industry Gamers]


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189 comments | showing # 1 to 50
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MSUHitman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 17:38
MSUHitman
Sorry but I think Mass Effect 2, Bioshock 2, Heavy Rain, MLB The Show 10, FF XIII, God of War 3, Super Street Fighter IV, and UFC 2010 are more important to me. I have all of those game (except for UFC) preordered and paid off.

I'll get Darksiders when it goes on clearance at Target for $15.
bickle's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 17:52
bickle
It had everything it needed in order to sell ... except a good character and engaging gameplay.
Zeal404's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 17:53
Zeal404
There are plenty of games that deserve sequels but dont because they weren't a financial success. if the game didn't do well enough financially, it might be because its a game where someone can finish it then let their friend borrow it.

meh, at best stirring the pot
Zeal404's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 17:56
Zeal404
@bickle: lol. it didn't look all that appealing to me. Joe Madureira looked like he pulled this straight out of the 90's stock of EXTREME comic book character designs that died 10 years ago.
copyofcopy's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 17:58
copyofcopy
i dont buy many games new/at full price but i happily bought darksiders @ $60. people are really missing out by not giving this game a chance. zelda/metroid puzzles & exploration + god of war/devil may cry style combat = fun. batman: aa did a very similar thing last year (with a simpler combat style + stealth), and i'd say if you enjoyed that game you owe it to yourself to check out darksiders.
Zeal404's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 18:09
Zeal404
@copy: not for 60 dollars, I don't.

So THQ used all their money to advertise the game, I get that they'd like to make it back in sales. But as a consumer, I found those commercials needlessly annoying and insanely plentiful.

THE WORLD IS ENDING! PEOPLE EAT PEOPLE! THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON WHO CAN STOP IT...YOU WHY? CUZ YOU STARTED IT. CUZ THAT TOTALLY MAKES SENSE! I CANT STOP TALKING CAPS CUZ THATS HOW IT GOES. YEAH... FOUR HORSEMEN (does the molly shannon pose)
JFF's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 18:17
JFF
UHAUHUHUAHAAHAHAHAHAHAUAHAAHAH!
Shiro Shishi's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 18:30
Shiro Shishi
I AM DEEPLY OFFENDED! I AM NOW GOING TO CRY!

*Walks to corner with 360 controller and plays Mass Effect 2 as he cries*
Braumeister's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 18:56
Braumeister
Where did all those "heavy marketing dollars" go? The game was invisible until the last couple of months before release. The release date was an absolute catastrophe. The website was terrible. I only took a chance on Darksiders thanks to a couple of decent pre-release reviews.

It's hard to generate buzz for a new IP. Before THQ points fingers at Darksiders for not hitting the right target market, maybe they ought to look at their incompetent fucking hype machine.
Zeal404's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 19:13
Zeal404
@braumeister: When they put the darksiders TV spots, they were obnoxiously close together. 1 hour program, darksiders commercial EVERY freaking commercial break. And the same pre-rendered 90's extreme crap. CINEMATIC => Prerendered in gameplay cinematic => 2 slashes of a sword => X-TREME conclusion
Minamu's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 19:39
Minamu
I doubt it sold as bas as they say. The devs seem rather happy on neoGAF & it feels like half that forum bought the game. The official thread is massive.
EdgyDude's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 19:51
EdgyDude
Well, duh!, it's cuz it's Wii exclusive... oh, wait! [/asshole mode]
TehPeanut's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 20:55
TehPeanut
For once, I agree with fatboy about something.
mada7's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/02/2010 21:12
mada7
Not terribly surprised really. The game was way too buggy, the dodge button didnt work, the combat was reptitive, the difficulty was very top heavy with the first dungeon boss being much harder than the others, and had little reason to do multiple playthroughs. It also didnt help that the game released on the same day as Bayonetta which turned out to be way more fun and functional
themizarkshow's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 01:21
themizarkshow
That's disappointing... it's definitely my favorite game of the year thus far.
Phalanxxx's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 04:05
Phalanxxx
I think the game could have performed better in august 09 if it was finished. Pushing the game out of a relatively clear schedule and into a packed Q1-10 was a poor move. I agree it could easily have performed as well as Borderlands did.
ManAnimalX's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 08:06
ManAnimalX
the Corporate dick sucker is back on his knees again to beg the gaming public to please buy our sorry ass games for $60, oh and "if we tell its a awesome game through marketing", then it is!!!, even its not true, PLEASE feell sorry for us, since we spent all the $$$ marketing and developing the game(Shovelware LOL)...NOT!!! Sorry but your wanna-be psuedo-jedi mind tricks dont work on the gaming public anymore LOL...the verdict is in and we the GAMING PUBLIC have spoken...Nuff Said
ManAnimalX's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 08:08
ManAnimalX
the Corporate dick sucker is back on his knees again to beg the gaming public to please buy our sorry ass games for $60, oh and "if we tell its a awesome game through marketing", then it is!!!, even its not true, PLEASE feell sorry for us, since we spent all the $$$ marketing and developing the game(Shovelware LOL)...NOT!!! Sorry but your wanna-be psuedo-jedi mind tricks dont work on the gaming public anymore LOL...the verdict is in and we the GAMING PUBLIC have spoken...Nuff Said
Piellar's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:23
Piellar
Too many good games at the same time. Bayonetta came in the picture and took the slot for "Action Game" in my currenly played titles. Sorry Jim for your hurt feelings.
Shadowiii's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:25
Shadowiii
I bought it at full price (then kicked myself when it went down to like $45 the next week).
Still totally worth every penny. I played it through twice, once getting everything, another time upgrading my weapons to max. It was a REALLY good game.
Also, I have no idea what ManAnimalX is saying. Have you even played the game? That might change your mind.
HEL105's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:26
HEL105
I unfortunately don't have access to broadband right now, so as soon as I found out it had issues that would have to be patched, it became a no-buy for me. Which sucks, because the brief bit I've played really makes me want the game.
munkee's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:27
munkee
wasn't it just released at a really bad time of year? i know i'm always pretty broke after xmas and new year. Game purchasing is right out the window :\
Aurain's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:29
Aurain
Was a no contest between this and Bayonetta.

Will give this a chance when it's cheap.
Zantetsuken's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:30
Zantetsuken
Did you buy it Jim or did THQ send you a free copy?
RJT's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:30
RJT
I friggin' love Sterling posts.

Darksiders is great, but at the risk of sounding like I'm agreeing with the lowest common denominator here, it did have one hell of an uphill battle to fight with regard to its release date. Releasing just after Christmas, right up against a title like Bayonetta, and just before something like Bioshock 2, seems like a massive risk.

I'm not sure how you avoid that without rushing it out the door or holding on to it longer than necessary (and not making money off of the title), but there's no doubt in my mind the release date put it far behind the 8 ball from the outset.

That, and the marketing for it really did suck. I had to convince myself to buy it despite the advertising, not because of it.
Stevil's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:30
Stevil
Darkwhattanow? Man, you kids these days.
AriesWarlock's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:30
AriesWarlock
Why get Darksiders when you can get Bayonetta?
Occams electric toothbrush's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:30
Occams electric toothbrush
Gamefly'd it. Beat it. Glad I didn't buy it.
munkee's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:31
munkee
how well has bayonetta sold so far? anybody know?
Super Drybones's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:31
Super Drybones
No thanks. Already played zelda and portal this year.
iThrowKnives's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:32
iThrowKnives
/finishes

oh well, back to modern warfare 2!!
Jaxyl's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:32
Jaxyl
There are too many DMC clones coming out this year. Bayonetta, Darkssiders, Dante's Inferno, etc... so excuse the gaming public if we didn't get bought off with a huge sword replica so as to feel like we should go buy the game.

I'm saving my money for Dante's Inferno and the money I have in between went toward Tatsunoko vs Capcom.
stevenxonward's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:32
stevenxonward
Probably would've done better with a 2009 Christmas release instead of holding it over to the crowded early 2010 calendar. I mean, some idiots probably bought Dark Void and/or Army of Two over this.
Shotgang's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:34
Shotgang
Have to agree with you jim, an excellent game that doesn't get a sequel because people won't buy a new IP.
Deekman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:35
Deekman
I didn't even know about this game until launch day. Not a single thing. The "marketing" push behind this was week.
Also they priced a new IP at $69 and then complain that it's not selling.

They're just greedy and sad it didn't work out which is a shame as this is one of my favorite games of the current generation :-(
JonW's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:36
JonW
I would like to say f*ck the gaming public as well. Darksiders was a pleasant surprise for me and thoroughly enjoyable.
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:38
Chronic Logic
Video game developing and publishing is a risky business. There are always video game companies that shut down due to costs. Maybe there's a way to make and sell games much cheaper to reap in more profits to stay in business comfortably, but I doubt it.
seventhevening's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:39
seventhevening
I bought Bayonetta instead and rented Darksiders. I feel I got the much better bargain for my money. It takes some time to unlock everything in Bayonetta (I have 30 hours so far, and way more to do), while Darksiders maxed around 22 hours (with absolutely no replay value). Additionally, each hour of Bayonetta was an action orgasm. Each hour of Darksiders was an endurance trial of mediocrity.
RenagadePanda's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:39
RenagadePanda
Darksiders sucks.

There, I said it.
Anjo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:39
Anjo
Perhaps it has something to do with the game and artwork looking incredibly unappealing?
Primee133's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:40
Primee133
I found it rather average. Not bad at all, but now extraneously good. It was pretty short, too.
The Silent Protagonist's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:41
The Silent Protagonist
Isn't this the story of a LOT of third party games this generation? PS3 and 360 have raised the stakes so high on development that you need many more copies sold to break even or be considered profitable now.

And with the Wii, its just that somehow, its third pary exclusives don't get the message to the Wii audience. They just see the number of consoles sold and think that's instant bank. Doesn't help that the hardcore and casuals within that audience don't speak well to each other.
proudly naija's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:41
proudly naija
Jim Sterling: u can suck ur own shriveled cock with a straw u f-in moron! everybody's got their own taste n d majority weren't drawn 2 darksiders, so how d fuck is ur opinion d ultimate? this aint Baghdad under Saddam's rule. we couldnt giv a rats ass wat u think, so stick ur dumb opinion wher d sun dont shine. its our money n we spend it on wat d fuck we like. stop tainting destructoid wit ur pig headed outbursts,u pieace of shit! Geeeez,the nerve of some fuckin people!
Deekman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:42
Deekman
Everyone saying that the screen tearing was so bad that you didn't buy it is an idiot. The game was completely playable even before the patch yes the patch helped but since half of you don't know what screen tearing is anyway I doubt you would have noticed.
justiceface's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:43
justiceface
Big damn deal the game didnt sell well. It was an ok game released at time when great games with bigger ad budgets were being released.
crusnchill's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:43
crusnchill
Darksiders was never my sort of game. As I hate fighters and/or button mashers, they just get on my nerves.

Besides I don't exactly have much money coming in. So for now I'm playing games that are larger in scale than average and take longer to complate. Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect 2 for example.

And I've got Splinter Cell:Conviction and FFXIII on the way. So I can't afford anything extra.

Aside from this, the more professional opinion is that maybe Darksiders released a few months too late. The fact is last year was quite dry on new releases. This year has got tonnes of big hitting sequels and generally blockbuster games coming out. Maybe it would've done better in October last year.

Ah well...
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:45
Xzyliac
Boo hoo. Welcome to the land of good games that don't sell. Take a ticket and get in line.
Matthew Maloney's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:46
Matthew Maloney
Haha, wtf is with guys getting all homoerotic when they're angry, everyone is covered in manjuice and he wants gamers (99%male) to give him oral.
wardprod's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:47
wardprod
Failing with the release date is fail ;<
Conan-san's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/03/2010 09:49
Conan-san
I bought it and I fucking regret doing so.

Damn game just sucked at being a zelda/GOW rip
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