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Tiger Woods PGA Tour sales down, perhaps 'permanently' photo

Last year, EA Sports scored a bona-fide hit on the Wii with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, the first game in the series with MotionPlus functionality. (The game was packaged with one MotionPlus unit.) Apparently, though, many of the folks who bought a copy last June have had their fill of virtual golf -- or, to be precise, of Tiger Woods -- for now.

Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 failed to place in the top 20 games sold in June 2010 on any platform, meaning that no version of the game -- which is available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii, and iPhone -- managed to sell more than 100,000 copies. According to GamesIndustry.biz, sales were down 68% year-over-year across all platforms, but the drop for the Wii version was the most precipitous at 86%; with some simple math, that comes out to a meager 38,100 sales in June 2010 versus 272,400 in June 2009.

In January, EA Sports president asserted that the scandal had not adversely affected sales of Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10, but that was only two months after the news broke -- maybe people have thought about Woods some more since then and decided against buying a game with his name and face on it. Cowan & Company analyst Doug Creutz notes that the 86% decline in Wii sales is "particularly catastrophic," even if you take into account last year's MotionPlus pack-in:

Although this is probably due in part to the fact that last year's version shipped bundled with Nintendo's new MotionPlus controller, we are concerned that Woods' scandal woes may have permanently damaged the sales potential of what we believe to be EA's third most important sports franchise, behind Madden and FIFA.

Maybe next year's golf game will just be called "PGA Tour Golf" or something.

Woods scandal "may have permanently damaged" sales [GamesIndustry.biz -- thanks, Joe!]


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40 comments | showing # 1 to 40
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neoREgen's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 16:48
neoREgen
Or maybe not that many people really care about his social life, already own Tiger Woods 10, and have no incentive to buy the same game.

I'm sure there are plenty in both boats.
fetusmilk's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 16:49
fetusmilk
when i got my 360 back in the day i love playin tiger woods 08 i think it was?
then i got my ps3 and played hot shots all the times.

as much as i loved playing them, golf does get a little stale after awhile, theres not much new you can do.
a course creator would be nice. making them as crazy or normal as you want.
Bryzon's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 16:50
Bryzon
To be perfectly honest, the reason I didn't bother buying it this year is because I don't like the thought of giving Tiger any of my money. I know its silly, but the scandal has totally turned me off from him.
eddienoteddy's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 16:50
eddienoteddy
Why would they release a new game every year? I just want new golfers, courses, etc. And that can be done with DLC
norm9's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 16:53
norm9
There's only so much improvement you can put to a golf game, and now Tiger Woods golf is just rehashed from the year before.

I'm skipping this year's game, but will probably be back for it next year.

His personal life shouldn't have anything to do with anything as Tiger Woods golf has consistently been an entertaining product in years past.
coldalarm's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 16:54
coldalarm
@Eddie; Does the Wii support DLC? I don't have one so I'm not sure.

I think partially it's due to the scandal, but it's been a fairly good year for all consoles around and I do wonder if that affected sales of "unnecessary" titles such as your Barely-Updated-From-Last-Year sports games.
Ujn Hunter's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 16:55
Ujn Hunter
I dunno about that. Last Tiger Woods game I bought was 07. I don't buy the new ones because there isn't much new or different or better in them as far as I can tell... 07 works just fine for me. It has nothing to do with the fact that Tiger bangs a lot of skeezy chicks.
KwikPwn's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 17:17
KwikPwn
You don't need a new Tiger every year, I bought 06 & 10, and I'm probably good for the rest of this gen.
RichardBlaine's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 17:22
RichardBlaine
I think that's pretty sad if the poor sales are primarily due to the scandal. Who cares what this guy does with his personal life? He was never a mascot for morality; he's a golf pro. Maybe people are just bored with iterative golf titles. I really doubt the game would have sold better with anyone else on the cover.
Tlack's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 18:09
Tlack
this is iframe iframe test
konchu's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 18:20
konchu
This one really just slipped under my radar. But really hasnt been a big reason for it to be there. I got 2010 for WiiMotion Plus and really havnt played that much. Really needs some hook more than just a revamp to make it worth while.

Not sure how bad the scandal will effect sales but even if it is just a fraction that is not good. Though we are not the best test market we would buy the game if is good and most could care less here on the headliner if it was a substantially better game the public may not be as forgiving everyone has heard this and it kills tigers appeal a little.
Usedtabe's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 18:21
Usedtabe
lol people caring about other peoples lives. Don't be jealous because you aren't rich and can't have multiple partners. And no, I'm not defending Tiger, I just think it's more pathetic to care about someone else's personal life than anything he actually did.
CapnCrunk's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 18:25
CapnCrunk
Yeah try making the game new... put in some crazy fantasy courses or something.
s0lesurviv0r's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 18:29
s0lesurviv0r
If there were a new mario golf on the wii, I might buy it to play on my sister's wii.
KingSigy's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 18:33
KingSigy
That's surprising. Tiger Woods 11 was the first game in the series I have purchased since 2007. I figured more people would want it.
comradetrotskii's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 18:52
comradetrotskii
Didn't they put Rory McIlroy on the cover alongside him? That guy is hardly the sexiest cover star. Now John Daly Golf, I'd fucking play that.
jeffx92's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 18:55
jeffx92
Can we please stop drawing imaginary lines between Tiger's marital life and game sales? There's no definitive correlation.

I love video golf, always have. My friends and I have been playing Tiger Woods PGA Tour since its inception. I've clocked hundreds of hours into these games.

That said, I could care less about 11. I haven't even finished 10 yet. And they keep shutting down the servers! How bloody annoying! They just stop out of nowhere and then you can't get the tournament achievements and the like... it's maddening, and enough to make me consider John Daly's new game.

That said, I'll probably pick this game up when it's down to $20 or so.
jeffx92's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 19:00
jeffx92
Oh, also, I'm sick of having them rotate courses in and out every year. Every year they remove 3 courses from the last year's version and put in the 3 from the year before that. Then charge $5 a course to download them! What a total rip-off.

Maybe EA should reconsider its business practices of shutting down servers and charging premiums for courses they made years ago and put less emphasis on Tiger's hot mistresses.

Also, if anyone thinks pro athletes don't cheat on their wives ALL THE TIME they're complete delusional. When they're not cheating on their wives they're juicing, shooting each other, fighting dogs, or doing other things you don't want your children doing. Don't fool yourself.
JustSurvive's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 19:02
JustSurvive
It's hard to make golf a yearly buy, I think they had the formula basically perfected with TW'10 so this was a pass for me. I agree with earlier comments, focus on pumping some courses/characters/tournaments/challenges/etc into the games through DLC.
leviroth's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 19:04
leviroth
It's not even worth buying the games every year, I know when I pick up a Tiger Woods game it's usually 3 years apart unless I find it for 7 dollars at a yard sale. I picked up 10 new at Gamestop after hearing about Facebook connect on it and that feature never got put in so maybe they should spend less time worrying about there cover athlete being a man whore and more time adding features advertised on the box and I'll think about buying another game.
nanowerx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 19:24
nanowerx
The arcade version you usually see in bars is just called "EA Sports presents: PGA Tour"
mattcoz's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 19:25
mattcoz
My decision not to purchase TW11 had nothing to do with Tiger and everything to do with TW10 still being a great game and not needing a new golf game.
The Silent Protagonist's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 19:31
The Silent Protagonist
I would have gotten it, but there was no blonde bimbo groupie simulation in it.
Halfbot's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 19:37
Halfbot
The series is just fucking stale despite the scandal and that will effect the sales more then anything. This is just what EA needs to get off their ass and stop spoon feeding the masses a repackaged golf game year after year. It's time to innovate again.
LittleBigD's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 19:59
LittleBigD
Is it still a scandal when the whole thing was practically predetermined before he even got married to that chic? I kind of feel a little bad for the guy even though he really should have seen that coming. I hope he beat whichever one of his PR people it was who told him it would be good for his image if he got married with a golf club.
As for Tiger 11 maybe some people are holding back on their purchase until the new motion contols hit shelves? That's the case for me anyway. I would usually pick it up for the Wii, but now that I'll be able to play it with motion controls, and in HD I'll be waiting to buy it until after I get PS Move.
GON's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 20:12
GON
So...you're saying there's other golf games aside from Golden Tee Golf?
Burocrat's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 20:23
Burocrat
Could it be that users know EA is going to start charging for online access? That and the fact that they kill off the online play from last year's version too quickly. EFF EA in the Neck!
moggle's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 20:24
moggle
Or, alternatively, people aren't buying Tiger Woods '11 because they have less money and already own a mostly-similar game in Tiger Woods '10. But, nah, that couldn't be it. Because we'd never put up scapegoats to take the blame for something when it's clearly more of a bad economic situation at fault.

That's reporting for ya.
ikiryou's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 20:25
ikiryou
EA Sports just needs to consider adding a "dating" sim element to future iterations of TWPGAT. Or perhaps just sex minigames a la God of War.

Tiger Woods approves of this message.
nanowerx's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 20:29
nanowerx
@GON

I too prefer Golden Tee Live!, but yes, it does have competition
fox01313's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/19/2010 22:06
fox01313
Not bloody surprised to read this, now that most of the sports games like Tiger PGA is been consistently good (as far as the overall gameplay), once you have one it seems rather silly to get the newest one year after year. Plus many places that sell used games really knock the used sports games down when they are highlighting the previous year, again why buy it new when you can get last year's for 1/3 the price & not really notice too much difference.
Corak's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/20/2010 00:28
Corak
I could care less about Tiger's personal life what turns me off more is he is still a baby on the course. His constant whineing makes him less of a great sports figure IMO. From what I remember last years Tiger was very good and if this one isn't "holy shit" better most people probably skipped it. Couple that with his personal issues and you have a potential flop when it comes to sales. People are fed up with him, I know I am.
linushurr's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/20/2010 01:00
linushurr
The reason I didn't buy this year's version although I bought last year's version is not because of what happened to Tiger Woods. I didn't get it because last year's game is still a great game, and these yearly sports games don't get improved upon enough in a single year to warrant another purchase. Might I purchase the big golf game next year? Maybe, as long as they make it worth purchasing. It also doesn't help that I bought PGA 10 in early November, and it was still full price ffs.
BadStar's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/20/2010 01:10
BadStar
Maybe they should stop coming out with new games EVERY FUCKING YEAR.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/20/2010 03:59
Sexualchocolate
If I was Tiger, I would have fucked even more skanky hoes. No shit. It would be carte blanche on skanky how fucking, I would have half naked caddy models, I would get blowjobs to celebrate birdies - right in the fucking bunkers. i wouldn't give a fuck.

I didn't buy this year's because I bought last year's.

I would imagine a HUGE majority of the people who bought last years on Wii, got it for Motion plus. - something they don't need now. (the pitfalls of including hardware with annual software)

I will buy next years if it looks good and is Move compatible.

I WON'T buy the year after that, or the year after that, or the year after that unless something really new is added.


But we don't make these sales figures, we, the educated gamers are a MINORITY.

the question is, why didn't Joe public buy Tiger Woods this year - I would have to say, it's a shame, but it's probably got something to do with the whole scandal thing.

Bummer.
Themightylebeau2009's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/20/2010 04:23
Themightylebeau2009
@ SC - Damn straight! Tiger Woods actually went up in my estimations during the scandal and was sickened by the fact he had to apologise....he could of got new sponsors (Playboy?, Hooters?).

It has to be the scandal as FIFA 20xx, Madden 20xx sell by the truck load every year without fail.
Sexualchocolate's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/20/2010 06:04
Sexualchocolate
@Themightylebeau2009

That's a good point, if i was Hugh Hefner I would sponser Tiger in a heartbeat! He could have become the "bad boy of golf".

It's wierd how people still buy Fifa and Madden every year, to be honest, I think golf is too "simple" (game golf, not real golf) a game to have annual releases. At least in Fifa/Madden they make enough changes to justify it (most years) although i reckon this year's Fifa probably sold better than last years with the whole 360degree control thing.

In Tiger woods apart from Motion plus/Move/Natal support, i can't think of anything really game changing that has been added. Sure, you level up your character in a different way, but nothing SERIUOSLY game changing to the all important gameplay since the analogue stick swing from the PS2 days!
Stinky's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/20/2010 07:30
Stinky
Tiger 10 is pretty cool game, I can't see any compelling reason to buy 11.
D00mM4r1n3's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/20/2010 11:31
D00mM4r1n3
I was put off by all the micro transaction stuff in 10, they need to bring back the arcade feel of 2002/2003.
Adonai's Avatar - Comment posted on 07/20/2010 22:01
Adonai
I'm just amazed that hundreds of thousands of people would actually *want* to play a golf game...
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