Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 News for Xbox 360

Tiger Woods franchise 'permanently damaged'

NewsPublish Date 20/07/2010 - 9:34am GMT+1

Declining sales blamed on sex scandal.

According to Cowen Group analyst Doug Creutz, EA's Tiger Woods video game franchise may have been "permanently damaged" by the professional golfer's much publicised sex scandal.

First month sales across all Tiger Woods PGA Tour 11 formats are down 68 per cent compared to the launch of last year's game, and Creutz believes Woods' personal life is partially to blame.

"Although this is probably due in part to the fact that last year's version shipped bundled with Nintendo's new Motion Plus 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," explained Creutz.

It's not just Tiger's game suffering declining sales: Skate 3 is also said to be 40 per cent off the pace of Skate 2, and Green Day: Rock Band has managed to shift only 82,000 copies across three platforms.

Via Gamasutra

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Trip-l @ pblive

@pblive

All the online pass encourages me to do is not buy another EA online multi-player game at launch prices

Posted 14:07 on 20 July 2010

jase_ace_uk

I think its more to do with the fact that the game has hardly chnged since 2007. Every year the game is released with nothing but a few minor tweaks. Its a waste of money to buy it every year and the public are starting to realise it and are fed up with it.

Posted 12:48 on 20 July 2010

Clockpunk

New posterboy time? I'm guessing so...

Posted 12:24 on 20 July 2010

draytone

I think if you really like the look of a game you'll buy it brand new and will be happy to get the VIP code - like I did with BFBC2 but if your buying it second hand as an afterthought it won't bother you. It's only when those VIP codes are actually vital to the game (like new maps for MP but only those maps are played) is when it will really suck.

Posted 10:29 on 20 July 2010

pblive

It's simply due to any lack of real progress since the last game.

Surely online passes and VIP codes only encourage new sales over second hand?

Posted 10:26 on 20 July 2010

draytone

Quote:

"Although this is probably due in part to the fact that last year's version shipped bundled with Nintendo's new Motion Plus 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," explained Creutz.

He kinda answers the question as to why Tiger Woods didn't do as well but then randomly jumps on the "it must be Tiger Woods fault for playing around" bandwagon. I don't like Golf games because I suck at them but I do know people who buy them year after year...maybe there have been lot's of other good games that they have bought instead this year?

Posted 10:20 on 20 July 2010

Wido

To be honest I'm not bothered about his personal life. I'm not a fan of golf, because I do find it very boring. I somewhat :s as to why would his personal life effect a video game. Its like saying Ashley Cole was the face of FIFA, and him sending pictures of his Sir John Studd to other women will effect sales of FIFA? I personally don't buy a game because its has the 'name' or the face of the person who is going through a bumpy ride at the moment. To put me off from purchasing a game I know I will get my satisfaction out of it.

I don't buy FIFA to play as Wayne Rooney or select Manchester United. I play with the team I support and I guess you got people who are fans of different golfers than Woods.

Posted 10:15 on 20 July 2010

Karlius

I hope they do the south park take on it next year.

Posted 10:03 on 20 July 2010

mikejosh1978

Sex scandal was free publicity , EA ever think that the less content in game & the £50 worth of day1 DLC might be a bit of a pisstake? Oh & the fact the Online Pass Fee has scared a few folk off . EA i think will see a massive drop of in its sports titles due to these factors in its 2011 series.
I believe that a 2 yr cycle & real improvements made not just a quick team colour & roster change rut they are in would see them sell better & save em some server fees .
Glad i fell out of love with these games in '06 & looks like the other games like BFBC2 & MoH with daft ViP codes will be next . Surely a constant $600mil loss a yr is saying somethings not working & 2011 sports titles will mean $1billion this yr due to the above reasons.

Posted 09:57 on 20 July 2010