KONAMI the ignorant!

[yes i miss you]

Don't wanna start a rant here... but I can't help myself.

Two days ago I took the energy to send an e-mail to the people at Konami Europe HQ (somewhere in Germany). Voicing my concerns. Asking them if they truly understand the impact of a good marketing strategy. I even pointed out to them that EA’s FIFA still manages to sell 4 milion copies worldwide each year, while they don't even make the best football game out there. So we can safely say marketing is a very, very big factor in the overall succes of a videogame. So far so good, the discision to bring in big name players like Henri and Totti (and Colina... again) to promote the game on the cover isn’t a bad move at all. Just follow EA in the same direction marketing-wise. But what in the world are they thinking if they really believe that what they came up with is the right quality the Pro Evolution series deserves.

I just don’t get it...

And of course, what do I care about the boxcover, it's all about the game(play) itself. Right?

But then think about how Konami's decision to go for such a poor designed cover influences the quality of the game you're eventualy playing (next year).
It's a fact that the average videogameplayer doesn't know all the ins and outs of a game, in this case PES4. Sure, we the fanatics, we know. We spend countless hours on the internet looking for that latest bit of info about the game. But in the end the succes of a game is decided by the fact if average Joe buys the game. Don’t make the mistake of thinking average Joe knows that the PES 4 gameplay is far better than FIFA 2005.
Now if that same average videogame player walks into his local videogamestore, and there are at least four footballgames (FIFA 2005, TIF 2005, Clubfootball and PES 4) on the shelf shouting at him: “BUY ME, BUY ME!”, what do you think will influence that decision? Well number one: the game’s boxcover! Yes, surprise... a book (and also a videogame) does get judged by it’s cover!
So a bad cover definitely decides the succes of the game in a big way! And that means the developer makes less money, and that’s just the point, more money is the essential key in the further development of a videogame. I truly believe Konami would have all the official licenses of all the different football leagues across Europe this year if they were selling the numbers EA does. So bottom line: having a referee on the PES 3 cover hurt sales last year (sure it sold great, but yes i’m saying they could have done even better last year). And maybe it’s not the main reason but I do think it’s a factor why there’s no Premiere League or Bundesliga license in the game this year. So you can understand I don’t even wanna think about the negative effect this years cover will have on the game we’re playing next year. Sure it’ll be better but definitely not everything that it can be. If Konami continues with this crazy marketing strategy they ‘ll never win the battle with EA and will always be outsold by an inferior football game, how ironic!

Sadly none of these marketing & brand manager hotshots had the decency to answer my mail. But I pointed out to them that the covers some of you made in the PESinsight forum cover contest are way better then the one they came up with. I even send them my winning cover to compare the two.

Seriously hope they are just f@#%king with us, and surprise us in a good way when the game comes out in October, but I doubt it, they even have the same weird cover on their official site http://de.konami-europe.com. But please Konami, seriously reconsider this cover! If you ask me I even think it’s a total disrespect to the hard working Konami game-developers who strive for the perfect game every year.

 

[Kevthedrummer]

This cover still isn't confirmed as the official one yet... I hope this is the case and there is a design more like the one on the left used on the actual box. Good on you for contacting them about this. If you get a reply be sure to post!!!

 

[budikovac]

So bottom line: having a referee on the PES 3 cover hurt sales last year.

I don't know why do you think that having Collina on the cover is a bad move as Collina is now days as famous as all those players?
If I didn't know anything about the football games and walk into an game store and sow 3 covers with Henry (or some other big name) and one with Collina on it I would actually get interested in that game as it would be refreshing to see something new!

 

[ibinco]

I agree.. a better cover would help the overall sales..

 

[Travis Bickle]

There is alot more to it though. Firstly with your cover, good though it is, Konami don't have the rights to show the Arsenal kit, the roteiro ball's got an FIFA symbol on it. Then theres the cost, how much do you think your cover design may cost to print in comparison to the Konami one ? Then theres ownership rights if you were to use that action shot of Henry, who took that photo, they'd expect percentages, I'm sure it's cheaper to get the players in to a studio and take head shots when they are wearing non-brand sportswear. your cover is v.good but do we really know the ins and outs of promotional costs enough to compare it to a company thats been producing games for years.

P.S. Go down Game tomorrow and look around, all the covers are rubbish.

 

[hitmanuk2k]

i think the point he is trying to make here is that if he, some random bloke can make a great design, but the big wigs at konami cant come up with something decent... something is wrong.

 

[ashmufc]

Well it's not really about the kit. The cover is not appealing!

 

[wrathchild_uk]

The cover on the right looks more of a fake, the one of the left looks better imo!!

 

[lazandreas]

i agree 100%

that cover is shocking! the one on the left is awesome, i agree that the cover makes a big difference, thats a fantastic post actually! makes sense all the way, you would think they would put more effort in making a much better cover, something a lot classier

 

[RistoL.]

Couldn't have said it better myself!

 

[]NikE[]

Im agreeing with you on this! I think the Fifa Covers have helped the sales a bit over the years,If Konami want to use it then its their own fault if anything bad happens but i want a better cover.

I have actually saved your cover and another one and am gonna print that and use that instead if that one is kept!

NIKE

 

[jamez]

Yes i miss you, those words you write are so true. The average idiot in the street makes up most of any game's sales so give them the only thing they respond to - eye candy on the cover. And wandering off subject slightly, proper licensing has to be resolved soon, i mean the game must be 100% licensed. The amount of people that actually bother patching the game or even editing it throughout (like i do) is very small. Its mainly the cult followers who do that, ie. the people on forums like this. The other 95% don't want the hassle, so if they pick up a game whose club teams are called North London Reds, and Mersyside Blues etc (Because of this, my mate didn't even realise there were proper club teams in PES3!)..... then FIFA must seem all the more appealing.

Its sad, but Konami must start concentrating a little more on the superficial aspects that sell games.

 

[RAISH]

People that just walk in off the street and buy games based on the cover!!!!!!! Bollocks

People buy on the strenght of the NAME and reviews in MAG's, yes a cover will have some part to play in getting the product noticed, but if some nob cheese whats to buy a games purely based on a cover - then they dont deserve to play PES.

KONAMI's main selling point is the gameplay but other people are interested in licenses etc and thats up to them if they want to miss out.

I prefer the konami cover anyways - having a particular football strips on the cover is going to put some people off buying the product unfortunately...............

 

[jamez]

but if some nob cheese whats to buy a games purely based on a cover - then they dont deserve to play PES.

It doesn't matter if they deserve to play the game or not, its still money in Konami's pockets, which they can spend on improving the game for people like us who appreciate it.

 

[Toku]

Covers from WinningEleven and PES are always terrible. I mean Zico oder half naked soccer players its looks terrible. ( Greets from WE6 )

Only WE5 J.league had e cool silvercover thats all...

 

[Lugash]

Who cares if PES4 doesn't sell well?

 

[mutu]

Who cares if PES4 doesn't sell well?

Everyone don't be stupid

More sales means more money to Konami means more licences and a better game in PES5

But that's not the cover, and it will sell well

 

[garyvann]

I actually like the last 2 PES covers, its's like saying " we are cool, we don't need 10 year olds playing our game."

In fact, there are people actually like FIFA over PES after playing them both, they are mostly, I think, the average joe. They might not want to put in those extra time to play a footy game that PES requires.

So, it might be good to sold on the strength of word of mouth, rather then the wrong people buying it and hating it, generating a negative effect.

Plus, there must be some reasons that makes them decide not to include stripe and hoop shirt designs, they have more then enough space on the disc to include them, maybe it's something to do with licencing, actually. Maybe they are just so afraid of lawsuits. I just don't think they are that stupid.

 

[Lörd TH]

why spend all the money on a descent cover when they could be spending the money on liscences and other things

 

[Singh]

Still prefer konamis version