Killzone 2

Will Killzone 2 Sell Well?


We all remember the great debacle that was the 2005 target render of Killzone 2. Videogame fans all over the world were stunned to see the power of the PS3. The monster was out of the bag. PS3 would be the world’s most powerful console ever. Then reality set in. While the first few years of the PS3’s life cycle have seen a few lookers, (Heavenly Sword, Uncharted, MGS4) none of them have lived up to the expectations that the Killzone 2 target render had set. This combined with a lack of games is the reason that I believe that Sony completely stumbled out of the gates with PS3.

Now just a few months away from the release of Killzone 2, we are starting to see just how powerful the PS3 is. Killzone 2 looks phenomenal. From what I have seen of it, it is hands down the best looking game on any of the current consoles, even rivaling the graphics of a high end PC. This is a game that quite honestly could sell itself solely based on graphics.

The problem I see Killzone 2 having when it comes out, is not the game itself. I am confidant that all the time the game has had in development will pay off. The problem I foresee is the same problem that has plagued all of Sony’s big releases, total lack of advertising. Sure you see a few commercials for a big Sony exclusive, but they are so few and far between that it is hard to justify Sony in their marketing decisions.

When the Microsoft has a big game coming out they start the advertising early and bring it on heavy. Sony just lets a few ads out and then doesn’t even have them in heavy rotation. It’s like they purely rely on word of mouth. Look at the latest victims, Little Big Planet and Resistance 2. Little Big Planet is supposed to be a massively huge title for Sony. It is a game that has been hyped by all the websites and all the magazines. So when push comes to shove where are the commercials Sony? Where are the massive billboards and Saturday morning spin off cartoons. The whole time the game was being developed gamers were led to believe that it was the “next big thing”. One would think that this would lead to a massive media push, but sadly there was no push. The same goes for Resistance 2. It’s sad when the supposed answer to Gears of War 2 gets trounced by the game it’s competing against in the marketing department. Where are the TV specials and a midnight releases?

If Sony truly wants the PS3 to succeed, then it starts with Killzone 2 and throwing every ounce of market muscle that they can muster at it. If they fail to do so, it will not bode well for the PS3. It will cause Killzone 2 to become one of the many games to be a critical success and at the same time a total commercial flop. This is a scenario that Sony can flat out not afford to happen. It’s time to put you’re money where you’re mouth is Sony, pony up the dough to push Killzone 2 or let it slip through the cracks like all you’re other big exclusives.