Fox News "Probably" Helped Bulletstorm Sales

Andy Chalk

One Flag, One Fleet, One Cat
Nov 12, 2002
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Fox News "Probably" Helped Bulletstorm Sales


The Fox News Bulletstorm [http://www.amazon.com/Bulletstorm-Pc/dp/B003H0CBT8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1299607850&sr=8-3] fiasco probably ended up boosting the game's sales but Epic Games President Mike Capps worries that such stories ultimately have a "terrible" impact on the overall game industry.

You might recall something about the little kerfuffle that surrounded the Fox News coverage of Bulletstorm back in early February. You know, that thing where it said it could turn gamers into rapists [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/107628-Fox-News-Says-Bulletstorm-Could-Make-You-a-Rapist]. And although it will probably come as no surprise that all the publicity may have actually given the game a push, Capps nonetheless thinks that in the grand scheme of things that sort of negative coverage is actually very bad for the industry.

"For what [the Fox coverage] did for Bulletstorm... yes, there were people who were very excited about any attention at all. For a game that's over-the-top, they probably helped sell more units than they convinced people to pick at us," he said. "What was most exciting about it for me [was the reaction from the media in the industry defending us]. Every journalist said this Fox report is junk... It's wonderful to see a media that's defending free speech."

But in spite of all the side-effect upsides, Capps was less enthusiastic about the impact of such reports on the game industry as a whole. "I think it's terrible," he added. "There are people who really respect Fox News' opinions and look at that and are [convinced that video games are bad]."

Capps said he had "a pretty good feeling" about Bulletstorm sales so far and predicted that the game will break one million unit sales.

Source: The A List Daily [http://www.industrygamers.com]


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lacktheknack

Je suis joined jewels.
Jan 19, 2009
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Andy Chalk said:
"What was most exciting about it for me [was the reaction from the media in the industry defending us]. Every journalist said this Fox report is junk... It's wonderful to see a media that's defending free speech."
Including Fox's, right?
 

Art Axiv

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Dec 25, 2008
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Hopefully, the sales will let People Can Fly hire more people, so I can get hired! (My evil mastermind plan!)
 

GonzoGamer

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Apr 9, 2008
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It wouldn't be the first game to get free marketing from obnoxious blowhards trying to fake a bunch of overblown outrage.

I guess people aren't as angry about the immigrants or the gays this year.
 

AgentBJ09

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May 24, 2010
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Well, in this case, it helped sales, so that's good. That said, I don't mind the 'negative views' from FOX very much, especially considering so many people called out the station for bad reporting.

And, lest we forget, the people who talk about these subjects in the news pieces, the anchors as we know them, are just briefed on this subject matter, not detailed.
 

Swifteye

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Apr 15, 2010
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between the boost in sales they got from yathzee's review and the boost in sales from controversy I expect people can fly will take off as a company.
 

ssgt splatter

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Stuff like this will always boost sales of a game in the long run...unless it's like the infamous "hot coffee" mod from GTA San Andreas.
 

Aerowaves

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Not to mention that developers/publishers have an interest in actively cultivating controversy now.

Oh wait, EA. Never mind.
 

dubious_wolf

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Jun 4, 2009
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Andy Chalk said:
Fox News "Probably" Helped Bulletstorm Sales


The Fox News Bulletstorm [http://www.amazon.com/Bulletstorm-Pc/dp/B003H0CBT8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1299607850&sr=8-3] fiasco probably ended up boosting the game's sales but Epic Games President Mike Capps worries that such stories ultimately have a "terrible" impact on the overall game industry.

You might recall something about the little kerfuffle that surrounded the Fox News coverage of Bulletstorm back in early February. You know, that thing where it said it could turn gamers into rapists [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/107628-Fox-News-Says-Bulletstorm-Could-Make-You-a-Rapist]. And although it will probably come as no surprise that all the publicity may have actually given the game a push, Capps nonetheless thinks that in the grand scheme of things that sort of negative coverage is actually very bad for the industry.

"For what [the Fox coverage] did for Bulletstorm... yes, there were people who were very excited about any attention at all. For a game that's over-the-top, they probably helped sell more units than they convinced people to pick at us," he said. "What was most exciting about it for me [was the reaction from the media in the industry defending us]. Every journalist said this Fox report is junk... It's wonderful to see a media that's defending free speech."

But in spite of all the side-effect upsides, Capps was less enthusiastic about the impact of such reports on the game industry as a whole. "I think it's terrible," he added. "There are people who really respect Fox News' opinions and look at that and are [convinced that video games are bad]."

Capps said he had "a pretty good feeling" about Bulletstorm sales so far and predicted that the game will break one million unit sales.

Source: The A List Daily [http://www.industrygamers.com]


Permalink
I'm curious as to why there were so many brackets is the quote.
?
 

Roadface

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Nov 10, 2009
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ssgt splatter said:
Stuff like this will always boost sales of a game in the long run...unless it's like the infamous "hot coffee" mod from GTA San Andreas.
Lol just saw that mod at work. What a dumb move putting that into a game.

I'm still wondering which game bulletstorm was again. guess I'll check the zp review.
 

Femaref

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May 4, 2008
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dubious_wolf said:
Andy Chalk said:
Fox News "Probably" Helped Bulletstorm Sales


The Fox News Bulletstorm [http://www.amazon.com/Bulletstorm-Pc/dp/B003H0CBT8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1299607850&sr=8-3] fiasco probably ended up boosting the game's sales but Epic Games President Mike Capps worries that such stories ultimately have a "terrible" impact on the overall game industry.

You might recall something about the little kerfuffle that surrounded the Fox News coverage of Bulletstorm back in early February. You know, that thing where it said it could turn gamers into rapists [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/107628-Fox-News-Says-Bulletstorm-Could-Make-You-a-Rapist]. And although it will probably come as no surprise that all the publicity may have actually given the game a push, Capps nonetheless thinks that in the grand scheme of things that sort of negative coverage is actually very bad for the industry.

"For what [the Fox coverage] did for Bulletstorm... yes, there were people who were very excited about any attention at all. For a game that's over-the-top, they probably helped sell more units than they convinced people to pick at us," he said. "What was most exciting about it for me [was the reaction from the media in the industry defending us]. Every journalist said this Fox report is junk... It's wonderful to see a media that's defending free speech."

But in spite of all the side-effect upsides, Capps was less enthusiastic about the impact of such reports on the game industry as a whole. "I think it's terrible," he added. "There are people who really respect Fox News' opinions and look at that and are [convinced that video games are bad]."

Capps said he had "a pretty good feeling" about Bulletstorm sales so far and predicted that the game will break one million unit sales.

Source: The A List Daily [http://www.industrygamers.com]


Permalink

I'm curious as to why there were so many brackets is the quote.
?
Square brackets denote an editorial change of a quote to make it better understandable for the reader. Usually, if a sentence is worded like the following: "It changed a lot." you will find "[The event meant by "it"] changed a lot." in articles, especially, if only parts of the whole quote are used.
 

Arkhangelsk

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lacktheknack said:
Andy Chalk said:
"What was most exciting about it for me [was the reaction from the media in the industry defending us]. Every journalist said this Fox report is junk... It's wonderful to see a media that's defending free speech."
Including Fox's, right?
When Fox News is lying while claiming to be a top notch source for news, I think we are allowed to say "Haaaaang on a minute...". Sure, they have the right to deliver junk, but then we'll step in and correct that junk.
 

DTWolfwood

Better than Vash!
Oct 20, 2009
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facts have never been important when it comes to fox news :p

Out of curiosity, did rape cases suddenly jump up after Bulletstorm was released? XD
 
May 5, 2010
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Yeah, that's how it goes. You look at anything that gets censored, or if people just say "it's unwholesome!", sales always improve. People want to see what the big deal is.
 

Baresark

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Dec 19, 2010
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What Fox News said has already received far too much attention. I love how everyone thinks only Fox makes up news. Grow up. I hate fox, but MSNBC and CNN and all the others are just as guilty of sensationalizing the smallest item. The only difference here is they said something that a bunch of over sensitive gamers didn't like. Cry some more, please, that fixes all the problems.

OT: It has been said that there is no such thing as bad press. This is just more proof of that. The easiest way to marginalize something is to ignore it. They did the complete opposite and sensationalized it. You better believe that helped sell the game. Hell, the ultimate insult would be if Epic sent them a thank you letter for the help, haha.
 

Macheteswordgun

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Jul 24, 2010
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Fox always has something to ***** about honestly, but as for bulletstorm its good it got extra sales i mean it was a pretty good game i prob would have been a better game if there were more skill shots more guns and it was longer and you could restart the game with all weapons already. Also the online maybe change it up a bit i get the point but its just "single player with friends".
 

jakefongloo

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Aug 17, 2008
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Warms my heart to see a developer recognise the overall industry rather than his own sales. Mr. CEO "would you kindly" replace your brain with Mr. Kotick's so you'll have more power over the industry?

As the more and more people play games and start to realise the gaming is a fantastic evolution of media as a whole. Maybe just maybe people won't have forgotten Fox's attitude to out right lieing. Maybe when gamers rule the world fox will die out and get replaced with... let's say a good version of G4.
 

Something Amyss

Aswyng and Amyss
Dec 3, 2008
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I don't doubt it. Self-righteous jerks opposing something usually end up helping it.

I don't know how much. There was already good hype for the game. This did crank it up a bit, though.