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Analysts: Manhunt 2 controversy could increase sales

Posted Jun 23, 2007 at 02:28PM by Ryan C. Listed in: Wii, PSP Tags: Wal-Mart, Take-Two Interactive, Lazard Capital Markets, Colin Sebastian
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Manhunt 2 - Image 1 


Financial analysts are certainly having a field day with Manhunt 2, with its recent banning and all. They've tried to predict what Take-Two will do regarding their ultra-violent title, they've guessed as to why the publishing firm is getting all this bad rap - and now, they're saying that Manhunt 2's suspension could actually end up boosting the game's sales.

Colin Sebastian of Lazard Capital Markets is one of those analysts, saying that he doesn't believe the move to suspend Manhunt 2 will actually hurt the company's bottom line in the long run, but instead increase the game's exposure - thus boosting demand when it hits store shelves.

He also believes, as we've reported in an earlier article, that Take-Two will probably do what it has to do to lower the game's rating from the current Adults Only to a softer, more accessible Mature rating. And while it's a given that stores such as Wal-Mart will always be wary about customer backlash, the controversy itself is already free publicity - and savvy store-owners will take the risk of selling a Mature title that's already popular beyond belief.

Sebastian also notes that even if Manhunt 2 does tank, the struggling publisher still has an ace up its sleeve - namely, the upcoming Grand Theft Auto IV - to fall back on. He puts it like so:

Relative to Grand Theft Auto it's [Manhunt 2] a lot less significant. Grand Theft Auto is the key driver. This is a second-tier title.


Well, for a second-tier title, it's certainly getting first-tier attention. And while it's very possible that controversy could actually boost sales, it could also work the opposite way if the game itself gets overhyped and for some reason it doesn't deliver what it's promised to do. One thing's for sure, though, is that it's violent as heck.

Further updates about Manhunt 2 as we get them.

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13 Comments


Sort by:
   by misthero (Unregistered) - 2007-06-23
 » Oh yeah
Sales will be boosted, but only if they keep the game as violent as is meant to be ^^


   Re: bob (Unregistered) - 2007-06-25
 » haha
this reminds me of that episode of south park where cartman had that amusement park and didnt let anyone in lol
   by rob (Unregistered) - 2007-06-23
 » ...
well duh...that was kinda a given, what are we actually paying these analyists for!!?

   by Captain Planet Summoner (Unregistered) - 2007-06-23
 » Let's Summon Captain Planet!
EARTH!


   Re: Azazil (Unregistered) - 2007-06-23
 » ........
-Shoots summoner in the head-
STEEL!
   by Me (Unregistered) - 2007-06-23
 » Yes...
True, all you need is Jack Thomson telling millions of people about it and you got a hit (GTA?). Any publicity is good publicity. At Gamespot and IGN, it ranks almost as number one most popular, in the last week Pspupdates must have about 12 articles about this game.

This is all but good news for Manhunt 2.

   by bla bla (Unregistered) - 2007-06-23
 » !!!!!
sign this petitition to have the game have two versions
one with the original AO and the later Mrated version
link:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/take-two-should-release-manhunt-2-with-two-ratings

pleez sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   by Oraichu - 2007-06-23
 » Yep
I wasn't really planning on playing this, maybe getting it for PSP, but didn't really want it because Manhunt 1 sucked....

but after all this controversy, I acctually want it. ;)


   Re: Advertising -


   Re: dabigm (Unregistered) - 2007-06-24
 » ...
I couldn't agree more, i could really care less about it before, but now I really want it...
   by lawl (Unregistered) - 2007-06-23
 » no one will buy it if it's banned
if it's not being sold, no one can buy it. dumb *****s.

   by elcius (Unregistered) - 2007-06-23
 » ***** yeah!
Gonna get me a copy, wouldn't have looked twice at the game if it wasn't for all this bull*****.

   by jonno (Unregistered) - 2007-06-24
 » ...
am just gonna get the game now just to see what all the fuss is about. and if they only release it in the us then iam sure loads of places and people are going to import it. but for the big game shops they ar gonna lose loads of money

   by bob (Unregistered) - 2007-06-24
 » REALLY?
no fckn *****

i thought analysts were clever and didn't just state the obvious?



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