Killzone 2’s Going to Fail

I am just a college student.  I don’t have any career experience in video game marketing nor profound insight.  I’m simply a huge nerd when it comes to following the video game industry which has been a huge part of my life.  So how come I see Killzone 2’s obvious problem?

SONY!  WAKE UP!

After announcing a $1.1 billion loss last month, Sony needs to move some dough.  They desperately need an exclusive blockbuster and Killzone 2 just may be that game.  It has everything going for it.  It’s first person shooter (accessible and appealing to the majority of the gaming audience), sequel to a somewhat successful predecessor, and the reviews reveal it’s actually quite awesome.  So what’s its problem?

MARKETING!

Have you seen a single ad for the game?  It’s coming out in only a few more weeks and Sony has failed to get the word out.  Although hardcore audiences like myself know about the game, the majority mainstream has no clue.  Sony should be bombarding us with ads similar to Grand Theft Auto 4’s marketing campaign.   Although the quality of the game has a lot to do with its success, the sad truth is many great games go unnoticed.  Little Big Planet is a perfect example of this.  Marketing is what sells video games.

Sony has a prime opportunity to make Killzone 2 a system seller.  It’s an identifiable genre that will appeal to a large audience in which players know what to expect.  It’s easily marketable unlike other more abstract, harder to grasp titles such as Spore.
Sony’s current approach is going to produce another Resistance 2-like, lackluster seller.  Hopefully Sony will start bailing the water from their sinking ship before it’s too late.