Launch title: Difference between revisions
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*[[Dreamcast]] ([[1999 in video gaming|1999]]) — ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' and ''[[Soulcalibur]]'' |
*[[Dreamcast]] ([[1999 in video gaming|1999]]) — ''[[Sonic Adventure]]'' and ''[[Soulcalibur]]'' |
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*[[PlayStation 2]] ([[2000 in video gaming|2000]]) — ''[[SSX]]'' and ''[[Tekken Tag Tournament]]'' |
*[[PlayStation 2]] ([[2000 in video gaming|2000]]) — ''[[SSX]]'' and ''[[Tekken Tag Tournament]]'' |
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*[[Xbox]] ([[2001 in video gaming|2001]]) — ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee]]'' and ''[[Project Gotham Racing]]'' |
*[[Xbox (console)|Xbox]] ([[2001 in video gaming|2001]]) — ''[[Halo: Combat Evolved]]'', ''[[Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee]]'' and ''[[Project Gotham Racing]]'' |
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*[[Nintendo GameCube]] (2001) — ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]'' and ''[[Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader]]'' |
*[[Nintendo GameCube]] (2001) — ''[[Luigi's Mansion]]'' and ''[[Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader]]'' |
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*[[Xbox 360]] ([[2005 in video gaming|2005]]) — ''[[Kameo: Elements of Power]]'', ''[[Perfect Dark Zero]]'' and ''[[Call of Duty 2]]'' |
*[[Xbox 360]] ([[2005 in video gaming|2005]]) — ''[[Kameo: Elements of Power]]'', ''[[Perfect Dark Zero]]'' and ''[[Call of Duty 2]]'' |
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Revision as of 12:19, 1 July 2013
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A launch game, or launch title, is a video game released to consumers synchronously with the release of its respective video game console, meaning they are the only available games at the time of the console's launch. Several of these games are also packaged with the console. Because launch games provide first impressions of the console's features and technical abilities, they are important in the video game industry, and many launch games have been killer apps.
Quality vs. quantity
Historically, the number of launch games has been an important factor in deciding the success of a gaming platform. The more games available at launch, the higher the chances that players will find something that interests them. However, the same importance applies to game quality: poor quality games do not sell as well in the long term as high quality ones.
When preparing for a major console launch, developers and publishers have a decision to make. They can release a large number of launch games, often accompanied by the promise of more soon after launch, or they can release a few extremely strong games, or a killer game. Whilst releasing a large number of extremely strong titles is of course preferred, this may not be practical. To balance these choices, developers will often supplement one or two strong titles with third-party or licensed titles to bolster the number of launch titles.
Launch games
These are some popular games that debuted at launch.
- Bally Astrocade (Template:Vgy) — Gun Fight
- ColecoVision (Template:Vgy) — Donkey Kong and Zaxxon
- Atari 5200 (Template:Vgy) — Galaxian, Pac-Man, Space Invaders
- Family Computer (Template:Vgy) — Donkey Kong Jr.
- Nintendo Entertainment System (Template:Vgy U.S. Control Deck) — Super Mario Bros.
- Sega Master System (Template:Vgy) — Hang-On
- Family Computer Disk System (Template:Vgy) — The Legend of Zelda
- PC-Engine Super CD-ROM² / TurboGrafx-CD (Template:Vgy) — Street Fighter
- TurboGrafx-16 (Template:Vgy US launch) — R-Type
- Sega Mega Drive / Sega Genesis (Template:Vgy US launch) — Altered Beast and Thunder Force II
- Neo Geo (1990) — Magician Lord
- Super Nintendo Entertainment System (1990) — Super Mario World and F-Zero
- PlayStation (1994) — Ridge Racer and Wipeout (Europe)
- Sega Saturn (1995) — Panzer Dragoon and Daytona USA
- Nintendo 64 (1996) — Super Mario 64, and Pilotwings 64
- Dreamcast (1999) — Sonic Adventure and Soulcalibur
- PlayStation 2 (2000) — SSX and Tekken Tag Tournament
- Xbox (2001) — Halo: Combat Evolved, Oddworld: Munch's Oddysee and Project Gotham Racing
- Nintendo GameCube (2001) — Luigi's Mansion and Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
- Xbox 360 (2005) — Kameo: Elements of Power, Perfect Dark Zero and Call of Duty 2
- Wii (2006) — Wii Sports, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Red Steel
- PlayStation 3 (2006) — Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm (Europe)
- Wii U (2012) — Nintendo Land, New Super Mario Bros. U, ZombiU