Red Faction: Armageddon

  • Online Co-Op: 4 Players
  • LAN Co-Op: 4 Players
  • + Co-Op Modes
Red Faction Franchise to End
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Red Faction Franchise to End

THQ announce that after lukewarm sales the Red Faction franchise will no longer be continued in any meaningful way

THQ sent one of their giant insects to deliver the bad news

Witnessing a franchise being mothballed is never a pleasant thing, especially when that franchise has only just started to introduce co-op elements.  This appears to be the fate of the Red Faction as THQ head honcho, Brian Farrell, said in a recent investors call:

Given that that title [Red Faction], now in two successive versions, has just found a niche, we do not intend to carry forward with that franchise in any meaningful way.

It would appear that solid niche sales are no longer enough to survive in the games industry.  Co-Optimus found the recent Red Faction: Armageddon Infestation mode a fun addition to the series, giving it an impressive 4 out of 5.  However, this horde like co-op mode has not been enough to improve sales - perhaps a full campaign co-op should have been considered?  The words "meaningful way" suggest that Red Faction may not be completely dead, but the chances of any future retail games in the franchise, be they single player or co-op, seem remote.

Farewell my Red Planet Prince, your geo-modding will live on in our memories.  Follow Read More for some slightly disturbing insight into the direction modern gaming is going.

Given that that title now in two successive versions has [only] found a niche, we do not intend to carry forward with that franchise in any meaningful way.

[Red Faction] did not resonate with a sufficiently broad console gaming audience,despite its "passionate niche following.

In today's hit-driven, core gaming business, even highly-polished titles with a reasonable following like Red Faction face a bar that continues to move higher and higher.

Moving forward, our core game titles must meet a very high quality standard with strong creative and product differentiation, appeal to a broad audience, and be marketed aggressively.
 

 








Source: Joystiq.com



 

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