Wed, Jul 01, 2009 | 16:09 BST

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Livingstone: 2009 will be “roast duck or no dinner” kind of year for publishers

Ian Livingstone has stated that 2009 will be a year of hit or miss for publishers, with smaller titles languishing at retail while “big ticket” titles rule the shelves.

“A lot of titles have already hit the shelves and there is a deluge planned for Christmas, but I think 2009 will be remembered as the year of ‘roast duck or no dinner’,” the Eidos president told GI.biz. “Big ticket titles continue to sell well but many of the smaller titles will probably disappoint their owners.

“There’s a glut of product and in a discerning market.There is no room for mediocrity. To make a suboptimal game with a suboptimal marketing spend is a recipe for disaster. I think we’ll continue to see more production resources going into fewer titles supported by even bigger marketing budgets.

“Publishers are continuing to raise the investment bar, ensuring the mega-franchises will rule.”

Sounds a bit dire.

More through the link.

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