Why Batman: Arkham Asylum is a Popular Video Game
The Dark Knight
Although the Batman franchise has always been popular, it didn't reach its highest peak until the release of The Dark Knight in theaters last summer. On a somewhat curious move, a Batman game did not accompany the theatrical release of the highly-anticipated movie. Instead of a quick cash-in title, the developer took their time crafting Batman: Arkham Asylum for the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360.
While the Batman fever may not be as high this year as it was in 2008, it is still very popular. So, because it is based on the popular franchise, Batman: Arkham Asylum managed to sell 2 million units on the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 in less than a month.
Release Date
Batman: Arkham Asylum was supposed to be released earlier this summer. However, it was delayed at the last moment to ensure that it will be a quality title. Even so, Batman: Arkham Asylum was released at the perfect time at the end of August. The summer period is usually a dry period for video games sales. At the same time, the busiest time of the year is during the autumn and winter.
By coming out at the end of August, Batman: Arkham Asylum ensured that it gets the spotlight while being able to feed of the beginning of the big spending period. As a result, it has sold 2 million copies so far.
Review Scores
Despite being based on a popular franchise, Batman: Arkham Asylum was a sleeper hit. That is because most licensed games are traditionally underwhelming. Batman: Arkham Asylum, on other hand, delivers an engrossing single-player experience. With more and more consumers paying attention to reviews, games just can't sell on brand name alone anymore. Fortunately for Batman: Arkham Asylum, the game scored well with critics.
Exclusive DLC
Finally, Batman: Arkham Asylum managed to get a boost in sales on the Playstation 3 thanks to the exclusive downloadable content where players can control the Joker. Although it may not seem much, DLC could sway consumers into buying the game. With more DLC coming for both the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 versions, you can expect Batman: Arkham Asylum to continue selling beyond its 2 million copies sold milestone.
Published by Otter
Otter is a free lance writer currently residing in San Francisco. He loves to play and talk video games. View profile
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