Take-Two: Metacritic key to games success

Strauss Zelnick says a high Metacritic rating is crucial to the success of a new IP.

The Take-Two Interactive CEO and chairman told the audience of Wedbush Morgan’s media conference in New York that review scores are more important in gaming than in any other entertainment business, according to Gamasutra.

Making good games just isn’t good enough,” he said. I believe good is the new bad… Games need to be great.

Unlike many other entertainment businesses – there are a just a few – ratings by Metacritic and others’ reviews really can influence the success of a newly-released title. In fact, if your ratings go below a certain level, it can really hurt your ability to sell the title, and above a certain level can make a real different in your success.

Our ability to have high scores over and over and over again is a huge competitive advantage, and that advantage drives sales, it reduces risk and creates profits.”

Zelnick also linked high Metacritic ratings with a longer shelf life and subsequently strong back catalogue sales.