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WiiU

Nintendo Clarifies Bayonetta Distribution Confusion

by Clay Johnson - July 14, 2014, 2:59 am EDT
Total comments: 15 Source: GoNintendo, Nintendo

A company rep offers a thorough breakdown detailing how Bayonetta 2 buyers will get the first game for free. UPDATE: We now have new information direct from Nintendo to augment our original report.

UPDATE: We have received word direct from a Nintendo rep regarding this issue, and the information we now have presents a different take on how digital shoppers will go about getting Bayonetta 1 and 2.

Those getting the games from the eShop will need to make two separate purchases, but the price of both will equal the total for the retail combo version. Each may be bought independently from the other, though specific pricing for the two games has yet to be confirmed.

Our original report's assessment of how the packaged version will work remains accurate. To sum up, retail copies will contain two discs, one with the first Bayonetta and one with the sequel.

Original Story:

A Nintendo of America representative has cleared up the issue of how the first Bayonetta will be available to those who purchase the upcoming Bayonetta 2, as reported by GoNintendo.

Those who purchase the Wii U-exclusive sequel in packaged form will get a second disc in the box containing the first game. Digital buyers of Bayonetta 2 will get an automatic eShop discount allowing them to download the first game for free. It also works in reverse: buy the original Bayonetta digitally and get a free download discount for the sequel.

Bayonetta 2's inclusion of its predecessor was announced at E3 this year, and Nintendo's wording in regards to the promotion has led to some confusion up to this point. Now that it's cleared up, fans can get back to looking forward to playing the modified Bayonetta and its promising sequel this October.

Talkback

Triforce HermitJuly 14, 2014

Haven't really payed attention to this game, but the value is tempting enough for me to go ahead and buy it when it releases. Really good that their is a second disc rather then a download code. I hate downloadable titles.

It's nice that Nintendo's doing this, and they're doing it the right way, but I'm still not sure it makes me anymore interested than I would've been otherwise. If I'm not sure a game is my kind of thing, giving me twice as much of it isn't the greatest selling point.

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorJuly 14, 2014

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

It's nice that Nintendo's doing this, and they're doing it the right way, but I'm still not sure it makes me anymore interested than I would've been otherwise. If I'm not sure a game is my kind of thing, giving me twice as much of it isn't the greatest selling point.

This.

They should have sold the original on the eShop for, say, $20 - then, if you want to buy the sequel, you can get it at a $20 discount.  Use the original as sort-of a "demo"/try-before-you-buy deal.

Quote from: UncleBob

Quote from: NWR_insanolord

It's nice that Nintendo's doing this, and they're doing it the right way, but I'm still not sure it makes me anymore interested than I would've been otherwise. If I'm not sure a game is my kind of thing, giving me twice as much of it isn't the greatest selling point.

This.

They should have sold the original on the eShop for, say, $20 - then, if you want to buy the sequel, you can get it at a $20 discount.  Use the original as sort-of a "demo"/try-before-you-buy deal.

Yeah, that'd get me to bite on it. As is, I'm not sure I'm interested. Although, given my purchasing habits, I'd still probably end up with it.

ejamerJuly 14, 2014

As someone who was also "on the fence", getting the first Bayonetta game packed in was a deciding factor for me.  I understand the concern about not needing more when you aren't sure if you'll enjoy the games, but that's different than my concern. For me it was more about jumping in halfway through a series, knowing there is no way I'll play the first game. In that regard (and as an overall value proposition) this seems like a fantastic gift to Nintendo fans.


The whole communication debacle about how it was going to be provided was a bit of a mess... but it sounds like this is the best possible solution so that's fantastic news for gamers! 


Worth noting that pricing isn't actually discussed in the article, so the talk about Bayonetta 1 being a budget price on the eShop and then giving a discount for that value on the second game might be entirely accurate. We'll have to wait and see about that detail, but it seems like they got everything else right so I'm hopefully they'll do right here too.

BlackNMild2k1July 14, 2014

Do we get ClubN points for both games and have to do surveys for each as well?

ECMJuly 14, 2014

I can't generate sufficient force to my forehead with the faceplam I'm doing right now to adequately express my shock that there are people *arguing in favor* of *charging* for a game (or demo, of sorts) Nintendo wants to give you for *free*, and actually believe that this is a *superior* method to drive hype and the marketing plan to get Bayo 2 (or 1) into a consumer's hands.

Let me explain a simple marketing concept to you: it's called KISS, for Keep It Simple Stupid. What you're suggesting makes the entire situation more complex than it needs to be since the vast, vast, vast majority of people understand *FREE* a lot better than paid demo + discount later, and *FREE* is a much better purchase motivator than the Rube Goldberg-like scheme that some of the people on this thread think is a great idea.

(Oh, and yes, I'm aware that this method is used in some cases, but it's STUPID, because it needlessly complicates the situation and is actually far less of a motivator to get people to buy than FREE, because it's much more difficult to follow than FREE.)

(In other words, thank God you guys aren't running Nintendo's marketing efforts, nor, lest you're deluding yourselves, do you represent even 5% of the potential customers for this game.)

pokepal148Spencer Johnson, Contributing WriterJuly 14, 2014

Ok now I'm just getting even more confused...

Pixelated PixiesJuly 14, 2014

Don't own a Wii U yet, but this is really promising news. More of this please, Nintendo!

'Cross-buy', third-party console exclusives, intelligent use of digital distribution; these are the things which will cause me to buy a Wii U...that or Metroid.

UncleBobRichard Cook, Guest ContributorJuly 14, 2014

Quote from: ECM

I can't generate sufficient force to my forehead with the faceplam I'm doing right now to adequately express my shock that there are people *arguing in favor* of *charging* for a game (or demo, of sorts) Nintendo wants to give you for *free*, and actually believe that this is a *superior* method to drive hype and the marketing plan to get Bayo 2 (or 1) into a consumer's hands.

Let me explain a simple marketing concept to you: it's called KISS, for Keep It Simple Stupid. What you're suggesting makes the entire situation more complex than it needs to be since the vast, vast, vast majority of people understand *FREE* a lot better than paid demo + discount later, and *FREE* is a much better purchase motivator than the Rube Goldberg-like scheme that some of the people on this thread think is a great idea.

(Oh, and yes, I'm aware that this method is used in some cases, but it's STUPID, because it needlessly complicates the situation and is actually far less of a motivator to get people to buy than FREE, because it's much more difficult to follow than FREE.)

(In other words, thank God you guys aren't running Nintendo's marketing efforts, nor, lest you're deluding yourselves, do you represent even 5% of the potential customers for this game.)

I'm unlikely to purchase the game either way.  But if someone is on the fence, they're more likely to spend $20 to try the series than drop $60 and find out they don't like it at all.

SorenJuly 14, 2014

Quote from: BlackNMild2k1

Do we get ClubN points for both games and have to do surveys for each as well?

I assume we will, but I guess both digital and physical version will add up to 60 coins.

Quote from: ECM

I can't generate sufficient force to my forehead with the faceplam I'm doing right now to adequately express my shock that there are people *arguing in favor* of *charging* for a game (or demo, of sorts) Nintendo wants to give you for *free*, and actually believe that this is a *superior* method to drive hype and the marketing plan to get Bayo 2 (or 1) into a consumer's hands.

Let me explain a simple marketing concept to you: it's called KISS, for Keep It Simple Stupid. What you're suggesting makes the entire situation more complex than it needs to be since the vast, vast, vast majority of people understand *FREE* a lot better than paid demo + discount later, and *FREE* is a much better purchase motivator than the Rube Goldberg-like scheme that some of the people on this thread think is a great idea.

(Oh, and yes, I'm aware that this method is used in some cases, but it's STUPID, because it needlessly complicates the situation and is actually far less of a motivator to get people to buy than FREE, because it's much more difficult to follow than FREE.)

(In other words, thank God you guys aren't running Nintendo's marketing efforts, nor, lest you're deluding yourselves, do you represent even 5% of the potential customers for this game.)

I see no reason why they can't do both. Buy Bayonetta 2 and get the first one for free, or buy the first for $20 or whatever and get that much off the sequel if you go on to get it.

ejamerJuly 15, 2014

Quote from: ECM

I can't generate sufficient force to my forehead with the faceplam I'm doing right now to adequately express my shock that there are people *arguing in favor* of *charging* for a game (or demo, of sorts) Nintendo wants to give you for *free*, and actually believe that this is a *superior* method to drive hype and the marketing plan to get Bayo 2 (or 1) into a consumer's hands.

Let me explain a simple marketing concept to you: it's called KISS, for Keep It Simple Stupid. What you're suggesting makes the entire situation more complex than it needs to be since the vast, vast, vast majority of people understand *FREE* a lot better than paid demo + discount later, and *FREE* is a much better purchase motivator than the Rube Goldberg-like scheme that some of the people on this thread think is a great idea.

(Oh, and yes, I'm aware that this method is used in some cases, but it's STUPID, because it needlessly complicates the situation and is actually far less of a motivator to get people to buy than FREE, because it's much more difficult to follow than FREE.)

(In other words, thank God you guys aren't running Nintendo's marketing efforts, nor, lest you're deluding yourselves, do you represent even 5% of the potential customers for this game.)

This is nonsense.


Nintendo is able to have their cake and eat it too when it comes to offering both games on the eShop:
* They can (and should) promote Bayonetta 2 using the "Get the first game FREE!" line. 
* They can (and should) offer the first game for sale on the eShop too, to maximize the profits for anyone who only wants that game instead of buying both.


All we are talking about here is giving a retroactive "free" discount to anyone who buys both game digitally. Doing that automatically through the eShop will ensure people who are buying digitally don't accidentally pay more than they need to, will make it easy to change/remove the promotion details later, and will also cater to the most people possible.


But hey, I do agree with one point: keep the message simple. Regardless of how the pricing works out, Nintendo should advertise as "Buy Bayonetta 2, get the first game FREE!" so that people don't get confused.

LudicrousDa3veJuly 15, 2014

I'd like to add something intelligent to the conversation, but I can't. I have the same relationship in games with Bayonetta as I do in music with Slayer. Nothing put blind, animalistic joy.  :cool;

Mop it upJuly 15, 2014

Hooray, this increases my chances of getting it with a cheap used copy.

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