APRIL 17, 2009 • Emulating Warner Bros., which bypassed retail in making its Watchmen video game a download only game, Paramount Studios is distributing its Star Trek game connected to the franchise’s May theatrical release directly to Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. Pricing is expected to be around $15.
Impact: Trying to time the release of a high-end retail game to a new theatrical movie is a risky proposition.In most cases, the goal of a game-based movie is to drive some extra revenue and awareness for the product.With a lower cost/time of development and distribution, combined with lower consumer expectations around a $15 price point, the new downloadable model may prove most efficient for timely tying in games with the launch of entertainment properties like movies.
