Launch title

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A launch title is a video game that has been made available to consumers synchronously with its respective video game console, meaning they are the only available games at the time of the console's launch. Because they provide first impressions of the console's features and technical abilities, they are extremely important in the video game industry, and many launch titles have been killer games.

Quality vs. quantity

Historically, the number of launch titles has been an important factor in deciding the success of a gaming platform. The more games available at launch, the higher the chances that players will find something that interests them. However, the same importance applies to game quality: poor quality games don't sell as well in the long term as high quality ones.

When gearing up for a major console launch, developers and publishers have a decision to make. They can release a large number of launch titles, often accompanied by the promise of more soon after launch, or they can release a few extremely strong titles, or a killer game. Whilst releasing a large number of extremely strong titles is of course preferred, this may not be practical. To balance these choices, developers will often supplement one or two strong titles with third-party or licensed titles to bolster the number of launch titles.

Popular launch titles

Here are a few popular games that debuted at launch.

• Super Mario Bros. 1985 Nintendo Entertainment System (U.S. launch)
• Super Mario World 1990 Super Nintendo Entertainment System
• Super Mario 64 1996 Nintendo 64
• Soul Calibur 1999 Sega Dreamcast
• ' 2001 Xbox'''

Launch title listings

These launch title listings are for the chronological releases of various games consoles.

US launch: October 1977

• Air-Sea Battle
• Basic Math
• Blackjack
• Combat
• Indy 500
• Star Ship
• Street Racer
• Surround
• Video Olympics

US launch: November 1993

• Cybermorph
• Raiden
• Trevor McFur in the Crescent Galaxy

US launch: November 15, 2001

• ''
• ''
• ''Amped
• ''Dead or Alive 3
• ''Project Gotham Racing
• ''NFL Fever 2002

• ''
• ''Mutant Storm Reloaded
• ''Joust
• ''Gauntlet
• ''Hexic HD
• ''Bejeweled 2
• ''Bankshot Billiards 2
• ''Outpost Kaloki X
• ''Hardwood Backgammon
• ''Hardwood Hearts

Japanese launch: July 15, 1983

• ''Donkey Kong (arcade game)
• ''Donkey Kong Jr.
• ''Popeye

US launch: October 18, 1985

• ''10-Yard Fight
• ''Baseball
• ''Clu Clu Land
• ''Donkey Kong Jr. Math
• ''Duck Hunt
• ''Excitebike
• ''Golf
• ''Gyromite
• ''Hogan's Alley
• ''Ice Climber
• ''Kung Fu
• ''Mach Rider
• ''Pinball
• ''Stack-Up
• ''Super Mario Bros.
• ''Tennis
• ''Wild Gunman
• ''Wrecking Crew

Japanese launch: November 21, 1990

• ''Super Mario World
• ''F-Zero

US launch: August 13, 1991

• ''Super Mario World
• ''F-Zero
• ''Pilotwings

Japanese launch: June 23, 1996

• ''Super Mario 64
• ''Pilotwings 64
• ''Habu Nanako no Saikyou Habu Shogi

US launch: September 19, 1996

• ''Super Mario 64
• ''Pilotwings 64

US launch: November 21, 2004

• Super Mario 64 DS
• Asphalt Urban GT
• Madden NFL 2005

Japanese launch: December 2, 2004

• ''Daigassō! Band Brothers
• ''Chokkan Hitofude
• ''Cool104 Joker & Setline
• ''
• ''Kensyūi "Dokuta Tendo"
• ''Mahjong Taikai
• ''
• ''Pokémon Dash
• ''Super Mario 64 DS
• ''
• ''
• ''Zoo Keeper

Japanese launch: April 21, 1989

• ''Super Mario Land
• ''Alleyway
• ''Baseball

US launch: August 1989

• Tetris
• Alleyway
• Baseball
• Super Mario Land
• Tennis

US launch: November, 1998

• Tetris DX
• Game & Watch Gallery 2
• Centipede

US launch: June 11, 2001

• Army Men Advance
• ChuChu Rocket!
• Fire Pro Wrestling
• GT Advance Championship Racing
• Iridion 3D
• Konami Krazy Racers
• Namco Museum
• Rayman Advance
• Super Dodge Ball Advance
• Super Mario Advance
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

Japanese launch: September 14, 2001

• Luigi's Mansion
• Super Monkey Ball

US launch: November 18, 2001

• All-Star Baseball 2002
• Batman Vengeance
• Crazy Taxi
• Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2
• Disney's Tarzan Untamed
• Luigi's Mansion
• Madden NFL 2002
• NHL Hitz 20-02
• Super Monkey Ball
• Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3

US launch: August 14, 1995

• ''Galactic Pinball
• ''Mario's Tennis
• ''Red Alarm
• ''Teleroboxer

US launch: Fall 2006

• Call of Duty 3
• ''Cars
• (tentative launch title)
• Elebits
• Excite Truck
• (tentative launch title)
• Madden NFL 07
• Metal Slug Anthology
• Rayman Raving Rabbids
• Red Steel
• Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam
• Wii Sports

(Super Mario Galaxy and are also possible, but said to be very unlikely.)

US launch: October 7th, 2003

• ''Tomb Raider
• ''Pandemonium
• ''Sonic N
• ''Super Monkey Ball
• ''Puzzle Bobble VS
• ''Puyo Pop
• ''Tony Hawk's Pro Skater

US launch: September 9, 1999

• Airforce Delta
• Blue Stinger
• Flag to Flag
• House of the Dead 2
• Hydro Thunder
• Monaco Grand Prix
• Mortal Kombat Gold
• NFL 2K
• NFL Blitz 2000
• Pen Pen Tri-Icelon
• Power Stone
• Ready 2 Rumble Boxing
• Sonic Adventure
• Soul Calibur
• TNN Motorsports Hardcore Heat
• Tokyo Xtreme Racer
• TrickStyle

Japanese launch: October 6, 1990

Unknown

US launch: 1991

• ''Baseball
• ''Columns
• ''Shanghia II
• ''G-Loc
• ''Super Monaco GP
• ''Pengo
• ''Twin Tank
• ''Wonder Boy

Japanese launch: October 29, 1988

• ''Space Harrier II
• ''Super Thunder Blade

US launch: January 9, 1989

• ''Space Harrier II
• ''Tommy Lasorda Baseball
• ''Last Battle
• ''Thunder Force II
• ''Altered Beast

US launch: November 1994

• ''Doom
• ''Star Wars Arcade
• ''Virtua Racing Deluxe

Japanese launch: December 1994

Unknown

US launch: October 15, 1992

• ''Sega Classics 4-in-1
• ''
• ''Sol-Feace
• ''Black Hole Assault
• ''Cobra Command
• ''Chuck Rock
• ''
• ''
• ''Night Trap
• ''Sewer Shark

Japanese launch: December 1, 1991

• ''Heavy Nova
• ''Sol-Feace

Japanese launch: October 20, 1985

Unknown

US launch: June 1986

Unknown

Japanese launch: November 22, 1994

• ''Virtua Fighter
• ''World Soccer
• ''Pebble Beach Golf

US launch: May 1995

• ''Virtua Fighter

US launch: September 9, 1995

• ''Battle Arena Toshinden
• ''ESPN Extreme Games
• ''Kileak - The DNA Imperative
• ''NBA JAM Tournament Edition
• ''Raiden Project
• ''Rayman
• ''Ridge Racer
• ''
• ''Twisted Metal
• ''Warhawk
• ''Power Serve 3D Tennis
• ''Total Eclipse Turbo

Japanese launch: March 4, 2000

• DrumMania
• Eternal Ring
• FantaVision
• Kessen
• Stepping Selection
• Street Fighter EX3
• Ridge Racer V

US launch: October 26, 2000

• SSX
• Tekken Tag Tournament
• Armored Core 2
• Dynasty Warriors 2
• ESPN International Track & Field
• ESPN Winter X Games Snowboarding
• Eternal Ring
• Evergrace
• FantaVision
• Gungriffon Blaze
• Kessen
• Madden NFL 2001
• MotoGP
• NHL 2001
• Ridge Racer V
• Silent Scope
• Smuggler's Run
• Street Fighter EX3
• Summoner
• Swing Away Golf
• TimeSplitters
• Unreal Tournament
• Wild Wild Racing
• X-Squad

• 6Gun 2
• Avalon
• Dark Sector
• The Darkness
• Devil May Cry 4
• EA Sports Fight Night Round 3
• Eyedentify
• Sonic the Hedgehog PS3
• Formula One PS3
• Heavenly Sword
• I-8
• Infraworld
• Killing Day
• Killzone PS3
• Mobile Suit Gundam
• MotorStorm
• Ni-Oh
• Possession
• Project Delta
• ShadowClan
• Vision GT
• Warhawk PS3

Japanese launch: December 12, 2004

• Unknown

US launch: March 24, 2005

• ''Metal Gear Acid
• ''Wipeout Pure
• ''
• ''
• ''Spider-Man 2
• ''Dynasty Warriors
• ''
• ''Lumines
• ''Ridge Racer
• ''Tony Hawk's Underground 2: Remix
• ''
• ''NBA
• ''Gretzky NHL

European launch: September 1, 2005

• Unknown

 

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