Discussion

Could MK vs. DC Save Midway?

_After a horrendous year for Midway - a year which saw the stock price peak at around 2.90 but only to drop 350% in value; the controlling shareholder Sumner Redstone sell 87% of his investment to a no-name private investor for $100,000; the company lay off 25% of their staff and shut down the Austin, Texas based studio; a decision to scrap several of their projects in development, a delisting warning from the New York Stock Exhchange, chatter about bankruptcy throughout the blogosphere . . . did I miss anything? Oh yes, they are running out of time to pay off their enormous debt.

As the bombs stop dropping, the fires slowly burn out and the dawn beckons - rising out of the falling ashes is the only crusader that matters now - and it’s not Batman. Or should I say, it’s not JUST Batman. It’s Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe - a whole collection of warriors, villains and superheros packaged together in a crossover style fighting game - just in time to save the day, er, company. But now the question begs…is it too little too late? Was their a battle to be fought but this crusader just didn’t show up in time?

MK vs. DC was released last November to generally favorable reviews among fans and critics alike. This ‘experiment in gaming’ features a story mode where you can choose to take sides with Mortal Kombat OR DC Universe. In less than two months, Xbox360 and PS3 sales amassed well over a million copies according to the latest figures at VGChartz.com, at almost 60 bucks a pop. While a million or so copies in sales might not be earth shattering, it is still a healthy number for such a ‘bizarre’ game idea that some thought would never work. But because it is a relatively new title and has had a decent reception, there may be some fight left in this one. Can MK vs. DC continue to sell and reach 1.5 million in sales? Maybe even push 2 million? And if so, will this be enough to save Midway - at least for the time being? Or at least until February 19?

Ah, February 19th - the all conspicuous deadline that Midway has to pay off its $75 million debt - looms in the background as the next (and final?) battle. This defiantly doesn’t give MK vs. DC long to work its majic. Not long at all. But maybe, if it can just do enough, it can buy some time for back up. Three days before the deadline, a motion picture based game known as “Wheelman,” will hit shelves for the PC, Xbox360 and PS3. If this title can generate some buzz - two weeks later, “This is Vegas” will make its debut.

What do you think? Do you think MK vs DC can help Midway buy some time? Or do you think it is a little too late?

Share your thoughts below.

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