Report: Capcom Using eBay To Gauge Retro Interest

Capcom associate product manager John Diamonon has described the various means the company uses to gauge interest in retro re-releases and updates, including examining the prices of second-hand titles on auction website eBay. Speaking to consumer website MTV Multiplayer, Diamonon described how the company questions its community of fans on which older titles they would like to see return. “To choose titles to revive, we see if we can give old franchises the modern touch, and we evaluate the fanbase and see if there’s a market for it,” he explained. The company also apparently takes note of polls on consumer websites such as GameSpot, as well as looking at prices on eBay. “Sometimes we see games on eBay, and that’s how you see what games people are willing to spend $80 on,” said Diamonon. “It’s certainly not the only thing we do … but sometimes we look there to assess the market value of a game.” Capcom has announced a raft of retro updates and remakes in recent months, including downloadable titles Wolf of the Battlefield: Commando 3, 1942: Joint Strike, Bionic Command Rearmed and Super Street Fighter II HD Remix. Bionic Commando is also to receive a full 3D re-imagining on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, with the long awaited Street Fighter IV also recently confirmed for home consoles and arcades.