Rolando 2 gets a release date
While the original's days are numbered
According to a news item over on 148Apps, ngmoco has is ready to stop teasing us with updates on Rolando 2: The Quest for the Golden Orchid's development, and has set a release date of July 1st.
Great news. But it seems the iPhone publisher is to repeat a sales tactic it tested out with Topple, by removing the original game from the App Store when the sequel hits the virtual shelves.
It's easy to see how such an aggressive marketing device could instigate a last minute sales rush for a game that's about to be superseded, and therefore likely to hit a dry spell as the sequel rises, but given that digital products don't exactly have expiration dates, it's a somewhat controversial decision to take.
Looking beyond sales, surely there's some small obligation to the gamers, who might be meeting the Rolando family for the first time in the sequel, and wish to complete their roll-'em-up education. Such newcomers (iPhone 3GS users, for example) would hardly feel endeared toward ngmoco after being excluded from the party for being latecomers.
But there you have it. Rolando 2 coming soon, Rolando going just as soon. Make of it what you will.
