Q3 - Some video game makers have sold

[mshinners]

Question Type:
ID the Flaw

Stimulus Breakdown:
This one video game sold worse after the (bad) movie version came up. Therefore, it's almost certainly a bad move for other companies to do the same.

Answer Anticipation:
One example to prove a general statement? That's a perfect example of a Bad Generalization flaw.

Interestingly, this question takes one possible alternative explanation for the poor sales off the table - they were bad games. This argument definitely has a flaw related to blaming the movie for the drop in sales, when there are other explanations. The correct answer could also deal with this flaw (a False Choice).

Correct answer:
(A)

Answer choice analysis:
(A) Bingo. The Nostroma is only one example, yet the conclusion is much more general (stating it's rarely a good idea to license your movie). One example does not prove something more general (e.g., Alien being an amazing movie doesn't prove all movies in the Alien franchise are great - I'm looking at you, Resurrection).

(B) Wrong flaw. The argument doesn't assume that this connection between the public and critics will always exist, and it also doesn't state that the critical consensus drove the public perception.

(C) Wrong flaw (Circular Reasoning). This flaw is characterized by a premise and conclusion that are the same, and the conclusion isn't restated anywhere.

(D) Wrong flaw. If anything, this argument is saying that popularity won't always transfer (since the game version was popular, but the movie version wasn't). It also doesn't assume this connection since we know both the movie and later games were unpopular; it's stated, not an assumption.

(E) Wrong flaw (Illegal Reversal). There are no conditional statement in this argument to back up this flaw as an answer choice. In fact, that "rarely" isn't absolute, which is a great hint that a Conditional Logic flaw won't be the correct answer.

Takeaway/Pattern:
Whenever an example is given, make sure that the argument isn't overgeneralizing from it. An example can prove a conclusion about possibility ("It might not be a good idea to license your video game"), not a probability or certainty ("It is probably/definitely not a good idea.").

#officialexplanation