Microsoft: Working on two games to cater the casual gamers

After Sony’s Kim Nguyen divulged that the PS3 marketing campaign is going to be renewed to cater to the usual non-gamers like Mom and Dad, Microsoft seems to be gearing towards the same thing basing from what Shane Kim said. According to a Reuters report, the Microsoft Game Studios honcho is looking towards giving the Xbox 360 a “kinder, gentler face”.

He mentioned that they are currently working on two previously unannounced games which are aimed beyond the hardcore fans. In other words, Microsoft is also looking for ways to cater to casual gamers who have been sweating it out with the Nintendo Wii. This was Shane Kim’s words:

We have a couple games that have not been announced…I will tell you that they target a broader market. We think it’s very important this holiday, and to winning this generation, to expand beyond our core audience.

This was mentioned during a San Francisco preview event for Halo 3 and with the critical praise given to Viva Pinata, it’s not surprising that MS is set to take a gamble for the casual gamers. Although he admits that Viva Pinata isn’t flying off store shelves like pancakes, he offers this reason for that:

The fact is that we are not at a mass-market price point…We have that work to do… to make us more palatable to moms and stuff.

As for the Xbox Elite, Kim said that they are “selling everything we can make. People want the black color, they want the bigger hard-drive capacity…And the price is great, especially when compared to the PS3 options”.

Via Reuters

After Sony’s Kim Nguyen divulged that the PS3 marketing campaign is going to be renewed to cater to the usual non-gamers like Mom and Dad, Microsoft seems to be gearing towards the same thing basing from what Shane Kim said. According to a Reuters report, the Microsoft Game Studios honcho is looking towards giving the Xbox 360 a “kinder, gentler face”.

He mentioned that they are currently working on two previously unannounced games which are aimed beyond the hardcore fans. In other words, Microsoft is also looking for ways to cater to casual gamers who have been sweating it out with the Nintendo Wii. This was Shane Kim’s words:

We have a couple games that have not been announced…I will tell you that they target a broader market. We think it’s very important this holiday, and to winning this generation, to expand beyond our core audience.

This was mentioned during a San Francisco preview event for Halo 3 and with the critical praise given to Viva Pinata, it’s not surprising that MS is set to take a gamble for the casual gamers. Although he admits that Viva Pinata isn’t flying off store shelves like pancakes, he offers this reason for that:

The fact is that we are not at a mass-market price point…We have that work to do… to make us more palatable to moms and stuff.

As for the Xbox Elite, Kim said that they are “selling everything we can make. People want the black color, they want the bigger hard-drive capacity…And the price is great, especially when compared to the PS3 options”.

Via Reuters