We say you CAN make non-gamers into gamers

The Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3. An analysis by Stan Beer over at iTWire says that the Wii doesn’t have what it takes to attract middle-aged buyers, but Sony and Microsoft have it right. Why? Most middle-aged people are too busy “bringing up children.”

So here comes Sony and Microsoft. They both know that middle-aged non-gamers don’t want friendlier games or a cool Wiimote. What 30-something-year-olds want are “DVD players, internet connection, and video streaming.” In other words, non-gamers want non-gaming things, and that makes sense.

QJ says you can! But we aren’t absolutely comfortable with the analysis (it’s good and you might want to read it because it makes you think, but one small indirect implication bothers us…). For example, the analysis almost means that if you’re Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo and you want to attract non-gamer women, you shouldn’t try to make women-friendly games. You should just pack up and sell cosmetics instead. And if you want to attract middle-aged non-gamers, you shouldn’t even bother, because you’re better off making making DVD players and garage door openers.

But our point is that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo would rather make gaming platforms. Yes, some platforms can play DVDs, but they’re not really DVD players. They are still game platforms. And we thank the Lords of Gaming for that.

Sony’s PS3 is getting screwed by the media because their platform’s “too expensive” and “overheats” and is coming out “too late in the game.” Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is still getting screwed by the media over “hardware problems” and the fact that it’s just “no longer popular.” And Nintendo’s Wii is just “a fad.” But they’re going to keep trying to market their game platforms, and they’re going to keep pushing games to as many people as they can. Yes, you can make middle-aged people into DVD-buyers or internet-surfers, but the only way to make a gamer out of a non-gamer is through good games and good platforms.

The Wii, Xbox 360, and PS3. An analysis by Stan Beer over at iTWire says that the Wii doesn’t have what it takes to attract middle-aged buyers, but Sony and Microsoft have it right. Why? Most middle-aged people are too busy “bringing up children.”

So here comes Sony and Microsoft. They both know that middle-aged non-gamers don’t want friendlier games or a cool Wiimote. What 30-something-year-olds want are “DVD players, internet connection, and video streaming.” In other words, non-gamers want non-gaming things, and that makes sense.

QJ says you can! But we aren’t absolutely comfortable with the analysis (it’s good and you might want to read it because it makes you think, but one small indirect implication bothers us…). For example, the analysis almost means that if you’re Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo and you want to attract non-gamer women, you shouldn’t try to make women-friendly games. You should just pack up and sell cosmetics instead. And if you want to attract middle-aged non-gamers, you shouldn’t even bother, because you’re better off making making DVD players and garage door openers.

But our point is that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo would rather make gaming platforms. Yes, some platforms can play DVDs, but they’re not really DVD players. They are still game platforms. And we thank the Lords of Gaming for that.

Sony’s PS3 is getting screwed by the media because their platform’s “too expensive” and “overheats” and is coming out “too late in the game.” Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is still getting screwed by the media over “hardware problems” and the fact that it’s just “no longer popular.” And Nintendo’s Wii is just “a fad.” But they’re going to keep trying to market their game platforms, and they’re going to keep pushing games to as many people as they can. Yes, you can make middle-aged people into DVD-buyers or internet-surfers, but the only way to make a gamer out of a non-gamer is through good games and good platforms.