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Next-Gen Gamer Habits Profiled
Next Generation Magazine has a profile (done by IDG) looking at the habits for next-generation gamers. From the article: "Social gamers represent 35% of spending while casual gamers represent 28% of the gaming audience but only 13% of dollars spent. The report says devoted gamers will drive sales of new systems in 2005 and 2006 with more than half of them likely to buy a PlayStation 3 and over 45% planning to buy Xbox 360 within the first year of release for each system. "
It's just common sense that someone "devoted" to something will expend considerably more resources on it.
As a consumer, non-essential item, games and consoles are fairly reasonably priced. Of course someone that is devoted to gaming can and will spend many times what the "casual" user will spend. It's their hobby.
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I agree whole heartedly that MS really stands as more of a contender and depending on my mood I can't for the life of me find it possible for either Sony or MS to even succeed. You know? I mean it's really that close at this point. But the more competition there is the better off we as consumers are, so bring on the race.
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If by social gamers they mean "players who purchase and pay subscription fees for online games," then it's a no freaking brainer. Not everyone wants to spend a few hundred bucks over the course of a year or two to have the opportunity to have their level 50 night elf wear the newest funky armor.
If they mean "players who have friends over to play games," then it's probably due to the Madden phenomenon. Tons of folks purchase the next year's edition every season simply so they can keep their rosters up to date. Seems loony to me, but if it works, hey, go for it.
I suppose I'm a casual gamer. I own 27 PS2 games, but The only game I really play with friends is Hot Shots Gold Fore (I rarely play games at all). Match play = great drinking game.