Microsoft Looking For Xbox Moms

WillAffleckUW writes "In a New York Times article republished here in International Herald Tribune, Microsoft says it is desperately seeking moms to play XBox games, and has a marketing campaign for women gamers. Apparently not satisfied with its target audience of 17-24 yo males, they are even giving away thousands of free consoles on the radio. Most analysts doubt that the FPS and combat-heavy XBox gaming selection will sell well to women though." From the article: "This time, Microsoft is planning a wider attack. Brochures being sent to major retailers like Best Buy prominently describe the 360's ability to double as a DVD player, play music from an MP3 player through a television's speakers and even display digital photos on a TV. Its game functions, while impressive, are only part of the message."

Comments

Moms don't have time to play XBOX

[tepp]

Okay, first off, I'm a gamer girl. I own an XBOX, a PS2, an alienware laptop, and a Sega Saturn.

I am not a Mom.

MS - you want gamer girls? Fine. You can successfully market to Gamer Girls. But don't insult us by going for 'Gamer Moms'.

I don't know any "Gamer Moms!" And that just offends me, as a non-mom Gamer Girl, to be lumped in the same category as the Moms. You do know that some women choose not to have children? Or don't have them yet?

The women I know who are moms don't play video games anymore. It's the hormones, I think. They spend all day watching barney or little einstein, cleaning the house and changing the dipers, dealing with play-dates and doctors appointments and soccer practice. At the end of the day, they make dinner, do laundry, and finally collapse on the couch with their husbands just in time to catch a little tv - MAYBE - and something that is kid-safe, or that the kids won't understand, like Sex in the City. Not some violent frag-fest.

In fact, once my normal women friends become moms, they go all wierd. I swear, it's the hormones. Things that were perfectly fine before they became moms are now major no-nos. Like saying "screwed". Heck, it's not even a swear word! Like rolling up people in Katamari Damacy. That's not violent! But they go all ballistic about that. If it isn't totally pastel colored and round with no sharp edges and nobody gets even a tiny booboo, then it's threatening to their children and even to them if there's no kid around. It saddens me, but I end up loosing touch with friends when they become moms. They suddenly go on this crusade to save the world from all that isn't in their sugar coated version of "safe".... regardless of how it affects mature adults.

Take violent game laws for example, despite the M rating, the moms don't even want those games sold in stores! Talk about overreacting.

Anyway, MS, don't insult us gamer girls. Some of us are choosing not to have children, or some of us don't have children yet, those are the ones you want to go after. Not "gaming moms". I can see it now... Gaming Moms use Bounce detergent!