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An Older Demographic May Soon Dominate Gaming

Posted by Zonk on from the say-goodbye-to-the-hardcore- dept.

Reservoir Hill writes "An article from last week runs down the new mass audience for gaming among families, women and older people. The importance of the mass audience in gaming's spectacular growth is seen most clearly in the success of Nintendo's Wii, which is far outselling its more technically advanced hardware competitors, the Xbox 360 from Microsoft and PlayStation 3 from Sony. Wii Play was the No. 2-selling game of last year even though it received an abysmal score of 58 out of 100 at Metacritic, which aggregates reviews. The Times says that as video games become more popular hard-core gamers are becoming an ever smaller part of the audience. 'Paradoxically, at a moment when technology allows designers to create ever more complex and realistic single-player fantasies, the growth in the now $18 billion gaming market is in simple, user-friendly experiences that families and friends can enjoy together.'"

3 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Frosty Piss for the whole family by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    An article from last week runs down the new mass audience for Frosty Piss among families, women and older people. The importance of the mass audience in Frosty Piss's spectacular growth is seen most clearly in the success of the female drinker, which is far outperforming its more traditionally male-dominated afficionados. Dark, foaming Frosty Piss (steaming variety) was the bestselling brand of last year even though it received an abysmal score of 58 out of 100 at Metacritic, which aggregates reviews. The Times says that as Frosty Piss become more popular hard-core drinkers are becoming an ever smaller part of the audience. 'Paradoxically, at a moment when technology allows bartenders to create ever more complex and realistic drinks, the growth in the now $18 billion Frosty Piss market is in simple, user-friendly experiences that families and friends can enjoy together.

  2. of course.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    this has nothing to do with games pushing graphics over gameplay. nope. none at all. really.

  3. History repeating itself? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    So the quality of games are going to start going like back in the early 80s. New studios will emerge to jump on the casual video game band wagon. The market will be flooded with crappy 'family style' simple games that rarely deviate from the simple puzzle/luck game found in some of the WiiParty games.

    This development/market strategy continues for a few years. The target audience becomes dis-interested from the same old shit. Companies close down or are absorbed by the larger ones, investors bail.

    Gaming goes back to the hardcore again.

    GG?