Assume that every single casual gamer has a system (Xbox or PS2). The console market is now mature, and PS2 dominates this market. This leaves two markets left: the non-gamer, and the hardcore gamer. The hardcore gamer would want to buy a second system. He'd select this base on game exclusives. As Xbox has a handful of must-haves (eg. Halo, and KOTOR)... A lot of Xbox Xmas releases have been delayed, and in addition to this, a lot of the titles are multi-platform for Xmas. With the Nintendo price at $99 and with the most original first party games (eg.Mario Party 5, Double Dash, etc.), who do you think will win as the second console? Finally, the non-gamer would choose his console most likely based on price and broader appeal for his family... most probably the Gamecube. The Xbox will never get market share as the PS2 (it's too late), so it compares itself against Nintendo constantly. Yet, in this press release, Bach wants a wider appeal of videogames from a penetration rate of 40% to 80%. Based on the above, how well does it look like the Xbox will fare this Xmas season?
Funny, we have George Harrison, as saying 'So far in 2003,
Nintendo GameCube is the only home console showing an increase in
unit sales compared to 2002.'... and then you have Gamebiz
quoting Microsoft 'Quoting statistics from US market
research body NPD Funworld, the company claims that the Xbox is
the only console which has continuously demonstrated positive
market share growth in the past year, while sales of software in
August grew faster than either of its rivals and boosted the
console's attach rate to 5.8.'
Of course, I take that chest beating from Microsoft with a
grain of salt.
Regardless, I think Nintendo's really going to break even on
profit of GC hardware sales, and it will make it's money on its
own first party software sales. The upcoming war now is for
second place market share, especially during Xmas, when parents
are shopping for that Xmas present for the kids (and themselves).
It almost seemed that Nintendo played the right strategy all
along. It didn't want to compete against Sony directly, it's made
a nice niche for itself with it's specific genre of games (that
does not suit everybody, BTW).... and it's price point can't be
beat.
Microsoft is in a precarious position. It's still hemorrhaging
money from it's price war with the PS2. It's too far behind in
market share wih the PS2. Now, it can't possibly compete against
Nintendo's new price, and it's too
late to offer kid games (especially touting kid games that
are cross platform [Harry Potter]?). What's poor Microsoft to do?...
and for that matter, what's with all the bad press about Nintendo
'struggling'?
Karoake Revolution's song list is available here,
which I've shown below:
Addicted
I'm Coming Out
All You Wanted
It's End of the World As We Know It
Are You Happy Now?
Kiss Me
Believe
Ladies' Night
Billie Jean
Like a Virgin
Bizarre Love Triangle
One Week
Broken Wings
Red Red Wine
Celebration
Save Tonite
Chain of Fools
Science Genius Girl
Complicated
She Talks To Angels
Crawling in the Dark
Smooth Criminal
Don't Know Why
Son of a Preacher Man
Every Morning
The Power of Love
Everything You Want
Waiting For Tonight
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
When a Man Loves a Woman
Hey Jealousy
Wind Beneath my Wings
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
You Really Got Me
How You Remind Me
You're the One That I Want
I think the success of this game will mostly be determined by
the selection of songs available. Everyone's taste is different,
so I'd question the appeal of the songs to teenagers. It almost
seems like the song selection is specifically targetted to
GenXers (us old farts that are 25-35) that like to reminisce.
It'd be nice to be able to pop in a CD of your favorite song,
and Karoake to any of your favorites. Most ghetto blasters and
bookshelf systems had that function built in for free during the
Karoake fad, so I couldn't see how difficult it may have been for
them to do have done this to the PS2 game version.
Regardless, the last time I karoaked, I was trashed... and now
that you can do this in the privacy of your own home, it seems
like a pretty good bet for a party game. I just have to remember
to have alcohol around so that I can blame something for my
terrible singing.
Ever talk to a kid about how fast they finish a videogame?
Well, if you do, they'll tell you that they play until they get stuck. Then they go the FAQ, or the convenient gaming guide, that comes out at the same time as the game release, and then they continue playing until they finish the game. Kids nowadays almost play the game like a marathon. Kids nowadays don't spend the time to think about that obstacle in the game, and how to overcome it, they take the easy solution, and use the game guide to get through the problem. They'll put the game difficulty to the easiest setting to finish it right away.
Take a look at 'Stuntman', the sequel to 'Driver'. That game was damn difficult, which critics argued was the reason why it did so bad.
Sure I can see making a game difficult, but the attention span of kids nowadays are far too short to make the game popular if that was the case.
After reading this article, it's clear about Nokia's marketing
direction with N-Gage.
From the article, The Japanese market is years ahead
of Europe and the US and Ridge Racer is
being sold in Japan for $11, about double the price of other
titles.
Now is the N-Gage going to sold in Japan? No. It's strictly
marketing for the US and European market. The phone itself cost
more then any of the other consoles, plus it doesn't even include
a game. Does Nokia think the US consumer is going to be that
stupid and with such deep pockets? I don't think so.
Slashdot Mirror
Assume that every single casual gamer has a system (Xbox or PS2). The console market is now mature, and PS2 dominates this market.
This leaves two markets left: the non-gamer, and the hardcore gamer.
The hardcore gamer would want to buy a second system. He'd select this base on game exclusives. As Xbox has a handful of must-haves (eg. Halo, and KOTOR)... A lot of Xbox Xmas releases have been delayed, and in addition to this, a lot of the titles are multi-platform for Xmas. With the Nintendo price at $99 and with the most original first party games (eg.Mario Party 5, Double Dash, etc.), who do you think will win as the second console?
Finally, the non-gamer would choose his console most likely based on price and broader appeal for his family... most probably the Gamecube.
The Xbox will never get market share as the PS2 (it's too late), so it compares itself against Nintendo constantly. Yet, in this press release, Bach wants a wider appeal of videogames from a penetration rate of 40% to 80%. Based on the above, how well does it look like the Xbox will fare this Xmas season?
Funny, we have George Harrison, as saying 'So far in 2003, Nintendo GameCube is the only home console showing an increase in unit sales compared to 2002.' ... and then you have Gamebiz
quoting Microsoft 'Quoting statistics from US market
research body NPD Funworld, the company claims that the Xbox is
the only console which has continuously demonstrated positive
market share growth in the past year, while sales of software in
August grew faster than either of its rivals and boosted the
console's attach rate to 5.8.'
Of course, I take that chest beating from Microsoft with a grain of salt.
Regardless, I think Nintendo's really going to break even on profit of GC hardware sales, and it will make it's money on its own first party software sales. The upcoming war now is for second place market share, especially during Xmas, when parents are shopping for that Xmas present for the kids (and themselves).
It almost seemed that Nintendo played the right strategy all along. It didn't want to compete against Sony directly, it's made a nice niche for itself with it's specific genre of games (that does not suit everybody, BTW).... and it's price point can't be beat.
Microsoft is in a precarious position. It's still hemorrhaging money from it's price war with the PS2. It's too far behind in market share wih the PS2. Now, it can't possibly compete against Nintendo's new price, and it's too late to offer kid games (especially touting kid games that are cross platform [Harry Potter]?). What's poor Microsoft to do?... and for that matter, what's with all the bad press about Nintendo 'struggling'?
Karoake Revolution's song list is available here, which I've shown below:
Addicted
I'm Coming Out
All You Wanted
It's End of the World As We Know It
Are You Happy Now?
Kiss Me
Believe
Ladies' Night
Billie Jean
Like a Virgin
Bizarre Love Triangle
One Week
Broken Wings
Red Red Wine
Celebration
Save Tonite
Chain of Fools
Science Genius Girl
Complicated
She Talks To Angels
Crawling in the Dark
Smooth Criminal
Don't Know Why
Son of a Preacher Man
Every Morning
The Power of Love
Everything You Want
Waiting For Tonight
Girls Just Want To Have Fun
When a Man Loves a Woman
Hey Jealousy
Wind Beneath my Wings
Hit Me With Your Best Shot
You Really Got Me
How You Remind Me
You're the One That I Want
I think the success of this game will mostly be determined by the selection of songs available. Everyone's taste is different, so I'd question the appeal of the songs to teenagers. It almost seems like the song selection is specifically targetted to GenXers (us old farts that are 25-35) that like to reminisce.
It'd be nice to be able to pop in a CD of your favorite song, and Karoake to any of your favorites. Most ghetto blasters and bookshelf systems had that function built in for free during the Karoake fad, so I couldn't see how difficult it may have been for them to do have done this to the PS2 game version.
Regardless, the last time I karoaked, I was trashed... and now that you can do this in the privacy of your own home, it seems like a pretty good bet for a party game. I just have to remember to have alcohol around so that I can blame something for my terrible singing.
Ever talk to a kid about how fast they finish a videogame?
Well, if you do, they'll tell you that they play until they get stuck. Then they go the FAQ, or the convenient gaming guide, that comes out at the same time as the game release, and then they continue playing until they finish the game. Kids nowadays almost play the game like a marathon. Kids nowadays don't spend the time to think about that obstacle in the game, and how to overcome it, they take the easy solution, and use the game guide to get through the problem. They'll put the game difficulty to the easiest setting to finish it right away.
Take a look at 'Stuntman', the sequel to 'Driver'. That game was damn difficult, which critics argued was the reason why it did so bad.
Sure I can see making a game difficult, but the attention span of kids nowadays are far too short to make the game popular if that was the case.
There's a Yahoo slideshow of the vehicle being driven on and off the Thames, here.
After reading this article, it's clear about Nokia's marketing direction with N-Gage.
From the article, The Japanese market is years ahead of Europe and the US and Ridge Racer is being sold in Japan for $11, about double the price of other titles.
Now is the N-Gage going to sold in Japan? No. It's strictly marketing for the US and European market. The phone itself cost more then any of the other consoles, plus it doesn't even include a game. Does Nokia think the US consumer is going to be that stupid and with such deep pockets? I don't think so.
My guess?A cheaper version of the Panasonic Cube.
A Gamecube with DVD, MP3/CD player, and can play GBA games for the same price. Plus bonus, it's slim, not CUBIC!
I doubt it's their new console. If so, they would mention something about being technologically significant.