Casual Hex

I used to keep up with everything on everybody in the console gaming business. It was my job so whether I enjoyed it or not (and thankfully, I did.. most of the time) I had to know what was going on. One thing I have always thought to be humorous is the way hardcore gamers consider themselves to be the primary factor for game publishers. Forget that we’re only a miniscule part of the market. Forget that we’re only a drop in the bucket when it comes to profits. Hardcore gamers rule the roost. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. But hardcore gamers seem to always live in their own little world on all sorts of levels.

What matters is what sells at Wal-Mart. Follow by all the others: Circuit City, Best Buy, Target, etc (not necessarily in that order) and then the shops like EB Games/Gamestop (are casual gamers even aware that these two are now one and the same?). Who shops at Wal-Mart and the other non-gaming specific stores? Casual gamers. And they decide what’s big. Not the hardcore gamers. Price always plays a huge role in what casual gamers buy. So while hardcore gamers all know the specs for the XBOX 360, PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii (pronounced ‘We’) and release dates for game titles through 2007… the casual gamers don’t. They just see what’s there in a neat little package in the glass case in front of them. The system brands will have some sway on consumers, but the price shock will deter most. Huh? Price shock?

MIcrosoft XBOX 360 recently launched at *$300/$400
Sony PlayStation 3 launches this weekend at *$500/$600
NIntendo Will launches this weekend at $250

   * stripped down versions

But whatever. I’m just in this for the games. I’m one who buys whatever console I need to play the games I like. I grew up on Nintendo but never had any second thoughts about buying PlayStations, XBoxen or those no longer in the console hardware business (sniff, we miss you Sega). However, I now have a family, I have bills.. and with the new generation of hardware costing ~$1300 (I’m not even counting accessories or games) .. it’s the first time I wont have all of the new systems within a few months of each launch. That’s about $500 more than the last gen launch prices. Ouch! Eventually, I may have all three. But only after the PlayStation 3 and XBOX 360 drop in price— about $200-300 each. Maybe in 2008?

So.. maybe the “real” hardcore gamers will camp out to get in line for the latest at top price but Wii all know what’s going to be the biggest seller this Christmas. I, for one, can’t wait.