While the video game market may already appear to be booming, this may only be the beginning. According to the chief executive of Ubisoft (French Video Game Publisher), we can expect to see the market grow as much as 50% over the next four years. So who are the potential new gamers? Well considering how well the Wii has gone over with families, the new targets are just that, families, as well as older people, and women.
The current video game market is heavily dominated by men, which leaves lots of room for expansion with all of the women who have yet to enter the world of video games. Besides video games on consoles, they’re also expecting that people will be playing more games on their PCs, mobile phones, and even on the web.
Along with an increase in the market, we’re also expected to see an increase in “casual games” that appeal to just about everybody. Casual games are great for the developers because they cost less to make, in fact, a lot less. A casual game on average costs around 1 million to 4 million euros to make compared to a “normal” game which can cost anywhere between 5 million and 10 million, depending on the console it’s being made for.
I think it’s safe to say that the video game industry will no longer need to rely on, nor focus on selling to the hardcore gamers. They’ll just be one percentage of the whole that makes up a rather large, expanding industry. For me at least, the casual “party” type games are the ones I always enjoy the most, so I look forward to what publishers have in-store as they increase the amount of casual games that they offer.
Source: Retuers
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Thanks for basically screwing hardcore gamers, we still are the power don’t forget that!
I agree with this article. I used to be a hardcore gamer, and have been a gamer ever since the original Pong game. All the while I was a hardcore gamer, I also played casual games.
Now, I just have too much going on in my life, especially with my cycling to be a hardcore gamer anymore. I used ti have every console up to the Xbox 360. Now, however, I have no console at all. I do expect to be getting a Wii sometime next year.
Currently, the only game I am playing is Titan Quest: Immortal Throne. It is my favorite genre of game, the Hack n’ Slash Action RPG game. It is the same genre as the ever popular Diablo and Diable 2.
I do occasionally play the web based casual game, and once in a while the breakout game on my Blackberry Pearl phone.
I believe that the Nintendo Wii is the catalyst for moving gaming into the female and family market that will help the industry really grow.
I used to play more games as well. When I got the Playstation One I had moved away from computer games. And then I got the Xbox, and now I have the Wii.
I definitely think you’re right OldManDeath that the Wii is pushing females into the gaming industry, and we’re seeing more family friendly games being created. My two favorite games on the Xbox were Fuzion Frenzy and Shrek Super Party, both of which I always played with friends and family. They were filled with mini games that everyone could quickly catch on to, and the Wii has dozens of those games.