Microsoft's New Boast
In a recent interview, Microsoft game development guy Chris Satchell told GamesIndustry.biz that "over half" of all Xbox 360's sold went to customers who did not own an original Xbox.
"We've sold 10.4 million, but the stat you may not have heard is that over half of those sales are from people that didn't own an Xbox 1... So there are lots of new people coming in, which kind of surprises you. What we're actually finding is that our customer set is broadening, which we think is important."
At the moment, "broadening the customer set" is the holy grail of gaming hardware developers, with both Nintendo and Sony pushing hard on all fronts, console and handheld, to reel in non-gamers, semi-gamers, and of course soccer moms.
While the latter is not ever going to happen on any large scale, ever (I love my gaming sisters, but the PTA set is never gonna get it. Oooh, those soccer moms said the most insulting things as they walked past the Wii launch day line!), but it definitely gives Microsoft bragging rights. Now, there are far more PS2 owners than original Xbox owners, so that logic is a little screwy in terms of what it means for Microsoft's competitors - but improvement is improvement, and it's one sign (out of, admittedly, a shitload of signs) that the American competition is moving up in the ranks.
And feeling breezy enough to share their news...
"Over half" of 360 owners didn't own Xbox 1 - MS [GamesIndustry.biz]
tiny dancer
Posted to Video Games on 18 January 2007
· Comments (6)
this makes me wonder, did Japan have a Jack Thompson when video games weren't quite so mainstream? Do they have any of the same censorship/content issues that we're having? Hmmmmm
poot. forgot to sign. :D
You're somewhat wrong about the soccer moms. A mom of 4 from Kentucky, and friend of my roommate, came for a visit and was forced (by myself) to play DOA4, and immediatley LOVED it (and was annoyingly good!). She's never really played any games except for a couple of racing games with her kids but she's already in the midst of convincing her husband that they need a 360-- so she can play DOA4.
I knew someone would bite the soccer mom bait!
I know plenty of gaming moms...but in terms of a full-out demographic, selling consoles to soccer moms by the millions - that's what ain't gonna happen.
It would be great if the gaming industry continues incrementally acquiring attention from that demographic, but at best it's a war of attrition. So many mothers see a red light whenever they hear the words "video game"...that no amount of anecdotal "I know a mom who loves this game" stories will really offset the reality.
And don't even get me started on the bizarre advertising angle some company's have taken. There's this woman-oriented DS ad with a pretty model looking at her DS like she's afraid it's going to pee on her hand. So strange.
With 24 million Xboxes sold, you can hardly call 10.4 million 360s "broadening the customer set". Indeed, if only half of these are former Xbox owners, shouldn't we be wondering why more than 2/3 Xbox owners haven't upgraded?
Eh, wondering why 2/3 of Xbox owners haven't upgraded yet is like wondering why 99.4% of PS2 owners haven't "upgraded" yet. I can say that I never once considered getting an Xbox, but I could see myself getting a 360 when they're a little cheaper.
My sister-in-law is a soccer mom (okay, not this year, now she's a softball and cheer mom) and yes, she's very anti-gaming. She played Galaga on MAME a few times a couple years ago, and on Xmas day she played Wii Bowling with us (and kicked our asses) but since then she hasn't picked up the Wiimote at all, apparently.