pineapel’s blog

The most interesting event happen in this console generation is probably the rise of casual gamer demographic that really boost Nintendo position from the last place in PS2 era to a number one spot, through its Wii and DS products. SONY have already owned some casual game franchises, like Singstar or Buzz, although it is not as powerful as say, Wii Sports or Wii Fit. However, the company that is basically still playing catch-up in this regard is MSFT that just recently released games targeted toward this demographic, for example Scene It!

However, as the casual gamer demographic grow, nurtured by Nintendo products, it is just not enough for SONY to have 2-3 franchises or MSFT to released 1-2 casual games once in a long while. They have to change and try to capture those demographic as well, if they do not want to be crushed by Nintendo like what happen in this generation. And the question is now, how do you expand your demographic successfully?

If we could learn from Nintendo Wii, there are basically 5 main ways to achieve that goal:

1. incorporate the simple control into the console bundle (if possible from day one)
Wii incorporate its simple remote control-like controller since day one. It even come with Wii Sports game to show what this controller could do and what fun you could get out of it. On the other hand, PS3 or XBOX 360 come with a complicated looking controller (by casual gamer standard), so it is no wonder why they hesitate to choose those 2 consoles. True, that later on Singstar PS3 come out with its unique simple to use mic, or Scene IT! with its BUZZ-like controller. But rather than simplify it, it complicates the matter for a casual gamer as they struggle to justify the purchase of that complicated looking controller that come with the console bundle, since the only game that they want to play, for example, is EYE PLAY 2 that only need PSEYE.

But that if you have it since launch, but what if you don't? SONY and MSFT could still incorporate it with the console bundle, along with the traditional controller, just like what most Australia game retailers do with PS2 now. They bundle the consoles with Singstar or Buzz game (and their own controllers, of course). This has been very successful, as some game stores that I usually visit ran out of PS2 around the holiday 2007 season, along with the Singstar games.

2. hype that surpass the game industry
Wii have become part of mainstream culture with games that about to launch on Wii not only become the game media news, but also the mainstream media's. For example, Wii Fit or the Brain Training games. It not only help the success of the game in term of sales, but also help boost the sales of the game console itself, as many more people know about it. But how could PS3 or xbox 360 do the same thing? I've got no idea, maybe we could discuss this?

3. remember that casual is not only one
Singstar, Buzz, Guitar Hero and Rock Band are successful franchises. But that is not the only similarity that they have, all of them was targeted towards roughly the same demographic. My guess it's around 15+ teens to adults(no more than 30) that love music and/or having fun with friends by playing games (doesn't have to be video game, it could be board games, etc).

As much as they are successful, that demographic is not the only casual gamer demographic. Just like hardcore gamers that is separated into FPS freaks or RPG nerds, etc, casual gamer also consist of many different types of gamers. And Nintendo knew this, that is why they create Brain Training that target older people, or Nintendogs (DS) for younger audiences, or even Wii Fit for adults that conscious about their body and mind health. MSFT have not figure this out by releasing another game that focuses on the previous demographic, by games like Scene It!

4. advertise what matters
You could not be everything, you have to choose one. So the company have to advertise what matters. And Wii choose to be a casual gamer console of choice by having their marketing and advertising focusing toward this demographic. They advertise WiiPlay, WiiFit, Brain Training heavily, as much as Mario Galaxy or Super Smash Bros. Brawl (which is supposed to be the most anticipated title for hardcore Wii gamers). But they care little about Metroid Prime. It is not that Wii doesn't have good hardcore games (cause they do: No More Heroes, new Tales games, etc), but their marketing pie is not only just for this market anymore.

So if PS3 or XBOX 360 want to be the casual gamer choice. They too need to increase their budget for marketing to this demographic, and of course less to the other demographic. Since you only have that amount of a pie.

5. appealing price point
Appealing for who? No, not for hardcore gamer. But for casual gamer. Those gamers that play games maybe once a week or less. That only have 1-2 games after having a particular console for maybe 2 years. That is the market that Wii is targeting and they are successful by having a reasonable price point for average consumers.

The same could be said for PS2, especially now. Ever wonder why PS2 sales still strong as hell in US or anywhere else? It is not because of those hardcore gamers, that have already moved on to PS3 or XBOX 360, but because of those casual gamers. Casual gamers that bought PS2 Singstar or Buzz bundle because the price point is not wallet destroying-unlike PS3 or even 360. Or those casual gamers that want to join Wii hype but cannot find any Wii console. Their next option? PS2, of course. Cheaper price point, with a lot of hardcore and casual games scattered throughout PS2 extensive library of games.

So, I guess that basically it. Hope you guys enjoy this and feel free to give your own opinion. Thanks.

Playstation 2 has been regarded as the most successful console in the history of video game. It has sold 120 million units as of 20 September 2007(according to Kaz Hirai on TGS 2007) and it is still selling at an amazing rate in its 8th year now (1.1 million units in December 2007). With this amazing success, just like what iPod is to the MP3 player industry, there must be factors that determine its success. So, this post would basically outline what those factors are and which current-gen video game consoles already have them. Ok, without further a due, here's the lucky 7:

1. Long Launch Shortage
Affect: Nintendo Wii

Playstation 2 started with a boom. According to Wiki, one day after the launch of PS2, 980,000 units were sold in Japan. After that, you could not find it anywhere in the store shelves, but ebay. And sometimes, you have to bid as high as $1,000 to get it.

Sounds similar to something recently? Yeah, the current-gen Nintendo console, Wii. Wii is selling like hotcakes, 20.13 million units by December 2007. This is amazing, considering that Wii was just launched a year ago. It is this success that creates Wii shortage almost everywhere in the world. According to Wiki, as of March 2007, some UK stores still had a shortage of consoles, and as of June 2007, demand still outpaced supply in the US.

This shortage could mean that a lot of people who could not get a Wii would be forced to buy another console. However, this shortage could also lead people to follow the hype and buy the Wii. According to the survey performed by a Japanese website kakaku.com, forty-three percent said they wanted to buy the "most talked about console" (hype). This survey might be limited to Japan, but expect a pretty similar number in US and Europe since Wii and PS2 success with shortage have been evident enough to prove this percentage.

2. Launch Price Point
Affect: Nintendo Wii, XBOX 360

Playstation 2 was sold at $299 on the day it launched in US in the year 2000. If we take inflation rate of roughly 3% into account, that would translate around $ 360 by the end of 2006( the period where PS3 and Wii was launched). Seeing the success of PS2 with that price on its launch, Microsoft provide 2 SKUs for its 360 console, one with the cheaper price of $299(as of launch in 2005). And Nintendo priced its Wii console, as much as you want to argue that its specs is inferior, at $250.

This relatively cheap price really help Wii to establish itself in the market by selling 20,13 million units, as I've mentioned above. This number even outsell XBOX 360 by almost 3 million units that launched a year earlier. How about PS3? Playstation 3 was also launched with 2 SKUs, 20GB version and 60 GB version. The cheaper of the two was priced at $499. We know that it is packed with features, Blue tooth, Wi-Fi, and BluRay. But the price is just overkill for  a video game console. So, while PS2 sold roughly 980,000 units on its first 24 hour after launch in Japan, PS3 only manage to sell 81,639 units.

Price point at launch is very important as it is the first period to create a good momentum for the console sales. Thus, as much as PS3 is doing fine by selling respectable number of consoles every month, it could have done much better if it was priced at a reasonable price points at launch.


3. One SKU at Launch
Affect: Nintendo Wii

PS2 come with one SKU at launch (ok, basically all last-gen consoles only have one SKU), and so did Wii for this generation. So, why did 360 and PS3 have to offer 2 SKUs, or even more now? The more SKUs a console have, the more confused the buyers are. Especially for someone who is not a hardcore gamer, those that did not actually follow game news, etc. This confusion makes it hard for consoles like 360 or PS3 to expand its market to a casual gamer demographic which mean a loss of a very large market.

4. Third-Party Success
Affect: XBOX 360, Playstation 3

Playstation 2 taught one very important lesson. Third-party success equals to an amazing console success. The more third-party games sold on one console, the happier the publishers are and the more eager of them to publish games for a console, be it multi platforms or more importantly, exclusives. For example, we could compare PS2 with Gamecube in term of the success of third party titles and its effects for last-gen console war. Gamecube have lots of exclusives from Japanese publishers at first, like Viewtiful Joe, or Resident Evil 4. Even though they are great games, the sales of these titles just fail on Gamecube, unlike Gamecube's own first party titles. This leads the publishers to think twice before they did an exclusive for Gamecube and choose multi platform instead. Furthermore, most Gamecube's exclusives become multi platform in the end. Dreamcast lost to PS2 was also because the lack of third party supports from EA or Square Enix, etc.

XBOX 360 has done very well in this generation of console in providing an amazing market for third party games to succeed as could be seen from, for example, the December 2007 NPD sales in which Call of Duty 4 sold 1.4 million copies for 360 version alone. Or Assassin's Creed 360 version that sold 893,700 copies. PS3 is also a good market for third party titles as the Call of Duty 4 was able to sell 522,000 copies on PS3. This number is pretty good considering PS3 only have 1/2 install base that of 360.

Wii itself is doing what Gamecube did, sell first-party titles, forget about third-party. It is only because it have such a 'different' control system and therefore gameplay mechanics, other than its large install base for a 1-year-old console of course, that it managed to get some decent third-party exclusives.

5. Focus Aggressively on One Market then Expand
Affect:Nintendo Wii, XBOX 360

PS2 focus on games. As much as PS2 could play DVD, it is not a good DVD players. It lacks features and it breaks easily (my one cannot play DVD anymore a year and a half after I've bought it). But rather than becoming its disadvantage, it became its advantage. It helped focus PS2 market, not as a DVD player, but as a GAME MACHINE. And a hardcore one at first, as it offered titles that was similar to PS1, in term of gameplay, etc. But then it improved by providing more casual games, like Singstar or Buzz and did it successfully. This is one of the reason PS2 has sold well and still selling well. It is appealing to EVERYONE, be it hardcore gamers or casual gamers.

Learning from PS2, XBOX 360 did roughly the same. It could play DVD, sure. But nobody buy it as a DVD player or HD-DVD player for that matter. It focus on games through its advertising campaigns, hardcore games that is. It started with Gears of War as the first high-selling exclusive hardcore title, followed by Forza 2, Bioshock, and Halo 3. Those titles are selling well and so does 360. However, Microsoft was not successful when they tried to expand their wing to casual gamers demographic through games like Viva Pinata or Scene It. If they want to be as successful as PS2, then they have to successfully exploit this market as well.

Same could be said to Wii which, through its advertising campaigns and first party titles, aggressively target casual and non-gamer market. Wii advertising really de-emphasize hardcore games like Metroid Prime 3, even though it's first party. Although, it is now trying slowly to expand to hardcore gamers through games like Mario Galaxy or Super Smash Bros Brawl later on.

Therefore, it is really disappointing to see Sony lose focus for its PS3. It tried to be the best BluRay player on the market, the best multimedia center for home entertainment, and the most advance game console at once. These have caused a high cost in production, resulted in loss in every PS3 unit sold, and slow sales. Because a budget  and casual gamers would reconsider buying it since all they want and need is to play games, not watching HD movies. And 360, or even Wii for casual gamer, is the cheaper alternative.

6. Franchise Exclusives Rule
Applied by: XBOX 360, Playstation 3, Nintendo Wii

No matter how you want to argue, this is also a very important factor in determining a console winner. PS2 have Gran Turismo franchise, MGS franchise, Final Fantasy franchise, Tekken franchise, Resident Evil franchise, etc that followed it since the PS1 era. Add this list with new or newly famous exclusive franchises (like Devil May Cry, Kingdom Hearts, Grand Theft Auto 3) that appear in PS2 era, it is no wonder that PS2 rule the last-gen console war. Compared to XBOX 1 that only have Halo and probably Fable to be proud of.

This gen, however, it is more evenly spread. 360 get quite a bit of ex PS2 exclusive franchises, like Devil May Cry, Resident Evil, or Grand Theft Auto. And 360 itself got quite a bit of good new exclusive franchises like Gears of War or Mass Effect. PS3 still have Gran Turismo, Metal Gear Solid, and Final Fantasy, and other first party exclusives. While Wii happen to get some new third party exclusives, other than its famous first party titles, due to its motion controller. So this generation of consoles, there is no console that is really overpowering the other in term of exclusives, unlike the PS2.


7. The Mod Power
Applied by: Nintendo Wii

Whether you believed it or not, the modchip contribute to the success of a console. I am living in Australia now, and all my friends that have PS2, have modded PS2s which allow them to play erm...backup games (read: pirated games). This situation is even worse in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, China, or Thailand. Almost half of my class when I am in my high school in Indonesia, which is around 20 people, have PS2s and all of them are modded. Some of my friends there actually, at one point, thinking about buying Gamecube for some of its exclusives but cancel it because there is no pirated discs yet. And  this situation is not only happen in  Asia, I believe, it also happen in US and Europe, although with a much smaller number.

So what console have already been modded now? The answer is Wii and 360. But since 360 hardware is very unreliable, one of my friends who  open a  game store in Indonesia have decided not to mod them anymore (except the buyers want it to be mod at their own risk) since it would void the warranty. And I believed the others have done the same. But Wii is a different story, it is reliable. Thus, I have my 2 cousins have 2 modded Wiis, and 2 other friends with 2 modded Wiis as well. None of them have 360 or PS3 with the reason that the games are expensive. Even though they all have PS2 and love its exclusives, like MGS series or FF series or GT series.

In conclusion, there are many factors determining a video game console to be successful. These factors is complementing each other. Therefore, missing one factor could result in missing another and in the end cause a console to fail. Anyway, thanks for reading.

I recently purchased and played Assassin's Creed for my 360. And after playing it for 8 hours on two different occasions, I really feel the game is filled with endless repetitive tasks. Basically, all you do in the game, after the tutorial section that is, is follow your GPS to the highest building in an area (called the view point) to open a new area on your map(repeat this for 50++ times), gather some information regarding your target, go to the assassin's bureau, then kill the 'target'. Repeat the overall steps  for 7-8 times, and you get the essence of the game. NB: Of course, you could do some side missions, like killing the guards to save a civilian, or collecting the flags...but that's it.

One of the reviews of the game I've read even mentioned that this game is rushed and unfinished, due to such a limited number of mission variations. It might be true for the ending, since the ending left you with many questions. However, for the in-game experience itself, I think it is what it was intended to be. You should travel around the city slowly, rather than rushed through it. That is the whole point of the developer spent a whole lot of time designing such a huge beautiful city filled with varied civilians and buildings. You should climb to the highest building and enjoy the view, rather than just trying to locate your next target. That  is why the  highest building is called view point rite?

I don't find Assassin's Creed boring, like many of my fellow gamers have complained. On the other hand, I find it pretty fun and addictive. It is kind of the feeling you get when you were playing Harvest Moon. You woke up in the morning, watered your plants, fed your chicken, fed your cows and brushed them, went to the shops to purchased stuff, then went back to sleep. Repeat that for hundreds of times, with some minor alterations-like if there's a special events, etc, til you finished the game.

Overall, it is a good game. Decent storyline. Beautiful graphic. And, in my opinion, the gameplay with the combination with its art direction is pretty successful to make repetitive tasks fun. Thus, I don't regret paying AUD$ 90 for it.

NB: Oh yeah, before I forget...I really hate those beggars in the cities that just ran to you asking for money and say that they are hungry. I mean, since when hungry people could run that fast and be that aggressive?! Also those crazy people that always hit you whenever you went near them, except you blend in with the scholars or you are one of the civilians. I mean, what's wrong with me?!

I just recently watched the FOX News interview regarding a game called, Mass Effect, http://www.gametrailers.com/player/usermovies/163925.htm. And I found it really depressing and pathetic how ignorant those people in the interview are, except Geoff who defended Mass Effect.

First of all, and this is the bloody important point, this game does not show any full nudity(only the top part), and all the nude scenes are shown in profile(side) view, unlike what the headline of the news said. Moreover, these scenes are very similar to sex sequences frequently seen on network television in prime time. Thus, for this reason, Mass Effect is embedded with M 17+ rating, which mean that to purchase it legally, you would need to be 17+. But is it possible that a underage boy purchase and play it? Of course it is. Just like it is possible for a boy to purchase say, Pulp Fiction(rated R) or watch a TV show that is only for a 17+ adult. So, I see this as Fox is being a hypocrite by using video game as the black sheep.

Secondly, out of your 20-30 hours play in the game, the sex scene would only take maximum 2 minute  of your overall playtime. What does it mean? It means it is easier to buy like James Bond 007 movie(which is rated PG-13, btw) if the boy just wanna watch some sex scenes. Furthermore, to play Mass Effect, you'll need to know and learn all the buttons on your 360 controller(roughly16 buttons), but to play a movie, you only need to know what button to "play", "stop", and "eject". So if those pathetic interviewees are saying "Mass Effect" cannot be allowed in their home, then they are saying that they cannot not allow those films that contain even slight nudity in their home as well.

In conclusion, the game developer have spent years of hard work to create this game, just like a a director and his team did for a movie. So, for those interviewees,  before you start talking on a national television about a video game, do some bloody research, at least play the game a bit. Don't just get the shit out of your ass, put it in your mouth and spit it out on the TV to viewers all around the world. Cheers.