Analyze This: Will Hardcore Gamers Be Pushed Aside In This Console Generation?

They are the professional analysts whose job it is to research, keep track of, advise their clients, and opine to the media about the gaming business.

Analyze This cuts right to the chase: Rather than reporting on a subject, and throwing in quotes by analysts to support or refute a point, Gamasutra offers up a timely question pertaining to the business side of the video game industry and simply lets the analysts offer their thoughts directly to you. Each person's opinion is his own and will (probably) not necessarily agree with their fellow colleagues'.

Microsoft recently announced that it would broaden the customer base of the Xbox 360 by trying to appeal to the family demographic. Sony has also indicated that it would market the PS3 to a wider audience beyond hardcore gamers, by publishing more casual games and introducing Wii-like peripherals.

Obviously, Nintendo's success with its DS and Wii appear to be looming heavily over its competitors. Gamasutra.comwe asked Michael Pachter of Wedbush Morgan Securities, Ed Barton of Screen Digest, and Billy Pidgeon of IDC:

Is it now becoming crucial for Microsoft to appeal to a wider demographic, in order to ensure the long-term survival of the Xbox 360?

Does Sony need to take a similar approach with the PS3?

Can either the 360 or PS3 stick to selling to the hardcore gamer first, and then pull in a wider audience once it has reached a critical mass in sales? This happened for the PS2, but can this strategy still work today?

[BIadestarX]

If you only own a wii: Yes.
If you own a PS3 or Xbox 360: No.

Anyone do not agree with me... I'm letting you know... I don't consider Metroid as hardcore as Halo3 and Zelda as hardcore as Final Fantasy and Mario as Metal Gear.

[Dudeson42]

But it took me about half as long to beat Metal Gear Solid 1/2 as it did for me to complete Mario Sunshine. Take from that what you will, but people don't need to be dying in a game in order for it to be "hardcore".

I'm with you on Zelda/FF because Zelda simply IS more straightforward than FF is, Zelda is more streamlined, but does that make it less "hardcore"? Thats a matter of opinion.

ShadowFlare - The MarioKart argument is null and void at this point. They're just fun games to play, thats all. There has been at least 3 Final Fantasy games for each playstation so far and I'm sure the PS3/4/5/6/9 will be no different. Why? because people enjoy them, and as long as people enjoy playing a game enought to buy it then the companies will continue to make them. They ARE a business after all...

Two of the three systems reside in my entertainment center at the moment and a 3rd is on it's way so I really don't care which systems get the "hardcore" games, I'll just buy games wherever they fall, but I really get sick of people dropping games into classes like "hardcore" and "kiddy" because it's just pointless. Elmo Learn To Count Numbers is kiddy, Mario is not.

[HowarthsNJ]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about hardcore Halo players.

Halo is more mainstream than Zelda or Metroid ever was. It's way up there with Madden in the mind of pop-culture american males.

[xbox360elitegamer]

I think a hardcore audience will attract more customers, for Microsoft and might keep the 360 alive, after all Microsoft been through, they need something fast to get back there lost customers, or find new ones, and this might help.

[Shadow Flare]

This articles question is incredibly stupid. The ps3 and 360 have hard-core gamers catered for very well. The wii however is producing games for people who don't like games, its a very shallow system which the price reflects. Even the 'hardcore' nintendo games aren't for hardcore gamers. A hardcore nintendo fan is what i'd call a battyboy. I have more of a problem with nintendo then i do with microsoft. Seriously nintendo fans must be BORED. Getting the same game franchises over and over and over and over. Theres been a mario kart for every nintendo console. How many mario games are there? Why is the wii selling so well???

[edit]

DeltaP42, i knew someone was gonna bring up the Final Fantasy arguement. Every single Final Fantasy game is completely different. They are all incredbly deep, different stories everytime, different characters...completely different. Mario Kart, you drive around and shoot turtles. Cor, hardcore. Mario is a kids game. And they're all the same. Run around, jump on mushrooms. But its the sheer quantity of mario games that get me. There must be like 40. And they are all basically the same. Look at the selection of wii games available right now. They're incredibly hardcore aren't they? *cough*. I would define a hardcore game as a very deep game or an FPS. Play length time has nothing to do with it. The closest thing Nintendo has to that is Zelda, everything else is for non-hardcore gamers

[unsunghero28]

And it's pretty clear neither of you has ever played the Wii.

1) What is the DEFINITION of a hardcore game? Do you have one? Let's settle with "a game that is deep and presents a challenge for the player, be it a high level of difficulty or extremely long game length."

2) Metroid Prime 3, Super Smash Bros Brawl, Battallion Wars II and Super Mario Galaxy all fall into that category. It seems that your definition of a hardcore game is "Has great graphics." To say that is to say that every single hardcore game of the last gen is not legit.

3) I am a primarily Nintendo gamer. I own a Wii and a moderately high-end PC. The truth is that YOU, a non-Wii-owner, seem to be more concerned than most of the people that actually own one. I, and I know many people that agree with me, am thrilled about the upcoming holiday season and am unimpressed by Halo 3 and skeptical about KZ2.

The reason the Wii is selling so well is quite simple: it's different. It's innovative. People like new products, and it doesn't matter if they're hardcore or casual. And those same people are sick of people around N4G who haven't played Wii telling eachother how bored Wii fans must be, when really most of us love our purchases.

Most Nintendo fans don't go on the internet, probably because they're too busy playing (or finding a) Wii. Most MS fans are probably going online to get their 360 replaced, and most Sony fans probably need reassurance that Resistance and Motorstorm won't be the only things they can play for the next year. As a result, I think that the Nintendo fans are severely under-represented on N4G.

[ItsDubC]

"I would define a hardcore game as... an FPS."

By far the funniest quote of the day.

[OoOLeafsOoO]

My definition of a hardcore game is a type of game that an 8-year old kid or a soccer mom can just pick up and master. Can an 8-year old kid or a soccer mom master Gears of War or Resistance in half an hour? No...Can an 8-year old kid or a soccer mom master Mario Kart or Mario in half an hour? Yes. A Hardcore game is something that takes time to master, or to even be okay at. The Wii has no hardcore games.

[ericbs]

Makes sense. My brother won't master Gears of War but he is good at Viva Pinata (and he loves that game). As long as there is a good amount of games that would fit your definition of a hardcore game (Mass Effect, Bioshock, Gears of War, ect) then i'm happy. I also like the increased amount of family friendly games. I like playing my brother and sisters in a few racing games and helping them out at Viva Pinata. My sister that has never played a video game in her life, was interested because of Viva Pinata and now she likes playing.

I don't think hardcore gamers will ever be forgotten because sooner or later these casual gamers will want to play more hardcore games. These casual games will get people interested in video games, the hardcore games will be waiting for them once they are ready.

[Salvadore]

If you own a Wii, yes and if you own a PS3/360, no.

[Rooted_Dust]

Yeah this will work...just as soon as MS and Sony lower their product price enough to compete with Nintendo. I really hate arguments like this, like the ones where cellphones take over the gaming industry. If you want to keep selling games to real "gamers", then casual mini-games aren't going to suffice.

[Blankman]

agree with bladestar too. While zelda is a great game i wouldnt consider it hardcore its just something everyone still plays because they remember it from the nes. By saying this i in no way mean zelda or metroid are lame but msoft and sony have basically stepped up the definition of a hardcore game and unfortunately zelda and metroid just don't cut it.

Not necessary a fps but pretty much jst a game with better graphics than the wii

[Rute]

Just how do you define a 'hardcore game'? Online shooting?

[MyNutsYourChin]

We don't need to start classifying gamers into separate factions. A gamer is a gamer is a gamer. There will always be fun party games, epic adventure games, exhilerating shooter games, horrific survival games, adrenalized racing games, intellectual puzzle games, and the list goes on.

Get over it. Things will change when they change, it's inevitable. It's rediculous and a waste of time to try and solve a problem that doesn't even exist. Nothing is broken, well, except for maybe a few XBOX 360's, but there is no need to start flailing arms and acting like a 3 year old who just got his G. I. Joe confiscated for acting out "domestic tactics" on a Barbie.

Life goes on but the cool thing is that hardcore gamers AND casual gamers won't be left behind by any console. Supply and demand is here to stay, at least until the new revolt but that's another story. So pull your panties out of your cookie and start acting like the hardcore gamer you are. Eat some dirt, scratch your crotch, burp, fart, get cheesy poof fingers all over your controller, and enjoy what's available. THERE WILL BE MORE AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO PLAY IN THE FUTURE. BE PATIENT.

[snoop_dizzle]

i do want a wii but i probably wouldn't play it that much aside from Metroid, Zelda TP, Mario galaxy, and the raving rabids games(just for the heck of it), and maybe some other games including some stuff on the virtual console.

So for the price, its really not so bad.

Aside from that i would be playing my 360 and my upcoming PS3 more.

Either way i like simple games and complex games.

[fjtorres]

The media seems to have this stereotype of "hard core" gamers in mind that just doesn't line up with reality. There is a split among buyers but its not a cultural split as they try to make it out to be. Its not about hardcore vs casual at all. The split is all about price.

When the media divides the gamer community into hardcore and casual they're really talking about affluent and less-affluent, about those that can afford to drop $400-$600 on a console, another hundred or two on games, plus another hundred on extra controllers and accessories, and those that are happy to wait until the entry costs come down to a point more to their liking. Those to whom a $200 price for the controllers for Rock Band is not a deal-breaker and those to whom $200 is the price of the console, not an accessory.

Its not about the gamer's taste but the gamer's pocketbook.

The reality that the media is ignoring in their quest for "a new story" is that the current-gen boxes fall into two camps; the powerful but pricey and the underpowered but cheap. So the two types of gamers are naturally gravitating to the hardware they can afford today. But today isn't tomorrow; tomorrow will see MS (at least) selling consoles at Wii prices and (if they're smart) highlighting the $5 and $10 games on XBLA as affordable entries to fun next-gen gaming.

Most important, the media is completely missing the boat on the biggest obstacle to fully appreciating the 360 and the PS3; the display.

HDTVs ain't cheap. They're getting there. They'll be there by XMAS when 32" LCDs hit $399. But they're not there yet. So of course the Wii with its SD-only graphics is a good match to what lower-end buyers who don't feel comfortable with current HD prices have at home. But again, that won't last. Soon they too will be picking up HDTVs and discovering that most Wii games look like crap on bigger HDTVs. ;-)

As the saying goes: wait for it.
A backlash is in the making.
Playability and novelty value only gets you so far.
Sooner or later folks will notice that emperor Wii has no clothes and is a bit lacking in features dept. ;-)
And many of the people in the media now singing the praises of the Wii are going to be bemoaning the low-res, texture-free, highly aliased graphics of Wii games and calling for an HD-friendly Wii. And Nintendo will happily accept their money for a replacement box. A good business plan, too. But it means the Wii will have a very short lifespan in the market.

Give it another year and you'll see 360 and PS3 sales pickup and Wii dry up; Nintendo console sales have traditionally been front-loaded. Those that want them buy them early. Afterwards sales slow and not even price drops help.

Any company that takes this new mem to heart, that "mainsteam gamers" are more important than hardcore gamers and they need to shift to Nintendo-ey games only, are in for a world of hurt. Mainstream gamers *are* hardcore gamers; they just can't afford to jump in just yet.

[MyNutsYourChin]

I agree to your classification arguments but the Wii will not dry up. It's already in millions of homes and is gaining support among 3rd parties. Not only that but all of these consoles are still in their infancy and with pricing taken into account the Wii will be going strong for a long time.

One needs to remember that the Wii is supported by both classifications of gamers. It is a minority of gamers who won't support the Wii because of graphical and technological inferiorities. These gamers are usually the gamers and people who find a loyalty to one brand or another and become stubborn and narrow minded in their ways. The point being that they do not have a significant influence in the gaming world.

The biggest loss is going to come in a loss of revenue for Sony and the PS3 but that's only because the system is loaded and almost priced at cost! If you think about it, the PS3 is an incredible deal on technology but it's just too expensive for the average American.

[Rute]

As Omnihilum said, Wii won't dry up. Wii has sold over 8 million already. Gamecube sold 3 million in the same time. You also have to keep in mind that the supply of Wii doesn't even meet demand yet.

It's just plain hilarious how people don't see how succesfull Wii is, and most importantly, WHY it is as succesfull as it is. The Wiimote is not just a gimmicky piece of tech. It totally changes the way games are played and Wii will have its charm at least until someone invents a better way to play. The naysayers remind me of my father who once said that mobile phones are a fad.

I'm eagerly anticipating how the comments change when Wii reaches 10 million, 20 million, 50 million etc. Maybe the negative comments are then 100% full of the emergency explanations like "Wii is not a proper console" and "Wii is for mindless idiots and kids". We sure won't be seeing comments like Wii is a fad then.

[sticky doja]

"I also think that newer features on the Elite, like the 80GB hard drive, will encourage more family activities, like downloading TV shows and movies."

80GB? I think I will take opinions from people that know about the characteristics of the hardware they are speaking of. Next story please.

[Skynetone]

Teken = anybody can play but the hardcore will learn the ten hit combos

streetfighter the same as above

hardcore to me means the game has deapth to the play meachnics and this in mario kart is knowing the go fast ramps, knowing the short cuts etc

[Rockstar]

A hardcore game is a game that has a deep involving story.

[Rute]

Is Counter-Strike a casual game then?

[ReconHope]

i know a lot of people that had a gamecube that i considered 2 be hardcore gamers. When u say hardcore gamer do u mean the amount of time they spend playing? or the type of games they play? cause there are hardcore wii games 2.

[Lacarious]

with a capital L A M E

[Odiah]

a game for people who love videogames, a game that goes against the norm and challenges us, a game that actually pushes us to the limit of our gaming ability and may not be as well known as the more mainstream games.

[ChickeyCantor]

its pretty sad people are still discussing the definition of " hardcore gamer".
The arguments that are being used, are always somehow contradictional.
Like allot of you above here say something and then you get a reply that shows the flaws in your arguments.

Games are games and Gamers are Gamers, Nothing more nothing less.

[Odiah]

My mother played Mariokart once, somehow that elevates her to the same status to me as a gamer?

[ItsDubC]

I think there's a distinction between the "hardcore" gamer and the "hardcore gamer". One is a true fan of gaming in general, and the other likes to think he is.

[MyNutsYourChin]

Indeed but perhaps it should be "hardcore gamer" and "hard core-gamer" where hardcore gamers are just gamers with attitude, loud opinions, and no skills while hard core-gamers are rugged serious gamers that relish in the "core" games that make a console what it is (i.e. Halo for Microsoft, Mario for Nintendo, and ...something for Sony, ugh...I can't think of any, sorry Sony fans, I mean no offense).

[ItsDubC]

Hmmm... never thought about it that way. Bubble for u.

btw, Sony has Gran Turismo =)

[Odiah]

A rugged gamer! That's a good one XD