Tracking Where Gamers Go (Platform to Platform)

[TheSource]

First, there was nothing after the crash. Then came the NES. The NES catered to those who liked platformers(Mario), rpgs (FF), strategy games, adventure games (Kid Icarus), shooter games (1942), puzzle games (Tetris), brawlers (TMNT), simulations, fighters, two player games, sports games, liscenced games (Double Dare), and new ways to play. It was a smash everywhere.. But then the market began to split. My theory is most gamers in there 20's would follow one of the following patterns if they owned one console per generation. US - 6 scenarios for most gamers NES-Genesis-Nintendo 64-GameCube-Wii The progressive Japanese game fan. These gamers followed RPGS, and Adventure games in the early days. As teenagers, they were drawn in by the different approach of the Genesis, which offered faster, more arcade like games. In time they switched to the Nintendo 64 because it introduced the first great 3D games. With Gamecube, they decided Nintendo would improve upon its 3D offerings with expanded 3rd party support. However, they began to expect more from 3D gaming, choosing the path of new 1 player experiences, and great locally social experiences on Wii. Favorite developers: Nintendo, Sega, Capcom, Namco, EA NES-SNES-PS1-PS2-PS3 The RPG/Adventure gamer. This was Sony's bread and butter in the previous two generations. These are gamers who grew up loving games on NES and SNES like Super Mario World and FFIII, but rejecting Sega's attempts at Americanizing game design, and care primarily for the great third party offerings of each generation above any first party title. These are the biggest supporters of new genres that fall within the realm of traditional definitions of games (think Dragon Quest to Dance Dance Revolution) besides racing, sports and party games. Favorite Developers: Konami, Square, Enix, Namco, Tecmo NES-Genesis-Saturn-Dreamcast-Xbox 360 The progressive American gamer. Lover of adventure, shooting, racing, and American RPGs. These gamers generally prefer realism, movie qualities in games, and online play to add a human element to their gameplay. Most importantly however, is the respect for good game design, with other features to supplement it, like cinematics, online features, minigames, etc. Favorite Developers: Sega, Microsoft, Tecmo, Capcom, EA NES-SNES-Nintendo 64-Xbox-Xbox 360 The technophile. Obsessed with potential through hardware capability, these gamers jump aboard the console that offers the first new innovation via hardware. These gamers love showing off what their hardware can do (owners of Punch Out, Donkey Kong Country 3, Conker 64, Fable, Gears of War) Favorite Developers: Microsoft, Konami, Sony, EA, Taketwo NES-Genesis-PS1-PS2-Wii The casual gamer. Always looking for the best in sports, racing, fighting and party games. Rarely play one player gamers. Often referred to social gamers due to the fact that they use gaming for socializing (lovers of Madden, Gran Turisimo, Street Fighter, Soul Calibur, Mario Party Wii Sports, Mario Kart). Favorite Developers: Nintendo, Sega, EA, Sony, Taketwo NES-Genesis-PS1-GC-Wii The cheap gamer. The gamer who only support the cheapest hardware with the best new releases of the year. All else is bought used. This can either be from destitution, or...cheapness. Because of limited experience buying new games, these gamers buy mainly sequels because they trust in their quality...often blindly (how Capcom made so many damn Street Fighter, Megaman games) Favorite Decelopers: Nintendo, Sega, Capcom, Midway, EA I went...(NES- my uncle's not mine)-Genesis-SNES-Nintendo 64-Dreamcast-Gamecube-Wii I see Japan as having 7 primary scenarios, and one special case.. NES-SNES-PS1-PS2-Wii NES-SNES-Saturn-PS2-Wii NES-SNES-N64-GC-PS3 NES-SNES-DC-PS2-Wii NES-SNES-N64-GC-Wii NES-SNES-PS1-PS2-PS3 NES-Gen-Sat-DC-Wii NES-SNES-PS1-PS2-DS** ** some owners are more more interested in the DS now than PS2 or the Wii/PS3 in Japan