http://www.hideandgeek.com/2008/12/02/how-hardcore-gamers-fell-out-of-love-

[noname2200]

It's a superficial article with some superficial analysis, and it ignores quite a few things, but there's a modicum of truth hiding in there, methinks.

Edit: Oops. Posted the wrong thing in the wrong place. Sorry folks! Here's the full link...

http://www.hideandgeek.com/2008/12/02/how-hardcore-gamers-fell-out-of-love-with-nintendo/

Boy, that's embarrasing.