So..
We all harp on the 'casuals' thing for the Wii. Ok? Good. From this point we will refer to 'casuals' as 'normals'
Can we all agree that the next generation of consoles (all of them) will put some more focus on normal ppl because of the money-printing capabilities? Ok? Good.
Do we all really think that normal ppl gives a dam about brand loyalty in gaming? To some parts yes ("hey i want a nintendo!") but mostly NO. In fact, most normal ppl would have gotten their 'fix' with one system for their lifetime.
So where does this leave good old ninty, who has a majority crowd of normal ppl, in the next gen? Normal ppl will just see some luscious marketing and go for what looks......nice.
The 'core' crowds for each system varies.......and I say nintendo being......the smallest. Yea, I said that.
Why?
Take a look at the last generation. The playing field was LEVEL....not any normal/core differential like this gen. And what happened? YEA, you all can mutter reasons like 'no 3rd party support' and all that but let's be fair: THESE ARE NINTENDO SPECIFIC PROBLEMS THAT HASN'T SHOWN ANY SIGNS OF GOING AWAY. These reasons culminate to why ninty gradually lost it's fan base.
This is, of course, why they went the way they did this generation. And we all see it works. But how do they sustain next gen?
So, with the smaller core crowd (whether or not you agree) and their recurring problems each gen, how can ninty solidify such success next gen when there is no real brand loyalty, competitors upping their marketing to get normal ppl and the fact that most normal ppl won't bother to buy another system????
I take a look at two things (well systems really):
1) NES - Well we know NES saved the gaming industry or whatever. But how many of us, who are here now, have become serious gamers because of that era? How many of us started off as a normal person and then just stuck with it as the years went along to become an avid regular gamer? This can be considered, in some aspects, as converting the crowd.
2) PS2 - With a thousand billion PS2's sold worldwide and still being sold, there is bound to be a percentage of this figure (in the millions) that are normal ppl. So to this extent the system HAS done what ninty did this generation, but to a smaller extent. How many of these normal ppl graduated to a current gen system? I don't know but it's an interesting point towards this piece. Maybe they graduated to the Wii because it's a step more comfortable to them than any other.
Therefore, I believe, that if ninty, this gen, does something like in the NES era to somehow get these normal ppl to crave playing games on a more regular basis, and therefore create a brand loyalty, it will create larger chance of success next generation.
How can they do it? GAMES, MARKETING. that's it. Do it now so that normal ppl can get it etched in their heads that they actually like games, from nintendo.
Bottom line, if ninty can really convince/convert all these (wiisportsonly) normal ppl into individuals who genuinely enjoy games, then they have created a (HUGE) longterm market for themselves that would guarantee sustainability.
If they don't, well the next gen will be back like 1 or 2 gens before.
btw forums are all about reading so go flog a goat if this is too long for you.
