| JGarret said: Hmm....with the way Nintendo is dominating the charts in both hardware and software sales, would they really attempt to make a serious move at the so called upstream customers?...if so, what risks could be associated with it? |
No one asked me, but I will try to explain it as I understood. IMO, you misused the term "upstream".
There is a downmarket of custumers with low needs and interest.
There is an upmarket of devoted customers.
At the moment, these are mostly similar to the "hardcore" "casual" stereotypes. Making games for the upmarket is what Sony and Microsoft does.
Upstreaming is the process of making games for the downmarket, that makes them more interested in the product, and turn them into the new upmarket.
Note, that at this point, this new upmarket is the "expanded market", not identical with the old hardcore. At this point, they are something like "hardcore casuals", soccer moms, girls, kids, and old people, who are actually hyped by Nintendo games, and wait for the next big thing.
Contrary these popular beliefs, upstreaming doesn't simply mean abandoning the "casual" values, and beating Sony and Microsoft at their own game. It is more like developing these values to the point when even most of the "old hardcore" find it good enough, and convert, but this is only a side effect, the main goal is to build up a new upmarket. Mario Kart Wii, NSMB Wii, and similar titles are good examples for bridge games, that connect the two different values. They make the expanded market get used to the old franchises, and make the hardcore gamers get used to the new values.
Wii Sports Resorts is probably one of the best examples for a game that is more upmarket than its predecessor, while being made for the same audience.
