In the third annual Game Crazy Holiday Gift Tracker, conducted by Weekly Reader Research, more than 1,000 teens and tweens were asked to reveal the video games they want most this season. "Action" and "music" emerged as the hot game categories for 2009, with the most-desired titles including Guitar Hero 5, Wii Sports Resort, New Super Mario Brothers and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games. For an added twist, Game Crazy also looked at the most popular games based on personality type, ranging from "girly girl" to "all things sport" to "music addict," in an effort to guide parents.
Most-Wanted Games Across Age and Gender
Girls and boys are largely in agreement on the hottest games of the season, with musical phenomenon Guitar Hero 5 and the expansive sports action of Wii Sports Resort, leading the pack. The four most-wanted games overall are:
* Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 48 percent
* Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 44 percent
* New Super Mario Brothers (Rated E) - 41 percent
* Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Rated E) - 33 percent
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun ... on Wuhu Island
What girl doesn't want to hang out at a beach resort? While both Guitar Hero 5 and New Super Mario Brothers are wildly popular choices, girls across all age groups want to get in on the resort-themed activities available with Wii Sports Resort.
Girls
* 8-10 Years-Old
o Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 56 percent
o New Super Mario Brothers (Rated E) - 49 percent
o Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Rated E) - 44 percent
* 11-13 Years-Old
o Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 53 percent
o Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 52 percent
o New Super Mario Brothers (Rated E) - 42 percent
* 14-17 Years-Old
o Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 57 percent
o Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 48 percent
o New Super Mario Brothers (Rated E) - 48 percent
Boys are a Mixed Bag
More than 50 percent of boys said they often play games they know have an Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) rating above their age. This finding is reinforced by the list of games that boys want most. While the top games of the year are popular across age groups, a few titles with mature ratings performed favorably in certain age categories, including Call of Duty (46 percent) and Halo 3 ODST (39 percent).
Boys
* 8-10 Years-Old
o Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Winter Games (Rated E) - 48 percent
o New Super Mario Brothers (Rated E) - 47 percent
o Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 47 percent
* 11-13 Years-Old
o Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 42 percent
o Call of Duty (Rated M) - 41 percent
o Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 41 percent
* 14-17 Years-Old
o Call of Duty (Rated M) - 46 percent
o Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 45 percent
o Halo 3 ODST (Rated M) - 39 percent
"As Game Crazy's survey indicates, it's not unusual for younger kids to want to play what the older kids are playing. Parents need to understand that not all video games are intended for younger players," explained Patricia Vance, president of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB), which assigns age and content ratings for computer and video games. "The ESRB ratings provide guidance about content and age-appropriateness so parents can make sure the games their kids play are suitable for their age. And if a parent wants more information than what is on the package, they can search at ESRB.org and find a game's rating summary, which provides additional detail about game content."
Additionally, the expert staff at Game Crazy will demo games in-store for parents before a purchase is complete. The "try before you buy" option lets parents make the decision on whether or not the content is appropriate. Parents with an iPhone or iPod touch can also download the free Game Crazy video game app and search game ratings, browse detailed information on video games, watch game trailers, and receive new, used and trade-in pricing for games.
Personality Impacts Gaming Choices
Game preferences are largely dependent on the personality of the child. Still, without fail, the most-wanted games of the season reigned supreme across interest types.
* "Girly Girl" - Enjoys being indoors and loves fashion and all things pretty
o Top game: Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 57 percent
* "Music Addict" - If they had their way they would never stop listening to their iPod
o Top game: Guitar Hero 5 (Rated T) - 57 percent
* "All Things Sports" - Loves all sports and if they're not playing one, they're watching a game
o Top game: Wii Sports Resort (Rated E) - 54 percent
* "The Adventurer" - Loves to be outdoors, enjoying any new mystery or adventure
o Top game: New Super Mario Brothers (Rated E) - 46 percent
Know Your Systems
Equally important is ensuring the game is for the right system. The 2009 survey reveals that 66 percent of kids plan to ask for a new video game system this holiday season. Game Crazy recommends when choosing a system, parents should consider the following:
* The most desired systems for the season are Nintendo DSi (24 percent), followed by PS3 and Wii both at 21 percent
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SD graphics DO NOT MATTER to their audience.
“When we make some new announcement and if there is no positive initial reaction from the market, I try to think of it as a good sign because that can be interpreted as people reacting to something groundbreaking. ...if the employees were always minding themselves to do whatever the market is requiring at any moment, and if they were always focusing on something we can sell right now for the short term, it would be very limiting. We are trying to think outside the box.” - Satoru Iwata - This is why corporate multinationals will never truly understand, or risk doing, what Nintendo does.
