PlayStation "Move"....

[O-D-C]

The hardcore market is tiny in comparison to the 'casual' market, and with both Nintendo and Microsoft actively targeting these casual gamers more and more it only makes sense for Sony to want a piece of the pie as well.

Although I think their approach is backwards. They already have a console that has a solid casual market, mind you not a great penetration rate into that market like Nintendo has. So they decide to release a camera, that tracks balls, on a controller with a lot of buttons and wireless connectivity with 'sub controllers'? Not casual friendly to say the least.

I have seen people give up on playing the Wii, beacause the controller's wouldn't sinc, which in my mind means that simplicity is key without being simplistic, Sony seems to have the function with the 'Move' but not the form. The thing looks like a Dualshock re-designed in wand form, it's dosn't look simple, intuitive or easy to understand, add that it has to interact with a camera and the 'casuals' will be turned off.

Sony should have, dare I say it... copied Nintendo... more, release a easy to use and understand motion controller that people can pretty much 'plug and play'.

But now I'm getting side-tracked.

You said, Sony should focus on the hardcore market more

I answer: how can they?

They already (has you said) have a great 'core' lineup (although I dispute the core-ness of games like Uncharted 2) but that's an argument for another day. So why not take a more casual approach? It makes sense business wise, it makes sense strategy wise, it makes sense positioning wise, it makes sense marketing wise, it makes sense branding wise, in short, it just makes sense.

Yes the more 'hardcore' gamers (otherwise known has the ones who spend more time on the internet then gaming - the only ones we hear from) will hate this new direction that Sony and Microsoft are going in, but these companies have a universal goal, to please their investors, and if that means making 'casuals' happy with games like Little Big Planet, Sony 'Move', Natal, Mario Kart Wii, New Super Mario Bros. Wii then that's what they will do.

Now I'm a gamer, a hardcore one at that (meaning I spend more time on VGChartz then with a controller in my hand) and yes I would love to have a new Metroid or Fire Emblem in my hands every year but I understand that business is business and making these kinds of games A: isin't profitable and B: dosn't please the investors so they make Wii Sports and to solve both those issues.

Look at the sales charts (that's what this site is for right?) Look at the games that light it up:

Call Of Duty
Halo
The Legend Of Zelda
Uncharted
Final Fantasy
Resident Evil
God Of War

ect. X infinite

These arn't core games, (although the 'core' gamer certainly believes they are) their bridge games, games that everybody can play, grasp and enjoy for whatever reason. these are the type of games that developers should focus on making, not the 'super hardcore games' that only a few thousand people will enjoy, but games that the majority of people who own your system will play and like and recommend to others.

Their is beginning to be a feeling that Casual = Kiddy, this could not be further from the truth. Sony clearly wants God Of War to be a success, and they can't have that with just making a 'super hardcore game', no they will advertise, they will push to the 'casual market',but think about it, their going to have to enjoy the game to recommend it to other people right? So Sony puts in a more 'casual friendly' design and simple puzzles and easy modes to ease people into the experience. I'm just using God Of War as an example, but look all around you, the reason games starts with tutorials and explanations is to ease new gamers (see casuals: who don't know every single detail on a game months before release) into the experience, make it fun for THEM so they can propel sales skyward. Why do they do this? Beacause they know that you and I, already know how to play and they know we will buy it and so will our freinds, they know this, they want new gamers to buy their products.

Now I'm sorry I went on such a long rant, but reading your OP made me want to get some stuff off my chest here, just some feelings and thoughts I'v been having.

: )