Console Sales: Motive Versus Justification

[Cloudman]

GribbleGrunger said:

Cloudman said:
I think when it comes to buying a console, it depends on the person.

Motivation will be the case for core players who have a preference for a particular console. Like Ninten fans getting the Ninten consoles and so on... Unless you messed up as bad as MS during their XB1 reveal and switch to a new console.

For the general audience, it will likely be justification, more so it is a game that catches their interest from playing it or seeing it on TV. There is little to no play on bias here. It's just whichever catches their interest. I don't think there is a most important one, but just one or multiple reasons will catch the interest of the person.

I'd say it comes down mostly to the games, or certain features, like Netflics. That's how it's been for me every time. It's always been a game that pulls me in, not the console or brand.

Yes, but as I pointed out, justification is the key factor for stopping someone from either ignoring their console or selling it, and exposure is one of the biggest factors in persuading friends or family to opt for the same console you have. Motive really only has one advantage and that is to sell the console whilst Justification not only sells consoles though word of mouth/exposure but it also keeps that console on and therefore keeps you plugged into that console's ecosystem.

Think of it this way: If someone came round to your house and saw your console off all the time but they were going around to someone elses house and their console was on all the time, which is likely to influence your own choice of a console? And if you were a manufacturer of a console which would you prefer, an owner to be constantly exposed to the market place and so therefore more likely to spend more money or an owner that only turns their console on when there's a big title and so therefore is less likely to spend money?

I don't think people quite understand how important all of those smaller titles are in regards to console sales and its popularity.

I gave it some thought, and I'm not sure if justification is quite the right word. I think that isn't quite something on mind when purchasing a console. I think it's more of having an interest, such as your example of playing a game and becoming very interested in that game, to the point that you are convinced to buy it to continue playing that game. I've had experiences myself where people become interested in a console after they have seen or played a game and became very interested in it. When a person decides to sell a console, I don't think of it as justification, but losing interest from the provider not contining to release games to keep them playing.

I think a main time where justification comes to mind is price, or the brand failing to deliver on the previous hardware, but that's how I see it.