Nintendo/Sony Demographics

[MuGen]

I was just wondering just one winter afternoon...and it hit me. I see a lot of kids playing with their Gameboys and Gameboy Advances and DS'.... and all of my friends who are 19+ years old... all have a PS2 except for one of them who owns a Gamecube.

So I came to the conclusion that Nintendo generally targets a more younger audience whilst PS2 stands for the older 16-and older audience? I see a lot of Mature rated games for PS2 whilst not seeing any on the Gamecube.

Although this may not apply to any one individual in this forum and you might be 25 and play a Gameboy.. I still think this analysis is correct....

I'm open to any opinions you may have on this topic. I just don't see many Mature games on Nintendo consoles and handhelds.

So to reiterate my point... so you all know what your agreeing with or disagreeing with....

(( Nintendo gears their third party game developers and console development towards a younger audience whilst still maintaining a small portion of adult users ))

(( Sony is geared towards older people... I don't see many kids in the mall asking their moms for a PS2.. they wanna get the latest Nintendo handheld or something of the sorts // whilst I always over hear older guys... even older talking up the newest Madden on PS2 or something... older guys = Sony.. ))

Thoughts, comments, opinions?

[Canyarion]

Eeh this is both the strength and the weakness of Nintendo...

[Null]

you... didnt know this before?

Nintendo even says they target a younger audience. while sony always says they target the older. nothing really to debate about.

[The Duggler]

A game doesn't have to have blood or naked whores in it in order to be fun.

Nintendo makes fun games

[Perfect Stu]

A game doesn't have to have blood or naked whores in it in order to be fun.

so?

Nintendo makes fun games.

do you want a cookie?

[thatmariolover]

do you want a cookie?

Now now. If you bring cookies to class for one person you have to bring them for everybody. :nono:

[Perfect Stu]

I have two each for everyone! :burger: :banana:

[Swan]

I have two each for everyone! :burger: :banana:
I should get four. It is my birthday :)

[MuGen]

happy birthday deejzguy...

in any case.. I never said games aren't fun if theres no blood or whores in it.

I simply said there aren't as many MATURE games out there for Nintendo then there are for Sony.... defensive.. maybe.

[Xantar]

Nintendo themselves have said that over half of GameCube owners are over the age of 18. Of course, for the PS2, that number may be more like 75%. I haven't read anything about it, though.

I don't think Nintendo actively tries to market to a younger demographic. In fact, they are pushing games like Metroid Prime and Resident Evil 4 pretty hard. It's just that they are already saddled with people thinking of them as the kiddy company, and Mario games sell well...so what are you gonna do?

[Perfect Stu]

there's nothing wrong with Nintendo's demographic....it works for them, it's raking in the cash. Their goals may not be as ambitious as Sony's, but they got their chunk of the market and it's working for them.

[Null]

nintendo has always stated they target the younger audience, but try to appeal to everyone. They want to catch kids when they're young, and hold onto them as theyget older. its always been thier plan and they've never tried to deny it.

also the reason sony and nintendo always claim they're going after different markets from each other.

its not like its a bad plan and they're trying to keep it secret.

[Blackmane]

Yea, Nintendo has the younger niche and Sony has the older side, and they kind of share with each other and swap customers and all that.

Xbox is the oddball out taking away mainly from PS2, I would suppose.

[Canyarion]

Well, Xbox also has an own nich, one that Nintendo used to have: graphic-whores. :)

People that had a N64 just because of the better graphics, now have an Xbox. And when you look at games like shooters, Xbox 'feels like' the N64 of this generation.

[Xantar]

Well, having an audience of younger people does have one disadvantage, and I'm sure that's why Nintendo has made an effort to appeal to gamers 18 and older:

Older gamers have more money since they tend to have their own jobs. Thus, they buy more games. Google around for a bit and you will find that the GameCube has the lowest tie-in ratio among the three consoles (it's something like 7.2 per console which still isn't that bad if you think about it. It's more than enough to make up whatever loss they have on the console).

[Jason1]

Well, having an audience of younger people does have one disadvantage, and I'm sure that's why Nintendo has made an effort to appeal to gamers 18 and older:

Older gamers have more money since they tend to have their own jobs. Thus, they buy more games. Google around for a bit and you will find that the GameCube has the lowest tie-in ratio among the three consoles (it's something like 7.2 per console which still isn't that bad if you think about it. It's more than enough to make up whatever loss they have on the console).


I always thought Gamecube had I higher Tie-in ratio that at least the PS2, while the PS2 has obviously sold MANY more consoles...

[Xantar]

No, not really. The PS2 has a higher tie-in ratio. Partly that's because it's been out for a year longer. If you chopped off one-fifth of the PS2's game sales, you might get something comparable.

But still, I believe the PS2's tie-in ratio is higher. It's all about the third party games. When a game goes multiplatform, people tend to either purchase it for Xbox because they reasonably think it's the best version or they buy it for PS2 because...they're idiots. :p

No seriously, they buy it for PS2 because that's what they have. Plus, there are just a lot mor egames available for PS2 than either of the other consoles.

[Null]

No, not really. The PS2 has a higher tie-in ratio. Partly that's because it's been out for a year longer. If you chopped off one-fifth of the PS2's game sales, you might get something comparable.

But still, I believe the PS2's tie-in ratio is higher. It's all about the third party games. When a game goes multiplatform, people tend to either purchase it for Xbox because they reasonably think it's the best version or they buy it for PS2 because...they're idiots. :p

No seriously, they buy it for PS2 because that's what they have. Plus, there are just a lot mor egames available for PS2 than either of the other consoles.


they buy it on xbox for the graphics and runs better, so yea your right often that is the best version of the 3, i dont know if its actually cuz thats what they have is why the buy it for PS2. i think theres a few things. 1 being its what they have. but also because many add some extra, sometimes online play. which obviously hurt nintendo on many of the multi platform games. also cuz of the differnet controller setups. some games were harder to play on other controllers cuz of the lack of buttons or button placments.

[bobcat]

Differently designed controller goods/bads:-

Goods

* Possibility for new gameplay interactions
* Possibility for a more comfortable/ergonomic controller

Bads
* 3rd party developers steer away from differently designed controllers (generally speaking)
* Possibility for uncomfortability (is that even a word?)
* Backwards compatibility conflicts

That's all I can think of. If Nintendo wanna compete sales wise with Sony/MS for next gen, they need to be on par with the controller design (on par with the competition) at the very least. Simple.

I guess the Nintendo console probably will be something different, and I'll probably welcome it as I will buy the ps3 and xbox 2 anyway, so yeh bring it on. I'll have my Ps3 for my general gaming machine

[Crash]

eh I dont care, I'll always buy Nintendo stuff... then I'll get another console to fill in the gaps Nintendo leaves.. like FPS and stuff.... I play only Halo on Xbox (splinter cell occastionally) and I dont really care that I have no WORKING Ps2.

Nintendo is kinda like the Apple Macintosh of the gaming world. everyone knows it's better, but they still buy PC's because everyone else has em. :D

[gekko]

Part of the reason for the large amount of adult gamers is that the kids who grew up playing games, are now adults. If all the developers start making games targeted specifically for adults, then the industry will begin to die out.

Sure kids may not have the money, but the kids begging mom and dad for games for Xmas are going to be buying their own in 10 years.

Plus, while some people are still trying to impress their friends and be the badass they're not, others still enjoy the same games they did as a kid, no matter how bright and colorful they may be.

[Jason1]

Plus, while some people are still trying to impress their friends and be the badass they're not, others still enjoy the same games they did as a kid, no matter how bright and colorful they may be.

I honestly dont understand why people would try to impress someone by having a PS2 or Xbox. I dont know why that even would impress anyone...I mean you made a 150 dollar purchase...congradulations. Want a Cookie?

[Perfect Stu]

wait...so now the reason PS2's have sold so well is because people are buying them solely to "impress" other people?