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TalkBack / RE: GameCube’s Mid-Term Report Card
« on: December 31, 2003, 12:05:02 AM »
After Reading this thread I finally decided to jump in. I am new to PGC, having just recived a Gamecube for christmas (My first console since NES). I'm a PC gamer, and I like to play what I concider "intelligent" games, i.e. SimCity, Strategy games, etc...
Many of my friends like Nintendo games, which is why I got one. However, most people are not like me. The casual gamer - when making a purchase, does not research online to see which has the best games, or most beloved following.
The casual gamer (the people who buy 98% of all games out there) goes by word of mouth, what they see, and what the salesman tells them. When the casual gamer steps into his/her local gaming store, the first thing they will notice is the style of the console (yes, style does matter, otherwise cell phones would not be replaced by teenages every year, and the list will continue on in the reasons) The second thing they will see is the quality of graphics - You see things like "gameplay" and "quality" do not come out of a few minutes with a system. "Gameplay" does not sell. The last thing before the store rep comes up to bug them, is the vast shelves of games for the xbox and ps2, whilst the gamecube is stuck in the deep corner. If they see a gamecube at all - first impression (which does matter) will be
1. Not many games
2. It's purple
3. its cheap.
Now, the majority of people are not die hard gamers, the just simply want to have some fun after working, or to bring some friends over to play games. What do you think that person will do when confronted with this situation? Of cource they will go for the flash, most people do not have the time to burn to be come knowlegable about gaming. All they want is a diversion. so they buy the PS2 or Xbox, because their friends have them, and they look better than that thing in the corner that looks like a giant lego block with a handle.
If they do any research at all, they'll see that most reviews of multi system games , the gamecube is last as to which is the "better version" And unfortunatly to the people who love nintendo games, like my self, being 3rd place does not help to be inspired for the future. Most of the games on the cube are quite excellent. but they are not revolutionary. To be successful - they need to be stunning - to make a statement. People need to say - I WANT that! when they see it. And thats just not the gamecube.
Many of my friends like Nintendo games, which is why I got one. However, most people are not like me. The casual gamer - when making a purchase, does not research online to see which has the best games, or most beloved following.
The casual gamer (the people who buy 98% of all games out there) goes by word of mouth, what they see, and what the salesman tells them. When the casual gamer steps into his/her local gaming store, the first thing they will notice is the style of the console (yes, style does matter, otherwise cell phones would not be replaced by teenages every year, and the list will continue on in the reasons) The second thing they will see is the quality of graphics - You see things like "gameplay" and "quality" do not come out of a few minutes with a system. "Gameplay" does not sell. The last thing before the store rep comes up to bug them, is the vast shelves of games for the xbox and ps2, whilst the gamecube is stuck in the deep corner. If they see a gamecube at all - first impression (which does matter) will be
1. Not many games
2. It's purple
3. its cheap.
Now, the majority of people are not die hard gamers, the just simply want to have some fun after working, or to bring some friends over to play games. What do you think that person will do when confronted with this situation? Of cource they will go for the flash, most people do not have the time to burn to be come knowlegable about gaming. All they want is a diversion. so they buy the PS2 or Xbox, because their friends have them, and they look better than that thing in the corner that looks like a giant lego block with a handle.
If they do any research at all, they'll see that most reviews of multi system games , the gamecube is last as to which is the "better version" And unfortunatly to the people who love nintendo games, like my self, being 3rd place does not help to be inspired for the future. Most of the games on the cube are quite excellent. but they are not revolutionary. To be successful - they need to be stunning - to make a statement. People need to say - I WANT that! when they see it. And thats just not the gamecube.
