soulxtc
February 13th, 2006, 08:03 AM
Speaking at DICE, Reggie Fils-Aime once again urged the industry to embrace new demographics, even if it means running ads during Oprah.
He said that Nintendo would be using new marketing channels, such as daytime television shows, Oprah and Ellen.
Fils-Aime talked about a "blue ocean of opportunity through new types of gameplay."
In what has become something of a Nintendo mantra, he said Nintendo was seeking to attract female gamers and older gamers. He also warned that the number of teenage males is declining in North America, and high school students are saying their interest in games is declining.
However, he pointed out the the success of Nintendogs in North America with its 1 million unit sales and Brain Training in Japan with 2.5 million sales show that new demographics are willing to embrace games.
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day will be launched in North America on April 17.
"We have been able to drive the appeal of games to a whole new segment who typically would not pick up a game," Fils-Aime said during his speech. "Imagine a games company targeting 50- and 60-year-olds. Imagine games as a treadmill for the mind instead of a playground for violence."
Fils-Aime once again referenced proven business book strategies which focus on expanding markets. He said, "It's not about what is, but what can be." He pointed out to the audience that hardcore gamers make up only 20 percent of the entire gaming market, saying, "You and your teams can capitalize on that 80 percent."
READ ARTICLE (http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/feb2006/id20060210_616225.htm?chan=tc)
He said that Nintendo would be using new marketing channels, such as daytime television shows, Oprah and Ellen.
Fils-Aime talked about a "blue ocean of opportunity through new types of gameplay."
In what has become something of a Nintendo mantra, he said Nintendo was seeking to attract female gamers and older gamers. He also warned that the number of teenage males is declining in North America, and high school students are saying their interest in games is declining.
However, he pointed out the the success of Nintendogs in North America with its 1 million unit sales and Brain Training in Japan with 2.5 million sales show that new demographics are willing to embrace games.
Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day will be launched in North America on April 17.
"We have been able to drive the appeal of games to a whole new segment who typically would not pick up a game," Fils-Aime said during his speech. "Imagine a games company targeting 50- and 60-year-olds. Imagine games as a treadmill for the mind instead of a playground for violence."
Fils-Aime once again referenced proven business book strategies which focus on expanding markets. He said, "It's not about what is, but what can be." He pointed out to the audience that hardcore gamers make up only 20 percent of the entire gaming market, saying, "You and your teams can capitalize on that 80 percent."
READ ARTICLE (http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/feb2006/id20060210_616225.htm?chan=tc)