Nintendo Goes Looking for the Grey Gamer 48
The New York Times reports on Nintendo's visit with the AARP. The Association for the Advancement of Retired Persons held a products show this past weekend, and Nintendo showed up in force to demonstrate the 'new generation' of gaming products they're offering. From the article: "Over the weekend, the company proved that it believed its own press releases. For the first time, it took its products to Life@50+, an annual event sponsored by AARP, and held this year in Anaheim, Calif. The event, intended for those over 50, attracted more than 20,000 people and featured a wide range of panel discussions, celebrities and exhibitors showcasing products for older Americans. 'Nintendo has never gone after grandparents before,' said Amber McCollom, a senior manager of public relations for Nintendo. 'We're targeting this audience for themselves, not just their grandchildren.'"
Turkeys, Wiis, and Grandmothers (Score:5, Informative)
Unfortunately, all of the articles on Google News are just Newswire reprints of the link in the summary. I had to do some serious digging to find a story that had a bit more substance. This link [siliconera.com] gives a few reactions, photos of the event, and a video of an older fellow playing the Wii. He seems to have an uncertain, yet fascinated look on his face as he picks up a spare in Wii Sports Bowling. Very interesting stuff!
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Yeah, I know a couple of old ladies that learned to play Nintendo with their grandkids... One of them (a friend's mom) was better at Tetris than any other person I've known, and she plays Mario Kart and Mario Party with her friends (all of them over 60)...
If Wii Sports is as intuitive and easy to play as it looks, I'm sure it will appeal to many non-gamers...
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But was she this good [youtube.com]?
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Although, given my experience with Gamestop size I doubt anyone but BestBuy or Toys R Us could maange it.
Eagerly awaiting... (Score:3, Funny)
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I can't wait for Rockstar... (Score:1)
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Abbreviation (Score:2)
(except for fucking anyone under 50 on Social Security, of course)
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Extreme Shuffleboard... (Score:2)
They're Out There (Score:3, Insightful)
I think Nintendo stands a very good chance of striking gold with this strategy.
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Centipede, frogger or Qbert?
LORD?
Why not? (Score:5, Insightful)
1. They are retired and have plenty of free time.
2. Many can't drive so they are confined to the house all day.
3. Many can't walk so they are confined to a chair all day.
4. Some have a good stash of disposible income.
5. They have grandkids who are definitely playing. This could be break down the age barrier between them and promote quality time.
6. They already love gaming (ie. Chess, Shuffleboard, Bingo). Can you imagine Wii Shuffleboard? It would probably be fun.
I apologize if I'm stereotyping badly. I don't mean to offend anybody.
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Heck, my father is from that generation (but Spain is different, take that into account) and he plays games for fun, much to the despair of my mother.
I wouldn't find it strange if in 10 years discos, catering the taste of the e
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I really like the Wii's pricepoint. It makes me want to like the platform. But the focus that they have on softcore gamers makes me wonder it there will be any games for me to like on it.
Now, dig this: I don't have anything against 12 year old girls playing games. Or old people either. But I'm not that market. If children and old people want to play games like Halo and Ninja Gaidan and Soul Calibur and other games that I like
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I'm sick and tired of this generation of gamers that associates everything that doesn't contain blood with kiddie crap.
To quote
"But if Nintendo wants to spend all it's time making the Barbi / My Little Pony crossover game, or Bingo - Large Type Version then how can I be excited about their platform?"
You're either a corporate shill or a
Victory for Gamers (Score:3, Insightful)
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Inflatable colon tie-in (Score:2, Funny)
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What with the baby boomers and all (Score:2)
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Super Mario "Friends" (Score:2)
starting to work (Score:3, Insightful)
And this from a woman who had to put up with her son being obsessed with the NES back in the day. They last person who I would ever expect to buy a Nintendo on her own.
On another note, I mentioned to her the cook book and DS browser and she was definitely interested in those. NoA needs to get serious about the older gamer and start targeting them.
I've seen their demo stations with Brain Training running, but naturally they are mounted 3 feet off the floor and located in the video game section. ToyRus has giant signs advertising the game - but thats the problem -- its at ToyRUs. The last place any self respecting older adult is going to be shopping for themselves.
Why they don't have Brain Training for sale at Borders, Sharper Image, etc is beyond me. It will never appeal to older people as long as its relegated to the kids section.
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Target actually had plans for something like this not too long ago. When I worked there, I would often talk to representatives from different companies. Anyway, the Nintendo representative told me we should have a Brain Age display in the books section which maked perfect sense.
Nintendo needs to turn their marketing machine into overd
Im buying my parents a Wii (Score:2)
This strategy might end up being the wisest instance of subterfuge in video game history. Most people who dont play games dont avoid them because they dont like them, they avoid them because they are scared of tec
Could make retirement more enjoyable... (Score:2)
When I was in college I worked on a medical imaging research project. That was just about the time PS2 was coming out. At the time, I thought it would be great if the PS4 or PS5 could run our medical software on a daily basis monitoring the daily health of gamers. Everyone is excited by the more physical input of Wii. Well, all 3
From Youth to Death (Score:1)
Not enough that parents sit their kids in front of a television all day/evening, it now seems as though Nintendo want to do the same in retirement homes across the world!
I can see it now:
Nurse: Take this pill...
Patient: Ok
Nurse: Now be a good boy and play with you wii wii thing...
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People said the same thing about the Nintendo DS when it began this strategy; the gaming industry in Japan has grown by over 50% in one year, and the North American gaming industry has grown by 11%, and analysts have claimed that this is because the DS has been successful at expanding the market.
Can you imagine.... (Score:1)
My Dad pwns your Dad (Score:2)
The funny part is that during his younger gaming years, he was an aficionado of Avalon Hill and SPI wargames. When he got his first computer, he would play Steel Panthers, Age of Rifles, etc. He moved up to Real Time Strategy games (He loved Age of Empires), and now plays FPSs.
I don't think he's ready for online yet, though. Probably spend m
Scarier than any Halloween crap. (Score:2)