So Nintendo has somewhat recently stated that they think they haven't done a good enough job of targeting children. Which, I think is crazy. SONY has also said that they think they need to work harder on targeting children, and then complimented Nintendo on their ability to do so. So, what should these companies do regarding targeting?
First of all, what is their current fanbase? Well, from personal experience and what I've noticed (so not from official stats) Nintendo seems to have a fairly rounded age of fans. Primarily, their fans are in their early twenties or late twenties and grew up during the Nintendomination of the NES. However, Nintendo has consistently brought in new fans in the handheld market. Their fanbase remained relatively older because the N64 and GameCube failed to really draw in a new crowd but the Wii's massive success brought in a very varied new group of fans. So, Nintendo's fanbase is very varied and they should continue to make games that everybody can enjoy, with maybe the occasional more adult-geared game. The Wii U isn't really bringing that many new gamers to Nintendo, but the 3DS is once again bringing in a varied group of gamers, although generally younger than the ones the DS brought in.
Then there is SONY which has the second oldest fanbase. Since they have the second oldest console line. The main group of SONY fans where brought in during the PS1 or PS2 era meaning their fans are in their mid to late teens or early twenties. The PS3 didn't catch on as much due to a higher price meaning that once again their fanbase, like Nintendo's during the N64 & GameCube eras, remained about the same age and they failed to draw in the younger crowds. However, the PS4 seems to be drawing crowds so their fanbase may become younger yet again.
Lastly, there is Microsoft who has the youngest fanbase. Mainly because the original XBox did OK, but didn't blow up and wow the world because, basically everyone already had a PS2. So, Microsoft did their best in the next generation and the 360 proved a massive success. Thus, Microsoft's main group of fans is in their teens or early pre-teen years. The XBox One so far hasn't really drawn that many new fans in, like the PS3 price is the issue, so perhaps this will be their N64 era where their fanbase ages.
So, what I think is that despite Microsoft always going for the more "mature" theme, they have the youngest crowd since honestly, it's the FPS's and whatnot that bring in the younger kids these days while SONY has the teenagers and young adults who will be fine with SONY's handful of M games as well as their occasional Little Big Planet or Crash type game while Nintendo primarily has themselves an older generation of gamers who grew up with Mario and all the other Nintendo franchises. So really they've got the hardest group to please since we want innovation but also don't want our memories ruined.
-TheS2Guy
Also I'm still looking for more writers, let me know if you are interested in the comments. Thanks.
First of all, what is their current fanbase? Well, from personal experience and what I've noticed (so not from official stats) Nintendo seems to have a fairly rounded age of fans. Primarily, their fans are in their early twenties or late twenties and grew up during the Nintendomination of the NES. However, Nintendo has consistently brought in new fans in the handheld market. Their fanbase remained relatively older because the N64 and GameCube failed to really draw in a new crowd but the Wii's massive success brought in a very varied new group of fans. So, Nintendo's fanbase is very varied and they should continue to make games that everybody can enjoy, with maybe the occasional more adult-geared game. The Wii U isn't really bringing that many new gamers to Nintendo, but the 3DS is once again bringing in a varied group of gamers, although generally younger than the ones the DS brought in.
Then there is SONY which has the second oldest fanbase. Since they have the second oldest console line. The main group of SONY fans where brought in during the PS1 or PS2 era meaning their fans are in their mid to late teens or early twenties. The PS3 didn't catch on as much due to a higher price meaning that once again their fanbase, like Nintendo's during the N64 & GameCube eras, remained about the same age and they failed to draw in the younger crowds. However, the PS4 seems to be drawing crowds so their fanbase may become younger yet again.
Lastly, there is Microsoft who has the youngest fanbase. Mainly because the original XBox did OK, but didn't blow up and wow the world because, basically everyone already had a PS2. So, Microsoft did their best in the next generation and the 360 proved a massive success. Thus, Microsoft's main group of fans is in their teens or early pre-teen years. The XBox One so far hasn't really drawn that many new fans in, like the PS3 price is the issue, so perhaps this will be their N64 era where their fanbase ages.
So, what I think is that despite Microsoft always going for the more "mature" theme, they have the youngest crowd since honestly, it's the FPS's and whatnot that bring in the younger kids these days while SONY has the teenagers and young adults who will be fine with SONY's handful of M games as well as their occasional Little Big Planet or Crash type game while Nintendo primarily has themselves an older generation of gamers who grew up with Mario and all the other Nintendo franchises. So really they've got the hardest group to please since we want innovation but also don't want our memories ruined.
-TheS2Guy
Also I'm still looking for more writers, let me know if you are interested in the comments. Thanks.