Kiken writes:
>Actually, videogame systems are much more stable than PC's. A videogame
system takes on average 5 years to become phased out, a new PC does this
in about 6 months. Not to mention that a computer is a serious investment
for some people, if all they want to do is play games, what can beat
paying $90 for a system and then around $50 for games, not to mention
that a videogame system is much easier to use and doesn't require its
user to understand OS's.<
Actually, it doesn't matter which brand PC you buy, as they will all run the
same software (unless it's a MAC). So if you buy a game for a PC, chances are
the only changes you'll require is a possible memory upgrade. Or if it plays
on WIndows instead of DOS.
However, with gaming systems, you have the Genesis, the Sega CD, Game Gear,
32X , Saturn, Super NES, Game Boy, Lynx, 3DO, Sony Playstation, and many
others that I can't think of 'cause I'm too busy to follow them all to
choose from. You pick a system because you like the games, then a new system
comes out and you have to make a choice because neither system's games are
compatible with each other. On top of that, there's the accessories that are
available for each system, plus buying or renting the games. So gaming is not
a cheap proposition by any stretch of the imagination.
Kiken then goes on:
>The average age of a US Genesis
owner is 18, and the average age of a US Sega CD owner is 21, basically
college students like myself. Those with lots of money to burn. But
again, its SOA's white-coats who think we want games like Corpse Killer,
instead of our "childish" Sonic games. This is where the problem comes in.<
I don't know where you get your information regarding the average age of a
video game consumer, but I'm speaking from first hand knowledge both as a
parent and someone who used to work in retail selling video game systems that
the average purchaser was more often than not a parent who bought a system
for their kids whether they were in grade school or college. Were college
kids the biggest customers? No way. High school kids and younger with their
parents far outnumbered college kids when a new game was released on sale,
whether it was SONIC 3 or MORTAL KOMBAT or NHL HOCKEY.
When you say average age, you have to account for people under and over the
average and that's where you get the number from. The amount of people in
their 30's buying for their kids 10 and under far exceeds those 19 - 23 in
college who are into video games. And if you were to check with any licensee
of SONIC products such as sneakers, comics, cartoon series, t-shirts, books,
toys and so on, they would tell you that there's more money to be made from
parents buying for their kids than from college students. This is not meant
as a knock on college students. This is a business fact. That's why you see
McDonald's renovating their restaurants with those jungle gyms, in order to
get the families in to spend more with them. You think TV would worry about
getting it's act together if they didn't have to?
Enjoy the blue-critter and playing the games and reading the books. We who
produce the work don't think we're doing anything "childish". What we do is
try to produce something that appeals to everyone, something that's extremely
difficult to do. It's much easier to write a story is you have a specific
audience that you aim for. If I wrote for just college students, my stories
would be wildly different. Instead, I have to think more in trying to get
across something the kids will think is funny while the adults are catching
on to the stuff between the lines.
Believe me, from my vantage point working on Archie's SONIC series, I'm
convinced SEGA has a strong interest in keeping SONIC at the forefront with
SEGA customers. If SONIC'S star fades, it won't be because they didn't
promote him.
Ken
Received on Sat Mar 16 1996 - 13:05:41 PST
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: Thu Mar 19 2015 - 12:17:03 PDT