This is a list about Sonic, not vidio game sistems and PC's.
Kyle M Church
churchkm_at_cadvision.com
http://www.sfgate.com/~deanc/kyle
At 12:48 16/03/96 -0500, you wrote:
>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 - 14:05:30 PST