In a recent survey conducted by gaming website IGN, gamers revealed information about what they want from the next generation of video game consoles. Over 62,000 people (myself included) took the survey, which asked about everything from video game habits to favorite genres to interest levels in next-gen hardware.
IGN has yet to release all the results, but the data collected about upcoming consoles has already been aggregated and tabulated. The results are promising for Microsoft and Sony, but somewhat troubling for Nintendo. Gamers are much more excited about new hardware from Microsoft and Sony. 63% of gamers are "very" or "somewhat" interested in Playstation 4, compared to 60% for Xbox 720 and 40% for Wii U.
This isn't totally surprising. The original Wii saturated the market after its release in 2006, but in the last two years sales have slumped. Xbox 360 and PS3 simply offer better games, better connectivity, and better overall entertainment packages. But I also think this data is somewhat misleading. Wii succeeded because it attracted people who never visited websites like IGN. I think the regular viewers on sites like IGN are more likely to play Xbox, Playstation 3, and PC games, but I don't know for sure. In any event, I think Nintendo's presentation at E3 will turn some heads.
Another survey result which left me shaking my head was "specific upgrades." The question was asked "What specifically excites you most about the hardware of the future?" Off all the choices, by far the most popular was "major graphics upgrade" with 72%.
I admit this slate of options is far from great. I imagine many people chose "major graphics upgrade" because the other options are simply not very appealing. I personally chose "innovative controllers" because, unlike many gamers, graphics are not all that important to me. Video games peaked about 15 years ago, long before HD graphics. I want a console that allows me to experience great games in new and exciting ways. Not just another plastic box with prettier graphics. When the "specific upgrades" question was asked of Wii U, respondents were less interested in graphics upgrade (57%) and more interested in innovative controllers (44%).
The one area where Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo are equal is brand loyalty. Remarkably, 67% of users who own and play a PS3 all the time are interested in purchasing a PS4; the same is true for those who own and play Xbox 360 (67%) and Nintendo Wii (68%). In other words, two-thirds of gamers who play a current-generation system "very often" are interested in its successor, regardless of the brand.
No comments:
Post a Comment