So EA thinks the casual market is overcrowded?…
So I do. From Gamasutra news clipping:
A Casual Glut
On the casual game front, Hickey says it will be “very hard for the company to distinguish themselves in this market” with so many developers turning to the Wii with broadly-marketed titles.
“By CY08 we believe the casual game channel will become cluttered with games,” says Hickey, “most of which will not be good and will likely force retail game prices lower for the Wii,” which, he adds, can have “profoundly negative impact on a game’s potential economics.”
“The land slide of planned casual games,” he continues, “will also create havoc on retail shelves,” but he notes that EA “will benefit at retail by winning shelf space from smaller publishers/developers,” an important playing field with “relatively bulky” Rock Band on its way this holiday.
I think the growth is where Nintendo is heading - in the NON-gamer… i.e Guitar Hero, WiiFit, WiiSports, etc.. and that the hardcore gamer is being ignored to some extent to be filled up with quirky hardcore indie titles.
And I agree with broadly marketed titles comment. I wish games had more distinctive style than flashing triangles or generic minifigs… alas the cost of art is too great for small budget casual games.
Add comment July 30th, 2007