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"He's playing on his CubeStation" said my Mum.
There's me sitting there thinking "What an idiot". But I knew that. I was actually playing on my GameCube.
In the same situation here is three different ways people could of said that:
"He's playing on his games console" - The 'I couldn't tell the difference between a Master System or a Xbox' reply.
"He's playing on his GameCube" - The right reply.
"He's playing on his Playstation" - The common reply.
But besides my Mum being very thick, and trust me she is in so many different ways, tonight I want to talk about the last reply "He's playing on his Playstation". You see, my Mum was actually halfway there, she got the 'Cube' bit right but then she felt the need to add in 'Station'. And why is this? It's because the word 'Playstation' is now the household name for a video games console no matter how different the console is in terms of a name or it's technology.
Talk about having a good marketing plan. Sony need not worry about advertising, everyone is doing it by word of mouth.
A good example of this whole situation is shown when we switch over on to the other side of games consoles which is handheld's. Which company has dominated the handheld market for such a long time? Nintendo maybe with it's Gameboy?
So when this Nokia N-Gage thing comes out or whatever other handheld is around like the GP32, everyone will be going "Please turn off all Gameboy's or the Aircraft will crash, thank you". But maybe not in that very same context...
And there we have it, two pieces of hardware which have dominated the market and now have their names established as a household name. Probably the biggest thing to try and win in gaming is that household name as it is likely to stick for a long time. They have become the default platforms, the ones some people will buy just for the name, the ones which have their names advertised everyday and people don't know it, the ones which now have their name planted over the name 'Games Console'.
The question is will another platform of the future take over that crucial selling point which is the household name?
And I would like to know what did people use to call a games console when the Playstation never even existed?
Oh and by the way, I like my Mother.
There's me sitting there thinking "What an idiot". But I knew that. I was actually playing on my GameCube.
In the same situation here is three different ways people could of said that:
"He's playing on his games console" - The 'I couldn't tell the difference between a Master System or a Xbox' reply.
"He's playing on his GameCube" - The right reply.
"He's playing on his Playstation" - The common reply.
But besides my Mum being very thick, and trust me she is in so many different ways, tonight I want to talk about the last reply "He's playing on his Playstation". You see, my Mum was actually halfway there, she got the 'Cube' bit right but then she felt the need to add in 'Station'. And why is this? It's because the word 'Playstation' is now the household name for a video games console no matter how different the console is in terms of a name or it's technology.
Talk about having a good marketing plan. Sony need not worry about advertising, everyone is doing it by word of mouth.
A good example of this whole situation is shown when we switch over on to the other side of games consoles which is handheld's. Which company has dominated the handheld market for such a long time? Nintendo maybe with it's Gameboy?
So when this Nokia N-Gage thing comes out or whatever other handheld is around like the GP32, everyone will be going "Please turn off all Gameboy's or the Aircraft will crash, thank you". But maybe not in that very same context...
And there we have it, two pieces of hardware which have dominated the market and now have their names established as a household name. Probably the biggest thing to try and win in gaming is that household name as it is likely to stick for a long time. They have become the default platforms, the ones some people will buy just for the name, the ones which have their names advertised everyday and people don't know it, the ones which now have their name planted over the name 'Games Console'.
The question is will another platform of the future take over that crucial selling point which is the household name?
And I would like to know what did people use to call a games console when the Playstation never even existed?
Oh and by the way, I like my Mother.
Your right about Playstation being a household brand name. And it goes further than that. If you ever see someone in a TV programme or a Film playing on a games console it is ALWAYS a playstation. I have never seen anyone on TV playing with any other games console (not since the release of the playstation, and before that read megadrive).
When I bought my Playstation (the original one), I was swayed towards that particular console by two things; the first being that at the time I was buying the fact that the sequal console was going to play the original playstation games, therefore I felt that I wouldn't be wasting lots of money buying games that I wouldn't be able to play on what ever 'next-genration' console I bought. The second thing that swung me toward the playstation was the fact that any shop that sold games always seemed to have a massive section of playstation games compared to any other games. Availabilty of the games, you could by Playstation games at the supermarket down the road, but no games for any other console.
I think that the tide is turning though, while I still see original playstation games everywhere, the distribution of Playstation2 games to X-Box and GameCube is evening out.
And my fondest wish now? A Gamecube. They seem to marketing themselves as a more fun console, less serious than the gamecube or the X-Box. Of course I will keep my PS2 (If only for the Final Fantasy games), but when the PS3 comes out, I may not be the first in line.
When I bought my Playstation (the original one), I was swayed towards that particular console by two things; the first being that at the time I was buying the fact that the sequal console was going to play the original playstation games, therefore I felt that I wouldn't be wasting lots of money buying games that I wouldn't be able to play on what ever 'next-genration' console I bought. The second thing that swung me toward the playstation was the fact that any shop that sold games always seemed to have a massive section of playstation games compared to any other games. Availabilty of the games, you could by Playstation games at the supermarket down the road, but no games for any other console.
I think that the tide is turning though, while I still see original playstation games everywhere, the distribution of Playstation2 games to X-Box and GameCube is evening out.
And my fondest wish now? A Gamecube. They seem to marketing themselves as a more fun console, less serious than the gamecube or the X-Box. Of course I will keep my PS2 (If only for the Final Fantasy games), but when the PS3 comes out, I may not be the first in line.
You're right about the successful advertising campaign of Sony but I believe the advertising is losing effect. Your mother is of a different generation and presumably is not interesting in game consoles of any description so really doesn't know or care about the gaming industry. However, as the gaming generation grows up they should have a bigger influence on the game consoles bought and the popularity.
But it is not just advertising that got playstation 2 to where it is, and presumably where playstation 3 will be (I haven't read anything about this), it is the fact that the old games could also be played on the new console.
This is one of the main reasons I owe a playstation 2 (although I've only owned one for about 5 months). Originally my mate bought the N64 so I bought Playstation and we used to swop consoles to play the latest games on. I then became hooked on FF. As FF10 came out on Playstation 2 I just had to buy it. I have now passed my Playstation to my nephew with all the games except the FF series.
I also got hooked on Zelda so will soon be purchasing the gamecube but as my friend and I do not live next to each other anymore I will eventually have to buy the N64 as well.
My partner doesn't know the difference between the game consoles and usually refers to the fact that I am playing on that 'game thingy'. This is actually a good thing as they will not be able to tell the difference between the consoles when I buy the other 2, but I will have to hid them well!!
In answer to your last question - wasn't it a megadrive?
But it is not just advertising that got playstation 2 to where it is, and presumably where playstation 3 will be (I haven't read anything about this), it is the fact that the old games could also be played on the new console.
This is one of the main reasons I owe a playstation 2 (although I've only owned one for about 5 months). Originally my mate bought the N64 so I bought Playstation and we used to swop consoles to play the latest games on. I then became hooked on FF. As FF10 came out on Playstation 2 I just had to buy it. I have now passed my Playstation to my nephew with all the games except the FF series.
I also got hooked on Zelda so will soon be purchasing the gamecube but as my friend and I do not live next to each other anymore I will eventually have to buy the N64 as well.
My partner doesn't know the difference between the game consoles and usually refers to the fact that I am playing on that 'game thingy'. This is actually a good thing as they will not be able to tell the difference between the consoles when I buy the other 2, but I will have to hid them well!!
In answer to your last question - wasn't it a megadrive?
You are right, the problem is Sony is already a household name to begin with and therefore alot more people think that a Sony games console is the way to go. I just look around and I see a Sony Tv, Sony Hi-Fi, Sony VCR. . . need I say more?
But I am hoping that someone else will take over the games industry and I am hoping that it is not Microsoft. But thats just me being biased. I could rant for days about why Nintendo are the best but I won't.
Now my Mum says things like this as well, but usually calls my Gamecube an X-box and of course I quickly correct her on this matter. But it will still happen again and I don't know why. It is so hard to drill into her ead that it is a Gamecube. Maybe it is a generation thing, for their generation is not really as computer orientated as ours.
As for Sony dominating the market I am not surprised. As I have said, Sony became a house hold name long before the Playstation. My Dad believes that Sony everything is the way to go for his home entertainment and because he doesn't play computer games he leaves the Games console upto me. Now I prefer the Nintendo Gamecube so I bought one, but left down to him and I would only have a Playstation. I say "only" because the Playstation is my most hated console. I think I hate it because of the way it has dominated the market through plain old simple marketing instead of advertising to the real gamers.
But lets not argue about this, Monkey_with_Attitude is correct. Becoming a house hold name is the only way to make those millions with in the gaming industry.
In the next few years the console market will calm down a bit due to the lack of Games Consoles being released, so this will provide us with an new oppertunity. When everyone has a Playstation 2 then what will they buy next, and if everyone moves onto that console then that will become the house hold name and that consoles daugter console (e.g. Playstation 3 from Playstation 2) will sell more than any other console.
It is an interesting concept to think about, with the word of mouth and the house hold names selling the consoles companies can only hope to become that house hold name. But for the near future, I can only see Sony keeping the house hold status and Sony making millions and dominating the Games Industry!
But I am hoping that someone else will take over the games industry and I am hoping that it is not Microsoft. But thats just me being biased. I could rant for days about why Nintendo are the best but I won't.
Now my Mum says things like this as well, but usually calls my Gamecube an X-box and of course I quickly correct her on this matter. But it will still happen again and I don't know why. It is so hard to drill into her ead that it is a Gamecube. Maybe it is a generation thing, for their generation is not really as computer orientated as ours.
As for Sony dominating the market I am not surprised. As I have said, Sony became a house hold name long before the Playstation. My Dad believes that Sony everything is the way to go for his home entertainment and because he doesn't play computer games he leaves the Games console upto me. Now I prefer the Nintendo Gamecube so I bought one, but left down to him and I would only have a Playstation. I say "only" because the Playstation is my most hated console. I think I hate it because of the way it has dominated the market through plain old simple marketing instead of advertising to the real gamers.
But lets not argue about this, Monkey_with_Attitude is correct. Becoming a house hold name is the only way to make those millions with in the gaming industry.
In the next few years the console market will calm down a bit due to the lack of Games Consoles being released, so this will provide us with an new oppertunity. When everyone has a Playstation 2 then what will they buy next, and if everyone moves onto that console then that will become the house hold name and that consoles daugter console (e.g. Playstation 3 from Playstation 2) will sell more than any other console.
It is an interesting concept to think about, with the word of mouth and the house hold names selling the consoles companies can only hope to become that house hold name. But for the near future, I can only see Sony keeping the house hold status and Sony making millions and dominating the Games Industry!
"He's playing on his CubeStation" said my Mum.
There's me sitting there thinking "What an idiot". But I knew that. I was actually playing on my GameCube.
In the same situation here is three different ways people could of said that:
"He's playing on his games console" - The 'I couldn't tell the difference between a Master System or a Xbox' reply.
"He's playing on his GameCube" - The right reply.
"He's playing on his Playstation" - The common reply.
But besides my Mum being very thick, and trust me she is in so many different ways, tonight I want to talk about the last reply "He's playing on his Playstation". You see, my Mum was actually halfway there, she got the 'Cube' bit right but then she felt the need to add in 'Station'. And why is this? It's because the word 'Playstation' is now the household name for a video games console no matter how different the console is in terms of a name or it's technology.
Talk about having a good marketing plan. Sony need not worry about advertising, everyone is doing it by word of mouth.
A good example of this whole situation is shown when we switch over on to the other side of games consoles which is handheld's. Which company has dominated the handheld market for such a long time? Nintendo maybe with it's Gameboy?
So when this Nokia N-Gage thing comes out or whatever other handheld is around like the GP32, everyone will be going "Please turn off all Gameboy's or the Aircraft will crash, thank you". But maybe not in that very same context...
And there we have it, two pieces of hardware which have dominated the market and now have their names established as a household name. Probably the biggest thing to try and win in gaming is that household name as it is likely to stick for a long time. They have become the default platforms, the ones some people will buy just for the name, the ones which have their names advertised everyday and people don't know it, the ones which now have their name planted over the name 'Games Console'.
The question is will another platform of the future take over that crucial selling point which is the household name?
And I would like to know what did people use to call a games console when the Playstation never even existed?
Oh and by the way, I like my Mother.
There's me sitting there thinking "What an idiot". But I knew that. I was actually playing on my GameCube.
In the same situation here is three different ways people could of said that:
"He's playing on his games console" - The 'I couldn't tell the difference between a Master System or a Xbox' reply.
"He's playing on his GameCube" - The right reply.
"He's playing on his Playstation" - The common reply.
But besides my Mum being very thick, and trust me she is in so many different ways, tonight I want to talk about the last reply "He's playing on his Playstation". You see, my Mum was actually halfway there, she got the 'Cube' bit right but then she felt the need to add in 'Station'. And why is this? It's because the word 'Playstation' is now the household name for a video games console no matter how different the console is in terms of a name or it's technology.
Talk about having a good marketing plan. Sony need not worry about advertising, everyone is doing it by word of mouth.
A good example of this whole situation is shown when we switch over on to the other side of games consoles which is handheld's. Which company has dominated the handheld market for such a long time? Nintendo maybe with it's Gameboy?
So when this Nokia N-Gage thing comes out or whatever other handheld is around like the GP32, everyone will be going "Please turn off all Gameboy's or the Aircraft will crash, thank you". But maybe not in that very same context...
And there we have it, two pieces of hardware which have dominated the market and now have their names established as a household name. Probably the biggest thing to try and win in gaming is that household name as it is likely to stick for a long time. They have become the default platforms, the ones some people will buy just for the name, the ones which have their names advertised everyday and people don't know it, the ones which now have their name planted over the name 'Games Console'.
The question is will another platform of the future take over that crucial selling point which is the household name?
And I would like to know what did people use to call a games console when the Playstation never even existed?
Oh and by the way, I like my Mother.