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When gaming first became a home pastime, it was taken up mainly by kids and those in the know. There weren't many teenagers or adults interested in gaming and bar some stuffy BBC programme, the media wasn't really interested in it at all.
The 8-bit computers, namely the Spectrum and C64, encouraged a slightly older audience to the scene with programming and other uses for the machine, as well as some hardcore gaming (for the time), but for many years it remained an underground hobby, shunned by those who were interested in the current fashions.
Gaming grew into it's own little part of the universe and filled a gap in more and more people's lives. The Super Nintendo and Megadrive were gaining more support by the time they were released in Europe and the 8-bits had steadily grown a cult following that meant more games and more choice for the player. There were now movie licences available and games based on famous characters and TV programmes. People were, on the whole, happy but there was also an unmistakable air of seclusion towards those who chose this still relatively new hobby.
Sony, we all know, helped to break the cycle and courted the media before the release of the Playstation. They sold it as they would any other electrical item in their range and virtually made it ‘cool’ to own a console. The games changed somewhat and became more geared to the current TV generation, fast and furious with eye-candy for graphics and famous bands to massage the gamers ears. It caught on and provided Sony with all the money and opportunity they needed to create a large market share out of the previously small gaming market.
Since then, all consoles and gaming in general has been treated differently. For better or for worse, we are seeing advertising hitting the general media, interest from television groups (who still seem to get the format wrong almost every time) and more acceptance of gaming from the public at large. Sony came out with another media blitz for the Playstation 2, but the problem now was that the media were already reporting on gaming anyway and it didn’t make half the impact of the original. Never-the-less, the PS2 sold bucketloads and, despite early faults, continues to do well in the market and the eyes of the gamer. It is not, though, considered anything new by today’s standards, and like a new form of midi-system or a dyson tumble dryer, it is just another upgrade to a market that already exists and has something that will do the job, albeit not quite as well, for less money.
The X-box was also launched to a mass media hype, but alas, Microsoft may have got on the scene too late for a newcomer and could have lost the hype that Sony enjoyed when they entered the gaming market. The gaming scene is still growing financially, but as the months progress, are we seeing a return to gaming for the hardcore player and the kids return?
Now we hear news that the X-box has dropped in price by £100 or thereabouts. This shows that demand is not high anymore, or perhaps Microsoft have not got their advertising quite right, but they have done almost the same as Sony, so perhaps the gamers are thinning out again and we may well see a return to the old structure of gamers, leaving the general public to go buy something else instead.
With the Gamecube arriving very soon, it remains to be seen whether the trends of the last 5 years can be reversed and the big N may find that they overtake Microsoft in the gaming market or all three companies might start seeing that downward trend they fear so much. Either way it will be a test of all their courage to stay in the market as it shifts and metamorphosis’s into something that the 21st Century can sustain.
By all accounts, this is not the end of gaming and I don’t believe we will ever see that day, but fashions change rapidly and the three console companies need to be careful that they secure their profit well if they are to last another 5 years.
The 8-bit computers, namely the Spectrum and C64, encouraged a slightly older audience to the scene with programming and other uses for the machine, as well as some hardcore gaming (for the time), but for many years it remained an underground hobby, shunned by those who were interested in the current fashions.
Gaming grew into it's own little part of the universe and filled a gap in more and more people's lives. The Super Nintendo and Megadrive were gaining more support by the time they were released in Europe and the 8-bits had steadily grown a cult following that meant more games and more choice for the player. There were now movie licences available and games based on famous characters and TV programmes. People were, on the whole, happy but there was also an unmistakable air of seclusion towards those who chose this still relatively new hobby.
Sony, we all know, helped to break the cycle and courted the media before the release of the Playstation. They sold it as they would any other electrical item in their range and virtually made it ‘cool’ to own a console. The games changed somewhat and became more geared to the current TV generation, fast and furious with eye-candy for graphics and famous bands to massage the gamers ears. It caught on and provided Sony with all the money and opportunity they needed to create a large market share out of the previously small gaming market.
Since then, all consoles and gaming in general has been treated differently. For better or for worse, we are seeing advertising hitting the general media, interest from television groups (who still seem to get the format wrong almost every time) and more acceptance of gaming from the public at large. Sony came out with another media blitz for the Playstation 2, but the problem now was that the media were already reporting on gaming anyway and it didn’t make half the impact of the original. Never-the-less, the PS2 sold bucketloads and, despite early faults, continues to do well in the market and the eyes of the gamer. It is not, though, considered anything new by today’s standards, and like a new form of midi-system or a dyson tumble dryer, it is just another upgrade to a market that already exists and has something that will do the job, albeit not quite as well, for less money.
The X-box was also launched to a mass media hype, but alas, Microsoft may have got on the scene too late for a newcomer and could have lost the hype that Sony enjoyed when they entered the gaming market. The gaming scene is still growing financially, but as the months progress, are we seeing a return to gaming for the hardcore player and the kids return?
Now we hear news that the X-box has dropped in price by £100 or thereabouts. This shows that demand is not high anymore, or perhaps Microsoft have not got their advertising quite right, but they have done almost the same as Sony, so perhaps the gamers are thinning out again and we may well see a return to the old structure of gamers, leaving the general public to go buy something else instead.
With the Gamecube arriving very soon, it remains to be seen whether the trends of the last 5 years can be reversed and the big N may find that they overtake Microsoft in the gaming market or all three companies might start seeing that downward trend they fear so much. Either way it will be a test of all their courage to stay in the market as it shifts and metamorphosis’s into something that the 21st Century can sustain.
By all accounts, this is not the end of gaming and I don’t believe we will ever see that day, but fashions change rapidly and the three console companies need to be careful that they secure their profit well if they are to last another 5 years.
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When gaming first became a home pastime, it was taken up mainly by kids and those in the know. There weren't many teenagers or adults interested in gaming and bar some stuffy BBC programme, the media wasn't really interested in it at all.
The 8-bit computers, namely the Spectrum and C64, encouraged a slightly older audience to the scene with programming and other uses for the machine, as well as some hardcore gaming (for the time), but for many years it remained an underground hobby, shunned by those who were interested in the current fashions.
Gaming grew into it's own little part of the universe and filled a gap in more and more people's lives. The Super Nintendo and Megadrive were gaining more support by the time they were released in Europe and the 8-bits had steadily grown a cult following that meant more games and more choice for the player. There were now movie licences available and games based on famous characters and TV programmes. People were, on the whole, happy but there was also an unmistakable air of seclusion towards those who chose this still relatively new hobby.
Sony, we all know, helped to break the cycle and courted the media before the release of the Playstation. They sold it as they would any other electrical item in their range and virtually made it ‘cool’ to own a console. The games changed somewhat and became more geared to the current TV generation, fast and furious with eye-candy for graphics and famous bands to massage the gamers ears. It caught on and provided Sony with all the money and opportunity they needed to create a large market share out of the previously small gaming market.
Since then, all consoles and gaming in general has been treated differently. For better or for worse, we are seeing advertising hitting the general media, interest from television groups (who still seem to get the format wrong almost every time) and more acceptance of gaming from the public at large. Sony came out with another media blitz for the Playstation 2, but the problem now was that the media were already reporting on gaming anyway and it didn’t make half the impact of the original. Never-the-less, the PS2 sold bucketloads and, despite early faults, continues to do well in the market and the eyes of the gamer. It is not, though, considered anything new by today’s standards, and like a new form of midi-system or a dyson tumble dryer, it is just another upgrade to a market that already exists and has something that will do the job, albeit not quite as well, for less money.
The X-box was also launched to a mass media hype, but alas, Microsoft may have got on the scene too late for a newcomer and could have lost the hype that Sony enjoyed when they entered the gaming market. The gaming scene is still growing financially, but as the months progress, are we seeing a return to gaming for the hardcore player and the kids return?
Now we hear news that the X-box has dropped in price by £100 or thereabouts. This shows that demand is not high anymore, or perhaps Microsoft have not got their advertising quite right, but they have done almost the same as Sony, so perhaps the gamers are thinning out again and we may well see a return to the old structure of gamers, leaving the general public to go buy something else instead.
With the Gamecube arriving very soon, it remains to be seen whether the trends of the last 5 years can be reversed and the big N may find that they overtake Microsoft in the gaming market or all three companies might start seeing that downward trend they fear so much. Either way it will be a test of all their courage to stay in the market as it shifts and metamorphosis’s into something that the 21st Century can sustain.
By all accounts, this is not the end of gaming and I don’t believe we will ever see that day, but fashions change rapidly and the three console companies need to be careful that they secure their profit well if they are to last another 5 years.
The 8-bit computers, namely the Spectrum and C64, encouraged a slightly older audience to the scene with programming and other uses for the machine, as well as some hardcore gaming (for the time), but for many years it remained an underground hobby, shunned by those who were interested in the current fashions.
Gaming grew into it's own little part of the universe and filled a gap in more and more people's lives. The Super Nintendo and Megadrive were gaining more support by the time they were released in Europe and the 8-bits had steadily grown a cult following that meant more games and more choice for the player. There were now movie licences available and games based on famous characters and TV programmes. People were, on the whole, happy but there was also an unmistakable air of seclusion towards those who chose this still relatively new hobby.
Sony, we all know, helped to break the cycle and courted the media before the release of the Playstation. They sold it as they would any other electrical item in their range and virtually made it ‘cool’ to own a console. The games changed somewhat and became more geared to the current TV generation, fast and furious with eye-candy for graphics and famous bands to massage the gamers ears. It caught on and provided Sony with all the money and opportunity they needed to create a large market share out of the previously small gaming market.
Since then, all consoles and gaming in general has been treated differently. For better or for worse, we are seeing advertising hitting the general media, interest from television groups (who still seem to get the format wrong almost every time) and more acceptance of gaming from the public at large. Sony came out with another media blitz for the Playstation 2, but the problem now was that the media were already reporting on gaming anyway and it didn’t make half the impact of the original. Never-the-less, the PS2 sold bucketloads and, despite early faults, continues to do well in the market and the eyes of the gamer. It is not, though, considered anything new by today’s standards, and like a new form of midi-system or a dyson tumble dryer, it is just another upgrade to a market that already exists and has something that will do the job, albeit not quite as well, for less money.
The X-box was also launched to a mass media hype, but alas, Microsoft may have got on the scene too late for a newcomer and could have lost the hype that Sony enjoyed when they entered the gaming market. The gaming scene is still growing financially, but as the months progress, are we seeing a return to gaming for the hardcore player and the kids return?
Now we hear news that the X-box has dropped in price by £100 or thereabouts. This shows that demand is not high anymore, or perhaps Microsoft have not got their advertising quite right, but they have done almost the same as Sony, so perhaps the gamers are thinning out again and we may well see a return to the old structure of gamers, leaving the general public to go buy something else instead.
With the Gamecube arriving very soon, it remains to be seen whether the trends of the last 5 years can be reversed and the big N may find that they overtake Microsoft in the gaming market or all three companies might start seeing that downward trend they fear so much. Either way it will be a test of all their courage to stay in the market as it shifts and metamorphosis’s into something that the 21st Century can sustain.
By all accounts, this is not the end of gaming and I don’t believe we will ever see that day, but fashions change rapidly and the three console companies need to be careful that they secure their profit well if they are to last another 5 years.