Will Xbox Join the Casual Gaming Revolution?
Video Games September 6th, 2008Will Xbox Join the Casual Gaming Revolution?
The Xbox 360 is one of the top video game consoles on the market. However, it faces tough competition from other systems, like Nintendo’s Wii. One of the major arenas where the Xbox 360 faces trouble is in casual gaming. More and more players are opting for these “pick up and play” games rather than those with in-depth plots and complex storylines.
Casual games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band have swept the market and reaped tons of profits. However, few other casual games have been offered for Xbox 360. The Xbox 360 console was designed to feature the best graphics, which could enhance first-person shooters, RPGs, and other intensive games. Meanwhile, competitors like Nintendo’s Wii and DS focused on less advanced graphics and simpler games that could be easily enjoyed by anyone. It seems this latter group had the best results in the market, showing Microsoft developers that their Xbox 360 needed an update.
Xbox 360 developers may have recently had a wake-up call that their more intense games are no longer as popular. The latest installment of the Grand Theft Auto series was recently released. However, Grand Theft Auto IV boasted remarkably low sales. Despite its $100 million development budget, the game failed to attract a wide market of players. This is clearly a sign that action packed games are declining in popularity.
The appeal of casual games is that players of all ages can easily learn the controls and play together. Many of the best games feature controllers that are motion sensitive and easy to use by even the most inexperienced players. That’s why the Wii has hit it big with its remote-style wands. Xbox 360 is now trying to include more adaptable controllers to its newer games. For example, Scene It? Includes a custom buzzer that is extremely simple to operate and makes it seem more like you are on an actual game show.
Casual games are great for developing companies as well. They require a much lower production budget than their hardcore gaming counterparts. Plus, they appeal to a greater variety of ages and demographic groups. Therefore, more copies of these games are ultimately sold. Additionally, these types of games lend themselves to other profitable avenues, like subscription online multiplayer features.
Xbox 360 hopes to take better advantage of the casual gaming market with titles like Lips, Scene It?, and You’re in the Movies. It is also featuring numerous casual game titles on Xbox Live Arcade. These can be downloaded to the console for a fee and played instantly. New games are expected to be 1 vs. 100, a massive multiplayer spinoff of the popular game show, and UNO Rush, which will also be a multiplayer experience.
Currently, Nintendo’s Wii, which focuses on casual games, is outselling both the Xbox 360 and PS3 systems combined. So, it seems Microsoft will have to change its gaming strategies. As Xbox 360 starts offering more and more casual games, the appeal of the console is expected to rise. Soon, we may see a vast turn-around in sales and a greater diversity among Xbox 360 players.
Justin Mongiardo
Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
