Microsoft may struggle to take the Xbox 360 to the mass market level and it's likely that Kinect, the new Xbox controller, may have a "negligible impact" - that's according to market analysts DFC Intelligence.
The problem, DFC reckons, is that Microsoft is fundamentally not an entertainment company and may therefore struggle with using casual games to push Kinect.
"In terms of changing the overall video game hardware platform market share we see [Kinect] having a negligible impact," DFC's monthly brief said, according to Gamasutra. "The Xbox 360 has some good years left, but the platform is clearly on the downside of its lifecycle."
DFC was critical of Microsoft's launch plan for Kinect, which is based around family friendly titles like Kinectimals (a pet sim) and Kinect Sports, claiming that the company has struggled with this approach in the past.
"There are numerous problems with this approach, but the biggest problem is Microsoft, at its core, is simply not an entertainment company.
"Almost every time Microsoft has tried to emulate successful entertainment products they have failed. ... [with the exception of] PC gaming prior to the Xbox and then the Xbox platform itself.
Microsoft, for it's part, has claimed that Kinect isn't aimed only at casual gamers.
Ultimately, DFC believes Microsoft may be unable to effectively spread the appeal of the Xbox 360 beyond the core audience - though it says Sony also may suffer in this regard.
"Products like Kinect and PS Move are an attempt to get around this dilemma [how to push through console mid-life]. Unfortunately, we think they are at best a temporary attempt to tackle a much larger strategic issue."
DFC isn't the only analyst group to be sceptical of Kinect and the PS Move's appeal, with other firms claiming that consumers generally aren't interested in the controllers.
Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
The problem, DFC reckons, is that Microsoft is fundamentally not an entertainment company and may therefore struggle with using casual games to push Kinect.
"In terms of changing the overall video game hardware platform market share we see [Kinect] having a negligible impact," DFC's monthly brief said, according to Gamasutra. "The Xbox 360 has some good years left, but the platform is clearly on the downside of its lifecycle."
DFC was critical of Microsoft's launch plan for Kinect, which is based around family friendly titles like Kinectimals (a pet sim) and Kinect Sports, claiming that the company has struggled with this approach in the past.
"There are numerous problems with this approach, but the biggest problem is Microsoft, at its core, is simply not an entertainment company.
"Almost every time Microsoft has tried to emulate successful entertainment products they have failed. ... [with the exception of] PC gaming prior to the Xbox and then the Xbox platform itself.
Microsoft, for it's part, has claimed that Kinect isn't aimed only at casual gamers.
Ultimately, DFC believes Microsoft may be unable to effectively spread the appeal of the Xbox 360 beyond the core audience - though it says Sony also may suffer in this regard.
"Products like Kinect and PS Move are an attempt to get around this dilemma [how to push through console mid-life]. Unfortunately, we think they are at best a temporary attempt to tackle a much larger strategic issue."
DFC isn't the only analyst group to be sceptical of Kinect and the PS Move's appeal, with other firms claiming that consumers generally aren't interested in the controllers.
Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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Posted by mi1ez - Thu Jul 01 2010 10:37
Posted by pimlicosound - Thu Jul 01 2010 10:57
However, I'm willing to be proven wrong. If Microsoft can get the price down to a point where casual gamers might be tempted to try it, or if developers can find a way to use it as an effective control scheme for some traditional types of games like shooters, racing games or RTS, then it could be a success.
Posted by Flibblebot - Thu Jul 01 2010 12:59
Both Microsoft's and Sony's position will therefore have to be "buy a new console and controller to satisfy your casual gaming needs" - and as mi1ez said above, the casual gamers' casual gaming needs are already satisfied by their casual gaming console: the Wii.