Nintendo: Game market could grow another 50 percent

by JC Fletcher on Jul 22nd 2009 5:30PM

Nintendo of America's senior director of product development, Tom Prata, discussed some market research done by the company at Seattle's Casual Connect conference.

In the last 2.5 years, Prata explained, the current gamer audience in North America has grown by around 30 million people to about 143.7 million. Hey, that's just about the period of time that the Wii's been out! What a bizarre coincidence.

Prata said that the number of active console and handheld gamers worldwide is around 295 million, and could grow by another 150 million "if the right game came along." Had it been E3, a trailer for Nintendo's latest surprise game would have started up at that point. One game to trigger the adoption of 150 million new gamers -- that's quite the challenge. Such a game would have to be significantly more popular than Wii Fit.

Source

Tags: casual-connect, DS, Nintendo, tom-prata, Wii

Reader Comments (43)

in b4 every1

That's just like saying FIRST!!!

I hope you didn't hurt yourself trying to figure out that complex riddle

And I hope YOU didn't hurt yourself getting downvoted.

What downvotes? lol

Curses!

Come minions.
Vote him down or my wittyness will be moot.

your wittiness is moot.

Spartan, never call random people on the internet minions, it never ends well. You know how I know? Because because Sam Raimi told me so on a blog.

:-(

The it prints money image just came to mind.

If you expand the definition of "game" far enough (i.e. Wii Music in which you waggle your baggle to make sound) then there's no reason the game market can't expand 300%. With "demo mode" making games into movies why not just start counting movies as part of the game market?

"...waggle your baggle..."

http://knowyourmeme.com/i/3866/original/nfNeT7YvTozx0cv7ze3mplZpo1_500.gif?1245677968

You're overestimating the impact of demo mode. Demo mode is for gamers' games, not to expand the market, but to stop it from shrinking due to frustration

Maybe?

Never.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOI4XJecOc0

When you think about, the crowd that plays the Wii is no different than those that play Super Mario on the NES back in the 80s. The games may different, but if the consumers is smart enough, the thirst for better games will increase, making developers make better games on any system, an with the increase of people playing games more money they would make.

Its all good news around really. I don't believe Nintendo is ruining the industry as much as expanding it from it once was. The only thing now is for developers to actually make quality games for the Wii , and with the quality spiking interest in people to buy other consoles like the 360 or the PS3, and with the case with Sony, that could possible help them.

Its just a matter of time and smarter consumers.

This is the philosophy Nintendo is trying to embrace as they continue to develop games for the Wii, they're making their mainstay games more and more involved as time goes by. If you discount certain flukes, like Twilight Princess, Metroid Prime 3, or Wii Music, everything else fits into a pattern where the game increases in some form of difficulty, whether that is necessary dexterity or required time investment (or both)

Mr. Khan and Archi, you guys are dead on.

Well said!

come on folks, this is weaksauce. Its been 15 minutes and this fine piece of flamebait doesn't even have 15 comments?

Don't tell me you all are going soft on me now

There's no point to this one, as it's speculation. Pachter might as well have said this cause either way it doesn't mean anything.

I think it'll grow another 150%, and I too have 0 evidence to back that claim!

no, if Pachter said this we'd be flooded with "STFU PACHTER YOU ARE TEH STOOPIDZ"

Its possible with the popularity of the Wii within the mainstream. Just maybe not that of a huge increase, unless the games that are made are enough to warrant buying a Wii....oh, wait I mean their second.

I think that maybe possibly definitely maybe, they are right, because Sam Raimi told me so on a blog.

is "Sam Raimi told me so on a blog" the new "Because of my syndrome"?

I've never heard of the "Because of me syndrome". But yeah I don't know, it just seems to validate anything you say really. A source? Not necessary anymore, you just throw out that Sam Raimi told you so on a blog and you're good.

I have a sneaking suspicion OJ used it in Court as well.

Judge: "Mr. Simpson, did you or did you not kill your ex wife and her boyfriend?"
OJ: "I didn't do it, Sam Raimi told me so on a blog"
Judge: "Oh, ok. Case dismissed!"

http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Because_of_my_syndrome

http://encyclopediadramatica.com/Because_of_Parkinson's

The real question is whether America can churn out 50% more soccer moms between now and 2012. AYSO leagues are folding left and right due to harsh economic climates and forcing some moms to stay at home and forcing some to sell their Escalade they made $1200 monthly payments on.

Also the supply of old ladies are dwindling due to the lack of healthcare reform in this country.

Sorry Nintendo don't see it happening.

wow, not only did you fail at vidja game trolling, you also failed at political douchebaggery

So which of your sensibilities did offend?

1. Your mom?

2. Your sociopathic need to deny people healthcare?

That's so stupid I almost lost some brain cells.

I think what you meant to ask me is "Why do I hate America" or "Why I want to let the terrorists win"

Look Nintendo is on top who cares if someone like me says their core consumer is a soccer mom or grandma?

That is a big consumer base if you ask me.

Well if you ask me 360's core base are nothing but racist, homophobic frat dudes.

Its fun to generalize people, right?

Can't argue with that Archi and PS3 owners are made up of 25 year old pasty Japanophile, weaboos who are desperately trying to keep the "superior" Japanese culture/ecomomy afloat.

Also why are Wii owners trying so desperately trying to emulate said homophobic fatass 360 users by propping Marcus Fenix rip offs from games like Madworld?

I don't know, but that was completely idiotic.

>PS3 owners are made up of 25 year old pasty Japanophile, weaboos who are desperately trying to keep the "superior" Japanese culture/ecomomy afloat.

really? is that why killzone 2, a european-made FPS, is the highest selling PS3 game of the year? every single one of your generalizations are incredibly stupid.

Needs more Pachter.

Now see there is where the vitality sensor comes in. right now it has the happily married and the grandmas. but with the vitality sensor we can get the paranoids and the jealous boy/girl friends with the new game "WiiChiit" where you strap the person in and see if they have been cheating on you.

Technically, the market could grow up to 1000 percent more, depending on how much time is considered, and how quickly we can bone and churn out gaming babies.
Perhaps we can condition them to love the vidja games, a la 'Brave New World'.

Comment if you got the reference.

I'm afraid i don't understand the reference, but if we deprived people of light and oxygen earlier enough in their growth cycle, we could probably make consumers stupid enough to be content with the Wii's third party support.

i just ordered a wii fit and its on its way from amazon -- woohoo!

I think now would be a lovely time to mention "The Matrix" and "Epic".

LOl... "Casual Connect Conference" -- the name says it all

Surely it's obvious how this can be achieved.

Have a game that combines Wii Fit and Wii Sports, using the balance board and motion plus.

That'd sell a few million.

But wait...

To reach the fabled 150 million, all you have to do is sell this proposed game with Mario (and possibly Sonic) in the game.

Sorry, you must be logged in to leave a comment.

Breaking News

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days

Vita 'UMD Passport' won't be offered in US 221 comments
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning review: A tempting fate 153 comments
David Jaffe leaves Eat Sleep Play, layoffs hit developer [Update] 107 comments
Blizzard taking Valve to court over 'DOTA' trademark 96 comments
Don't call it a remake: Final Fantasy X is a 'remaster,' to be clear 95 comments

Nintendo: Game market could grow another 50 percent

Reader Comments (43)

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:32PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:38PM Typicalgamer said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:41PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:16PM Istari Spartan said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:17PM MystileArmor said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:58PM Istari Spartan said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 8:37PM Sly C said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 9:01PM bongoes said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 9:19PM Istari Spartan said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:34PM Rhamsey said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:35PM james castle said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:37PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:13PM Mr Khan said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:36PM jorojoserojas said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:41PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:17PM Mr Khan said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 10:06PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:48PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:52PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:54PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 5:58PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:05PM MystileArmor said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:13PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:17PM MystileArmor said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:18PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:18PM leobebes said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:21PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:52PM leobebes said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 7:08PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 7:09PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 7:24PM leobebes said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 7:26PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 7:28PM leobebes said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 7:41PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 8:42PM Sly C said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:18PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:22PM Ballistic3188 said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:35PM ch3burashka said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 9:01PM snarfoogle said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 6:58PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 7:08PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 7:14PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 22nd 2009 9:23PM mrmobius said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

Double Fine Kickstarter passes $1 million in under 24 hours, breaking yet another record

Featured Stories

The Joystiq Show - 024: Kingdoms of Double Fine

Shank 2 review: Refined brutality

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier brings information warfare to the front

The most popular postsin the last 7 days

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW

The most popular posts
in the last 7 days