Gamers Aren’t Microsoft’s Only Target Audience For Xbox 360

Microsoft will be promoting a more family-friendly Xbox 360 via a new marketing campaigned aimed at expanding the game console audience. Microsoft went after the hard-core gamers when it launched Xbox, leaving the mainstream to competitors Sony PlayStation and Ninetendo Game Cube. The NYT has the details: brochures for big-box stores will play up the console’s media center capabilites — doubling as a DVD player, porting music from MP3 devices, etc. all to give the guy who wants to buy one some ammunition at home. A Pepsi promotion already running targets moms. An action-adventure game will be pitched to young teenagers but the bulk of the first batch of games are for the hard-core players.
The strategy is being met with skepticism by the analysts the Times called on — not enough mainstream games, too much reliance on non-game frills. Add another: the risk of appearing patronizing. Why not just make a pink 360?

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