Ryan: Sony To Widen Appeal To Younger Demographic

[Crazy Jamie]

SCEE boss Jim Ryan has said that in order to widen the appeal of the Playstation brand, Sony will actively be targeting a younger demographic, although he also took pains to stress that the core gamer would 'absolutely not be neglected'.

'If you look back at the history on PS1, PS2 the vast majority of the business that we did on both those platforms was done at the sub £129 price points,' Ryan told OPM. 'Now we've only got to £199 in the UK a couple of month back so you can see there's still a lot of PS3's potentially to be sold.'

The nature of long console cycles means that shifts in focus and the search for new consumers is always under consideration, but Ryan stated that core gamers need not worry.

'I think you'll see us taking the console more towards a slightly younger demographic," he continued. 'More family market. The core gamer will absolutely not be neglected. There's going to be tons of great stuff for the core gamer but from our own studio, third parties there's some quite interesting stuff happening in a number of areas which would allow us to open up a market that we accessed pretty successfully on both PS1 and PS2 but haven't yet got to on PS3.'

http://www.dealspwn.com/ryan-sony-wi...ographic-86033

[Mr. DNA]

The problem with games that cater for the younger demographic is that they are often just an excuse for developers to do a half-arsed job. I'm not convinced that games have to be catered specifically for kids in order for kids to enjoy them. From the half-remembered words of Tom Hanks in the movie Big, kids pretty much like the same things that adults like. My nieces don't play any of the Barbie/Dora the Explorer/My Little Pony games that they've got- whenever I'm at their house they're playing Mario. And that's because Mario is rad and "kids games" are not. Kids can smell bull****.

[puertorock_papi]

The one thing I give Sony is when they want to make games to target a specific group or carry out a specific goal they hire new talent to get it done. They rarely take a studio that was made to make specific type of games and then turn them into something completely different.

[Rabid]

Originally Posted by puertorock_papi

The one thing I give Sony is when they want to make games to target a specific group or carry out a specific goal they hire new talent to get it done. They rarely take a studio that was made to make specific type of games and then turn them into something completely different.

Unless they sack the whole lot and start fresh hiring with those specific needs in mind. Like everything else, a studio's name has recognition value in some cases.

[puertorock_papi]

Originally Posted by Rabid

Unless they sack the whole lot and start fresh hiring with those specific needs in mind. Like everything else, a studio's name has recognition value in some cases.

The only reason they would sack the whole lot is if Sony feels they aren't producing good content.

[DeathscytheV]

They used to own that market anyway. It wasn't till the Wii came out that they lost it.

[Gorge]

Originally Posted by puertorock_papi

The one thing I give Sony...

I think you've given Sony more than one thing. Including $600.

Seems Sony finally realized whats "hot" right now.

[DeathscytheV]

I gave them $500. Totally worth it too. PS3 is damn amazing, especially when I can play my PS2 and PS1 games on the one I got.

Looking forward to getting a VITA too. Although I'll probably wait for the redesign just like I'm doing for the 3DS.

[Gorge]

Originally Posted by DeathscytheV

I gave them $500. Totally worth it too. PS3 is damn amazing, especially when I can play my PS2 and PS1 games on the one I got.

I find it hard to believe your PS3 was worth it. Knowing you, you never finish games and hardly buy any to begin with. Don't deny it.

[DeathscytheV]

But I still love it.