Nintendo targets seniors

[joelcool7]

Nintendo Targets Seniors

Nintendo has decided to focus on seniors as their next advancement, noticing that many game companies like Nintendo's two largest competitors Microsoft and Sony don't seem to care about the children or senior citizens of our great nations, Nintendo made a change. In fact Nintendo has decided to launch the BrainTraining games with campaign specifically aimed at seniors. Nintendo signed an advertising deal with Senior Mega magazine SaGa.

SaGa is the highest selling senior oriented magazine.Saga has over 1-MILLION subscribers and sells over 2 Million copies a month. A SaGa exec commented saying that seniors are very interested in games and that their puzzle section is the most viewed section. With huge numbers around 2 million Nintendo will reach seniors all over Europe.

In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz the SaGa Rep said
"I think it's one of the first things that happens when people become computer literate - they get the Solitaire game, and then no doubt they go on to greater things. For people in this age group who get into computers, games are a major part of their online diet."

A Nintendo rep also commented on the deal saying
" Brain Training is a fun and easily accessible title for anyone of any age and our marketing plans reflect the broad appeal and variety our 'New Ways To Play' titles have."

In the report an emphasis was placed on how as you age you become less intelligent unless you work your mind, don't use it and you'll loose it .

[OnBake Platinum]

Um...yay?

[Fats]

It takes all kinds! Potential consumers, could be more money in the bank so it's worth a shot. Having said that. The though of my Dad kicking my ass at a game makes me cringe.

[Sovereign]

Just about to post it up.

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=14344

Interesting.

[ocarinamask]

It really can't hurt Nintendo, they had might as well give it a shot. Seniors do like their puzzles...

[Fats]

Originally Posted by ocarinamask

It really can't hurt Nintendo, they had might as well give it a shot. Seniors do like their puzzles...

My thought's exactly.

[Viper]

40+ is hardly seniors but yes, it's older than the average PS2/Xbox gamer for sure.

I think it's brilliant. Everythign they are doing is to expand the market and they've proven that with the DS already, esp in Japan (Last week, only 1 title in the top wasn't on a N system and none were on the PS2 for the first time in the systems history).

[Bloodman]

Mabey me and my grandparents could play SSBR?

[CavernFest]

arthritis

[Derrick Barra]

Originally Posted by CavernFest

arthritis

Exactly, that and carpal tunnel. I'm covering this in my next report.

[Sovereign]

They wouldn't design a game intended for seniors to be a 200 minute, single puzzle. My guess is puzzle targeted to them will be easy cross words, scrabbles and word searches. Brain Train is another good plan because they could only play it for a few minutes and solve a puzzle or to. Like a newspaper.

[joelcool7]

Originally Posted by Viper

40+ is hardly seniors but yes, it's older than the average PS2/Xbox gamer for sure.

I think it's brilliant. Everythign they are doing is to expand the market and they've proven that with the DS already, esp in Japan (Last week, only 1 title in the top wasn't on a N system and none were on the PS2 for the first time in the systems history).

I could have sworn the article said 50+ which would be considered Senior citizens. But yeah Nintendo is doing their best to expand the market and by targeting ages that the other companies ignore they could just have Rev in the bag. Sony and Microsoft have both publically stated that the 16 - 35 year old gamer is their target. However Microsoft rescently announced they were going to aim at a childrens market this adds to Nintendo's competition but If Nintendo has the senior and children/youth audeince the young adult audeince will only be a short ways away from being theirs as well.

[adrian100]

What a move by Nintendo to target the seniors market. I believe it has potential as the populations of various 'western' countries are getting older (which is certainly the case here in Australia) and while Microsoft and Sony have a target audience of people in their teens to mid- thirties, Nintendo could almost certainly reap benefits from this move.

[Zeep]

Originally Posted by Sovereign

They wouldn't design a game intended for seniors to be a 200 minute, single puzzle. My guess is puzzle targeted to them will be easy cross words, scrabbles and word searches. Brain Train is another good plan because they could only play it for a few minutes and solve a puzzle or to. Like a newspaper.

I've played a demo of Brain Training, and as long as you can read, write, speak, and do basic math, you can play Brain Training with relative ease.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Zeep

I've played a demo of Brain Training, and as long as you can read, write, speak, and do basic math, you can play Brain Training with relative ease.

Damnit! Guess I have to stick with Halo then.

[Tael]

It's great that Nintendo are targeting the seniors, now they have games suitable for all age groups. Why don't Microsoft and Sony target other groups too?

[Derrick Barra]

Because it wouldn't fit in with their Business plan. They're targeting the wannabe cool guy that can only touch a video game if its shiny and has blood and hookers. Nintendo is going for them and everybody else.

[Sovereign]

Originally Posted by Zeep

I've played a demo of Brain Training, and as long as you can read, write, speak, and do basic math, you can play Brain Training with relative ease.

All I meant was old people don't want to sit there for 80 years playing a game. Some may, most don't.

[Zeep]

that's what I'm saying. It's not difficult OR time-consuming, which is why it appeals to older people.

[Vishus]

Now lets look at the possibilities.

-accelerometer canes
-wheelchair speed sensors for racing games
-stroller resistance with novint
-joystick and revmote as the two handles of a mechanical wheelchair