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Microsoft Wants to Get Nintendo's Gamers - Casual and Peripheral-Based Gaming

'Our drive is to appeal to a wider genre with more casual types of gaming...'

By Filip Truta, Games Editor

29th of June 2007, 08:03 GMT

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This was bound to happen. I'm absolutely certain I'm not alone on this one, as there are tons of gamers and news editors out there that are witnessing the world getting stupider and stupider by the day, and some of them even dare say that it's wrong. Casual games...! Yes, everyone loves casual games. I love casual games. But to turn the complex and sometimes educative video games market into the "casual" video games market is just... I'll stop here, I don't want anyone throwing rocks at me.

As I found today via Evil

Avatar, Microsoft's Regional VP, Chris Lewis hints at an assault on casual and "peripheral based" gaming, in an effort to get some of Nintendo's users aboard. According to MCV, Microsoft is keen on "invading" Nintendo's territory, by taking the Xbox 360 to the next level:

"Our drive is to appeal to a wider genre with more casual types of gaming," he said. "Clearly we need to continue toward more casual-based gaming experiences, and more peripheral-based gaming experiences in front of the screen.

You're going to hear more about that at E3. For 360 to appeal in the way we want it to and for us to achieve our aspirations, we need to be in the broader space as well as investing in the core element."

Look, I want to make myself clear: first of all, I agree that casual is good. It's good most of the times, like when you're sitting in front of the PC and don't have anything special in mind, having come home from work all beat and tired. Second of all, peripheral-based gaming is also good, as it appeals even to non gamers and gives hardcore ones something new to try out, plus it makes a good profit for whoever provides the fun (see Nintendo's history).

But! Are we (and by "we" I mean those who like a more complex gaming experience) supposed to just turn to peripheral-based gaming and casual-like titles, even though we're fine with what we're getting right now? This is not Microsoft's fault I assure you. No, it's this shallow world we live in, that the company is trying to adapt to. All they're doing is respond to the demand. No one wants to have to think their way out of a puzzle anymore. No one likes a complex control scheme. Everyone wants fun and simplicity!

Great! Now we can all wait for the days when we'll water plants using Gatorade... (see Idiocracy!)

TAGS:

Microsoft | Nintendo | Idiocracy | Xbox 360 | Casual

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