Interview by GS with the Product Marketing Manager of Microsoft Australia:
GS AU: The Wii has now sold over 750,000 units in Australia since launch. Do you think Xbox 360 has a chance of coming close to it?
AP: Hats off to Nintendo, they have done a very good job at broadening the market. We've seen them sell consoles to people who potentially would never have picked up a console prior. We do see a great opportunity from an Xbox 360 perspective as well. As these consumers who potentially never have bought a console prior, if they progress through gaming and decide to move to a high-definition console, Xbox 360 at that A$299 price point is very much a good value option for them.
AP: Hats off to Nintendo, they have done a very good job at broadening the market. We've seen them sell consoles to people who potentially would never have picked up a console prior. We do see a great opportunity from an Xbox 360 perspective as well. As these consumers who potentially never have bought a console prior, if they progress through gaming and decide to move to a high-definition console, Xbox 360 at that A$299 price point is very much a good value option for them.
GS AU: You've come out and said that 63 per cent of 360 games are either G or PG. How important do you think those titles are?
AP: I think it's very important. As the IEAA release stated , "Family Games" are the number one genre of software at this point in time. Xbox 360 at this point in time, and moving into 2009, is very focused on more content for the family audience. We've had Lips released recently, which has consistently for the past three weeks hit the top 10 lists for 360 software titles, then also the likes of Banjo Kazooie. If we look to the future, we have titles like Scene it! 2 and You're in the Movies which expand the style of games Xbox 360 owners can experience on the system. We definitely see the family audience as a key target for us moving forwards. The last statistics I saw was around the 48 per cent mark.
GS AU: Has Microsoft got any more price cuts planned for the future?
AP: I think it's very important. As the IEAA release stated , "Family Games" are the number one genre of software at this point in time. Xbox 360 at this point in time, and moving into 2009, is very focused on more content for the family audience. We've had Lips released recently, which has consistently for the past three weeks hit the top 10 lists for 360 software titles, then also the likes of Banjo Kazooie. If we look to the future, we have titles like Scene it! 2 and You're in the Movies which expand the style of games Xbox 360 owners can experience on the system. We definitely see the family audience as a key target for us moving forwards. The last statistics I saw was around the 48 per cent mark.
GS AU: Has Microsoft got any more price cuts planned for the future?
So, Microsoft don't see Nintendo as desperately trying to stay in business and at the same time, ruining the industry. They see how well they have done and both attempting to ride their coat tails and emulate them. That just shows why Microsoft are good at what they do. Sony used to be the same, but they appear to have lost sight of it.
I see it as also reinforcing the concept that everyone this generation should have a Wii and a 360 or PS3, to make the most of the potential gaming experience.
How does everyone else view these comments?
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