Exclusive games decide console purchase for UK consumers
Poll of over 2,450 hardcore gamers puts games ahead of price; media functionality the least important factor
Exclusive games are the number one reason for consumers to buy a next-generation games console, according to a survey of over 2,450 people who attended EGX 2013.
Microsoft's Xbox One launches in Europe this Friday backed by exclusive titles Forza Motorsport 5, Killer Instinct, Dead Rising 3, Ryse: Son of Rome and Fighter Within. One week later is the release of the PlayStation 4, with its handful of exclusives - Resogun, Killzone: Shadowfall and Knack.
Of those surveyed, 34 per cent said that exclusive games were the most important factor when choosing a new games console, closely followed by the price of the hardware at 29 per cent. Just over 21 per cent of those surveyed put exclusive games as the second most important factor when buying a new games console.
The Xbox One will retail in the UK for £429 when it's released this week, a significantly higher price than the PlayStation 4's £349. But both those prices rise when official bundles and retailer's own deals are taken into account.
Brand loyalty was an important factor for 11 per cent of voters, while owning the same hardware as their friends was top of the list for 10 per cent of consumers.
DRM policies were marginally ahead of online services such as Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network with around 8 and 6 per cent of votes, respectively.
The least important factor when buying a new console was its functionality as a media hub, with only 2 per cent of those surveyed putting ahead of any other option. That may be something of a surprise to Microsoft which has been pushing the TV, streaming and online capabilities of the Xbox One since it was first officially unveiled.
The PS4 was at a pretty comforatible price. 300$ is still the magic number, but SONY had the publics goodwill, they have a bunch of people represention them that simply seem like cool people. Unlike Ken Kitaragi who was arogant, they have guys like Shuhei Yoshida, Jack Tretton, Mark Cerny, Andrew House, Adam Boyes who are a group of very likable people that actually seem to address the concerns of gamers. I really felt they made a product tailor made to games wants and wishes, vs a product that tells the consumer what they should want, like Apple and Microsoft do alot. Even the president this time around Kazuo Hirai seems like a cool guy.
Finally i think what sold me aside from exclusives and console price was also the shift in attitude from the company. It seems like a group of people who understand gamers and cater to gamer needs versus a bunch of guys in suits that are just interested in financial graphs and pie charts, looking to invest in the next business venture uninterested in the very thing they are putting down money for.
Finally I just want note I hope Xbox sells well too, since its success will contribute greatly to console gaming. And microsoft removed most of the things I was fed up about. I just hate that you have to install every game.
I like it when companies satisfy consumer needs instead of dictating and trying to sell what they think consumers need.
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Rick Lopez on 18th November 2013 7:26pm
All this said major players from sports, television and movies backed a 'media center' initiative and signed up via agreements with MS - we can not forget the level of football licensing agreements MS have committed too - if the XBone dose not supply this platform, these guys may go elsewhere to achieve their strategy of controlling the 'living room' and dump on MS!
I look at the consumer games sector and wonder if the dogged support of the console initiative has been a good strategy for a diverse and healthy industry? The internecine war we see just over the issue of PC against Console a case in point - is this a games industry of a console publishers industry?
If XBone and Wii-U suffer less than stellar sales, is a one horse race enough to keep the business strategy of the big publishers going, or will an inevitable restructuring of the game playing landscape be caused by Generation Eight?
Going for a broader audience the 40% better graphics and lower price might help the PS4, whilst the media hub capabilities might help the Xbone. "Might" being the operative word.
However, I also believe media functionality will be the second most important reason after games. But it is another market Valve is in a position to brutalize with their platform approach. Not to speak of Apple which gets more appealing the further you are from core games. Asking a non-gamer to buy a console for streaming at this point, is like asking an Iphone user to actually make a phone call.
Games become exclusive for many reasons these days. I don't see how the difference between first party power doesn't win it for Sony every time. If Microsoft plans on completely changing their first party strategy this time, it will be a very interesting generation for gamers. If not, where does the confidence some from.
Perhaps the situation will play out like this; All the games that came out on PS3 that were inferior to the Xbox 360 can just become exclusives. I'll still take Sony. My 360 has been a fun, fun console experience. If not for my PS3, there are things I would not have known were possible in games.
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Paul Jace on 19th November 2013 3:32am
So early adopters don't care about pricing? Who'd have thought...