Posted by Goro on 01/14/06 04:01

Allan wrote:
> On Fri, 13 Jan 2006 12:32:20 -0500, Jeff Rife <wevsr@nabs.net> wrote:
>
> >And, even if all consoles together count close to DVD player counts, no
> >single console comes close to DVD player counts. In other words, no single
> >console format comes close to the single DVD format in market penetration.
>
> http://www.video-games-survey.com/consoles.htm
>
> Nintendo GameBoy
>
> 121
>
> 1989
>
> Well...121 million units at the end of 2003.. How many DVD players
> were sold at that point?
>
> >For end users, though, if combo BluRay/HD-DVD players become the norm, it
> >really won't matter which format is better/wins/etc. This sort of combo
> >player is likely to happen, but a combo console will never happen, so I
> >think we're talking about some completely different circumstances.
>
> Well there is generally backwards compatibility between the consoles,
> but yeah.. a combo unit where Playstation 2 and Xbox games play with
> no problem is not going to happen.
>
> Just tired of the "VHS / Beta" cries. Both HD DVD and Blu-Ray are
> coming, that's a fact. Not 100% that one format has to kill the other
> to "Win". "Software" often crosses many platforms.

some interesting info/numbers there, although hard to grok without some
other numbers to compare it to.

My main point, however obtuse it was, is that the target audience for a
home video unit is different thanthe demo for a video game console. I
think console buyers (a) ARE early adopters. Whichever comes out first
has a big advantage. (b) Are very comfortable with the idea of
multiple formats and (c) are happy to research and assess strengths
and weaknesses of differnet consoles and (d) are more than moderately
willing to buy both.

I'd bet that the typical console gamer has more than 3 consoles
somehwat in his/her possession. A couple are likely older consoles
tossed away in a closet and perhaps 2 active ones.

I think XBox360 v PS3 is well-understood by gamers and doesn't really
cause confusion (just antagonism!).

The targetr for DVD units however is different. "Joe moviewatcher"
doesn't want to really know about technical details. He wants to just
plug the $50 dvd player into his TV. He doesn't care about Coax v
Component v HDMI v DVI v DVI+HDCP. He doesnt' want to know about 480p
720p 1080i 1080p etc. He even doesn't really care about anamorphic v
letterbox and only somewhat cares about P&S v Letterbox. All he wants
to do is wtch the movie.

Althouhgh in the initial iterations, the targets are really the early
adopters and the ones that DO care. I'm really tempted to get one of
each and see how they compare as i really DO want to get a HD format.
Still, I've said before that I'll hold off early adopting this time and
i mean to stay tru to my word... I'll at least wait until the units are
out and early word/reviews come out. Maybe I'll dive in with the 2nd
gen units.

-goro-

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