Kotaku: mi6

iPhone Owners Buy The Most Games

Mike Fahey — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:40:00 MDT

Low price points and ease of accessibility could be factors in the discovery that iPhone owners buy more games than owners of any other gaming platform.

The findings of a survey conducted in February by E-Poll Research, indicate that iPhone and iPod Touch owners purchased an average of 4.57 games over the past 12 months, more than any other gaming system. The next closest platform, surprisingly enough, was the Sony PSP, with 4.12 games per owner per year, followed by the PlayStation 3 with 3.99. Palm PDA's came next with 3.70, with the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, and DS taking up the rear with 3.55, 3.44, and 3.39 respectively. Not exactly unexpected, considering that most iPhone titles cost under $10.

The survey was also used to determine which factors influenced gamers' buying decisions, with price coming out on top and online multiplayer taking up the rear.

Survey: PSP, iPhone owners buy more games [GameSpot UK via Evil Avatar]

Marketing Halo 3 - Finding Master Chief's Humanity

Mike Fahey — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 10:20:00 MDT

At the MI6 marketing conference earlier this week, various Microsoft staffers presented a talk outlining how they successfully marketed Halo 3 to the masses. They explained how their main goal in expanding the audience for the third installment of Bungie's saga was to put a more human face on Master Chief.

"The marketing statement was really based around Master Chief. We did some research, and found out that people thought of Master Chief the same way they think of Robocop and the Terminator, a killing machine... we had to humanize him to reach a broader audience."

To this end they created the 'A Starry Night' advertisement, which gave us a rather heart-wrenching look at MC as a child, as well as the famous diorama commercials, which showcased his heroism. They talk also covered the Crackdown beta, which invested players in the game. Hit up Gamasutra for a full writeup of the talk. You'd have thought all the marketing strategy they needed was calling the game Halo 3.

Analysis: Microsoft On The Secrets Of Marketing Halo 3 [Gamasutra]

49 Million U.S. Gamers Buy Used Games To The Tune Of $1.3 Billion

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 19:40:15 MDT

Used games, the bane of publishers and the bread and butter of retailer GameStop, is a $1.3 billion business in the U.S. alone, reports research firm OTX. Their findings from the MI6 summit breaks down the used games biz, showing the buying habits of folks who dabble in the pre-owned, all of which is detailed at the report at Gamasutra.

There are some interesting, if dry research results, as OTX profiles "Glutton Gamers"—the type that turns around new software fast enough to make a decent return on their investment when reselling—what games are generally considered "keepers"—sorry Carnival Games—and just how much of that trade-in cash gets funneled back into the industry. Worth looking at if only for the Glutton Gamer graphic. It's XTREME!

Analysis: 49 Million U.S. Gamers Buy Used Games [Gamasutra]

Xbox Marketer: Evolve or Die

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 05:24:21 MDT

At the MI6 marketing conference, Microsoft Chris Di Cesare talked survival of the fittest, namely new ways to reach consumers. Folks are shifting from television (bummer) to the internet (hello sweetheart). The pundits say advertising is could change more in the next five years than in the past fifty.

What does that mean for game companies? Darwinism. Di Cesare explains:

What it all comes down to is control. The new consumer can pull content at will, and push it aside. What does this mean for markets? Embrace change... Evolve or die.

For all the boneheaded, caveman stupid things Microsoft has done, its marketing savy has been impressive. From Major Nelson's podcasts to the Gamerscore blog, the company has been breaking new ground in how it reaches customers and stretches beyond traditional PR. Whether or not, this gives them an edge to pound Sony with a large club, wait and see. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Next-Gen]

Peter Moore: Chairman of Muscles AND Marketing

Brian Ashcraft — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 06:21:55 MDT

The Association of Electronic Interactive Marketers (AEIM) named Microsoft's Peter Moore as chair. The group sponsors the game marketing-centric MI6 Conference, which honors the industry's best advertising. "MI" stands for "Marketing Interactive" and "6" refers to 2006. Sounds like a spy movie.

"I'm delighted to serve as chair," said Moore and his 24-inch guns. He went on to say that consoles had gotten folks to start playing (instead of watching) and that those "tremendous websites" were a very important way to reach consumers.

Moore won't be attending the June 27th-28th MI6 conference in San Francisco. He's "busy"—doing things like curls, squats and working on his pecks. Brian Ashcraft

More Here [Next-Gen]