EA Founder: Consoles to Become Niche
by William D'Angelo, posted on 15 October 2012 / 5,464 Views
Electronic Arts Founder Trip Hawkins, in an interview with IGN, believes that while the number of gamers are growing, the console market is shrinking. He says that the console market will always exist, however it is going to become niche overtime.
"The console market is always going to be with us, because there's always going to be a hardcore segment, a segment that likes innovation," said Hawkins. "But it's going to become a smaller market, and it's going to be more like a hobby market. You look at airplanes. Most of us just want to be a passenger, but there's a hobby market for people who are really into aviation and want to take flying lessons and maybe someday have their own airplane. I think that's what's happening to the console market."
"But there are billions of people now playing games," continued Hawkins. "The gaming industry is finally becoming mass-market. It’s across two billion PCs and four billion mobile phones, and within a few years a billion tablets. In terms of total audience size, we’re getting into really big numbers.”
"In the old days I'd go down to the basement to play Grand Theft Auto," added Hawkins. "But the Facebook gamer is able to play at work, at home, in a hotel on a PC. They can get access to a browser just about anywhere. People are thinking about convenience first."
