Microsoft refers to core audience as "Sweaty thirty year olds in Metallica t-shirts"

[acosn]

It's Microsoft.

They're talking to a bunch of people in the lifestyle editing world.

I'll take it in stride and continue not supporting a system that's obviously not aiming to appease to actual gamers.

 

[Elf Defiler Korgan]

Twenty-five year old in non-brand t-shirt. It is just a shirt after all and Metallica are only of minor interest to me.

 

[joshuaayt]

I'm a Sixteen year old hardcore gamer, and hate Metallica. What now?
Ah, let them have their sales. Remember, the first thing they have to do to ensure people buy their casual games? No, silly, not dispel the misconception of gamers (A term I will still use, thank you, Mr.Croshaw) as Dragon/Loser-type nerds who also have no partners and live in basements- instead, they must nullify public fears that all games will, alone, MAKE you a gamer. So, they create a nice little pocket for these "clean" types to live in, to feel superior to us even as they pet virtual tigers.
"Because, like, it's not like I'm obsessed, right? I can stop whenever I like. Not like those dirty gamers."

 

[Life_Is_A_Mess]

They don't have the rights to take our money now. Shame on you Microsoft. Shame on you...

 

[Evilsanta]

Really? Shouldnt he wearing glasses to? Though i do have glasses but i dont like Metallica and i am 18 but really hardcore either.

 

[Lacsapix]

Is that wrong?

 

[gamer_parent]

I'm in my 30's I don't own a Metallica Tee, and I hardly sweat, I glow. Whomever said this guy's never been on Xbox Live is right. I cringe and all the screechy pubescent voices ringing in my ears whenever people start bickering about who gets to use the Torque-bow or people getting pissy about losing an All You Can Quaff (oh absurdity!).

god, you guys are such whiners. The statement is explicitly saying that you guys, as gamers, are NOT sweaty thirty year olds. He's saying that the gaming landscape has changed since it's early days.

Why are you guys getting all butthurt about this? C'mon guys, surely you guys are more secure about yourselves than this.

I read that in Shin-chan's voice. I tried not to, but I couldn't help myself. Your avatar and your statement just seem to.... match....

If Shin-chan were in fact a late 20s married guy with a child, I just might be him. Lord knows I'm enough of a letch for it.

 

[asam92]

Ridiculous. I'd never wear a Metallica T-Shirt.

Also I doubt Microsoft actually knows their customers. They remind me of Yuri Orloff in Lord of War...

Yuri at least got his customers what they wanted in a timely manner.

We, on the other hand, have been waiting for sequels to Jade Empire or Eternal Darkness for HOW long, now?

(Also, you win for remembering this movie.)

Lord of War is an awesome movie

OT: I would wear a Metallica t-shirt, but I am not sweaty who doesnt have air condition in this day and age.
BTW I am only 22 not 30. Microsoft, I have always hated the way your company name has subtly suggested the state of Bill Gates' penis and all the products you sell.
SONY PS3 FTW

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

That's utterly demeaning! I'd never say I was hardcore....

And besides, from what I can tell, XBL is comprised mostly of gob-shite eight year olds who trash-talk everything that moves because they're safe behind three hundred miles of broadband.

[sub]All hail the Mute Button. The Mute Button is king.[/sub]

 

[YouShouldDeleteThisAccount]

Even though he technically didn't accuse gamers of being that, it was very implied by this.

And I'm not surprised, I can't think of a situation where Microsoft has shown loyalty and respect to their customers, rather than treat them like total idiots they can walk all over, they certainly aren't the only corporation that does this, but they have a bad record.

Also, I expect a lot of corporations to attempt to distance themselves from "hardcore" gamers to improve their image with regular folk.

 

[Vanguard_Ex]

So on top, the rest of their audience is going to be sweaty 12 year olds. Good angle.

Honestly though, fine, who cares? We have the advantage of being able to see where Kinect is going and laugh about it.

 

[Alandoril]

I'm 26 and am more of a literary nerd than a technology nerd, and I most certainly would never wear a Metallica t-shirt.

 

[tlozoot]

That article made me lol.

In case we didn't notice, gaming isn't exactly this prodigal medium everyone around here seems to think it is. It has a pretty bad wrap, people out there DO think that games are played by children or "sweaty gamers in their Metallica T-Shirts".
He's not paid to stand up on that podium to undo the negative stereotypes of the general public, that would take more than one man and far greater length of time.

Yeah all right it was a dig at some of us, but seriously think of all the shit you as a gamer has posted about people in their industry, the shoe slips to the other foot and suddenly everyone is accountable.

If his comment sells a few more units and brings gaming to a wider audience than just the aforementioned, hooting drunken frat boys and kids on their Wii then fine by me.
Picking up a games console no longer means you'll end up like those World of Warcraft horror stories. Your children won't end up sitting on the couch when they want to play games, now they can put their games into a healthy, active lifestyle.
Probably what Microsoft are aiming for with Kinect and good luck to them.

Microsoft are trying to make the "sad video game nerd" disappear, I'll put my hands together for that.
Bigger picture people; start thinking about it. Not your wounded pride, walk it off.

Sure, the guy is only trying to sell more units. We can't really blame him for that - it's his job. The only problem is, that he's trying to advertise Kinect at the expense of the core gamers who make up most of Microsofts gaming business. It's not hurtful, it's no important, but it is incredibly stupid.

They can market Kinect without saying that gamers consist of the aforementioned stereotype. To do so is simply tasteless.

They're trying to undo that stereotype with Kinect, but at the expense of the current audience.

This is the current audience. They say.
Laugh at them, their Metallica band t-shirts and their feeble social skills.
But don't worry. They say with a flourish towards Kinect.
Gaming isn't JUST for these guys. It can be for you as well!

Am I hurt by this? No.
Is my pride wounded? No.
Am I going to boycott MS over this? No.
Am I slightly surprised by what I see as a rather tasteless piece of marketing. Yes.

 

[Mechsoap]

I'm not succumbing to this. Honestly people, don't react. It's what they want.

Why would they want their core audience to be pissed at them?

to make them depressed, then they go buy more of their games

 

[Nazulu]

If this is a joke then I forgot to laugh. It's as funny as me saying Microsoft are corrupt scum bags, trying, but are a bit late to get a free ride.

 

[Emilox The Great]

im not thirty! i dont wear Metallica t-shirts i wear black skull shirts. and im not swea... oh wait i am....

seriously im going to hate Microsoft so much for this. Fuck Them >:/