Robbie Bach on casual gaming: 60 million songs downloaded from Live
by Richard Mitchell 
{ Jan 12th 2009 at 5:00PM }
Speaking to Variety, Microsoft's Robbie Bach discussed Microsoft's performance during 2008, specifically on how the company plans to woo casual gamers. Bach said that "people are still buying consoles" despite the poor state of the global economy, though they may buy "a little bit fewer games." Bach stated that customers "want to be entertained even when the economy is not entertaining." Bach also discussed how Microsoft is expanding its casual audience. Bach noted that the biggest drivers of the casual market for Microsoft are music gamee, such as Guitar Hero and Rock Band, and the new Netflix streaming application in the New Xbox Experience, which Bach says is expanding the Xbox market beyond "traditional gamers." Concerning music titles, Bach says that 60 million songs have been downloaded from Xbox Live, though we have to wonder how many of those purchases were made by casual gamers.
Other subjects touched upon in the interview include Xbox Live as a business, Kodu, and the Zune. Head over to Variety for the full interview.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
The Dom @ Jan 12th 2009 5:17PM
Guess it depends on your definition of "casual gamer". I knew a few friends that now they own Rock Band 1/2, its the only game they play. And they play it easily 10-15 hours a week. I think they've each downloaded over 30 songs. Does that make them a casual gamer?
itbekevin2010 @ Jan 12th 2009 6:27PM
rock band is the best game EVAARRRR. i got all DLC.
Boff @ Jan 13th 2009 8:10AM
Is 'gamee' the new plural for more than one game??? (2nd para)
I like it!
Neuromancer @ Jan 13th 2009 12:27PM
A better way to appeal to casual gamers would be to come out with a new version of the 360, without HD graphics or a hard drive, give it a motion sensitive controllerl that only does about 1/2 of what you think it should, and call it the Wii. ;D
Ryan W @ Jan 14th 2009 8:11AM
I've got a few friends who purchased 360s specifically for Rock Band/Guitar Hero, and those are the only games they own/play. I'd definitely consider them casual gamers, and they download TONS of songs.
Having said that - Dear Microsoft, PLEASE deliver something like the Netflix service to Canada!!! I'm so sad that we don't have it! :(