David Amor, creative director at Buzz developer Relentless when asked if games had now become fully mainstream.
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Despite this he goes on to argue that any stigma attached to gaming has all but disappeared. "The PSOne took some of it away, it was positioned as a cool device, and PlayStation 2 has seen people recognise that the system isn't just for boys."
I agree with the first quote. The Wii and DS have undoubtedly helped but gaming still has a way to go before it becomes truly mass market. And maybe it never will. Gaming, no matter how Wii Sport friendly, always requires an effort. How can it ever really compete against the passivity of TV? Of course, there is an age gap too, though this will obviously shrink.
I'm less convinced about the stigma thing though. Yes, gaming is far removed from the spotty teenage stereotype of yore, but that perception still lingers. Media headlines still talk about gaming addicts or geeks. Publishers don't help either. For every Wii Fit or Cooking Mama they are still churning out 20 titles based around guns, cars and sport. So yes, the stigma has faded but it hasn't disappeared. After all, when was the last time you mentioned your gaming hobby to someone you've just met?
