Do ‘Hardcore Gamers’ Still Matter?

GameSpy has published a four-page feature entitled “Do ‘Hardcore Gamers’ Still Matter?”, which includes a Q&A with BioWare’s Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk about the importance such gamers have on the industry. An excerpt:

Q: How important is this hardcore gamer group to developers?

Ray Muzyka: Hardcore gamers are the “early-adopters” of our industry — they set the initial public opinion of a game because they’re the first to pick up and play something when it comes out. They are the opinion leaders that influence other players — other players often consult with early adopters to get their opinions, or read their comments online right after a game comes out — and hence early adopters can have a huge impact on your ultimate success. This seems particularly relevant to BioWare’s types of games — RPGs and MMOs, games driven by story, character interaction and progression, and exploration. As well, hardcore gamers tend to buy more games per person than other demographic segments do. They are very important members of our community at BioWare!