Nov 17, 09:01 AM

Launch Coverage

Whatever you think of the merits of the PS3 and the Wii, I think it’s important to take into consideration the mindshare that each of them have in the mainstream media. Look at all the news coverage of the waiting lines yesterday and this morning: of all the freezing, dedicated gamers camping out in front of stores across the country – it’s all about the “Playstation 3.”

Is it just because the system is launching 2 days earlier? No. Think about the journalists who are covering these long launch lines. Do they know the difference between a PS3, a 360, and a Wii? No. Do they even know what a “Wii” is? Probably not. These are the kind of people who refer to game consoles as “the playstation,” “the xbox,” and “the nintendo.” They spend 99% of their time covering other newsworthy events. For the past 5 years or so, the entire video gaming industry to them has been the Playstation. While they might know that Nintendo is launching a new system on Sunday, I just don’t think that they have the depth of knowledge to really care that much about it.

And so, we have these pictures in the newspaper and video on the news of these small refugee camps outside Best Buy. It is not because they really think that the PS3’s release is a significant event, but only because it makes for interesting and entertaining television.

Are they willing to do two separate stories on launch lines in a 48 hour period? I’m not so sure. When people gather around the water cooler this morning, all of the talk those crazy people waiting for the new Playstation – the Wii launch becomes almost nonexistent in the minds of mainstream America.

-Jon
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