Michael Bay directed Need for Speed The Run Trailer and the teenage gamer myth

by autoindustrie | November 7, 2011 3:43 pm

Electronic Art’s latest car racing simulator series – Need For Speed The Run will be launching next week, on November-15. The trailer has recently been released, and what a trailer it is. Produced by Michael Bay of Transfomers fame, the game features two of the hottest models from Sports Illustrated Swimsuit – Irina Shayk and Christine Teigen, and TV actor Sean Faris. Watch the trailer below.

Although it is only slated for launch on November-15, you may however pre-book a limited edition copy online with Electronic Arts’ online store Origin.

Below are some behind the scenes shooting of the game production, featuring Irina Shayk and Christine Teigen.

Need for Speed The Run supports all gaming platforms including Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii and Nintendo 3DS.

And since we are on the subject of video games, a lot of people, including marketing folks at car companies still have the impression that video games are mainly played by teenage boys. Nothing can be further from the truth. In fact, did you know that the fastest growing gaming segment is young adult women rather than teenage boys? And that fathers playing and shopping for video games with their kids is a rising trend? Perpetuation of the teenage gamer boy image, even amongst automotive marketers just goes to show why working long hours and having grey haired old men in suits telling you what is right and what is not can leave you very out of touch with the real world outside. Companies that are more in touch with their customers know the value of having some of their halo / hero-car models featured in the latest video games. The more ignorant ones however will scoff at the value of such “frivolous” marketing expenditure.

Don’t just take our arm chair observations, the statistics below speak for themselves and goes to show how far off is that “teenage gamer boy” image. We need to remember that video games became popular in the 1980s and started becoming mainstream in the 90s with the arrival of cheap PCs. That was almost 30 years ago. That same kid who grew up on his Game Boy playing Super Mario, who then became a teenage boy playing Command & Conquer and Warcraft tactical games on his PC is now probably baby sitting his first child. You don’t expect him to sit down watching Sesame Street or playing Monopoly with his kids do you?

The gamers’ demographics data below are compiled by Entertainment Software Association, for their annual Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry report. The data below are from most recent copy for year 2011. The average US gamer is 37 years old. The average gaming experience is 12 years. Eighty-two percent of gamers are 18 years of age or older.

Marketers and PR people at car companies take note. Car magazines and that annoying British car journalist who demands first class treatment for everything is no longer your strongest advocate in launching a new sports / high performance model. Some faster moving companies have already noticed the trend and are paying to have their brand advertised on track side billboards in racing simulator games, similar to the real world, but a lot cheaper. Sports Illustrated’s involvement is an example. The median age of a Sports Illustrated reader is 40-year old, 77% of them male, with a median household income of over $70,000.

My question is – if young adults are the ones playing video games, then what are kids these days doing?

Source URL: http://www.motorindustry.org/2011/11/07/michael-bay-directed-need-for-speed-the-run-trailer-and-the-teenage-gamer-myth/

---