Hi, Mel--
I know for a fact that getting a nation-wide marketing program for Thinkology together is at the top of Ben's agenda.
Meanwhile, here's another news story about children's software:
>>(BSNS WIRE) New Survey Reveals PC and Video Games are the "Coolest Gift" New Survey Reveals PC and Video Games are the "Coolest Gift" This Holiday; IDSA Releases Second Annual "Consumer's Guide To Holiday Hits"
Business/Entertainment Editors & High-Tech Writers
WASHINGTON D.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 23, 1998--It's been clear for more than a year that video and PC games are hot sellers, but now a new holiday survey reveals that video and PC games are also number one on the "cool scale" among both kids and adults.
More than 1,000 interviews were conducted with adults age
18-and-over and teens age 12 to 17 to determine their holiday favorites when it comes to entertainment.
In a close race for the title of coolest entertainment gift, interactive games rank first overall (25.6 percent), followed by music CDs (24 percent) and VCR movies (22.8 percent). Especially noteworthy and further evidence of the growing popularity of video and PC games, is the fact that twice as many of those age 25 to 29 and 35 to 44 picked video and PC games over music CDs as the coolest gift (45.4 percent vs. 21.1 percent and 35.9 percent vs. 16.6 percent,
respectively.)
The survey coincides with the release of the Interactive Digital Software Association's (IDSA's) second annual "Consumer's Guide To Holiday Hits," a list of the video and PC games expected to be among this year's hottest and coolest titles (attached).
"It's not surprising that video and PC games are rated as the coolest gifts, especially since they represent the fastest growing
segment of the entertainment industry," said Doug Lowenstein, president of the Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA), the
trade association representing U.S. video and PC game publishers.
"With double-digit growth rates and record breaking sales being racked up again this year, it's clear that video and PC games are an integral part of American entertainment lifestyles."
In addition to establishing the cool quotient for entertainment software, the holiday survey also found that more than one out of two kids (55.4 percent) and one of every four adults (25.6 percent) said interactive games are featured on their holiday wish lists and that almost half (47.6 percent) of those consumers who purchased a video or PC game in the last month said they plan to spend more on interactive games this holiday.
"The appeal of video and PC games across all ages is not
surprising," said Lowenstein. "Kids have long been a core market and
the introduction of highly advanced games targeting a broader audience
has turned entertainment software into a mass market. In fact, those
over 18 years old now represent the majority of video and PC game
players."
According to Lowenstein, the industry is ready for the
anticipated rush on interactive games this holiday, with thousands of
titles available for all audiences.<<
It went on to list some titles, one of which was a Rugrats program another Aliens Online. I feel strongly that if parents know that there is something as fun and beneficial as Thinkology out there, that a fair amount will opt for Thinkology over the Rugrats.
JMHO.
Cheers!
Rick |
