For years, game developers and marketers have focused only on two types of videogame players: hardcore gamers and casual players. Ultimately, detailed segmentation of any market is required to unravel its mysteries and recent analysis by research firm
Parks Associates indicates that the gamer community has diversified to include six distinct groups and, most importantly, a new middle market has emerged, with different motivations, gaming behaviors, and spending patterns. Traditionally ignored by marketers, the three segments Social Gamers, Leisure Gamers, and Dormant Gamers account for 53% of the Internet gamer population and 56% of the retail revenue.
According to Parks’ Director of Broadband and Gaming, Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai, reaching this untapped middle market represents a distinct challenge to marketers. "If game companies insist on chasing the mythical hardcore and casual gamer segments, they will miss out on more than half of the market," Cai said. "The market is not black and white anymore, and game marketers need to understand these finer nuances."
Power gamers represent 11 percent of the gamer market (esto es lo que serian los hardcore, los que tienen como principal forma de entretenimiento a los videojuegos)