Little Kid Gamers on the Rise!

Last week, market research firm NPD released its Online Gaming 2007 report on the current climate of online gaming (you can read coverage of the report at GameDaily and at Next Generation). Today, AdAge released it’s own analysis of the report findings, creating a series of demographic profiles of particular interest to advertisers.

20% = LITTLE KIDS
Elementary-school aged children make up the
biggest group of online players. “[K]ids ages 6 to 12 account for 20%
of all online gamers, more than any other demographic.”

Of course, the most interesting finding from my perspective is the one
about “little kids” (6-to-12-years) representing the largest
demographic of online players. But I’m also intrigued by… [More]

Gamine Expedition

20% Are 6-12?  That explains why Sony wants to buy Club Penguin after all!!  (Thanks to Sara & her research for that gem)

technorati tags:gaming, gamers, youth

Paying for Club Penguin…

It’s been rumored for a while that Montgomery Securities is representing virtual world Club Penguin in a sale transaction. It looks like the company is locked in talks, possibly exclusive, with Sony, and the price is “at least half a billion” says a source close to the deal.

We mentioned Club Penguin last month when a competitor launched from IAC called Zwinktopia. The company is killing it - projected revenues of $65 million in 2007 with $35 million in profit. Having nearly 50% bottom line margin is exceptional. The company has around 500,000 active users.

A stumbling block in the negotiations appears to be a disagreement over charitable contributions. Club Penguin donates a significant portion of profits to charity and wants this policy to continue post-acquisition. Sony reportedly isn’t hot on the idea.

Club penguin is a virtual world for young kids. Sony may see significant synergies by tying it into their Playstation platform. Other bidders that were in talks until very recently reportedly include AOL, Disney and Viacom.

This is good news for Club Penguin’s virtual world competitors as well - which broadly includes Second Life, Runescape, Gaia, Habbo Hotel, Cyworld, Neopets, Club Penguin, Webkinz and others.

Club Penguin In Acquisition Talks With Sony For $500+ million

Okay… first of all, I’m not sure how Second Life, Runescape, Gaia, Cyworld, and Habbo Hotel are competitors for Club Penguin– as NONE of those sites allow U13, and Club Penguin is FOR U13.  I get that they’re all “Virtual Worlds” but the mere fact that their ages are different COMPLETELY pulls them from direct competition– different rules, different standards, different audience.  Its like the different between The Sopranos on HBO and Spongebob Squarepants on Nickelodeon.

Second: Why the heck would Sony want to buy it?  I don’t really agree with the “Playstation” theory.  Seems a bit forced.  Unless Sony wants to explore a new business model of Safe, Lock-Box Communities online for kids.  Besides… Sony games– they seem a bit, um, older? I’ve never really thought of them as big supporters of the 8 - 12 year old set (Ninetendo seems a better fit, ya know?). 

3rd– Club Penguin just got HUGE brownie points for their charitable contributions AND for stickin’ to their guns and wanting the buyers to continue such an honorable venture.  Makes me almost forgive the fact they won’t let mac users on

4th– I would be a bit more favorable on the TEEN site Zwinktopia if they’d do just a WEE BIT better of a job keeping the U13 tater tots out.  It’s never nice to dangle a sugar-coated carrot in front of an eager, but ankle-chained donkey.  P.s. Word on the street is that they’re having a teen prom.  (Thanks for that heads-up Ypulse!)

technorati tags:sony, clubpenguin, club, penguin, youth, socialnetworking, onlinecommunities, online, communities

Nancy Drew likes the internet too!

For generations of fans worldwide, the name Nancy Drew is synonymous with adventure.  This young amateur detective has a mind of her own, a passion for solving mysteries and a reputation for getting into - and out of - some very scary situations.

This summer, “Nancy Drew” brings the timeless heroine to Los Angeles, where she is faced with a fresh set of challenges and her most baffling case yet.

EMMA ROBERTS stars as the resourceful teen detective, who leaves her friendly hometown of River Heights for the West Coast and enrolls at Hollywood High.  There, her unique personal style immediately sets her apart from her self-absorbed, fast-living peers, especially reigning mean-girl fashionistas Inga and Trish, who can’t quite figure her out but know that everything about her is different - from her super-smarts and retro manners to her perfect picnic lunches and penny loafers.

http://nancydrewmovie.warnerbros.com/

I’m excited about this movie… it should be a fun play on Nancy Drew (whom I was not a fan of growing up, but my sister was).  I like her “fish out of water” scenario– from what I’ve seen, the vibe of the movie reminds me of Pleasantville + Election + Harriet the Spy (With maybe a dash of the live action Scooby-Do for good measure).  Plus, I hope it just beats the PANTS off of Bratz the Movie.  Ugh.  (If you haven’t seen THAT horrendous trailer yet, google it… it’s like High School the Musical + Mean Girls - originality - coolness, seems like it should have been a cartoon channel exclusive as opposed to a feature film.  The slogans alone creep me out.)

Nancy Drew & Crew are trying some of the fun things that both The Office & 30 Rock tried (Britney Spears as well, although hers was hilarious in the BAD way)– phone advertisements & texting games.  I’ve already expressed my displeasure at U12’s having phones, which makes be a bit of a hippocrit for staying positive about the texting games (they’re not advocating kids getting cell phones, and perhaps they’re gearing that marketing text scheme to the 12, 13, 14, 15 year olds like I am choosing to believe).  I just had Emma Roberts call Star Farm, much to my own amusement.  The lingo makes me cringe a bit (clearly chosen by an adult).  I’m keeping my mouth shut about their myspace page (I’ve spoken about it before), simply because there are older teens that will be interested in this movie…

Anyway, so fingers crossed for Ms. Julia Robert’s neice (aka Emma, the star of Nickelodeon’s Unfabulous).  I think she’s a brill little actress, and hopefully will be a great role model for youth (as opposed to some other morons– ie. Paris & Brit Brit).