Games broadening appeal

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Legendary Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto knows when his grand vision of video games for the masses has arrived.

"When my relatives start talking to me about video games, then I'll know that I have succeeded," the brainchild behind "Donkey Kong" and other hits said at this week's E3 Media and Business Summit.

For Miyamoto and Nintendo Co., making games more appealing to a broader audience has been a core strategy in recent years. And it appears to be working.

Eight months since the Japanese company launched the Wii, the $250 console has been the top-selling system over far more expensive and technologically sophisticated machines from Microsoft Corp. and Sony Corp.

Though their focus still seems more centered on the traditional hard-core gaming market, Microsoft and Sony both seem intent on trying to use Nintendo's success to their advantage.

Microsoft this week introduced a variety of new games aimed at a more casual, family friendly crowd on its Xbox Live online system. And one upcoming title, a movie-trivia board game called "Scene it?" is being designed to work with a new Xbox 360 controller that has four large-buttons instead of the usual 14 small ones.

Sony, while still keeping the focus on hard-core gaming with action titles like "Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots," showcased some titles with more casual appeal such as "echochrome."

In the game, players guide a stick figure through a 3-D movable maze that resembles something from artist M.C. Escher.

Sony also is preparing to launch an online 3-D service for its PlayStation 3 this fall.

Called "Home," the service will let users create their own digital likeness, called an avatar, then mingle online with other gamers. They can create custom homes and meet up for games in a virtual town square, said Phil Harrison, head of Sony Computer Entertainment's worldwide studios.

Nintendo, not to be outdone, rolled out additional games and new controllers — including a wireless plastic mat that can be used as a virtual fitness machine.

But Miyamoto doesn't believe it's a race between the Wii and the other two big players on the block.

"I don't really view it as a competition," Miyamoto says. "My focus is on what I can do to make video games more interesting and more relevant."

Industry executives and analysts agree that what's good for Nintendo will end up benefiting Microsoft, Sony and everyone else in the business.