Argument147 【CSMY作文互改小组】第三组第一次作业

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Argument147
题目：
The following appeared in an editorial in a business magazine.

"Although the sales of Whirlwind video games have declined over the past two years, a recent survey of video-game players suggests that this sales trend is about to be reversed. The survey asked video-game players what features they thought were most important in a video game. According to the survey, players prefer games that provide lifelike graphics, which require the most up-to-date computers. Whirlwind has just introduced several such games with an extensive advertising campaign directed at people 10 to 25 years old, the age-group most likely to play video games. It follows, then, that the sales of Whirlwind video games are likely to increase dramatically in the next few months."

提纲：
(1) 调查样本问题
(2) 除了画质,可能还有其他考虑因素
(3) 光靠广告不行,还有其他市场因素


The author cites a survey briefly that video game players prefer lifelike graphics. Since the new games of whirlwind are of that type and made extensive advertisement, the author concludes that whirlwind's sales trend will reversed to a dramatic increase. Before having a comprehensive view of all factors, author's conclusion is unconvincing and too optimal.

Firstly, the survey of video computer players is cited too brief to be convincing. Since the author doesn't mention the number of players investigated and whether they are representative of all players, there is no evidence to show that the sample of this survey is complete and then the result is probably biased. As we all know, different people like different type of game. If those players are shooting-game lovers, the result is quite questionable. Besides, the author does not mention the procedure of survey, either. Unreasonable interview sheet or question will also lead to unreliable result.

Secondly, even we take it for granted that the players inquired can be representative of general players, it is still groundless to conclude that games, which have good graphical effect, are definitely welcomed by players. Judging the question of the survey, the interviewees just prefer graphics to other features, while it does not mean they like the game that has only graphical feature. There are probably some other important features to make a game welcomed by players. For example, on-line games and sports games should also provide severe interaction with other players, while role playing games needs strong attractiveness of its story and so on. Otherwise, game is merely a picture show.

Thirdly, if new games of whirlwind haven't such defects cited above, whirlwind’s good sales also depend on many other marketing factors. Not having taken these factors into consideration, the reverse or even dramatically increase of sales is still unconvincing. For instance, the price might be beyond young players’ capacity; the competing products may take a large share of market in the same period; or wrong direction of advertisements will miss the players of right age who like such type of games. Therefore, many other factors will lead to a failure on sales.

To conclude, the author relies on a narrow investigation of game market and players to draws a hasty conclusion of their future profitable sales. To substantiate his conclusion, the author should make a more comprehensive survey of game players’ need as well as market.