The Death of Console Gaming

[ThorAxe]

Alex St. John: "Consoles as We Know Them are Gone"
http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,2277507,00.asp

He could be right:

"In today’s market the dedicated video game systems are only one piece of the equation. In terms of revenue, the largest single platform worldwide for 2007 was the PC." http://www.dfcint.com/wp/?p=206

"On a worldwide basis for 2007, it looks like the PC passed the PlayStation 2 as the leading revenue generating platform. The PC has become a platform that can satisfy the wide range of consumer game interests, from the casual to the hard-core gamer. Not surprisingly, the diverse PlayStation 2 still had a strong year even after the development focus has shifted to all the new systems. Going forward, the challenge faced by the Wii is that it is not that strong when it comes to the more complex epic games." http://www.dfcint.com/wp/?p=204

"Freestyle" was released there in late 2005, and currently has 32 million registered users in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines and China. http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSL1520645720070316?pageNumber=1

"So the company experimented with a bold new business model, giving away free online access to its popular FIFA soccer game but charging customers for all sorts of so-called "micro-transactions," such as buying new clothes or performance-enhancing accessories for their avatars at an average of $1.60 a pop. The results have been eye-opening. Over the last two years, the online version of the game has garnered EA $24 million in micro-transaction revenues in South Korea—some $1 million per month. http://www.businessweek.com/globalb...?chan=top+news_top+news+index_global+business

 

[choppy]

consoles are becoming more expensive and the games are £40 a pop.

1. pc games are half that price
2. pc games are much more easier to pirate and distribute (torrents etc.)

thats a major factor in this debate imo

 

[lemonadesoda]

Couldnt disagree more.

The console IS DEFACTO the device that won the format war BR vs. HDDVD.

It is a major influence on technology in the consumer space.

BUT I DONT HAVE ONE. Just PCs

I think consoles (multi-purpose dedicated devices) rather than PCs (general purpose non-specific) will have a greater role in the future.

The "business model" may need to change though... just like the mobile phone industry... there is TOO MUCH EXPENSIVE RETAIL SPACE DEDICATED TO CONSOLES. This is not sustainable in the long term. But consoles will survive and get better.

The next console generation will include "online shopping".

 

[psyko12]

And they say PC gaming is dead, lol... I can do almost everything on my pc DVD's, radio, tv, gaming, plus it's medias (games and apps) are easier to come across (you know )

Oh and 1 more thing. Most of the young ppl here (Philippines) rather play online PC games or wc3 with dota mod, cs than playing consoles. It's damned expensive here, rather than renting PCs on the net/lan shop!

 

[Frick]

I totaly agree with lemonade. Consoles as we know them (say SNES ) will die soon and be replaced with all-purpose entertaining machines. At least that's what I think.

EDIT: Of course, this has, to some extent, already happened, but I think it will go further.

 

[JC316]

Nah, consoles will live forever. There are too many people that don't want to pay thousands for a high end PC, nor do they want to cope with the problems of a PC.

 

[Silverel]

Nah, consoles will live forever. There are too many people that don't want to pay thousands for a high end PC, nor do they want to cope with the problems of a PC.

I'd agree with that. For a lot of people its easier to just have a machine plugged into your TV with a couple wire, and a controller. As opposed to dealing with all the hassles of buying/building a PC, installing games, configuring settings, upgrades, etc. All the stuff we ENJOY here isn't really the norm. I still game on my X-Box every now and then, mostly because I can do it in the living room and play with my daughter. My PC is kinda in a workshop, and not safe for the likes of a 2yr old. Living room however, is child-proofed.

Consoles are always expensive, games at release are expensive too. Things get cheaper, and the masses flock to them. Consoles and PC's will live on in the gaming markets for the foreseeable future, imo.

 

[mandelore]

replaced with all-purpose entertaining machines.

You mean a PC? hehe

 

[FlipIt]

Nope i think it's becoming more availible then more expensive!!

 

[Frick]

You mean a PC? hehe

Exactly. Smaller, more GUI, less fuss.

 

[cincybengal]

Consoles aren't going anywhere. That's not to say that at some point there is a single platform rather than competing systems. The beauty of a console is you stick a game in and it plays. No checking system specs or compatibility, and bugs are rarer. Try having a six year old game on a pc regularly; it is much easier to buy a $250 Wii and cut him lose to play.
Personally, I like pc gaming and console gaming. However, I prefer to play my 360 on my 50"plasma sitting on my couch, rather than 3 foot from a monitor at my desk. But they both have their place in the market and neither is going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[ThorAxe]

The beauty of a console is you stick a game in and it plays. No checking system specs or compatibility, and bugs are rarer.

Well, being a virtual hitman is going to get a lot easier very soon -- a patch was recently announced for the PS3 version of Assassin's Creed which will improve the stability of the game, and fix a few freezing issues which plague the title. We're sure Altair would also appreciate it if they would fix that duplicity bug and the far more disturbing "humping guard" glitch. Nothing can ruin your day quite like a sex-crazed sentinel. http://www.joystiq.com/2007/11/25/ps3-assassins-creed-patch-coming-soon/

Epic will unleash a huge bug-stomping patch for the PS3 version of Unreal Tournament III on March 27. As well as crushing a list of bugs and glitches as long as your arm, it will make the Euro and US versions of the game cross compatible on the online multiplayer side. The update will be beamed out via PSN and you'll be prompted to download the it upon starting the game as of March 27.

Here's a full list of the changes to be made to both the US and Euro versions:


US VERSION
Made compatible with Euro version (both are patched to the same level)
Fixed reversed ping sorting in server browser
Fixed some rare crashes (shutting down, saving with low HD space, AI, etc)
Fixed a client crash while connecting to server while server it switching maps
Minor rewordings of various messages
Fixed mutator mods to not be always loaded, only load mutators when needed
Added mod import verification for inter-mod package name conflicts
Fixed weapon/effect sorting in DM-Gateway snow
Fixed extraneous "Player" entries in campaign scoreboard
Fixed some getting stuck and outside the world bugs
No longer display "Player is on red/blue" messages in campaign
Fixed a Torlan bot pathing bug
Fix for too many custom characters causing texture corruption
Keyboard jump now does Smart Jump
Fix for tilt controlling player sometimes
Removed Warfare Score Limit of 0 in UI
Disabled 3d sound positioning on mission briefing sounds
Fixed exploits with ViewNextPlayer in rare cases
Fixed some HUD positioning bugs
Fixed a Darkwalker AI bug
Fixed some teleporter timing bugs
Fixed low-bandwidth, large player count connectivity

EURO AND US
Mods now on root of memory device, can download easier from PS3 web browser
Fixed VOIP quality issues
Fixed some headset connection issues
Added support for full character mods (heads/premade whole characters)
No longer need to reboot after importing a character mod to see it in menus
DLC no longer acts like a user mod (being listed in MyContent and causing disable mod crash dialog)
Fix for bootup and import slowdown with many mods installed
Add a VOIP icon when VOIP is active (button held down)
Fixes for corrupted the auto-mod-download cache
Fix for flickering auto-download text
Fix for getting stuck in multiplayer menu if you get in before gamespy connects
Fixed a mod problem with switching between mod and shipping maps with clients teleporting randomly
Fixed a mod problem with multiple gametype mods installed, only first one imported would work
Fixed Leviathan deploy icon
Bots now respect players feigning death (depending on bot skill level)
Bots now respect sandstorm "blindness"
Fix for bots picking linkgun mode
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=185200