The "General Games Chat" forum, which includes Retro Game Reviews, has been archived and is now read-only. You cannot post here or create a new thread or review on this forum.
There’s always a risk the big games company’s are making, no I am not talking about the games developers but the bigger company’s that make the consoles which we play our games on. You’re probably asking yourself now “How can they be making risk’s? They seem to have the money they want and none of them have really been eradicated.”
Well, there is a risk they are taking.
I see you all now waiting for the next big console release, may it be the Gamecube, X Box or GBA. But do you really stop and think, “How long will this console last me?”
As you all know the Playstation was a very successful console that had a lifespan longer then any other console to date. Still, it is in the market, making money for Sony and has become a household name. But soon the console will be out of date and the graphics many people like to see will cause them to move on to one of the bigger, next generation consoles.
If you think about it, the Playstation had the power to keep going on and on but then again it didn’t. The reason for this is technology. Technology is always moving on and that’s why all the next generation consoles are being brought out to suit the developers and the players themselves.
So I look along the line and I think about all the consoles which have come and gone. But there is one, one that is not really a console but can be seen as one in a way. This one is the PC. I see many of you now replying to this telling me how the PC is not a console, but if it were solely for games then you could see it as one.
One thing I love about PC’s is that I can buy one, put it on my desk at home and feel happy to know that it will last me a long time if I upgrade it regularly. The same however cannot be said about the brand new Gamecube I shall be buying come 2002.
That is the risk company’s that make consoles are making. When another console steps in on the scene and blows away its competitors the older console will be lost and the company will fight to keep it alive. Or when the console goes out of date and a new console needs to be designed, they are then taking the risk of not making any money of not being in the market and the new console could be a big flop. This is also a risk of losing support.
But when you have something so successful as the Playstation why let it go? I am sure there will be a console which matches its success in the future and if not does better. Now you can think to yourself “Wouldn’t it be great if consoles could be upgraded?”
When you think Sony, you simply think Playstation. If gamers company’s designed upgradeable consoles then they to would make a household name and the fight for long term survival and new upgrades would be immense.
So, what do you think about consoles which can be upgraded?
If only Sega made one, where would the Dreamcast be now?
One things for sure, I love upgrading my PC when it suits me and I sure would like to do that to my console instead of splashing hundreds of pounds every couple of years to keep updated.
Well, there is a risk they are taking.
I see you all now waiting for the next big console release, may it be the Gamecube, X Box or GBA. But do you really stop and think, “How long will this console last me?”
As you all know the Playstation was a very successful console that had a lifespan longer then any other console to date. Still, it is in the market, making money for Sony and has become a household name. But soon the console will be out of date and the graphics many people like to see will cause them to move on to one of the bigger, next generation consoles.
If you think about it, the Playstation had the power to keep going on and on but then again it didn’t. The reason for this is technology. Technology is always moving on and that’s why all the next generation consoles are being brought out to suit the developers and the players themselves.
So I look along the line and I think about all the consoles which have come and gone. But there is one, one that is not really a console but can be seen as one in a way. This one is the PC. I see many of you now replying to this telling me how the PC is not a console, but if it were solely for games then you could see it as one.
One thing I love about PC’s is that I can buy one, put it on my desk at home and feel happy to know that it will last me a long time if I upgrade it regularly. The same however cannot be said about the brand new Gamecube I shall be buying come 2002.
That is the risk company’s that make consoles are making. When another console steps in on the scene and blows away its competitors the older console will be lost and the company will fight to keep it alive. Or when the console goes out of date and a new console needs to be designed, they are then taking the risk of not making any money of not being in the market and the new console could be a big flop. This is also a risk of losing support.
But when you have something so successful as the Playstation why let it go? I am sure there will be a console which matches its success in the future and if not does better. Now you can think to yourself “Wouldn’t it be great if consoles could be upgraded?”
When you think Sony, you simply think Playstation. If gamers company’s designed upgradeable consoles then they to would make a household name and the fight for long term survival and new upgrades would be immense.
So, what do you think about consoles which can be upgraded?
If only Sega made one, where would the Dreamcast be now?
One things for sure, I love upgrading my PC when it suits me and I sure would like to do that to my console instead of splashing hundreds of pounds every couple of years to keep updated.
The Dreamcast would not have faired any better given upgrades. Look what happened to the megadrive when the 'upgrade' 32x and Mega CD arrived, they didn't sell at all.
Sega had a problem understanding advertising, otherwise they'd still have the Dreamcasts selling now and far more games. There has been a lot of press about the Dreamcast from its price reduction and status recently, which has helped sell a lot of the machines. Sega could have used the press a lot earlier to sell their hardware, it's a shame as the Dreamcast is a fantastic machine.
I think Microsoft may make the mistake of too many upgrades and add-ons for their machine, which will end up gathering dust on the shop shelves, as will any software written specifically for them. The only add on (other than peripherals like light guns) that will probably sell well is the Playstation 2 modem, and I still think the 56k model will outsell the broadband modem in this country.
Sega had a problem understanding advertising, otherwise they'd still have the Dreamcasts selling now and far more games. There has been a lot of press about the Dreamcast from its price reduction and status recently, which has helped sell a lot of the machines. Sega could have used the press a lot earlier to sell their hardware, it's a shame as the Dreamcast is a fantastic machine.
I think Microsoft may make the mistake of too many upgrades and add-ons for their machine, which will end up gathering dust on the shop shelves, as will any software written specifically for them. The only add on (other than peripherals like light guns) that will probably sell well is the Playstation 2 modem, and I still think the 56k model will outsell the broadband modem in this country.
Surely all graphics are there to cover the flaw of the game not being real?
And if something made the game look better, surely thats not a bad thing?
And if something made the game look better, surely thats not a bad thing?
Perfect Dark was a step too far for the 64, even with an expansion pak, the graphics were so blurred to hide the flaws it was unbelievable!!
The PS2 has a huge lifespan because it's good now and developers will learn to use so it will get a lot better.
And, the whole appeal of console is that they are universal and don't need to be upgraded. I am appauled at Ninty for the whole Perfect Dark business. It's cheating.
And, the whole appeal of console is that they are universal and don't need to be upgraded. I am appauled at Ninty for the whole Perfect Dark business. It's cheating.
Upgrading consoles would defeat the purpose of having a console. That is a system which developers can be confident of creating games for and will not be superseeded with new technology. The consumer can buy a console and know that it will not be made obsolete in 6 months time by the very company which made it, and the games companies can develope massive titles and be confident that it wont look 3 years old by the time it is finished and incompatible with the latest MS OS. Upgrading would also introduce the need for a console to have a software based operating and driver system, taking effectively 50% of the console resources to turn it on. Threre would also be a developing problem and data bus problems, new hardware usually requires more data to be pushed to the cards, requiring bigger buffers and Word lenghts. Basically it would lead to a new console. It just isn't technically or economically viable. The most extravagent upgrade will be a RAM upgrade, which was put into good effect by Nintendo on the N64, but thats about as far as the main components can be changes without leaving people standing!!
Upgrading consoles wouldn't work.
Anyway, it's cheaper to buy an new console than a new graphics card :-)
Anyway, it's cheaper to buy an new console than a new graphics card :-)
Sounds like another "Inverted" CW topic!
There’s always a risk the big games company’s are making, no I am not talking about the games developers but the bigger company’s that make the consoles which we play our games on. You’re probably asking yourself now “How can they be making risk’s? They seem to have the money they want and none of them have really been eradicated.”
Well, there is a risk they are taking.
I see you all now waiting for the next big console release, may it be the Gamecube, X Box or GBA. But do you really stop and think, “How long will this console last me?”
As you all know the Playstation was a very successful console that had a lifespan longer then any other console to date. Still, it is in the market, making money for Sony and has become a household name. But soon the console will be out of date and the graphics many people like to see will cause them to move on to one of the bigger, next generation consoles.
If you think about it, the Playstation had the power to keep going on and on but then again it didn’t. The reason for this is technology. Technology is always moving on and that’s why all the next generation consoles are being brought out to suit the developers and the players themselves.
So I look along the line and I think about all the consoles which have come and gone. But there is one, one that is not really a console but can be seen as one in a way. This one is the PC. I see many of you now replying to this telling me how the PC is not a console, but if it were solely for games then you could see it as one.
One thing I love about PC’s is that I can buy one, put it on my desk at home and feel happy to know that it will last me a long time if I upgrade it regularly. The same however cannot be said about the brand new Gamecube I shall be buying come 2002.
That is the risk company’s that make consoles are making. When another console steps in on the scene and blows away its competitors the older console will be lost and the company will fight to keep it alive. Or when the console goes out of date and a new console needs to be designed, they are then taking the risk of not making any money of not being in the market and the new console could be a big flop. This is also a risk of losing support.
But when you have something so successful as the Playstation why let it go? I am sure there will be a console which matches its success in the future and if not does better. Now you can think to yourself “Wouldn’t it be great if consoles could be upgraded?”
When you think Sony, you simply think Playstation. If gamers company’s designed upgradeable consoles then they to would make a household name and the fight for long term survival and new upgrades would be immense.
So, what do you think about consoles which can be upgraded?
If only Sega made one, where would the Dreamcast be now?
One things for sure, I love upgrading my PC when it suits me and I sure would like to do that to my console instead of splashing hundreds of pounds every couple of years to keep updated.
Well, there is a risk they are taking.
I see you all now waiting for the next big console release, may it be the Gamecube, X Box or GBA. But do you really stop and think, “How long will this console last me?”
As you all know the Playstation was a very successful console that had a lifespan longer then any other console to date. Still, it is in the market, making money for Sony and has become a household name. But soon the console will be out of date and the graphics many people like to see will cause them to move on to one of the bigger, next generation consoles.
If you think about it, the Playstation had the power to keep going on and on but then again it didn’t. The reason for this is technology. Technology is always moving on and that’s why all the next generation consoles are being brought out to suit the developers and the players themselves.
So I look along the line and I think about all the consoles which have come and gone. But there is one, one that is not really a console but can be seen as one in a way. This one is the PC. I see many of you now replying to this telling me how the PC is not a console, but if it were solely for games then you could see it as one.
One thing I love about PC’s is that I can buy one, put it on my desk at home and feel happy to know that it will last me a long time if I upgrade it regularly. The same however cannot be said about the brand new Gamecube I shall be buying come 2002.
That is the risk company’s that make consoles are making. When another console steps in on the scene and blows away its competitors the older console will be lost and the company will fight to keep it alive. Or when the console goes out of date and a new console needs to be designed, they are then taking the risk of not making any money of not being in the market and the new console could be a big flop. This is also a risk of losing support.
But when you have something so successful as the Playstation why let it go? I am sure there will be a console which matches its success in the future and if not does better. Now you can think to yourself “Wouldn’t it be great if consoles could be upgraded?”
When you think Sony, you simply think Playstation. If gamers company’s designed upgradeable consoles then they to would make a household name and the fight for long term survival and new upgrades would be immense.
So, what do you think about consoles which can be upgraded?
If only Sega made one, where would the Dreamcast be now?
One things for sure, I love upgrading my PC when it suits me and I sure would like to do that to my console instead of splashing hundreds of pounds every couple of years to keep updated.