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So. We are now approaching the end of 2003. The Nintendo Gamecube and the Microsoft Xbox are now both around 2 years old. The Sony Playstation 2 is 3 years old.
The thing that stands out for me in the above paragraph is the names. Sony and Microsoft. 10 years ago it would have been Sega and Atari. But not now. That I believe is proof of just how volatile the console market is.
So where do you see things going over the next few years? The Playstation 3 and Xbox Next as it has been dubbed are both in development and are apparently due for a late 2005 release. The Gamecube 2 is, known interally at Nintendo as N5, expected in 2006 although Nintendo have made it known that they want to be first to the market with the next generation console.
The PS3 is to be more than just a games console though. Using a new ultra powerful processor known as the Cell, it will become a home entertainment center that can play games, music, video and feature online play.
The Xbox Next will likely do all those things too, because the current Xbox already does them.
The Gamecube 2 however is more of a mystery. Nintendo when making the Gamecube pointed out that they were a video games company, and as such they just stuck to games. Will we see any more features next time around?
Of course it isn't features that make a console. Or even great games, otherwise the Dreamcast would have been the most successful console ever. It is all about the advertising, the brand, the hype.
Sony are the masters of branding. Virtually everyone has heard of the Playstation and associates it with video games. Not so with names like Xbox, Nintendo, Sega or EA.
So the PS3 has a minor advantage even before release. Microsoft of course are well known as being able to enter a market and within a few years completely dominate it. But games might be a slightly tougher challenge than web browsers. Nintendo are not idiots however. Sure the Gamecube has had very little advertising, and very little in the way of brand awareness. Nintendo are just simply arrogant and stubborn. If they can swallow their pride and accept that nowadays mature titles and casual gamers are what brings success, rather than bright and cute masterpieces, then they can make a real go of the Gamecube 2. They just have to redirect the old magic.
To date, the PS2 has sold approximately 55 million units in comparison to 10 million Gamecubes and 10 million Xboxes. However I don't think that Sony will have as much of the market share next time round. They still will probably have the largest share, but if the Xbox Next and Gamecube 2 are released close to the PS3, then the big head start built up by Sony over the 18 months in which the PS2 faced no real competition, will not be present.
Games are another factor that affect a consoles performance obviously. Nintendo have some much loved franchises like Mario and Zelda, that are almost guaranteed sales. However an accusation levelled at them is that they look like they are for kids. And kids especially want to play the mature titles. Sony will no doubt have a Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy game or two. MS will probably have another Halo.
The only worry regards those franchises is that eventually people wisen up and eventually want something new. So are we going to see anything truly revolutionary?
Well it depends. It depends on how well harnessed todays hardware in harnessed over the next 2 years. Xbox Live has introduced online gaming for consoles to the masses. But it has yet to become huge. But as of now, there is no MMORPG to match a PC equivalent like Everquest. No strategy games either. Perhaps not a genre that would attract much in the way of sales, but then as it is so neglected who knows.
What I would like to see is some new franchises introduced. I remember when Crash Bandicoot came out. Something new. When Tomb Raider first appeared. But now these are both as old and institutional as Sonic and Mario. Time to freshen up guys. I like stealth, but I'm bored of Metal Gear Solid.
Recently Sony released the Eyetoy. Now that was innovative. But limited. I would like to see the concept extended further. The technology to put yourself in a video game in a full 3d model does now exist. I would like to see it used. That way you can all see me as I kick your ass in Unreal or whatever online.
Another thing I would like to see more of is wireless. The amount of clutter I have because of having so many consoles is ridiculous. How about all wireless controllers and wireless online connectivity (i.e. WiFi).
This next generation of consoles could well be the most important yet. The Sony Cell processor is allegedly as much as a 1000 times more powerful than the current emotion engine (PS2 chip). It is supposedly going to be capable of photo realistic graphics in real time. Now that would be impressive. If that is the case then both MS and Nintendo are going to have to make consoles with the same sort of power. But if it is achieved, where is there to go after that?
Well in 5 years time I'll come back and answer that question hopefully.
Thanks for reading some of the ramblings from my demented mind.
Biggles.
The thing that stands out for me in the above paragraph is the names. Sony and Microsoft. 10 years ago it would have been Sega and Atari. But not now. That I believe is proof of just how volatile the console market is.
So where do you see things going over the next few years? The Playstation 3 and Xbox Next as it has been dubbed are both in development and are apparently due for a late 2005 release. The Gamecube 2 is, known interally at Nintendo as N5, expected in 2006 although Nintendo have made it known that they want to be first to the market with the next generation console.
The PS3 is to be more than just a games console though. Using a new ultra powerful processor known as the Cell, it will become a home entertainment center that can play games, music, video and feature online play.
The Xbox Next will likely do all those things too, because the current Xbox already does them.
The Gamecube 2 however is more of a mystery. Nintendo when making the Gamecube pointed out that they were a video games company, and as such they just stuck to games. Will we see any more features next time around?
Of course it isn't features that make a console. Or even great games, otherwise the Dreamcast would have been the most successful console ever. It is all about the advertising, the brand, the hype.
Sony are the masters of branding. Virtually everyone has heard of the Playstation and associates it with video games. Not so with names like Xbox, Nintendo, Sega or EA.
So the PS3 has a minor advantage even before release. Microsoft of course are well known as being able to enter a market and within a few years completely dominate it. But games might be a slightly tougher challenge than web browsers. Nintendo are not idiots however. Sure the Gamecube has had very little advertising, and very little in the way of brand awareness. Nintendo are just simply arrogant and stubborn. If they can swallow their pride and accept that nowadays mature titles and casual gamers are what brings success, rather than bright and cute masterpieces, then they can make a real go of the Gamecube 2. They just have to redirect the old magic.
To date, the PS2 has sold approximately 55 million units in comparison to 10 million Gamecubes and 10 million Xboxes. However I don't think that Sony will have as much of the market share next time round. They still will probably have the largest share, but if the Xbox Next and Gamecube 2 are released close to the PS3, then the big head start built up by Sony over the 18 months in which the PS2 faced no real competition, will not be present.
Games are another factor that affect a consoles performance obviously. Nintendo have some much loved franchises like Mario and Zelda, that are almost guaranteed sales. However an accusation levelled at them is that they look like they are for kids. And kids especially want to play the mature titles. Sony will no doubt have a Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy game or two. MS will probably have another Halo.
The only worry regards those franchises is that eventually people wisen up and eventually want something new. So are we going to see anything truly revolutionary?
Well it depends. It depends on how well harnessed todays hardware in harnessed over the next 2 years. Xbox Live has introduced online gaming for consoles to the masses. But it has yet to become huge. But as of now, there is no MMORPG to match a PC equivalent like Everquest. No strategy games either. Perhaps not a genre that would attract much in the way of sales, but then as it is so neglected who knows.
What I would like to see is some new franchises introduced. I remember when Crash Bandicoot came out. Something new. When Tomb Raider first appeared. But now these are both as old and institutional as Sonic and Mario. Time to freshen up guys. I like stealth, but I'm bored of Metal Gear Solid.
Recently Sony released the Eyetoy. Now that was innovative. But limited. I would like to see the concept extended further. The technology to put yourself in a video game in a full 3d model does now exist. I would like to see it used. That way you can all see me as I kick your ass in Unreal or whatever online.
Another thing I would like to see more of is wireless. The amount of clutter I have because of having so many consoles is ridiculous. How about all wireless controllers and wireless online connectivity (i.e. WiFi).
This next generation of consoles could well be the most important yet. The Sony Cell processor is allegedly as much as a 1000 times more powerful than the current emotion engine (PS2 chip). It is supposedly going to be capable of photo realistic graphics in real time. Now that would be impressive. If that is the case then both MS and Nintendo are going to have to make consoles with the same sort of power. But if it is achieved, where is there to go after that?
Well in 5 years time I'll come back and answer that question hopefully.
Thanks for reading some of the ramblings from my demented mind.
Biggles.
Page:
Yes but figures at Nintendo have been quoted as saying something along the lines of: 'When Nintendo no longer produce a console then it's time to quit'.
Basically Nintendo intend to keep produceing Nintendo branded consoles until there is no more Nintendo.
So a gap in the market doesn't seem likely.
Basically Nintendo intend to keep produceing Nintendo branded consoles until there is no more Nintendo.
So a gap in the market doesn't seem likely.
I've been thinking about Sega and a possible re-entry to the hardware market. If you are successful, there is a lot of money in it. Sony proved that. But Sega made big losses on both the Saturn and the Dreamcast.
I think that a 4 console market place would be too much. Sony are not going to leave. And neither are Microsoft. But if Nintendo were to quit the console market (not though the handheld market) then I think Sega might try their luck once more.
On Tuesday it will be 4 years to the day since the DC was launched in Britain. A lot has changed since then. After games like Jet Set Radio, Metropolis Street Racer (yes I know, the series is not under Segas' control anymore) Shenmue, Crazy Taxi and PSO, Sega are cool. They're loud they're bright they're hip. They possibly could pull off a new console. And not lose money.
What I think I would prefer to see though would be an MS takeover of Sega. That way Sega would have almost infinite resources behind them to carry on making fantastic games.
I think that a 4 console market place would be too much. Sony are not going to leave. And neither are Microsoft. But if Nintendo were to quit the console market (not though the handheld market) then I think Sega might try their luck once more.
On Tuesday it will be 4 years to the day since the DC was launched in Britain. A lot has changed since then. After games like Jet Set Radio, Metropolis Street Racer (yes I know, the series is not under Segas' control anymore) Shenmue, Crazy Taxi and PSO, Sega are cool. They're loud they're bright they're hip. They possibly could pull off a new console. And not lose money.
What I think I would prefer to see though would be an MS takeover of Sega. That way Sega would have almost infinite resources behind them to carry on making fantastic games.
We heard the same things about Sega, but they decided to turn their attention to games rather than hardware.
Mind you, we keep hearing niggling noises about something new from them in the future...
Mind you, we keep hearing niggling noises about something new from them in the future...
All three console makers will survive.
Nintendo will keep doing their thing, although they will have gone through a re-branding. Serious gamers will own the GC2.
Sony will be overtaken by the the Xbox2 as it will have stolen most of Sony's leading brands and will have wrenched the cool factor away from Sony. It seems inevitable that the Xbox2 will fill up with crap unfortunately.
Sony's Playstation will be in the position the Cube is currently in: chugging along nicely but a little too late to the party.
Nintendo will keep doing their thing, although they will have gone through a re-branding. Serious gamers will own the GC2.
Sony will be overtaken by the the Xbox2 as it will have stolen most of Sony's leading brands and will have wrenched the cool factor away from Sony. It seems inevitable that the Xbox2 will fill up with crap unfortunately.
Sony's Playstation will be in the position the Cube is currently in: chugging along nicely but a little too late to the party.
Only if you count the Gameboy as a console. The N64 sold around 30 million in the end, don't know about the SNES or the NES but I doubt it is more.
Sony have sold over 120 million Playstation and PS2s.
True Nintendo are the oldest of the game companies, but at the moment they also seem the most out of touch with what people want from their games.
Sony have sold over 120 million Playstation and PS2s.
True Nintendo are the oldest of the game companies, but at the moment they also seem the most out of touch with what people want from their games.
Nintendo are still the gaming leaders, they have sold more consoles then any other company, and they are the oldest out of the companies that still remain. No matter what you say, the fact still remains.
Given the right funding and games any complany could become the leader. It just depemds upon how the public recive it. Advertising is one of the key things as shown by Sony. How else did they get to the top after joining the market? True they managed to release a 32-bit manchine before Nintendo but so did Sega and look where they are now. If you get the right advertising campain(sp) then that's a start. It's not solely(sp) based on that but it looks to be a key factor.
True the Jaguar and the Lynx flopped, but they were released. The main point was thought that 10 years ago Sony were nobodies in the gaming world, but in a few years they became the leaders.
10 years ago no one seriously thought Atari could get back into the industry hardware wise, they were right.
So. We are now approaching the end of 2003. The Nintendo Gamecube and the Microsoft Xbox are now both around 2 years old. The Sony Playstation 2 is 3 years old.
The thing that stands out for me in the above paragraph is the names. Sony and Microsoft. 10 years ago it would have been Sega and Atari. But not now. That I believe is proof of just how volatile the console market is.
So where do you see things going over the next few years? The Playstation 3 and Xbox Next as it has been dubbed are both in development and are apparently due for a late 2005 release. The Gamecube 2 is, known interally at Nintendo as N5, expected in 2006 although Nintendo have made it known that they want to be first to the market with the next generation console.
The PS3 is to be more than just a games console though. Using a new ultra powerful processor known as the Cell, it will become a home entertainment center that can play games, music, video and feature online play.
The Xbox Next will likely do all those things too, because the current Xbox already does them.
The Gamecube 2 however is more of a mystery. Nintendo when making the Gamecube pointed out that they were a video games company, and as such they just stuck to games. Will we see any more features next time around?
Of course it isn't features that make a console. Or even great games, otherwise the Dreamcast would have been the most successful console ever. It is all about the advertising, the brand, the hype.
Sony are the masters of branding. Virtually everyone has heard of the Playstation and associates it with video games. Not so with names like Xbox, Nintendo, Sega or EA.
So the PS3 has a minor advantage even before release. Microsoft of course are well known as being able to enter a market and within a few years completely dominate it. But games might be a slightly tougher challenge than web browsers. Nintendo are not idiots however. Sure the Gamecube has had very little advertising, and very little in the way of brand awareness. Nintendo are just simply arrogant and stubborn. If they can swallow their pride and accept that nowadays mature titles and casual gamers are what brings success, rather than bright and cute masterpieces, then they can make a real go of the Gamecube 2. They just have to redirect the old magic.
To date, the PS2 has sold approximately 55 million units in comparison to 10 million Gamecubes and 10 million Xboxes. However I don't think that Sony will have as much of the market share next time round. They still will probably have the largest share, but if the Xbox Next and Gamecube 2 are released close to the PS3, then the big head start built up by Sony over the 18 months in which the PS2 faced no real competition, will not be present.
Games are another factor that affect a consoles performance obviously. Nintendo have some much loved franchises like Mario and Zelda, that are almost guaranteed sales. However an accusation levelled at them is that they look like they are for kids. And kids especially want to play the mature titles. Sony will no doubt have a Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy game or two. MS will probably have another Halo.
The only worry regards those franchises is that eventually people wisen up and eventually want something new. So are we going to see anything truly revolutionary?
Well it depends. It depends on how well harnessed todays hardware in harnessed over the next 2 years. Xbox Live has introduced online gaming for consoles to the masses. But it has yet to become huge. But as of now, there is no MMORPG to match a PC equivalent like Everquest. No strategy games either. Perhaps not a genre that would attract much in the way of sales, but then as it is so neglected who knows.
What I would like to see is some new franchises introduced. I remember when Crash Bandicoot came out. Something new. When Tomb Raider first appeared. But now these are both as old and institutional as Sonic and Mario. Time to freshen up guys. I like stealth, but I'm bored of Metal Gear Solid.
Recently Sony released the Eyetoy. Now that was innovative. But limited. I would like to see the concept extended further. The technology to put yourself in a video game in a full 3d model does now exist. I would like to see it used. That way you can all see me as I kick your ass in Unreal or whatever online.
Another thing I would like to see more of is wireless. The amount of clutter I have because of having so many consoles is ridiculous. How about all wireless controllers and wireless online connectivity (i.e. WiFi).
This next generation of consoles could well be the most important yet. The Sony Cell processor is allegedly as much as a 1000 times more powerful than the current emotion engine (PS2 chip). It is supposedly going to be capable of photo realistic graphics in real time. Now that would be impressive. If that is the case then both MS and Nintendo are going to have to make consoles with the same sort of power. But if it is achieved, where is there to go after that?
Well in 5 years time I'll come back and answer that question hopefully.
Thanks for reading some of the ramblings from my demented mind.
Biggles.
The thing that stands out for me in the above paragraph is the names. Sony and Microsoft. 10 years ago it would have been Sega and Atari. But not now. That I believe is proof of just how volatile the console market is.
So where do you see things going over the next few years? The Playstation 3 and Xbox Next as it has been dubbed are both in development and are apparently due for a late 2005 release. The Gamecube 2 is, known interally at Nintendo as N5, expected in 2006 although Nintendo have made it known that they want to be first to the market with the next generation console.
The PS3 is to be more than just a games console though. Using a new ultra powerful processor known as the Cell, it will become a home entertainment center that can play games, music, video and feature online play.
The Xbox Next will likely do all those things too, because the current Xbox already does them.
The Gamecube 2 however is more of a mystery. Nintendo when making the Gamecube pointed out that they were a video games company, and as such they just stuck to games. Will we see any more features next time around?
Of course it isn't features that make a console. Or even great games, otherwise the Dreamcast would have been the most successful console ever. It is all about the advertising, the brand, the hype.
Sony are the masters of branding. Virtually everyone has heard of the Playstation and associates it with video games. Not so with names like Xbox, Nintendo, Sega or EA.
So the PS3 has a minor advantage even before release. Microsoft of course are well known as being able to enter a market and within a few years completely dominate it. But games might be a slightly tougher challenge than web browsers. Nintendo are not idiots however. Sure the Gamecube has had very little advertising, and very little in the way of brand awareness. Nintendo are just simply arrogant and stubborn. If they can swallow their pride and accept that nowadays mature titles and casual gamers are what brings success, rather than bright and cute masterpieces, then they can make a real go of the Gamecube 2. They just have to redirect the old magic.
To date, the PS2 has sold approximately 55 million units in comparison to 10 million Gamecubes and 10 million Xboxes. However I don't think that Sony will have as much of the market share next time round. They still will probably have the largest share, but if the Xbox Next and Gamecube 2 are released close to the PS3, then the big head start built up by Sony over the 18 months in which the PS2 faced no real competition, will not be present.
Games are another factor that affect a consoles performance obviously. Nintendo have some much loved franchises like Mario and Zelda, that are almost guaranteed sales. However an accusation levelled at them is that they look like they are for kids. And kids especially want to play the mature titles. Sony will no doubt have a Gran Turismo and Final Fantasy game or two. MS will probably have another Halo.
The only worry regards those franchises is that eventually people wisen up and eventually want something new. So are we going to see anything truly revolutionary?
Well it depends. It depends on how well harnessed todays hardware in harnessed over the next 2 years. Xbox Live has introduced online gaming for consoles to the masses. But it has yet to become huge. But as of now, there is no MMORPG to match a PC equivalent like Everquest. No strategy games either. Perhaps not a genre that would attract much in the way of sales, but then as it is so neglected who knows.
What I would like to see is some new franchises introduced. I remember when Crash Bandicoot came out. Something new. When Tomb Raider first appeared. But now these are both as old and institutional as Sonic and Mario. Time to freshen up guys. I like stealth, but I'm bored of Metal Gear Solid.
Recently Sony released the Eyetoy. Now that was innovative. But limited. I would like to see the concept extended further. The technology to put yourself in a video game in a full 3d model does now exist. I would like to see it used. That way you can all see me as I kick your ass in Unreal or whatever online.
Another thing I would like to see more of is wireless. The amount of clutter I have because of having so many consoles is ridiculous. How about all wireless controllers and wireless online connectivity (i.e. WiFi).
This next generation of consoles could well be the most important yet. The Sony Cell processor is allegedly as much as a 1000 times more powerful than the current emotion engine (PS2 chip). It is supposedly going to be capable of photo realistic graphics in real time. Now that would be impressive. If that is the case then both MS and Nintendo are going to have to make consoles with the same sort of power. But if it is achieved, where is there to go after that?
Well in 5 years time I'll come back and answer that question hopefully.
Thanks for reading some of the ramblings from my demented mind.
Biggles.
Page: