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It’s the end of the year, so what better than to look back at the gaming market over the year and assess what we will soon be seeing under our televisions. Under the current climate, it looks like Sony are having a good year, but is it too good? Will they really be the last one standing in 2003?
It’s easy to imagine the gaming market dominated by one brand in the coming years. Sony has all but taken the crown for the fastest growing console developer since the original Playstation arrived in the shiny windows of shops everywhere. Whether the Playstation 2 sold well because of the support for its elder brother or for the wide range of games and third party developers, it still sold well and it doesn’t look like either of the platforms in competition with Sony’s black box will catch up.
Sony have dominated the market, they are not showing any signs of relaxing this either, so surely Sony will eventually have the market to themselves? But that picture is based on the last few years of gaming and ignores the larger picture, a past in which many other giants battled for supremacy. If you look at the times where there have been trends towards one platform, something always appears to change the scene before this happens.
The Nintendo Entertainment System was a masterstroke of engineering for its time. The console market had already been kick-started by the Atari VCS, which could be seen in many a home. When Nintendo’s wonder appeared it gave gamers a whole new level of graphics and sound. Not to be outdone, Sega’s Master System equalled the power of the NES and sold in equal amounts (if taken globally). So, where Nintendo could have won over the market, another platform trounced their plans.
Take a look a few years later and a slightly different picture emerges. Consoles partly made way for computers which were designed to play games as a primary function. The Amiga and Atari ST were in direct competition, but it was undoubtedly the Amiga that had the games market sewn up. Something stopped it from taking over though. Firstly, Atari had the brainwave to make the ST the best MIDI device there was, meaning that budding bedroom musicians would buy the platform and end up using it for games. Since it could be seen all over Top of the Pops, there was no need to advertise how good it was at doing its job. Secondly, those two old rivals, Nintendo and Sega, brought out their next line of consoles, The SNES and Megadrive.
OK, so you already know what happens from here, the two new consoles were again balanced perfectly, but the SNES was the ultimate champion. However, Nintendo couldn’t become a single market player because Sega’s machine just kept selling. Later, Sony would enter the market and would take Sega’s chances away, but even though Nintendo’s N64 was not a great seller compared to the new console company’s Playstation, Sony never quite took over the games market.
And what would have taken place had one of these companies succeeded in becoming the main player and single gaming platform? Well, they’d have all the companies under one console, but what of the companies turned away? Where would they go? The one domineering player would have no-one to compete against in quality, so they could release any old low-quality games. They would have no reason to up the ante for their technology, slowing down the creation of new peripherals and advancements in technology. Though the games players would have all the games on one machine, they may also see those games rise in price, as there would be no competition to keep the prices low.
So we come to the present, and the situation remains the same, though the PS2 is selling well, enough people have an Xbox or Gamecube to stop the PS2 from being the only console around. The PC is still there and providing the best of the online gaming, which even the PS2 and Xbox will not threaten, so unless Microsoft and Nintendo were bought out, which is highly unlikely, there’s no likelyhood of a single gaming system anytime soon.
It’s easy to imagine the gaming market dominated by one brand in the coming years. Sony has all but taken the crown for the fastest growing console developer since the original Playstation arrived in the shiny windows of shops everywhere. Whether the Playstation 2 sold well because of the support for its elder brother or for the wide range of games and third party developers, it still sold well and it doesn’t look like either of the platforms in competition with Sony’s black box will catch up.
Sony have dominated the market, they are not showing any signs of relaxing this either, so surely Sony will eventually have the market to themselves? But that picture is based on the last few years of gaming and ignores the larger picture, a past in which many other giants battled for supremacy. If you look at the times where there have been trends towards one platform, something always appears to change the scene before this happens.
The Nintendo Entertainment System was a masterstroke of engineering for its time. The console market had already been kick-started by the Atari VCS, which could be seen in many a home. When Nintendo’s wonder appeared it gave gamers a whole new level of graphics and sound. Not to be outdone, Sega’s Master System equalled the power of the NES and sold in equal amounts (if taken globally). So, where Nintendo could have won over the market, another platform trounced their plans.
Take a look a few years later and a slightly different picture emerges. Consoles partly made way for computers which were designed to play games as a primary function. The Amiga and Atari ST were in direct competition, but it was undoubtedly the Amiga that had the games market sewn up. Something stopped it from taking over though. Firstly, Atari had the brainwave to make the ST the best MIDI device there was, meaning that budding bedroom musicians would buy the platform and end up using it for games. Since it could be seen all over Top of the Pops, there was no need to advertise how good it was at doing its job. Secondly, those two old rivals, Nintendo and Sega, brought out their next line of consoles, The SNES and Megadrive.
OK, so you already know what happens from here, the two new consoles were again balanced perfectly, but the SNES was the ultimate champion. However, Nintendo couldn’t become a single market player because Sega’s machine just kept selling. Later, Sony would enter the market and would take Sega’s chances away, but even though Nintendo’s N64 was not a great seller compared to the new console company’s Playstation, Sony never quite took over the games market.
And what would have taken place had one of these companies succeeded in becoming the main player and single gaming platform? Well, they’d have all the companies under one console, but what of the companies turned away? Where would they go? The one domineering player would have no-one to compete against in quality, so they could release any old low-quality games. They would have no reason to up the ante for their technology, slowing down the creation of new peripherals and advancements in technology. Though the games players would have all the games on one machine, they may also see those games rise in price, as there would be no competition to keep the prices low.
So we come to the present, and the situation remains the same, though the PS2 is selling well, enough people have an Xbox or Gamecube to stop the PS2 from being the only console around. The PC is still there and providing the best of the online gaming, which even the PS2 and Xbox will not threaten, so unless Microsoft and Nintendo were bought out, which is highly unlikely, there’s no likelyhood of a single gaming system anytime soon.
No one will shift Sony from #1 spot in terms of sales and user base, but #2 spot is well up for grabs, and I'll put money on Microsoft getting it. All MS and Nintendo can do is get user bases ready for the next wave of consoles, and if MS can get Xbox 2 out first then Sony could have a fight on it's hands as the PS2 had a large lead for over a year with no competition.
But with competition ? Well, they'll need better launch games then the PS2 had - Ridge Racer 5, Tekken Tag, ZOE e.t.c were all good but only because there was nothing to compare them to.
Still, it'll be an interesting year - increased competition can only be good for all of us, and this will be hte year online console gaming rises, or falls.
But with competition ? Well, they'll need better launch games then the PS2 had - Ridge Racer 5, Tekken Tag, ZOE e.t.c were all good but only because there was nothing to compare them to.
Still, it'll be an interesting year - increased competition can only be good for all of us, and this will be hte year online console gaming rises, or falls.
Woops, pressed post by accident... That was a cool post. It reminded me a bit of when I really anticipated a game, which hasn't happened properly for ages, to me. I just remember looking forward to so much for last year, yet, even though my gaming interest has lessened, there's no real game or console that sounds like it's gonna be so totally amazing.
To be honest, I think Xbox could do much better this year than last, just from what I've heard, about new games, add-on-y stuff, Rare being bought by Microsoft, and the general fact that people are starting to realise how bloody similar some PS2 games are.
To be honest, I think Xbox could do much better this year than last, just from what I've heard, about new games, add-on-y stuff, Rare being bought by Microsoft, and the general fact that people are starting to realise how bloody similar some PS2 games are.
Atari shall return and reign supreme.
It’s the end of the year, so what better than to look back at the gaming market over the year and assess what we will soon be seeing under our televisions. Under the current climate, it looks like Sony are having a good year, but is it too good? Will they really be the last one standing in 2003?
It’s easy to imagine the gaming market dominated by one brand in the coming years. Sony has all but taken the crown for the fastest growing console developer since the original Playstation arrived in the shiny windows of shops everywhere. Whether the Playstation 2 sold well because of the support for its elder brother or for the wide range of games and third party developers, it still sold well and it doesn’t look like either of the platforms in competition with Sony’s black box will catch up.
Sony have dominated the market, they are not showing any signs of relaxing this either, so surely Sony will eventually have the market to themselves? But that picture is based on the last few years of gaming and ignores the larger picture, a past in which many other giants battled for supremacy. If you look at the times where there have been trends towards one platform, something always appears to change the scene before this happens.
The Nintendo Entertainment System was a masterstroke of engineering for its time. The console market had already been kick-started by the Atari VCS, which could be seen in many a home. When Nintendo’s wonder appeared it gave gamers a whole new level of graphics and sound. Not to be outdone, Sega’s Master System equalled the power of the NES and sold in equal amounts (if taken globally). So, where Nintendo could have won over the market, another platform trounced their plans.
Take a look a few years later and a slightly different picture emerges. Consoles partly made way for computers which were designed to play games as a primary function. The Amiga and Atari ST were in direct competition, but it was undoubtedly the Amiga that had the games market sewn up. Something stopped it from taking over though. Firstly, Atari had the brainwave to make the ST the best MIDI device there was, meaning that budding bedroom musicians would buy the platform and end up using it for games. Since it could be seen all over Top of the Pops, there was no need to advertise how good it was at doing its job. Secondly, those two old rivals, Nintendo and Sega, brought out their next line of consoles, The SNES and Megadrive.
OK, so you already know what happens from here, the two new consoles were again balanced perfectly, but the SNES was the ultimate champion. However, Nintendo couldn’t become a single market player because Sega’s machine just kept selling. Later, Sony would enter the market and would take Sega’s chances away, but even though Nintendo’s N64 was not a great seller compared to the new console company’s Playstation, Sony never quite took over the games market.
And what would have taken place had one of these companies succeeded in becoming the main player and single gaming platform? Well, they’d have all the companies under one console, but what of the companies turned away? Where would they go? The one domineering player would have no-one to compete against in quality, so they could release any old low-quality games. They would have no reason to up the ante for their technology, slowing down the creation of new peripherals and advancements in technology. Though the games players would have all the games on one machine, they may also see those games rise in price, as there would be no competition to keep the prices low.
So we come to the present, and the situation remains the same, though the PS2 is selling well, enough people have an Xbox or Gamecube to stop the PS2 from being the only console around. The PC is still there and providing the best of the online gaming, which even the PS2 and Xbox will not threaten, so unless Microsoft and Nintendo were bought out, which is highly unlikely, there’s no likelyhood of a single gaming system anytime soon.
It’s easy to imagine the gaming market dominated by one brand in the coming years. Sony has all but taken the crown for the fastest growing console developer since the original Playstation arrived in the shiny windows of shops everywhere. Whether the Playstation 2 sold well because of the support for its elder brother or for the wide range of games and third party developers, it still sold well and it doesn’t look like either of the platforms in competition with Sony’s black box will catch up.
Sony have dominated the market, they are not showing any signs of relaxing this either, so surely Sony will eventually have the market to themselves? But that picture is based on the last few years of gaming and ignores the larger picture, a past in which many other giants battled for supremacy. If you look at the times where there have been trends towards one platform, something always appears to change the scene before this happens.
The Nintendo Entertainment System was a masterstroke of engineering for its time. The console market had already been kick-started by the Atari VCS, which could be seen in many a home. When Nintendo’s wonder appeared it gave gamers a whole new level of graphics and sound. Not to be outdone, Sega’s Master System equalled the power of the NES and sold in equal amounts (if taken globally). So, where Nintendo could have won over the market, another platform trounced their plans.
Take a look a few years later and a slightly different picture emerges. Consoles partly made way for computers which were designed to play games as a primary function. The Amiga and Atari ST were in direct competition, but it was undoubtedly the Amiga that had the games market sewn up. Something stopped it from taking over though. Firstly, Atari had the brainwave to make the ST the best MIDI device there was, meaning that budding bedroom musicians would buy the platform and end up using it for games. Since it could be seen all over Top of the Pops, there was no need to advertise how good it was at doing its job. Secondly, those two old rivals, Nintendo and Sega, brought out their next line of consoles, The SNES and Megadrive.
OK, so you already know what happens from here, the two new consoles were again balanced perfectly, but the SNES was the ultimate champion. However, Nintendo couldn’t become a single market player because Sega’s machine just kept selling. Later, Sony would enter the market and would take Sega’s chances away, but even though Nintendo’s N64 was not a great seller compared to the new console company’s Playstation, Sony never quite took over the games market.
And what would have taken place had one of these companies succeeded in becoming the main player and single gaming platform? Well, they’d have all the companies under one console, but what of the companies turned away? Where would they go? The one domineering player would have no-one to compete against in quality, so they could release any old low-quality games. They would have no reason to up the ante for their technology, slowing down the creation of new peripherals and advancements in technology. Though the games players would have all the games on one machine, they may also see those games rise in price, as there would be no competition to keep the prices low.
So we come to the present, and the situation remains the same, though the PS2 is selling well, enough people have an Xbox or Gamecube to stop the PS2 from being the only console around. The PC is still there and providing the best of the online gaming, which even the PS2 and Xbox will not threaten, so unless Microsoft and Nintendo were bought out, which is highly unlikely, there’s no likelyhood of a single gaming system anytime soon.