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Has anyone noticed how console design follows trends? At the moment we are in the age of the “set-top-box console”- a machine that plays films, music and connects to the internet as well as simply playing games. In the past we’ve had the age of 3D home gaming (the 32-bit era), the over-ambitious under-powered console era (ranging from the Atari Jaguar to the 3DO and M2), and the sprite-based 16-bit consoles of old.
So where will it all end up? At the moment console design seems to be aiming towards more and more functionality in areas beyond gaming, as well as a steady increase in graphical and audio power. Clearly the trend in more powerful gaming will always continue, but what of the function of consoles? Will Trip Hawking- creator of the 3DO and M2- finally get his dream of set-top-boxes made into a reality, or is this just another trend- short lived and bound to die our.
Already we have seen a huge difference in opinions in the industry. Nintendo’s Gamecube is solely based at gamers- offering nothing more than playing games and possibly online gaming. Meanwhile, the PS2 and Xbox are totally aimed at providing complete home entertainment systems- games, films, music and the Internet all fed into your television and speaker system.
I for one think that Sony and Microsoft have predicted the market correctly. Although Nintendo’s “pure gaming” philosophy is a great idea, sales figures of the Gamecube seem to show that the market does not agree. The GC’s Japanese launch was muted by all accounts- with the console only taking off when Panasonic’s version of the GC, which play’s DVD films, was released.
So what about the future? Well, I see multifunctional consoles staying around for a long time. Many gamers, especially the Japanese, have bought into a console with DVD playback as one of the selling points. When it comes to replace the console they will expect the new one to have all the functions of the old- after all, DVD technology will have radically decreased in cost.
I predict that the future consoles will not only have DVD playback as standard, but also Internet access- which will (hopefully) have begun to be realised in 5 years time. Add to this 4-players as standard and an increase in the power of consoles- we seem to be hitting the set top box.
Sonic
So where will it all end up? At the moment console design seems to be aiming towards more and more functionality in areas beyond gaming, as well as a steady increase in graphical and audio power. Clearly the trend in more powerful gaming will always continue, but what of the function of consoles? Will Trip Hawking- creator of the 3DO and M2- finally get his dream of set-top-boxes made into a reality, or is this just another trend- short lived and bound to die our.
Already we have seen a huge difference in opinions in the industry. Nintendo’s Gamecube is solely based at gamers- offering nothing more than playing games and possibly online gaming. Meanwhile, the PS2 and Xbox are totally aimed at providing complete home entertainment systems- games, films, music and the Internet all fed into your television and speaker system.
I for one think that Sony and Microsoft have predicted the market correctly. Although Nintendo’s “pure gaming” philosophy is a great idea, sales figures of the Gamecube seem to show that the market does not agree. The GC’s Japanese launch was muted by all accounts- with the console only taking off when Panasonic’s version of the GC, which play’s DVD films, was released.
So what about the future? Well, I see multifunctional consoles staying around for a long time. Many gamers, especially the Japanese, have bought into a console with DVD playback as one of the selling points. When it comes to replace the console they will expect the new one to have all the functions of the old- after all, DVD technology will have radically decreased in cost.
I predict that the future consoles will not only have DVD playback as standard, but also Internet access- which will (hopefully) have begun to be realised in 5 years time. Add to this 4-players as standard and an increase in the power of consoles- we seem to be hitting the set top box.
Sonic
But who says The Matrix isn't real??
I've experienced déja-vu before, and I believe that there is 'the one' out there somewhere....
And it's much more believable than the likes of vampires and zombies!
I've experienced déja-vu before, and I believe that there is 'the one' out there somewhere....
And it's much more believable than the likes of vampires and zombies!
Good post.
I don't think virtual reality will ever happen. At the moment virtual reality would be little more than just dangling a tv under your eyes. The only way it would be fully implementable is if we had the game send signals to our brain a la The Matrix
I don't think virtual reality will ever happen. At the moment virtual reality would be little more than just dangling a tv under your eyes. The only way it would be fully implementable is if we had the game send signals to our brain a la The Matrix
Heh, imagine a console made in the 60's, by hippies!!
Probably be covered in loads of different colours with a big VW sticker on the front of it. And it'd also be made out of something natural, that can be recylced, but also doesn't harm the atmosphere our your karma!
Anyway....I wonder if there'll ever be a limit where consoles cannot go ANY further in development???
And I think it's only a matter of time before we see things like Mini Discs and other media introduced to consoles. That would effect the consoles design, and could allow the console to be smaller and more compact, if not handheld.
And what about when Virtual Reality finally appears??
Consoles may have to be bigger and a lot more powerfull to support the technology, and the design may need to be altered so that you can connect your VR guns and other dives.
And I also don't see how ANY of the consoles after this forth-coming generation will be without DVD and Internet capablities within 5 years. Except maybe with handhelds.
Probably be covered in loads of different colours with a big VW sticker on the front of it. And it'd also be made out of something natural, that can be recylced, but also doesn't harm the atmosphere our your karma!
Anyway....I wonder if there'll ever be a limit where consoles cannot go ANY further in development???
And I think it's only a matter of time before we see things like Mini Discs and other media introduced to consoles. That would effect the consoles design, and could allow the console to be smaller and more compact, if not handheld.
And what about when Virtual Reality finally appears??
Consoles may have to be bigger and a lot more powerfull to support the technology, and the design may need to be altered so that you can connect your VR guns and other dives.
And I also don't see how ANY of the consoles after this forth-coming generation will be without DVD and Internet capablities within 5 years. Except maybe with handhelds.
Has anyone noticed how console design follows trends? At the moment we are in the age of the “set-top-box console”- a machine that plays films, music and connects to the internet as well as simply playing games. In the past we’ve had the age of 3D home gaming (the 32-bit era), the over-ambitious under-powered console era (ranging from the Atari Jaguar to the 3DO and M2), and the sprite-based 16-bit consoles of old.
So where will it all end up? At the moment console design seems to be aiming towards more and more functionality in areas beyond gaming, as well as a steady increase in graphical and audio power. Clearly the trend in more powerful gaming will always continue, but what of the function of consoles? Will Trip Hawking- creator of the 3DO and M2- finally get his dream of set-top-boxes made into a reality, or is this just another trend- short lived and bound to die our.
Already we have seen a huge difference in opinions in the industry. Nintendo’s Gamecube is solely based at gamers- offering nothing more than playing games and possibly online gaming. Meanwhile, the PS2 and Xbox are totally aimed at providing complete home entertainment systems- games, films, music and the Internet all fed into your television and speaker system.
I for one think that Sony and Microsoft have predicted the market correctly. Although Nintendo’s “pure gaming” philosophy is a great idea, sales figures of the Gamecube seem to show that the market does not agree. The GC’s Japanese launch was muted by all accounts- with the console only taking off when Panasonic’s version of the GC, which play’s DVD films, was released.
So what about the future? Well, I see multifunctional consoles staying around for a long time. Many gamers, especially the Japanese, have bought into a console with DVD playback as one of the selling points. When it comes to replace the console they will expect the new one to have all the functions of the old- after all, DVD technology will have radically decreased in cost.
I predict that the future consoles will not only have DVD playback as standard, but also Internet access- which will (hopefully) have begun to be realised in 5 years time. Add to this 4-players as standard and an increase in the power of consoles- we seem to be hitting the set top box.
Sonic
So where will it all end up? At the moment console design seems to be aiming towards more and more functionality in areas beyond gaming, as well as a steady increase in graphical and audio power. Clearly the trend in more powerful gaming will always continue, but what of the function of consoles? Will Trip Hawking- creator of the 3DO and M2- finally get his dream of set-top-boxes made into a reality, or is this just another trend- short lived and bound to die our.
Already we have seen a huge difference in opinions in the industry. Nintendo’s Gamecube is solely based at gamers- offering nothing more than playing games and possibly online gaming. Meanwhile, the PS2 and Xbox are totally aimed at providing complete home entertainment systems- games, films, music and the Internet all fed into your television and speaker system.
I for one think that Sony and Microsoft have predicted the market correctly. Although Nintendo’s “pure gaming” philosophy is a great idea, sales figures of the Gamecube seem to show that the market does not agree. The GC’s Japanese launch was muted by all accounts- with the console only taking off when Panasonic’s version of the GC, which play’s DVD films, was released.
So what about the future? Well, I see multifunctional consoles staying around for a long time. Many gamers, especially the Japanese, have bought into a console with DVD playback as one of the selling points. When it comes to replace the console they will expect the new one to have all the functions of the old- after all, DVD technology will have radically decreased in cost.
I predict that the future consoles will not only have DVD playback as standard, but also Internet access- which will (hopefully) have begun to be realised in 5 years time. Add to this 4-players as standard and an increase in the power of consoles- we seem to be hitting the set top box.
Sonic