It’s amazing to think we’re in our third year of “next generation” console bliss. Three years have passed since the first Xbox 360 shipped, for good or bad, and it’s time to start thinking about the future.
Or is it?
Bobbie Bach, Microsoft Entertainment and Devices president, seems to believe this generation of consoles will expand out further than the typical four-year release cycle. Perhaps because the console developers have invested so much money in defeating each other in the market and making their console “number one” in the eyes of their investors.
Bach does not believe we’re cresting on the current generation, that is for certain, and we’ve yet to hear any hype over a new next-generation console from Microsoft. They were the first to market so, theoretically, they should be the first in the next-generation as well, right?
Their move to be number one was really a strategic attack which has paid out well, leading them above the past domination of Sony and Nintendo before it. However, they are holding strong with the Xbox 360 and there might be cause to sit tight and let this generation playout before bringing in another piece of hardware.
Bach stated that he believes consoles today are competing at different levels than ten years ago. There isn’t one clear winner, there isn’t one dominating console. There will be victors in different areas of the industry; casual consoles, top game sellers, best graphics and others. It’s not about sheer “units sold” it’s more about being profitable and building a community around your hardware, see Xbox Live as a great example.
Next generation will be full of fantastic new features, ways to connect and crazy hardware specifications, no doubt, but… for many of us, it will take years before we forget the pain and suffering we paid shipping our dead Xbox 360’s back to Microsoft for repairs. Would you be willing to buy into their next generation as their first customer?
(Thanks, 1up)
@Dead Island – wrong version on Steam:
Since its a digital distribution channel, it is easy to fix …
@Lord British wants to make another Ultima:
I said it in another post: as a developer, either you sell the IP to the publisher and enjoy the money, or keep the IP and retain control. You can’t do both, have the cookie and eat it.
@Crytek rebukes “unlawful layoff” claims
Europe labor laws (Germany included) are a bit more weird. They would send labor inspectors to check how many extra hours you’re pushing etc. etc.
That’s one extreme.
The other extreme is bad planning that leads to all-development-crunch-time.
There has to be a middle ground.
@ Steam on Xbox Live Marketplace:
Newell wants EA to start selling their titles on Steam again. The way he goes about it is by trying to squeeze market space away from Origin; if EA would like to make more money, they would have to go through Valve’s Steam.
@console “limitations” in Battlefield 3:
PC rulez 😀 !!
Now, while 30 fps in a shooter is fluid, at 60 fps you do get better reaction time from the game. And for online shooters, this matters.
There is a reason why competitive shooter games run at a simulation tick rate at 60 ticks per second, 90 ticks per second and even 120 ticks per second.
Question is, for the fps count to matter, will Battlefield 3 be a competitive online multiplayer? Something tells me that it aims to be one.
@Black Ops map packs hit 18 million sold
What pisses me off is that modders can’t sell the maps they make, but developers can. And nowadays (case for Battlefield 3) there won’t be any modding tools. Way to go to maintain a community …
@PSP:
This will come as a shocker: I like Jonah’s idea about a simple handheld console, that does only gaming.
In terms of gadgets, I don’t like multipurpose ones. My phone only does calls and text messages (and live for 5 days from one recharge), so from a portable handheld I only expect it to play games.
@QOTW:
In the second STALKER game, Clear Sky, they changed the damage mechanics and the weapon accuracy (nerfed it).
Now, while I loved the fact that you could customize your gun in Clear Sky, changing the base accuracy AND making enemies die only from headshots caused a lot of frustrations.
This was somewhat exacerbated by the fact that the first game had decent guns and enemies would die also from body shots.
Thankfully they reverted a good deal of it in the third game.
@Steam on XBL – That would be great but, as Jonah said, Microsoft would be putting out Arcade Games for 15 dollars while Steam is having a sale, selling the same game for 5 bucks. I wish it were so, but I understand why is isn’t.
@Black Ops Map Packs – I have purchased all four map packs (the last one was free due to the fact that I had the Hardened edition of the game), and I, like many, only purchased them for the Zombies maps. The problem with that is I have to pay for the four crappy multiplayer maps instead of them offering the Zombies maps as separate content.
@QOTW – Bioshock is easily one of my favorite games of all time, but the hacking in that game annoyed me horribly. Thankfully, they changed the hacking mechanic in the sequel, so at least they learned from their mistakes.
I enjoyed hacking in Bioshock. Deus Ex: Human Revolution does it better, though.
I found the hacking to be more tedious than enjoyable. But, to each their own.
guys,jonah ,just to let ya all know that im still listening and i observed that the podcast is getting better,i didnt have time to comment coz i was playing minecraft and studying, and guys if you have a minecraft account but you dont play anymore plzzzz message me and try to give it to me because im stuck with a cracked account and im really broke so plzz i beg you all @qotw i never encounterd those things because i enjoy all of my games ,ps dont stop the podcast keep it going
edit you could message me on Facebook ,name; oliver lance de leon