Author Topic: The End of Console Gaming? (Read 6714 times)

Artimus · « **on:** November 23, 2005, 03:37:56 PM »

It seems every five (or four...thanks MS...) years we hear about the end of PC gaming. With super powered consoles and all the attention going to them, everyone syas it's the end of the computer side of games. Thankfully this time no such nonsense is being propagated. However, it got me thinking. The 360 interacts with computers, iPods, photos, everything basically. It's essentially a media PC minus the other functionality. Microsoft has expressed their intent of furthering this integration in the future, and in further generations. So...how long before there's no point in owning a console? Think about it, the only difference between PC and consoles is where and how you play them. But with the 360 controller available for computers, what's the difference? If the future is true integration then I'm going to be buying a computer that outputs to my HD TV. Computers play games as well as consoles, but consoles don't do computer stuff as well.

So...good or bad? Well, for Nintendo fans it's less than ideal. But, on an integrated entertainment system that is computer based Nintendo wouldn't have to take a risk with things like the remote. They could just release it for $30 and make Mario, Zelda, etc. require it. Insta-sell! Obviously this is a few generations ahead, but still. Microsoft doesn't make many games, they make their money off of hardware. Well, not really. Basically Microsoft just doesn't make money off of video games. But, hypothetically they intend to with the 360. They intend to end their losses this generation. But in doing, in trying this integration, have they single handled started the end of consoles? Sony also wants integration, Kutagari would put a nuclear fission plant in the PS3 if they could. But for them it makes sense. Sony makes hardware like laptops and things, Microsoft doesn't.

So, in trying to win this generation have Microsoft ruined the others?

nickmitch · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2005, 03:54:47 PM »

MS Taking $126 hit per Xbox360
Unless you were referring to computers. . .

But I think I see your point. MS is doing this because they want to morph the video game industry in to one that they know. Nintendo doesn't make computers so that would (theoretically) take them out, and they probably figure that they could beat Sony in a situation like that.
But I wouldn't count on consoles becomming computers. I'm sure they'll go in some other direction.

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #2 on:** November 23, 2005, 03:58:40 PM »

Quote
It's essentially a media PC minus the other functionality.

Other functionalty = most things people use PCs for. It's nowhere near a PC yet.

However, who knows what can happen in the future. Sony and MS seem intent to just cramming more and more things into their systems. Eventually they may basically be PC's. But I still think there'll always be a place for consoles.

Bill Aurion · « **Reply #3 on:** November 23, 2005, 04:04:44 PM »

The end of console gaming occurred when the DS came out...

Arbok · « **Reply #4 on:** November 23, 2005, 04:37:07 PM »

Quote
Originally posted by: Bill Aurion
The end of console gaming occurred when the DS came out...

Zing! Actually, that's seriously what I thought this topic was going to be about was handhelds taking over. I mean, was I the only one freaked out that they had courses from the Gamecube Mario Kart, even if scaled down, in the DS version?

KnowsNothing · « **Reply #5 on:** November 23, 2005, 05:11:34 PM »

I don't normally say "WOAH AWESOME" when I'm freaked out, but sure!

BranDonk Kong · « **Reply #6 on:** November 23, 2005, 06:06:14 PM »

If MS's XNA platform ever debuts on PCs it might make PC gaming more user-friendly. Supposedly soon PC gamers will be able to just pop in a game and play just like on a console.

Galford · « **Reply #7 on:** November 23, 2005, 06:54:13 PM »

What you guys are talking about is integration. The some called all-in-on unit. This has been talked about for years, but has never really come to fruition. It will happen sooner or later, yet who will be there when it happens is the question...

IceCold · « **Reply #8 on:** November 23, 2005, 10:24:54 PM »

I won't rest until I have a cellphone, GPS, full media player, TV, Video recorder/Camera, Car and TV Remote Control, PDA, and handheld console all in one!

PaLaDiN · « **Reply #9 on:** November 23, 2005, 10:30:05 PM »

"I won't rest until I have a cellphone, GPS, full media player, TV, Video recorder/Camera, Car and TV Remote Control, PDA, and handheld console all in one!"

Tape them all together? Or is size a factor?

BigJim · « **Reply #10 on:** November 24, 2005, 12:28:47 AM »

The trend has been going in the opposite direction. People have been turning more to consoles for gaming, not the PC. If anything PC gaming would start to go away while the consoles morph... but I'm not sure even that would happen exactly. It's not a natural step to do your typical PC/internet stuff in the living room on the TV.

For what it's worth (not directly related but it does change the landscape considerably), this next gen could potentially be the last of solid-state game discs. Video will be going the way of streaming (goodbye HD-DVD or BRD), and consoles could follow suit. Hard to say if the bandwidth will be totally ready and rolling in 6 years, but it's possible. If not, it will happen soon after. Look how fast music distribution has transformed since the iPod popularized it. The iPod's about 4 years old. The itunes Music Store is only about 2.5 years old and is now offering TV show downloads.

George Lucas even thinks theaters are in trouble due to same-day on-demand videos becoming available one day.

There is definitely convergeance happening. No doubt about it. There's no clear sign yet that the computer and console are joining yet though, I don't think. But probably someday, somehow...

KDR_11k · « **Reply #11 on:** November 24, 2005, 04:39:02 AM »

I don't see consoles dying anytime soon. Most people apparently prefer them because they can be plugged into the TV and they've paid big bucks for a huge TV while their PC is still running at 800x600x60Hz on a 15" LCrapD. Doesn't help ME because my monitor is maybe 2" smaller than my TV but I'm apparently in the minority here. Obviously you can't do office stuff on a TV and people want plug-in-and-play videogames systems. PCs and consoles have different requirements. A closed-platform PC would be insane, an open-platform console much too expensive.

Artimus · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2005, 05:43:43 AM »

My entire point was that PCs will be able to stream to TVs. The 360 can play media from your media Center PC on your TV. Why not eliminate the middle man?

Ian Sane · « **Reply #13 on:** November 24, 2005, 06:22:37 AM »

"the only difference between PC and consoles is where and how you play them."

No the big difference is that a console works with EVERY game ever made for it (or should baring exceptions like the N64 expansion pack). A PC requires constant hardware upgrades to keep up. The only way I can see the two of them becoming different is if we reach a plateau where logically there is no need to upgrade computers anymore. But with MS making bloatware that probably isn't going to happen for a while.

Plus PC hardware sucks for gaming. It's an out-of-date inefficient design with too many bottlenecks and the only reason it is still used is for backwards compatibility. Consoles have the advantage in that they can be optimised for gaming so you can get better performance for less money. That's why the Xbox's PC-in-a-box design was so criticized. It was inefficient and expensive and cost MS a lot of money when it didn't have to.

I don't think console gaming will die it just might disappear as we know it and morph into something a little different. But deep down I think there will always be a market for playing videogames on your TV with a plug-and-play system.

Though if anyone has killed console gaming it would be Nintendo. Sony and MS were never about gaming. There has always been an ulterior motive to use gaming as a way to sell other technology. Nintendo is the last true console maker dedicated to gaming. So since they're changing their focus to non-gamers the Rev might be so different that it wouldn't really make sense to classify it as a console in the same way one would classify the NES, SNES, N64 or Cube. At that point our choices would be between two all-in-one entertainment boxes and a nifty new thing that provides an activity sort of like gaming but not exactly.

JonLeung · « **Reply #14 on:** November 24, 2005, 07:49:37 AM »

My computer can output to a TV, and I've got a widescreen one, so that's always my argument against owning an Xbox, of which its best games (or at least nearly all of the highly-hyped ones) come to the PC. I'm always like, why wouldn't I just get the PC version instead of buying this redundant console?

People seem to think of PCs and consoles as being two different markets, which I've resisted as much as I could because for me, personally, there is no distinction. Sure, I tend to like the kinds of games more typically seen on consoles, but if they're also available for the PC, I enjoy them just as much on my monitor (when I'm not hooked up to the TV).

One thought that I had about a possible end of console gaming is the price of the hardware for the manufacturers. If, for example, Microsoft really does lose a lot of money on their Xboxes, but they make money on selling the software, if the innards of the Xbox are similar enough to a PC's, why not just sell Xbox emulators (cheaper than making a dedicated console) and continue to sell Xbox discs?

The distinction is there, between a PC and console market, but is it just about the whole living room space thing? If computers move more into the living room, then why? Sure, there's still a difference between a $200-$400 console with minimal installation or a $600-$700 video card that requires you to gut up your computer, but if the manufacturers want to stop losing money on hardware, they could push this inegration and then the Xbox 720 might be an emulator.

Possibly unlikely, but I think the reason why Microsoft and Sony throw money into the black holes of making loss-inducing hardware is that they have enough revenue from other sources to support it, and if they can to the point of pushing out all competitors, then they'll have a monopoly and can charge exorbitant amounts of money on games to make it all back. Yeah, right...

EDIT: No, I didn't really read this topic too thoroughly and I'm sure many would think this idea was silly. Just a thought I had. I'm sure for certain manufacturers like Infinium Labs, whose Phantom (does it even exist?) seems too much like a PC that it should just be a DVD-ROM for your computer for a game-selection interface. Which sounds pretty lame but that's what I was getting from the little I saw of that thing anyway.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #15 on:** November 24, 2005, 08:38:38 AM »

PCs are loud. That's already the first issue right there.

Artimus · « **Reply #16 on:** November 24, 2005, 10:48:33 AM »

The XBOX 360's power bar has a fan. I'd say it's got to be loud.

KDR_11k · « **Reply #17 on:** November 25, 2005, 04:13:54 AM »

Compared to a GeForce7 fan running at full speed?

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #18 on:** November 25, 2005, 07:36:31 AM »

Wow...even talking about a broad subject Ian is able to slam Nintendo.

"No the big difference is that a console works with EVERY game ever made for it (or should baring exceptions like the N64 expansion pack)."

That is some talent Ian.

(kidding)

I think appearance and public perception is important to remember as well. Right now, consoles are preceived to be pretty user friendly, kid friendly, and safe to play. While Computers are preceived as work machines and complicated non-user friendly games.

More people can gather around a gaming system in the living room than a computer in the office.

Also, despite convergience, certain items will never be used for a console, because of that work perception...and simple fact is. People don't want their kids playing games on their work computers.

Ian Sane · « **Reply #19 on:** November 25, 2005, 08:01:37 AM »

I honestly meant nothing negative about the expansion pack comment. It's just an exception and I know if I didn't mention it someone would say "what about the N64 expansion pack".

wandering · « **Reply #20 on:** November 25, 2005, 09:01:45 AM »

I liken game consoles to cassette tapes, in that they exist for the specific purpose of providing affordability and ease of use. And, just as tapes died when vynil was replaced with cds, game consoles as we know them will die when computers become powerful, affordable, and convienant enough. Why would you need a game console when you could wear a personal computer around your wrist like a watch, and could call a movie, game, book, chat room, or word processor up to appear before your eyes with a simple voice command?

Spak-Spang · « **Reply #21 on:** November 25, 2005, 09:40:57 AM »

Ian: I figured you didn't. It was mostly a comment for the joke of it. Everyone loves to pick on you.

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Author Topic: The End of Console Gaming? (Read 6714 times)