Life After the Video Game Crash

[Bacardi151]

http://www.pointlesswasteoftime.com/games/crash.html

good read

[mgoblue]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

very good read, I agree, and with the prices driving up for everything it really makes you think

[Cebby]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

I think the dude is just making stuff up.

1. Dude says Atari had 25 million systems sold before the crash. Haven't all 3 systems sold more than 25 million now, with PS2 at like, 70?

2.

The difference, is that most people are only playing games for the novelty of it.

That's just not true. I'd venture to say video games are just as integrated into the youth culture as TV and movies. Sure amoung the 40 plus crowd there's probably a huge drop off, but damn near every kid has a video game system. Hell, the GTA games probably beat out most movies in terms of money brought in.

[ehh]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

Wasn't there a very similar article posted on here over the winter? Heck, maybe it was the exact some one.

Either way, it's a great read and I agree with it.

[Bacardi151]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

Wasn't there a very similar article posted on here over the winter? Heck, maybe it was the exact some one.

Either way, it's a great read and I agree with it.

My apologies if there was. I wasnt here during the winter, so i didnt get a chance to see it.


I do think his point on the novelty might be a factor. I always thought as I got older, i was just getting over the video game thing, but out comes a game which sucks me in and i am hooked as long as i was back in the 80's. Granted, now i have less time and all, but i feel that it has gotten to a point where we are retreading the same stuff. How many go back and play the older games? One of the main reason to upgrade is the 'graphical horsepower' of today's systems. Well what happens when/if the limit is reached?

You hear all sorts of things that they can create better AI and more physics, but this is still a longs way off, whereas the graphical goodness IMO is reaching its peak. Thankfully the big N is bringing something new out. Then again, i dont know what happens first; the novelty wears off or boredom sets in, or both.

[caseyd]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

I was interested in the stuff he was saying about online gaming. What do you guys think? Do you agree with what he says about it? I tend to agree. I haven't plopped down the money for Live yet because it feels like I can't just get on there and have a good time. I feel like I have to play these games 8 hours a day to get good enough to compete with most people. Maybe I haven't given it enough of a chance.

[bryan_05]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

I was interested in the stuff he was saying about online gaming. What do you guys think? Do you agree with what he says about it? I tend to agree. I haven't plopped down the money for Live yet because it feels like I can't just get on there and have a good time. I feel like I have to play these games 8 hours a day to get good enough to compete with most people. Maybe I haven't given it enough of a chance.

I haven't read the article yet, but as for competition in online gaming ... play with people you know When I play GRAW with the guys on OS it is much more competitive and fun then just joining random games.

[jfsolo]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

I was interested in the stuff he was saying about online gaming. What do you guys think? Do you agree with what he says about it? I tend to agree. I haven't plopped down the money for Live yet because it feels like I can't just get on there and have a good time. I feel like I have to play these games 8 hours a day to get good enough to compete with most people. Maybe I haven't given it enough of a chance.

Right now about 10% of current-gen gamers are online. That's all. Analysts say that by the end of the next-gen games lifespan, in 2011, less than 25% of the consoles will be used online..



I'm going to share a secret with you; the average video gamer isn't big on fist-pumping competition with strangers. That's the territory of the jocks and the scholarship-clutching Future Businessmen of America members. Among gamers, the Halo 2 teabaggers and Madden fanatics who insist on playing against a dozen strangers online are a small, hard-core faction.

If the industry does tank this will be one of the main reasons why. A large percentage of the gaming insiders-(Console makers, Game developers/publishers, and Gaming Media)- seem to be greatly overestimating(IMO) the growth and importance of online gaming. Is it smart to devote so many manpower hours and other resources to componets of the game that 75% of your customers won't use?

If developers skimp on the single player aspects and cater to the multiplayer/online crowd they may win the hearts of EGM, IGN, and OS, but the silent majority will eventually stop buying.

[SPTO]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

I've been saying the next crash will happen in the next few years. It might be sooner then that tho with the big 2 trying to cram online gaming down our throats when it's only a small percentage that actually uses it.

The pricing for the consoles are going sky high. At some point the threshold will break and the only people that will be able to buy consoles are upper class folks. They'll be cutting out the lower middle class all in the name of profit.

Another factor for the next video game crash is the lack of creativity in the gaming industry. Everything seems so homogenized now. All you're really seeing are sequels to established games and very little actual innovation.

At some point people are going to throw up their hands and stop buying games.

[bryan_05]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

I've been saying the next crash will happen in the next few years. It might be sooner then that tho with the big 2 trying to cram online gaming down our throats when it's only a small percentage that actually uses it.

The pricing for the consoles are going sky high. At some point the threshold will break and the only people that will be able to buy consoles are upper class folks. They'll be cutting out the lower middle class all in the name of profit.

Another factor for the next video game crash is the lack of creativity in the gaming industry. Everything seems so homogenized now. All you're really seeing are sequels to established games and very little actual innovation.

At some point people are going to throw up their hands and stop buying games.

Insert the Nintendo Wii here. Just a thought

[Rodster]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

I've been saying the next crash will happen in the next few years. It might be sooner then that tho with the big 2 trying to cram online gaming down our throats when it's only a small percentage that actually uses it.

The pricing for the consoles are going sky high. At some point the threshold will break and the only people that will be able to buy consoles are upper class folks. They'll be cutting out the lower middle class all in the name of profit.

Another factor for the next video game crash is the lack of creativity in the gaming industry. Everything seems so homogenized now. All you're really seeing are sequels to established games and very little actual innovation.

At some point people are going to throw up their hands and stop buying games.

In the past I would have said no way. But i'm starting to believe the whole deck of cards might fall. The point about homogenized games is an excellent point as well. We can thank the big publishers for that.

All the indie developers couldn't compete with limited shelf space at stores like EB and Bestbuy. So the larger publishing giants have bought them out and are now telling them what type of games they want to make.

The only hope I see out of this are services like XBL Arcade where indie developers can make fun, simple creative games for the massive at a reasonable price.

As for now the videogame industry is starting to smell a whole like the recording industry.

[SPTO]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

Insert the Nintendo Wii here. Just a thought

Yes I realize Nintendo is going out of the box but they have to be wildly successful in order to affect change in the industry. I have high hopes but I doubt it actually happens.

[Laettner32]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

As for the online factor brought up a few spots ago. I recently got X box live exactly 3 months ago. And I like it, although the only game I really play is BF2MC. GRAW I havent played much offline so Im sure Ill get my *** handed pretty bad online. But with live, you can see not only what people are playing but where they are in certain games. Not to mention the downloadable content. I wouldnt say its a necessity, but it definitly enhances game life.

[caseyd]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

As for the online factor brought up a few spots ago. I recently got X box live exactly 3 months ago. And I like it, although the only game I really play is BF2MC. GRAW I havent played much offline so Im sure Ill get my *** handed pretty bad online. But with live, you can see not only what people are playing but where they are in certain games. Not to mention the downloadable content. I wouldnt say its a necessity, but it definitly enhances game life.

I really enjoy the marketplace and I think downloadable demos are a fantastic idea. I'm just questioning the online gaming part of it. I know I'm going to get my butt handed to me in whatever I play (though I did win a Burnout match against someone the other day) because I don't have a lot of time to devote to learning the games that well. I guess games like Uno, Texas Hold 'Em, and other arcade type games excite me the most just because I don't have to have my teenage reflexes back to be successful. lol

[goh]

Re: Life After the Video Game Crash

I tryed Live gold when I first got the 360 with the trial and hated it. After getting a bunch more games I tryed with a trial account and still hated it. Marketplace is cool though but don't need gold for that.

I think there'll be a crash if people buy the PS3. That'll make them think people will buy expensive systems and then the next bunch will be even more and not enough people will be able to afford them.