Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

[DaveDQ]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

Isn't that competition supposed to drive prices down instead of up? Instead, we're seeing prices for next-gen machinery anywhere from 50 to 100 percent higher than that of the last generation.

That makes little sense to me.

Take care,
PK

I see your point here, but I think the key factor is how many people are in the console making industry. Your example of LCDs coming down in price is based on a very broad market. We see tons of LCD TV makers, and only 3 console makers. Peter Moore has stated how they went about pricing the 360, defining what the consumer would agree as a good price, and at the same time attempting to cover overhead. An LCD maker has to consider their competition. ILo, Wal-Mart's HD TV line, has a lot to say about how Sony will price their 32" TV.

I'm not saying each console maker doesn't consider the others, but I think they can approach pricing differently than other electronic devices.

Also, I have to say I am not impressed at all with the games on the 360; however, I expected that. Right now the system's periphials are the only thing "next-gen" on it. The games are not. Some hint towards it.

I honestly believe we won't see complete "next-gen" until mid 2007. Alan Wake, Assasin's Creed, Forza 2 and Blue Dragon to mention a few.

We are starving because the "next-gen" hype is everywhere. EA Sports uses the phrase like they have mastered it. Honestly, the only ones I see close to even touching it is Ubisoft, but that's opinion.

I think someone needs to clearly define what "next-gen" means.

[Bobolini]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

I just had a thought. If you think about it, the console community is actually a lot luckier than the PC gamers. The PC gamers have to buy a new $300 video card every year just to play some stinking rehashed game.

Not saying that what's going on in the console wars is right. I think it's gross that we're already getting early info on Microsoft's next console. I would hope that these new machines would have a life of over 5 years.

No, a $300 current video card is actually ahead of the gaming curve. My Video card is over 3 years old and is viewed as middle to lower and it still blows the graphics away of an xbox game. If I do wish to upgrade (which I'm looking at) it will cost me around $150 for a very good quality card.

[Money99]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

No, a $300 current video card is actually ahead of the gaming curve. My Video card is over 3 years old and is viewed as middle to lower and it still blows the graphics away of an xbox game. If I do wish to upgrade (which I'm looking at) it will cost me around $150 for a very good quality card.

Until the next 'big game' comes out that demands a higher end graphics card. Much like what Oblivion did.
And what kind of card would you need to match the 360 or PS3?

[sdrotar]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

Here's my problem with gaming hardware right now: The industry is becoming pretty mature, yet the price of the technology is increasing, not decreasing. That flies in the face of convention of nearly every other electronic product.

Four years ago, a 20 GB iPod without video cost $400. Today, an 80 GB iPod with video costs $349.

Five years ago, a decent-quality DVD player cost $200. Today, it costs $50.

Five years ago, an 36-inch LCD HDTV cost $2,000. Today, it costs $1,200.

The same with PC's, digital cameras, camcorders and so on.

Yet five years ago, an Xbox that played games, DVD's and MP3 music files, with online play built in, cost $299. Today, an Xbox 360 with the same capabilities, with slicker interfaces and more multimedia options, costs $399.

But in terms of GAMES, the Xbox and 360 do very little different outside of the Xbox Live environment. Yet the machine was $100 more expensive at launch than the Xbox was.

The PS3 is an even more egregious violator. It's double the price of a PS2 at launch, with only Blu-Ray and a souped-up interface as the big, distinguishing difference in gaming.

At what point will the curve reverse and consoles follow the trend of all other consumer electronics, that is become cheaper for the same or more features as the industry becomes more competitive and more robust?

I just think there's something wrong with the next-gen gaming hardware model because the pricing conflicts with the norm of nearly every other consumer electronics product in a maturing genre. It's not like video game consoles just hit the market in 1997 -- they've been around for 25 years or so.

There's more competition than ever in video gaming hardware, with three VERY viable next-gen console manufacturers who each also produce very alive current-gen systems, and two very competitive handheld manufacturers.

Isn't that competition supposed to drive prices down instead of up? Instead, we're seeing prices for next-gen machinery anywhere from 50 to 100 percent higher than that of the last generation.

That makes little sense to me.

Take care,
PK

Outstanding post, PK.

I think that the gaming market is becoming a smidge elitist, insomuch as that most gamers don't have HDTVs, have any use for high-def DVD players and so on. They're running the prices up for the smallest percentage instead of the largest, and generally, that's not a plan for long-term success.

Now I do know why they're doing that - and since I do own an HDTV, I'm enjoying it immensely - but business-wise, it seems like next-gen gaming is basically prettier and much more expensive current-gen gaming to most consumers.

The only thing that's truly "next-gen" is the 360's Xbox Live integration, with gamertag/scores, a player feeback/evaluation process and the Marketplace, I suppose. But what's the Marketplace selling the most of? Arcade games - small, simple fun-to-play games... like your DS Lite plays.

It's an interesting time in the industry, to be sure.

[pk500]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

Maybe Microsoft fixed this, but in a game like Tennis exactly how do you move your man and the racket?

Easy. Wiimote for racket, nunchuk for player movement.

I'm surprised Nintendo didn't design it this way other than it's using Wii Sports as little more than a pack-in, pick-up-and-play tech demo.

Take care,
PK

[Money99]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

Easy. Wiimote for racket, nunchuk for player movement.

I'm surprised Nintendo didn't design it this way other than it's using Wii Sports as little more than a pack-in, pick-up-and-play tech demo.

Take care,
PK

So now I have to buy a nun-chuck controller to play a tennis game? That's progressive?

[Cyros]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

So now I have to buy a nun-chuck controller to play a tennis game? That's progressive?

You get the nun-chuck attatchment when you buy a Wii. If you want another nunchuck you have to buy it.

[Money99]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

You get the nun-chuck attatchment when you buy a Wii. If you want another nunchuck you have to buy it.

Okay. But what if you want to play against a buddy? You have to buy two controllers.

I'm done complaining about the Wii. It's obvious I'm offending some of the Nintendo fans here. I just don't see anything innovative in their games.
If someone here could describe a game that's coming out for the Wii that is totally different than what's already been rehashed 1000 times then I'll listen.
But a lot of the games I see on their list are the same ones we've seen since the NES.

[dbeth]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

You want to play your buddy in NCAA? You gotta buy a second controller.

At least you're getting a "game" to get used to the controls with the Wii

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

Okay. But what if you want to play against a buddy? You have to buy two controllers.

I'm done complaining about the Wii. It's obvious I'm offending some of the Nintendo fans here. I just don't see anything innovative in their games.
If someone here could describe a game that's coming out for the Wii that is totally different than what's already been rehashed 1000 times then I'll listen.
But a lot of the games I see on their list are the same ones we've seen since the NES.

Give me a 360 game or a PS3 game that is totally different?

[pk500]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

So now I have to buy a nun-chuck controller to play a tennis game? That's progressive?

The nunchuk comes with the system.

Please, read a bit about the system and its included peripherals before stating your case. Educated opinions are easier to digest and respect.

Take care,
PK

[Money99]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

You want to play your buddy in NCAA? You gotta buy a second controller.

At least you're getting a "game" to get used to the controls with the Wii

Yeah, but I don't have to buy TWO CONTROLLERS for one person! And lets say we play 2-on-2. That's a total of 8 controllers!

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

Yeah, but I don't have to buy TWO CONTROLLERS for one person! And lets say we play 2-on-2. That's a total of 8 controllers!

You're still paying the same. The 360 wireless controller is $50. A Wimote is 19.99 and the nunchuck is 29.99. Keep trying though.

[pk500]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

Okay. But what if you want to play against a buddy? You have to buy two controllers.

And that's different from the 360 and PS3 how? Don't both of those systems only come with one controller?

Take care,
PK

[pk500]

Re: Next Gen Consoles – Way too soon or Signs of Failure?

I'm done complaining about the Wii. It's obvious I'm offending some of the Nintendo fans here.

The only thing that's offensive is your lack of knowledge about the system specs before you rip it. And no, I'm not buying a Wii, either.

As I said, an informed opinion is easier to digest and respect. Otherwise, it's just hot air, and no one told me a balloon festival was scheduled for today in this thread.

Take care,
PK