Welcome to the E3 2012 Console Press conference Recap!
What a day it was, we all got the first look at "the future of gaming consoles", the "GameStation"! Well to be true, we got several first looks at the different flavours that have been presented by the big 3...
After the devastation that was caused by the last generation, where lots of smaller developers were lost and fanboywars raged across the internet like wildfire, and in the end the general public losing interest once they got tired of playing waggle-mini-games on the Wii and then not wanting to drop the amount necessary to get a high-def-gaming system. for the past 2 years seemed like the end of console gaming was nigh, but then Sony, MS and Nintendo got over their differences and decided it was time to save console gaming in the only way possible: co-operation!
So what is this GameStation you ask?
Nintendo, Ms and Sony realised that the big issue that consoles have compared to their PC-counterparts is the fact that there were always multiple versions available ( as you all well know ;-) ), the result is a segmented market where in the end the console with the highest sellthrough gets the largest amount of games ( on average ). This not only hurt the 3 companies because they had to research, develop and market a new console each on their own, but first and foremost it hurt the consumer!
Avid gamers were forced to buy all 3 consoles if they wanted to be able to play _EVERY_ game available... But as we all know, that is not a common feature, so the result was that lots of gamers would be unable to play a certain game, just because they hadn't made the 'right' choice of console. Sometimes later on a (shitty) port would appear, but it wouldn't be the same as the original, or worse, the port got a few _sweet_ extras that the 'original' buyers didn't get...
Another problem faced by many, is that when you get console X and your buddy gets console Y, there was no way you could play together... Thus instead of going through the same problems again, the big 3 designed a "single core system" around which the rest of the console can be built. This way, any company that feels like it can take a license for the 'core system' and release their own console based upon this core. The result is that for the
consumer there will be a plethora of choices, though we've only been shown the initial 3 models available.
Core System?
So what is in this core system? Well basicly everything you need to be able to play games and get online. The differences between the consoles will be in the casing and the 'added features'.
Based upon the magnificent Cell-CPU from the original PS3, the SuperCellCPU is in fact capable of doing 20 times the amount of calculations from back then, and the completely fresh graphical card is of a quality that Nvidia guaranteed, regular PC's won't be able to catch up within the next few years.
The drive used for the system is the BLURAY2-format ( the spiritual successor to BLURAY ).
To make this part short ( since not too much info has been given ), the big 3 have combined all of their research-and-development potential together with some of the biggest players in the hardware market to make sure that this core-system will be able to withstand the test of time!
So what about these "different" versions?
The idea of the GameStation is to deliver 1 single system for which games can be released, all games, arcade-games, retro-rebuilds and whatever, will work on ALL systems!!! It is purely up to the consumer to see what kind of console they want.
Some of the highlights:
Nintendo GameStation
-> stricter parental controls then the other versions
-> Using the channel-system from the original Wii, but then in High Def
-> Group Chat Mic ( like the one from Animal Crossing on Wii )
-> Bright and colorful design, available in 4 different colours from the start
-> No movieplayback
-> controller is based upon the Game-cube-controller, but then with the added in motion-detection.
Sony GameStation
-> UI looks like a redesigned XMBar, with an updated version of Home named "Villa" being made available for all versions.
-> Headset iso Group mic
-> Design is very 'high-end-multimedia-system' like, will fit perfecty with your Bravia-TV/other SONY devices
-> 500Gb HD
-> Controller is the DualShock 4 ( since they had to redesign the DS3 to be compatible to the GameStation)
Microsoft GameStation
-> Ui is an update from the one released shortly after E3 2008, looks a bit dated, but we all know it works great!
-> Wireless Headset like the Sony-version, just smaller ( don't know if that's a good thing or not ;-) )
-> Controller reminds me of the original 'small' controller from the first XBOX, but then with an added chatpad like it was made available for the Xbox 360.
Of course, you can get a controller from each system if you want, since everything is fully compatible!
Exclusives!
For years this was the nightmare of the industry, exclusive deals to 1 piece of hardware, thus limiting the amount of possible consumers as much as possible, we've lost too many great gamedevs in the 'past' generation simply because they released an awesome game on the 'wrong' console...
Now however, exclusives are a great marketing tool for everybody! They announced a couple of exclusive releases ( as in no longer coming to PC! ) that will surely make everybody want a GameStation!
-> Forza 4 ( the folow up of the legendary racing experience on the 360, now available for all to play!)
-> Call Of Duty 7! Yes! you heard it right! the next iteration of COD won't touch PC's anymore
-> Gran Turismo 7! another great classic 'exclusive' series that has joined the ranks of the console-exclusive!
-> Red Alert 6, the devs decided that since RA5 was the most played game on PC for 2010 yet it sold barely a million copies, that they would no longer waste their efforts on the pirated medium that the PC has become...
Conclusion
Instead of the game-companies deciding what you need and whether or not you get to play a certain, game, this generation will be known as the "Generation of the consumer" since its the consumer that decides which extra's he does or does not want, its the consumer that chooses even which kind of controller to use for any game, its the consumer that gets to play any game that is released!
The gamedevs are celebrating since now they will have a consumerbase that can become larger then the PC-gaming-scene and they don't have to worry about making the 'wrong' choice of system, nor will they have to re-create every game 2 to 3 times for the different consoles, since everything will be compatible...
I'll be getting one DAY ONE!
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They have this already. It's called a PC. Except the companies aren't Sony, MS and Nintendo, they are Intel, AMD, nVidia and ATI. What's more, you can mix and match different bits of hardware to suit your needs. Some say it is very expensive. These people mostly look at total cost for the most expensive parts. This is not necessary. Initially, the outlay can be prohibitive, with the cost of monitor, power supply and tower, on top of the core five parts: mobo, CPU, video card, RAM and HDD. But buying a tower and monitor is no different to purchasing a TV on which to play consoles. Thankfully, most new TVs also have PC ports or, if you prefer, most video cards now come with HDMI or component output. Unfortunately, most developers are beginning to see the platform as unprofitable. This is a result of refusing to change already outdated business practises. They point to low sales numbers as proof of piracy or lack of market, but do not take in to account sales from digital distribution, the new market they largely ignore. Another unfortunate result is that the digital distribution services are only available within certain countries. The biggest block in the way of an equal platform for all is regional encodings and market monopolies, not to mention local exclusive distribution deals which inhibit the market, such as the deals that prevent THQ games being available on a mostly global service like Steam, due to arrangements with brick-and-mortar stores.
This one console future you invision is not the biggest hurdle to overcome. It is the regional markets and lack of unified digital distribution service, as there is a largely unified retail service.
The point of consoles is that you DON't assemble them yourself, I know the concept above sounds a lot like the PC platform, but it isn't, there is a completely unified Core ( like all PC-manufacturers would build a mobo with the same cpu, same ram, same graca etc etc ).
I also don't get why you claim that piracy isn't hurting the industry, cause first of all it DOES hurt the industry and secondly trust me, if this 1-console-future would happen, a LOT of PC-devs would jump ship... What would you do if you were going to create a game? Create it for a medium that has so much piracy you gotta be lucky to get bought if you don't have an online part or create if for every single console-gamer out there? ( I haven't got any numbers but I do think there's a lot less crisis-capable PC's out there then there's 360's & PS3s... )
I just don't get why you see this as a PC vs Console-article as this is not in any way an article like that, I love the PC for gaming, I just don't like the fact that for my 'other' gaming-needs I have to buy 3 seperate devices every few years... I think in the end the PC-gaming-scene might indeed suffer from this one-console-future, but then it will be largely due to devs going for the sure-sell instead of for the sure-pirated, but the only ones to blame for that are the pirates! Also the devs might figure that its easier to develop for the GameStation iso the PC since there's just one specific kind of hardware available...
Sorry forgot about that retail thingy from you, well I'm talking about 2012, by that time digital distribution will most likely be very common, so your point on that will be a mute point anyway :-)
I'd not appreciate it to be honest, I love my game-collection, its also the reason I've never bought anything of Steam, I mean what if Steam 'quits' in 5 years? will you get your money back for all those games that you won't be able to install anymore? Because face it, Steam won't run forever, and what with all those legal games you bought then?
Plus its a great view to have several shelves filled with similar boxes in a row :-)
PC gamers who have the PC as their primary gaming device have to turn everything into a console/PC argument.
I hope this never happens and I really doubt it will for the same reason the music industry will never lose record labels. After a while one of the group will want to break from that unified system and get the jump (plus sales) on the other 2 by making something better.
In an ideal world it could happen, but in a corporate world where the idea is getting an edge on your competition its never going to work for more than a few years.
n an ideal world it could happen, but in a corporate world where the idea is getting an edge on your competition its never going to work for more than a few years.
that's the thing, I think this 'Unified Console' could be just the thing that console makers need to give them the edge over PC's, thus heralding a brighter future for console-gamers...
The other thing is, if one of them would want to make 'their' system more powerful, it probably wouldn't be compatible anymore with the 'unified' version, thus eliminating them from games are being developed, and that will prolly be enough to stop them :-)
I never said piracy wasn't a problem, I said it wasn't as big a problem as everyone said.
The best thing you can hope for is a unified development system, something like OpenGL or DirectX. This lets console manufacturers make their own hardware, but it gives the developers a single platform to develop for.
As for preferring retail to DD, I just don't get the argument that you like having boxes and shit lying around. Why do people do this? Is it a materialistic thing? I couldn't care less about the box. It's the game I'm interested in.
The argument about Steam not being around forever is valid. As is the argument that your cartridges and DVDs aren't going to last forever. What will I do? I will download the games I have already paid for and play them that way. I've already paid for them, so I don't care whether the copy I'm using is illegal or not.
The best thing you can hope for is a unified development system, something like OpenGL or DirectX. This lets console manufacturers make their own hardware, but it gives the developers a single platform to develop for.
now that is a desciption of a PC-system :-) If the hardware is too different, there will always be compatibility issues I think... So it would be vital that the hardware is 'alike' enough.
I never said piracy wasn't a problem, I said it wasn't as big a problem as everyone said.
well more and more devs are actually saying its smarter ( business-wise ) to develop for consoles, so I would say it is becoming a BIG problem... Everywhere you go you see PC-gamers complaining about IP's not coming to their system, and I do believe that part of it is being caused by the rampant piracy going on. There was a post on 'that other site from the guy with the hair' where a dev from Epic said that in the first 6 months that they released UT3, they had seen more then 20 million attempts to connect with pirated versions ( not unique users clearly )
as for the discs, yeah it really is a material thing :-)
I just like the way it looks plus it gives you a nice overview of what you've got available :-)
k this was more then 4 years ago, but you get my idea :-)
I want "Villa" now, please..lol.
Good stuff, Mistic.
Games = money. As long as that's the issue, we'll never have one console.
The console war(s) are as dividing and confusing as any real war at times. (Or at least as dividing and confusing as politics.) I think the epeen is the only thing that is thought of when standing behind one's own system and trumpeting themselves and trolling all others. Its petty, pathetic and time for a change! One world, one console! LLOL
Anyway, on a more serious note, retailers absolutely hate 3 consoles, nevertheless 5 or 6 (including handhelds, plus a last gen system, etc). I've said this before in comments to a cblog... Retailer's are sometimes dried up ol' prunes and they think 1 game system is plenty enough [for "sonny boy" ::rolls eyes::], or, at least 1 system on display is enough in many retailer's eyes.. whereas the other system(s) could be stacked up next to the board games Life, Scrabble, Monopoly, etc for all they care. And they care not except it makes them money on the games and overall foot traffic and such.
I'd like to end my comment on a current trend such as disruption, or other negative effects happening to our beloved past time.. But instead of taking up 10 pages, I'll just say, "Are video games a Mature hobby, or immature childish (my epeen is better than) yours schoolyard game?"... I say Mature hobby... but for how long...??
that's just is Yashoki, the way I see it, this system would save the consolemanufacturers loads of money, since they can split the dev-costs by 3 basicly.
Also for developers it will be incredibly valuable, since they don't have to gamble on which system to release their game, since it'll work on all the sold consoles anyway! Lets see this in perspective a bit According to nexgenwars.com, there's 19 million 360's sold, about 10 million PS3's and 22 million Wii's, now if you want to release a high-def-game you've got a few choices, you can release a multiplatformgame and divide your dev-team in 2 teams, each working on 1 system, or you can make the gamble... the first way costs handfulls of money, the second is risky as hell, certainly if you want to create a special game... If you make the second choice, you'll have to limit your audience to either 10 million or 19 million possible gamers...
Now if there's just 1 console, and lets say people get faith again and this thing really replaces the current generation, that could mean 51 million consoles sold in the first few years, so your target audience would be more then twice as big as the biggest current market-share-holder! And you wouldn't have to jump through any hoops to do it ;)
And lets go even further, by the end of the livecycle of the GameStation, about 2 years after the GameStation 2 came out, how many gamestation 1 would be available then? ( PS2 is over 100 million, no clue about xbox or NGC, but fuck, 100 million is a crazy amount of possible customers for your game! )
So I think this would make the gamedevs and the consolemakers MOAAAR money, while we won't have to buy 3 consoles just to be able to play with all our friends! :-)
Lol hadn't even thought of that Rifter01! You're absolutely right! the retailers will love it too :-)
I suddenly don't understand why we had to go until the 7th generation already like this :p
This would require more cooperation then the human race is capable of
Sounds like my ultimate plan back in the day... The Microsoft DreamXCubeStation2. Ah, the fun to be had.