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UltimateUnknown on 06 January 2012
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amaral_slb said:

One thing I don´t understand is, if a new console is coming out in the last quarter of a certain year, why do gaming companies feel the need to confirm or show a console in action 1+ year before it comes out.

I have a hard time understanding why Nintendo (or any other company) confirmed and showed the WiiU so early (and out of the big 3, the "damage" they did on the Wii is reduced because their target audience is mainly casual), it makes no sense because you don´t show almost anything, the rumours and speculations can "kill" the hype, and in the end it will sell what it has to sell regardless of how early they start showing it.

I am not talking about show today and release tomorrow, but for example, why would Microsoft/Sony confirm/show anything in this year E3 if the console comes out in the fall of 2013 (for example), effecting current gen sales in a crucial time of the year?

You want to create the hype, but minimize the effect it has on the current sales, specially when current sales are growing every year, and you still have Holiday season in between, why not start hyping the machine in the beginning of 2013? Is the effect of showing it that early that big?

It would be very Microsoft-esque to show the console at E3 2013 and release the console fall 2013, that way they don't lose sales on 360 and the new console is out while there's still hype for it (the Wii U's hype has died down completely since E3 as it isn't coming out for another year).

But this time around MS don't really have a choice I guess, they want to atleast show off that they are making a new console so that the hardcore gamers that have a 360 and are prospective 720 buyers don't move over to Nintendo for the next console. As long as MS show that they have something in the works, their loyal fans will just wait it out, which is how I think. Its either that or they release the nextbox fall 2012 alongside the Wii U and give Nintendo a real run for their money on both the hardcore and casual front. Who knows?

I don't really understand how Sony is operating, maybe they are just going crazy after taking loses for so many consecutive years that they just want to be relevant in the competition with an early release. I imagine they don't want to repeat the same mistakes they made this gen.