Pachter Says “Casual Gamers Are Never Buying Consoles Again.”

[superchunk]

They are wrong as traditional console model no longer exists with the next generation.

All three companies will tout their consoles as not only being gaming consoles and media players, but also as TV connected internet devices like iTV and GoogleTV.

MS will definitely have their console setup as an extension of their windows phones and tablets. It will be their answer directly to Apple and Google. It will contain full apps and this is partly why MS is changing their Live IDs to be Microsoft generic IDs... similar to Google IDs which used to be gmail accounts.

While Nintendo won't have video playback as they never do, they already have rumors that their next system will contain full Android application support. If it has a full interface where Nintendo gaming and Network is tied directly to Google TV/Android type experience... its a massive win for everyone and will ensure that the Wii U is a direct competitor to everyone else.

Sony already showed signs of this approach with its partnerships with Android as well as its custom app based OS on Vita. I'm not sure how they will actually handle it due to Vita's existence, but if they are smart (and I am not sure if they are), they'd follow Nintendo's approach and utilize Android as well.

Then you have the big boys in the mobile world with Apple and Google.

Apple TVs are destined to launch later this year and its obvious their iTV product will continue to advance along with the continued growth of their gaming lineup. I've said it before and I'm saying it again... in 2013 we'll see console gaming on iProducts that are identical in every way with bluetooth sync'd controllers. This will be Apple's indirect path into console gaming.

Finally Google in February blatantly stated they are massively expanding their gaming center in their Play store as well as Android capabilities in the beginning of 2013. I am absolutely certian this shows proof that Android devices will also be direct competitors to consoles.

In both of these last cases, not only will you have games directly on their consoles, but streaming gaming with companies like OnLive will bring the EXACT same next-gen game on these devices as well. Again utilizing bluetooth controllers. Probably your existing controllers on your home console quite literally.

Personally, I can't wait for a Wii U with GoogleTV. (or for some of you PS4TV/WindowsNeXtBox8)