Hey-ho friends,
Despite my rather bumpy entry into this foray of entertainment with my original LBP infusion of logic, I appear to have done quite well. I think my original 2 million high estimate and 3 million ceiling is on par to hit home with somewhere between 2.5 and 3 million at the end of the day.
Regardless of that, with Christmas being over I thought mayhaps it was time to address the overall state of the gaming nation. That is, the three consoles in this generation and their current sales numbers as well as what I believe could greatly improve their numbers. Truly there are elements of each console that are already implemented with surgical precision so I'd like to note those as well as I go along.
I apologize for the inflammatory headline but it seemed as though it was a good place to start:
The Playstation 3 is a work of technological art - you'll have no debate from me. It does what it does well and does what no other console can do. But I oft wonder why I actually purchased one. The gaming library is impressive and I enjoy that immensely. But, really, Blu-Ray... come on. Why did I pay for this? Was it so I could pay 35 dollars a movie (it's expensive in Canada, eh?) to replace the 10 dollar DVDs I already own? Hardly. And the backwards compatibility is a red herring when it comes down to it. How often have I used it? I can count it on one hand, and I still have my PS2 on my TV shelf. Wireless internet? Perhaps if it was at all reliable for gaming I'd be interested.
The bottom line with the Playstation 3 is that they took a gamble and Sony got bit hard by unfortunate circumstances. They have a good gaming library and impressive features but the timing is wrong. This time is not the time when the average person is looking for extra; I would instead believe that the average person is looking to cut back. The real problem is that Sony cannot drop the price because their unit costs too much for them as well. Ultimately they are maintaining sales numbers, if only barely, but to make up costs they will need to drop the price, drop features, or both. Despite many claims over the past year it has become abundantly clear that no game or games will pull the Playstation 3 out of this rut. Unfortunately, the longer they wait the more Microsoft and Nintendo will eat their pie.
The sweet and delicious pie has been cannablized by Nintendo. The underdog with it's name on the gravestone by the naysayers, but with a pocket full of cash from years of good planning and niche spending for anyone with a sense of realism. When I heard that they were calling their console the "Wii" I laughed like everyone else. When I saw the motion sensing controls I scoffed and called it impossible to pull off - a second Virtual Boy, if you will.
But they did it. Gaming is back to the roots I remember with a ton of junk games and a few glimmering pieces of gold in the sand. Focusing on the experience rather than the playsheet has done Nintendo well and will likely to continue to do them well. They're already golden with little more to do.
Microsoft, however, is the real story here. They've managed to do so much simply by being early to the game and making PC gaming 10% less frustrating than it used to be. Realistically, the Xbox 360 is nothing more than a simplified PC. It sure runs like a PC. I've had more freezes on my Xbox 360 than Bernard Madoff had victims. Strange bugs requiring strange fixes. I'm surprised no one has written a virus for the system yet.
If Microsoft wants to actually get a bigger share of the market they need to do two things. First, realize that there is more to the market than children who think mature games are games their parents don't want them to play. Games with ethnic cultures who are prone to rap and swearing, or games where murder, blood, and violence are key are only considered mature games by those who are not mature. Variety in games is key to expanding their demographic, but I completely understand the focus on a strong foundation. This is something they will need to address in the next iteration of their illustrious console. The size of the gaming library and the quality therein are the best of any console to date. There is no contest in this category.
The other element they need to address is the system itself. For so long as the Xbox brand remains a simplified PC with only a marginal increase in usability they will remain in the 13-25 male segment. I stand by the notion that the 360, and to a less extent the PS3, is too much of a PC and not enough of a console.
But I digress, for this is only supposed to be a recap of what I feel are the key points in past, present and future success for the respective consoles. I firmly do not believe the Playstation 3 will be able to retain (edit) at least (/edit) the second place position unless it is able to find a means of creating a model at the $300 price point in 2009. It may take some reduction in features combined with decreased manufacturing costs, but it is imperative that they become more competitive in a time of extended economic regression.
I apologize in advance for any preconceived notions I may have trampled on as this is merely the opinion of one man. An amazing man, to be sure, but only one. My cape and superpowers await your discussion.
Regards,
Captain Amazing
