They're both crazy.

2 points I find crazzzzzzzy.


1. That this will be the last console gen. I guarantee you 100000% that all three have already begun the steps that will lead to new consoles coming out. Especially for Nintendo who cannot make an easy jump into a nonHardware oriented type of service.

2. That some of them actually still believe the PS3 will be the top machine come 2012/2013 when this gen end. wtf, are they so ignorant that they just don't see the numbers every month from at least NPD for fucks sake?!

Someone give that guy the last two years worth of sales data please.

People still care about what this guy has to say...

I think this will be the last 'arms race' generation of consoles trying to push their specifications into the stratosphere. It totally destroyed the Playstations marketshare, and stymied the 360's for a few years (till it dropped to a reasonable price).

From now on, I think we'll see upgrades that aren't pushing 10x the pixel fill rates that we've seen over the past 2 generations...Much more scaled down (better than the GC>Wii transition, but nowhere near the XB>360 or PS2>3).

Instead, we'll see MS/Sony really work on enticing developers too build for their systems using much more robust middleware systems to allow for great games at affordable development prices. The big issue is that games are too expensive to make 'good' for such systems, because there's just too much grunt work involved. Microsoft or Sony will work on producing Unreal Engine-esque systems themselves, and woo developers with the promise of cheap development costs.

Ultimately, console companies will work to create a better financial environment for themselves, and their developers. I don't get the whole 'there is no money in it' - bull! It's a $40b industry, and some companies are making a killing! The problem is that many have failed in the HD transition, and they'll learn from this generation. But technology will always progress, and companies will take advantage of it.

I expect another generation around 2012-2013 with more robust integration that all the companies struck out on, and no console will be above $300 at launch...But preferably $200.

I think he may be right.

Wii has proved that graphics are good enough for most consumers.  Why continue to push the bar they can't afford to?

All systems have other ways of interacting with games maybe the "next generation" is going to be an emphasis from Sony, Microsoft and 3rd parties in using these other solutions more adequately to create more natural ways of interfacing and greater immersion. 

Making a new system doesn't make any financial sense for anyone in the next 5 to 10 years and we know Nintendo will milk success for years.  What technology could greatly change our interaction that will come down in price fast enough to be viable to start another hardware race? I'm sure Sony and Microsoft have hopefully learned that increased graphics aren't enough.

isn't the world suppose to end in 2012? But seriously, I think he is on to something especially since services are starting up to make games entirely remotely accessed. I would think though that we might have another generation to go, but the future of the consoles does seem a bit shaky at the moment, with so many new trends, technologies, and money issues. There are some good points there regardless if he is wrong.

I don't know if you guys have read this article at IGN about OnLive, but all the trends seem to be leaning toward this type of service.  Question is how long out?

http://pc.ign.com/articles/965/965542p1.html

 Best Post ^^

"Cole agrees with him, saying that in 2012 the PS3 will be the leading platform for software sales and that both Microsoft and Nintendo will be forced to launch new platforms (Sony would likely wait a bit longer)."

hmmm... ok. This guy is more gold than Patcher.

Thats the same stuff he has been preaching for months now.

I'm fine with extensions of the current gen, but eventually we will need to have some new guts in our machines.

I think this gen will be much longer than previous gens, but certainly not the last.

so let me get this straight they are predicting what Nintendo predicted way back when they decided to release the Wii and NOT GO HD. Because development costs are too much. (one of the reasons, there were others)

And now they expect Nintendo to not make a new console or microsoft, yet Sony. From what I know Nintendo has always made profit on hardware, heck everything. And they are kicking butt hugely right now. And isn't microsoft also making profit right now on hardware. And don't even get started on how much ass kicking Microsoft and nintendo are on the software front.

and sony is the one gonna be releasing a new console? when they are what, at best right now maybe breaking even on each system sold, have the worst software sales, last in console sales.