Feature: Tough Questions for the New Console Generation Subscribe to this RSS feed
Two more tough questions to ponder...
Are Casual Games the Future?
The casual/hardcore gaming divide is a hot issue between many gamers right now with many perceiving the Wii as a threat. While I do not like to differentiate between games, but considering how the industry and gamers furiously label what it considers "casual" and "hardcore", Tyler Bleszinski, the brother of famed game designer Cliff Blesinski or CliffyB, voiced his concern to Newsweek a few months ago:
"But ultimately, going more mainstream can have unintended consequences--ones that could negatively impact the breadth and depth of the kinds of games that I love, as do millions of others."
Relax, gamers. Bejewled and Bioshock can co-exist.
While casual games may seem threatening, there is hardly a concern. What drove the industry to be where it is today is the progression games have come along. In-depth gameplay, involving storylines, and creativeness is what drove this industry to thrive after the mid 1980's. Rarely have casual games done that.
I can see why there is a concern after Majesco Entertainment, notable publisher of Bloodrayne, failed with Psychonauts when it didn't garner interest within the gaming community despite critical acclaim. After failing with several big budget title and with financial trouble, Majesco rescinded back into making casual and DS games.
Maybe it's not casual games that the industry should be afraid of, but the lack of diversity of the hardcore community to branch out to other games. There can be a health variety of games for both sides should be able to reach out to both sides. Viva Pinata is one example that fails to gain critical masses within the Xbox 360 community yet it received positive reviews.
As it stands right now, casual games are a healthy source of revenue. Casual games do hold a place in the future, but not the whole future.
How long can MS stay in the red?
Are the PS3 and Xbox 360 doomed?
The third and final question posed by Next Generation is "Are the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3 akin to the final glorious generation of Cretaceous dinosaurs?"
Whether anyone admits it or not, no one really wants to see a downfall of a console. It has happened in the past and can very well happen in the future. It is a possibility with any console and it happens in any business.
In today's competitive market, it's make "money or get out". But Sony and Microsoft defy that notion by losing millions and well into billions money so far with the Playstion 3 and Xbox 360 respectively. Microsoft in particular has been almost consistently losing money in the console arena, while Sony's disappointing performance with the PS3 has reversed its formerly positive earnings. Yet both companies are digging in its heels and strongly supporting its consoles.
It's not hard to understand why both companies haven't decided to withdraw. Both Sony and Microsoft invest in other endeavors such as software, electronics, and other media endeavors. Both companies are worth well into the billions. Both can take the major lost of money and both still look towards to future to gain profit from.
Will this be Sony's and Microsoft's last console? I would have a hard time believing that it would be. Both companies have major support from developers and as well as the gamers themselves. Whatever future holds for Microsoft and Sony, both look well and ready to last this generation and into the next.
