Future of consoles

[oregondonor]

With the increase in digitally distributed movies and games and new services like OnLive, do you think the days of the video game console are numbered? Do you think there will be a point where we will no longer buy consoles and/or games but just download and play them or stream them? When you think about it, it's not without precedent. Look at music. CD sales have plummeted since 2000 while downloads (both illegal and legal) have gone through the roof. Services like iTunes have essentially replaced music stores. Do you think we could eventually see services like that for video games?'

In other words, do you think there will be a day when Sony, Nintendo, and MS have left the console business and everyone uses a streaming service like OnLive or some gaming analog of iTunes? Do you think it would be a good thing?

 

[not a zaar]

OnLive is completely unproven. I think we can look forward to at least another generation of standard consoles (as we have come to expect them). It will probably come in about five years or so. After that, who knows. It's too early to tell.

 

[jamesworkshop]

Its a nice idea but I don't see it over turning the entire industry any time soon
but it does seem the most logical future, home electronics are never going to match the power of a server farm and internet speed is only going to get faster

 

[Simalacrum]

Yes, I'm a firm believer that digital distribution is the future.

Though Onlive is unproven technology, it has a lot of potential in my opinion. If that fails, then I think that at least one of the Big 3 will push digital distribution-only gaming with their next-gen consoles. Something tells me it'll be Sony, who have always pushed to bring the latest medium in their gaming devices; CD with PS1, DVD with PS2 and Blu-Ray with PS3... digital distribution with the PS4? They have already headed down that direction with the PSP-Go... Maybe it is a test to see whether digital distribution sells well?

 

[veloper]

Consumer hardware is powerful and cheap, while servers are expensive.

Digital downloads will become even bigger, but streaming games (that is on crappy terminal hardware) will never happen.

 

[Subzerowings]

I hate the fact that publishers would even think about that. Yes, you make a little more money on each game, but sales would plummet. It's just so inconvenient. I can buy an Atari 2600 with some games on e-bay. Say games like The Last Guardian or wathever is only downloadable. If the lifecycle of the console you bought it for ends, it's service (psn, xbla, wii ware) will probably die too. The game will just vanish.

 

[suhlEap]

i doubt it'll happen any time soon. i hope not anyway, i've said this about games before. i like owning them. i like sitting and holding them and them being there. having a game solely as a digital copy just doesn't cut it for me.