What's Next For the Console War?

[Shoggoth2588]

Microsoft, Nintendo and, Sony have all released their next (that is, current) gen system and the year 2014 is hours away (well, a couple days but we're under 100 hours at this point). In addition to the big three having released their latest systems, they've also released their final-forms of the current (now last) gen consoles. So where are they going to go from here?

It looks like Nintendo is sticking with software for the time being though I think they're spending more time and energy on the 3DS than the U...which would make sense considering how the 3DS is printing money more effectively than the original DS at this point.

Sony and Microsoft are likely going to wait until the new year before anything significant happens but what do you think will happen first? Who will be the first to announce a slim-line console (my money is on the XBox One-S before the PS4-S)? Which will be the first to release a 1TB console or indeed, something bigger (2TB, 4TB, etc) or will one of the two say "screw internal storage, it's cloud or nothing?" (my money is on Sony for TB's, Microsoft for the Cloud)

But I'm getting ahead of myself...what do you think the next big step will be when it comes to the Wii U, PS4 and, Xbox One?

Like I said, I see Nintendo pouring resources into software with no hardware changes to the U outside of new bundle packs (like the inevitable 3D World bundle that will be out for X-Mas 2014 or 2015)

I see Sony selling a PS4/PS Camera bundle at some point and I see the next wave of PS4's eventually offering hard drives in the TB's instead of the GB's.

I see Microsoft pushing the cloud and I really hope they eventually release a Kinect-Free XBox One.

 

[Roxas1359]

The Wii U sales have picked up, but if it doesn't get to more I can see the Wii U getting another GameCube treatment, as in one last huge production goes on, then Nintendo stops manufacturing them and just focuses on the software with peripherals every once and a while. I also see them stopping with the retarded Wii Mini, which is literally just bleeding money because it's a gimped Wii when regular Wii's are cheaper and can do more, or you can just go for a Wii U instead. (See Gameboy Micro for other stupid decisions like the Wii Mini)

For Sony I can see them possibly removing the stupid peripheral memory system, or someone finally develops an adapter that makes it so that they don't cost a fortune to get. I also see them bundling the Vita with the PS4 at some point to try and bolster sales of the Vita. For the PS4 I see it just restocking and probably dropping in price in about a year or so, with PS3 prices probably dropping sometime in April to be around the price of $200 or $150 (the $150 probably being late next year).

For Microsoft I too see a Kinect-free Xbox One in the future, as well as a price drop probably in a couple of months to try and outdo Sony. I also see Microsoft slowing down the production of 360's and probably discontinuing the model that looks like the Xbox One because I find it stupid that they'd make that model in the first place.

As for the 3DS, I forsee more "special editions" that completely undermine the meaning of it being "special." Seriously, it's nice that Nintendo has so many of these, but they are honestly going overboard with it and it's getting worse than how Microsoft was with their "special edition" Xbox 360's. God forbid if the 2DS were to start getting "special limited edition" versions. >.>

And finally, this one is just and old fan making a wish, SEGA comes out and reveals the Dreamcast 2. T^T
Poor Dreamcast, ahead of it's time and caught in the eclipse of the mighty PS2. Your amazing games will always be remembered, and sadly some of them were tarnished with later ports. *glares at the shitty port of Samba De Amigo for the Wii*

 

[Maximum Bert]

Dont know my hopes are the WiiU gets a price drop and Bayonetta 2 and X are released. The PS4 gets some decent games and the Xbox One gets a huge price drop and drops the kinect.

I have a WiiU took me a year to get one as there was nothing I wanted for so long on it and I think the same will happen for the PS4 and Xbox One. Also at least 1TB storage for PS4 and Xbox One should have been standard oh and camera bundles for PS4 cant see that selling much but a PS4 Vita bundle could go down well if priced right I heard somewhere they were going to test this release in the UK which would suit me as I live there but so far I havent seen anything.

 

[Fat Hippo]

For Microsoft I too see a Kinect-free Xbox One in the future, as well as a price drop probably in a couple of months to try and outdo Sony. I also see Microsoft slowing down the production of 360's and probably discontinuing the model that looks like the Xbox One because I find it stupid that they'd make that model in the first place.

This is the "big one" which I'm really curious to see how it goes. Microsoft has been pushing their damn kinect so hard, creating a version without it could basically only be seen as surrender. On the other hand, many consumers simply don't WANT that damn thing, and it wouldn't hurt their sales, in the short term anyway. I guess the question is,

1. How integrated into the design of the Xbox One is the kinect, and how much money would changing production to kinectless machines actually cost Microsoft?

2. Are they willing to abandon this strategy in the long-term, as this would effectively split their players into "those with" and "those without" which would have great influence on any 3rd party developers who were considering implementing kinect features into their games. If a large portion of Xbox users suddenly no longer had a kinect, it would pretty much kill any incentive to integrate the kinect into the design of their games. Is this a trade-off they are willing to make? If they start falling behind Sony drastically, and they think this is due to the higher price of their machine, they may just cave.

 

[Hazy992]

The PS3 and the 360 are probably going to be around for a while and are probably still going to be well supported well into 2015. There's 160+ million of them out there, I don't see publishers abandoning them just yet.

A Kinect free SKU may happen but I don't see that as very likely. The OS really is geared around Kinect integration, and even though it doesn't seem to be selling as well as the PS4, it's still selling a lot.

The success of the Wii U is going to hinge entirely on the successes of Smash Bros and Mario Kart. If they fail to shift units after SM3DW failed to, then the Wii U is pretty much dead as a platform. Bayonetta and X look like great games, but they're certainly not system sellers.

 

[Maximum Bert]

Bayonetta and X look like great games, but they're certainly not system sellers.

wowowo I have to say if those games werent coming out for the WiiU there it would have been very unlikely I would have bought the system trouble is I think many have just written off the system after the Wii however I think those games are probably Nintendos best hopes after Smash and Mario Kart but then again I am not interested in smash or MK at all I just play those on my GC if I want a bash.

So anyway those two games sold me the system or rather the promise of them (especially X) but I agree Nintendo arent in a rosy position with the WiiU at the moment trouble is they are going to have to keep trying to sell it to people as if they drop it I think it will do them even more harm than good I know I wouldnt buy another Ninty console if they dropped the WiiU in only 3 years or so.

I look forward to what Nintendo do the most mostly because they are the ones who need to act the most and if playing safe dosent work anymore then they are going to have to take risks or change tack entirely (hopefully they never drop out fully though I would prefer there to remain 3 home consoles for competitive purposes).

 

[Hazy992]

snip

I mean as a whole those games aren't going to shift many units. Sure they make the Wii U appealing for certain individuals (myself included) but those games are niche products. If the mass market end up not caring about the Nintendo mainstays, then its certainly not going to care about these.

 

[Atmos Duality]

I see Microsoft pushing the cloud and I really hope they eventually release a Kinect-Free XBox One.

Definitely.
More cloud computing and streaming is inbound, mostly to try and get in on all that Facebook/youtube action.
But partly to ween consoles off of disc-based content and more onto service-centric content. While there is nothing innately wrong with that course of action, it's the people behind the business that make me wary.

They're the same assholes that keep trying to push gaming into an Always Online Hell, and cloud computing is the most direct financially viable method of attaining that. And both of the newest home consoles have cloud computing networks already available to them.

In the next year, I think users should expect more social media, and streaming media focus with the expected glut of targeted advertising. What they shouldn't expect is cloud computing to do anything significantly useful for games, either this year or ever.

Apart from that, everything else seems like it's going to be business as usual.

 

[Guffe]

Yes so...

I actually talked to a salesman in my local GameStop (new worker) and he said he hadn't sold a single WiiU from June to September and now around xmas they were selling like hell.
Nintendo of course need a few major titles for the U and then like with the 3DS, slowly but surely starts building a good library for the console.

PS4 just needs to sell the shit out of itself. Like it already has...

XboxOne isn't released in the Nordic/Scandinavian countries until February next year.

Year 2014 will be welcomed with open arms in the form of work
(yes, also at the actually yearchangingmoment)

 

[Shoggoth2588]

The Wii U sales have picked up, but if it doesn't get to more I can see the Wii U getting another GameCube treatment, as in one last huge production goes on, then Nintendo stops manufacturing them and just focuses on the software with peripherals every once and a while. I also see them stopping with the retarded Wii Mini, which is literally just bleeding money because it's a gimped Wii when regular Wii's are cheaper and can do more, or you can just go for a Wii U instead. (See Gameboy Micro for other stupid decisions like the Wii Mini)

Assuming the U goes Gamecube, I would love to see an adapter that allows DS and 3DS games to be played on the Wii U...I would LIKE to but realize that's a pipe-dream at best since 3DTVs aren't really in vogue anymore (that I know of) and...well I can't really think of a good reason why Nintendo wouldn't make a peripheral that allows 3/DS games to be streamed through the Wii U like they did with the GBA-Player or, Super Game Boy but I still think it's more a pipe-dream than anything.

I actually talked to a salesman in my local GameStop (new worker) and he said he hadn't sold a single WiiU from June to September and now around xmas they were selling like hell.
Nintendo of course need a few major titles for the U and then like with the 3DS, slowly but surely starts building a good library for the console.

I'm hoping that at this point, the Wii U does a 3DS; Now that the hot new Mario is out maybe it'll be followed by a strong line-up of Nintendo titles and, equally strong third party titles. Hyrule Warriors seems like a good sign. The first year and a half of the 3DS was rocky after all but once 3D Land was out it seemed like the console built up steam...then Fire Emblem came out and became one of the first killer apps followed by Animal Crossing, Pokemon, etc...I'm sure if Suda 51 were to announce No More Heroes 3 on the U that would be similar to the Fire Emblem thing and get mroe people interested in the U.

The PS3 and the 360 are probably going to be around for a while and are probably still going to be well supported well into 2015. There's 160+ million of them out there, I don't see publishers abandoning them just yet.

A Kinect free SKU may happen but I don't see that as very likely. The OS really is geared around Kinect integration, and even though it doesn't seem to be selling as well as the PS4, it's still selling a lot.

The success of the Wii U is going to hinge entirely on the successes of Smash Bros and Mario Kart. If they fail to shift units after SM3DW failed to, then the Wii U is pretty much dead as a platform. Bayonetta and X look like great games, but they're certainly not system sellers.

The 360 and PS3 are getting stick of truth exclusively (as in, no South Park on the next gen consoles that I know of) but I don't know of what else the 360 is going to offer that won't also be on the XBone, PS4, etc. I know there are a few interesting looking games coming to the PS3 (and Vita) that won't be on any other console so that's going to keep me on my PS3 that much longer.

Based on what I've seen of the XBone OS...I think you're right about them not making a Kinect-Free version until they have a suitably downplayed menu system in place. Microsoft seems to like updating their menus all the time though so I still see a no-Kinect XBone as being pheasable if not something that'll happen overnight.

As for U software...at least SM3DW did better than Wonderful 101 and (from what I've heard) Sonic Lost Worlds...Zelda is going to have to be COMPLETELY different and weird to not sell systems and by that I mean Nintendo's Zelda, not the Techmo Koei one that will be awesome if extremely niche. Bayonetta 2 seems like it's going to sell units to die-hard Bayonetta fans but things will be pretty dire indeed if Smash and Mario Kart don't perform well.

---

It's months away but when it comes to E3, I'm not sure it's safe to assume Nintendo won't have a presence again. It'll have it's own room yes and I REALLY hope they do another tour (be it mall, best buy or what have you). I think it's safe to assume that E3 2014 or a corresponding Nintendo Direct will show us that shiny new Nintendo Zelda though, if nothing else...hopefully Twilight Princess style ie; at the end of an otherwise awesome showing of new and exciting games.

As for Sony and Microsoft, I hope E3 2014 shows a Microsoft that is more willing to bring back older Xbox properties like Whacked, Mech Assault and, Crimson Skies. Actual gameplay for Halo 5 or whatever would be great too. As for Sony, I'd love for them to try All-Stars Battle Royal 2 but this isn't something I expect at all. A new Resistance would be cool though.

One more thing: Capcom is going to eventually do the Capcom and make Dead Rising 3 multiplatform. I'm also hoping, as I said before, that Nintendo announces No More Heroes 3 on the U.

 

[Alarien]

I subscribe to the "Two Systems - Fail" Rule for consoles. Take a look:

Good System - Great System - Fail - Good System - Great System - Fail

NES - SNES - N64 - GameCube - Wii - WiiU

I am one of the few people who hated the N64 (yes, I owned it, with my own money). The cartridge format, the late appearance following the PS1, the stupidly high price of both the console and it's game (again, the cartridge format), is what fueled a loss of market share that Nintendo had built up over a decade. While it has its stand out games (Mario64, StarFox64 and, for people other than myself, GoldenEye... bleh), it also had it's share of crapware (Superman64 anyone?) and cost just too much to really invest in it as a gamer on their own dollar. Also, let's not talk about that godawful controller.

So, where do we go? I am not sure. According to the rule, the WiiU could be the great fail. There's no question that the Gamecube was a step in the right direction and the Wii, whatever you think of it, brought a huge number of new and old console gamers to the market again. However, Nintendo continues to stagnate. What was the last really novel new IP? How many more Zelda games can YOU stand? I don't think I can stomach another Mario, Zelda, or Metroid. They were all really amazing in their time, but, for a thirty something gamer like me, that time long since passed. I am done with Nintendo unless they can bring back some magic. I think maybe they should focus on what really made the Wii work (ugh), and that's their focus on casual, accessible games that anybody can jump into and have fun with. If the WiiU can get my daughter to play console games like the Wii did, and make it family group-play friendly, I'd have to consider it.

Also, a new stable of good IPs would help.

Master System - Genesis - Saturn - DreamCast (If you're really a Saturn fan, try MS - Genesis - CD/32x - Saturn - Dreamcast)

What? The Saturn, a fail? Yeah, unfortunately. It was a good system, but it came to market very early and VERY silently. In fact, as a gamer, the existence of the Saturn was a surprise to me. I was still entrenched in the SNES market and dabbling in PC at the time, so the anticipation of the PS lead me to learn of the Saturn, after the fact. Still, I know it wasn't, by any stretch a BAD system. However, Sega's goodwill built up on the Genesis and a strong stable of games was already heavily squandered by it's Genesis add ons, the CD and 32x, which were both atrocious. If you're really lover of old Sega, than you can consider those the "fail" and that pushes the Dreamcast from good to great. It really would have been too, if Sega's hardware and support hadn't finally thrown in the towel shortly into its generation.

Playstation - PS2 - PS3 -PS4

So, the Playstation was a vital system for 90's console gaming. Why? It hadn't squandered years of hardware goodwill like Sega and it didn't stick to the overpriced, under-delivering cartridge format like Nintendo. It was, for a lot of gamers, the first CD based console (which didn't suck... looking at you Sega CD). It also ended Nintendo's romance with Squaresoft, leading to FFVII, FFVIII, FFIV and Parasite Eve all on Playstation exclusively. They sold a ton of consoles on their own. The PS2 simply built on the existing dominance that the PS1 had grown and added in better graphics, a new generation of great games and backwards compatibility.

Thus the PS3 is a fail? Wuh? Yeah, I said it. The market dominance of Playstation ended at the 3, which is why it is a fail. They were late to the table, though only because the Xbox360 got kicked out of the door as an Xbox v1.5, but was oddly successful in doing so. The online interface for the 3 was originally far behind that of the 360. The controllers hadn't innovated since 1997 and was no longer the form fitting choice for a lot of players. Oh, and there was the initial release price of at least $300, which was way above the standard price for the day and above the market-acceptable price (as proven by the old 3D0). Also, there were consistent dev complaints of the system being obtuse to develop for, despite being superior hardware. Not a bad system, but not the powerhouse that was the PS2.

So, where to go for the Playstation? Exclusive games that AREN'T about Nathan "Douchnozzle" Drake and his staple of idiot sidekicks. The PS3 had two exclusives that weren't from Naughty Dog and almost rose to the point of late system sellers: Demon's Souls (loved it) and Dragon's Crown (loved it). Let's also remember Heavy Rain (hated it) and The Last of Us (haven't played it). I'm not even mentioning Little Big Planet (great). This type of new IP is what the Playstation crew needs to focus on. They also need to settle down their PSHome into something less cumbersome and obtuse and give a little more individuality to their online feature, a la Xbox Live's Mii-esque avatars and accessibility.

Xbox - Xbox360 - Xbone

I'm calling it now. The Xbone, while not a bad system per se, is going to kick Microsoft's Xbox division in the wallet. Long term sales will fall below expectations and losses will be posted. High price tags, integrated Kinect with an already badly developed reputation for spying on your living room (real or perceived, I know more than a couple gamers who still think this is the case and are not happy about it, and not researching it further), and no real "come play me now" games that are drawing in new players means that Xbox has hit it's first hubris speedbump. It's still too early to tell, but we'll have to see. For now, I think that if the Xbox wants to stay relevant, it needs to set itself apart from the PS4 and Wii while building on what Microsoft does well: PC stuff. If the Xbox can make itself into a relevant console with PC-esque features, like a good M+K platform and integration to existing Windows games, I think it might pull off an upset. However, I think we already know that isn't the case, with the 720p resolution and the fact that it has no existing way to access existing downloaded PC games... and Steam is taking the initiative on that.

Steam Machine

We'll see. I reserve all judgement, but I have a keen interest in this one. Right now, I have my (pretty powerful) travel laptop set up on my living TV to play some games there. If the Steam Machine, for the right price, can access my Steam library and give me a good console-esque experience while using my PC games, on my 1080p screen, with my USB peripherals where appropriate, it might just be my only choice this generation.


In Conclusion

I don't know about this generation. As someone who got into games on consoles (Atari and NES) and migrated to PC (mid to late 90's) and then back to Consoles (current gen, aka 360/Wii/PS3) and then back to PC again, I think the current console future is pretty bland and bleak. The consoles really need to focus on setting themselves apart from the PC market, which Steam has almost single-handedly pulled back from the brink and brought now to almost market dominance (how many of you have NOT been watching the current Steam Winter Sale every 8 hours or so?). I think Nintendo is in the best position to do so, due to it's ongoing casual-friendly reputation and stable of beloved exclusives, however, I think it also needs to innovate and create new IPs to draw in the long-term gamers. The PS4 and Xbox? I am not sure. I think they are about to go into the hardest period they've had to endure, and I am not entirely sure either of them won't be going the way of Sega hardware by the end of this generation.

 

[Maximum Bert]

snip

I mean as a whole those games aren't going to shift many units. Sure they make the Wii U appealing for certain individuals (myself included) but those games are niche products. If the mass market end up not caring about the Nintendo mainstays, then its certainly not going to care about these.

Yeah I know what you are getting at and I agree however it at least increases their chances of being picked up by the hardcore gamers as it were. I think most of those who care about the first party titles have already picked up the system while the huge mass market they captured on the Wii (at least with hardware) is sticking with the Wii and they will just play their Mario games and Smash games there at least thats what I think (could easily be wrong but will see).

I just dont think Nintendo will capture the mass market now, the best they can hope for is to get a strong but small community dedicated around slightly nicher but awesome games so maybe they wont sell huge hardware numbers but they may get a strong attachment rate if they do this and maybe in time they will be able to repare the damage they did to their rep.

And if they dont at least a few of us get to enjoy the small number of incredibly awesome games for the system (just like the Wii).

 

[Entitled]

It's hard to tell, given that Virtual Reality appears to be just around the corner, with great potential to confuse everything else.

If either the Oculus Rift or it's expected Valve counterpart succeed at their goals, which seems likely given the feedback so far, that will be a significant enough game-changer to shortcut this console triad and render them into a lame-duck generation. Given that all this-gen console hardware happens to be just slightly below the minimum system requirements for acceptable quality VR, they would either have to put up new boxes in 2-3 years, or wait 1-2 more until they can put the console *inside* a helmet, to cut in front of PC-based VR by a gen, through eliminating wires.

 

[The White Hunter]

Are PC people welcome here?

I'm gonna go with: I'm use my PC, pay less for games that run and play better with more freedom, and won't have their multiplayer servers nuked and the earth salted after only two fucking years (Sony, Resistance 3). I have a Wii U but it's uninspiring to me at the moment to say the least, even Super Mario 3D World is just kind of depressing and feels uninspired and formulaic.

 

[pilouuuu]

I assume some really next-gen games will get released. We've got great franchises in the previous gen like Assassin's Creed and Mass Effect. Where are the awesome AAA games?

And I assume in just a couple of years the consoles will look incredibly outdated, considering an average PC is already much superior than them. I think that from a technical point of view these new consoles are a big fail, so it's the software that can make them stand out.

So far this gen is pretty uninteresting.

My biggest fear is that the XBone will turn out to be a big brother device that will make every console control humanity and let the machines take over.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

I'd more than assume the first few years if not all of them will be spent here with PC only's continuing to shit on peoples preferences for consoles, people wanting to buy consoles and people talking positive about a console.

Other than that I'd expect nothing new at all from anyone because we've already proved that we're not willing to change unless we choose a side, select people to pick on and then make them feel like shit because "facts and truths" man.

People here often forget that the truth can often hurt, hell it can insult others and make them feel bad at times, it's not just a baseless emotionless truth.

Oh and I'd also expect more hostility towards console players on here while we're at it since we can't let them enjoy what they have until they feel like scum.

 

[GonzoGamer]

If history gives any indication, what we have now is the dull time where we see a lot of shiny but brief games that lack any sort of originality. The developers are still getting used to the new hardware and aren't going to get funding for anything that's too ambitious just yet; right now they want to just cash in on early adapters.
After a year or two of that, we'll start to see a couple of interesting games.
Of course anyone who owns one will say that it's the best thing since Christmas.
This generation however, I think the big "console" wars wont be between Sony & MS but consoles and PC.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

Since that post had absolutely zero to do with thread...

Honestly, I think the Oculus Rift is the future of gaming, and that is where gaming is going. The Console War is really inconsequential at this point, and won't really be part of the revolution. If Oculus Rift and devices like that take off in the way I think they will, then by the time the next round of consoles is due, they are going to be designed to either cater specifically to what is needed for VR or the hardware manufacturers are going to come up with their own proprietary VR and segment the shit out of it... Just my opinion though

I have a feeling I'm going to be that old guy who doesn't agree with said future, I'll be that old guy on the virtual lawn telling kids to get off of it.

I don't exactly agree but I'm not a fan of the rift either so I guess if it happened a lot of peoples preferences would be crushed, including mine I guess.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

Since that post had absolutely zero to do with thread...

Honestly, I think the Oculus Rift is the future of gaming, and that is where gaming is going. The Console War is really inconsequential at this point, and won't really be part of the revolution. If Oculus Rift and devices like that take off in the way I think they will, then by the time the next round of consoles is due, they are going to be designed to either cater specifically to what is needed for VR or the hardware manufacturers are going to come up with their own proprietary VR and segment the shit out of it... Just my opinion though

I have a feeling I'm going to be that old guy who doesn't agree with said future, I'll be that old guy on the virtual lawn telling kids to get off of it.

I don't exactly agree but I'm not a fan of the rift either so I guess if it happened a lot of peoples preferences would be crushed, including mine I guess.

I'm sure "normal" consoles, and games would still exist for a looooong time before VR is the norm. And most developers would probably allow their games to be played traditionally, as well as with VR in mind. I'm talking many years down the road. Loved the virtual lawn comment though!

Honestly though I'd love a holodeck from Star trek or even be a hardlight hologram from Red Dwarf, minus the Hi symbol on my forehead and being called "smeghead".

 

[Shoggoth2588]

I was kind of hoping hologram tv was going to be the next idea in visual display, instead just more pixels, but whatever. And by hologram, I mean actual 3d rendering rather than the tv showing our eyes a different angle, and faking the 3D. Bust the virtual environment out and project it out into the open

It's only a matter of time but I don't see where video games as we know them could go from there...remakes of 3rd-person games could turn out to be awesome since holo-TVs would fix every possible camera issue. Then there's the advent of online remakes of board-games. Imagine playing something like Risk of Monopoly with someone hundreds of miles away on your hollow? That would be kind of dumb I guess, now I've thought about it...