The rise of casual gaming will see games consoles go "extinct", boldly claims digital marketing company ClickZ.
Speaking on its website the company states that there is a lack of innovation on the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii, going as far as calling the current generation of hardware a "giant leap backwards".
"We are entering a future that many in the game industry are still denying and fighting against. We are watching the icon of gaming, the console, quickly and ungraciously bow to the internet," the site reads. "As difficult as it may be to lose our cultural icon of game play, we must. Gaming is undergoing a major transition.
"Those who have spent time in the game industry are very familiar with the five-year cycle. Every five years, console manufacturers release the next-generation systems. Historically, we have embraced the console's definitions of next-generation gaming and quickly adapted. But this time, the cycle is much different: the consoles are facing competition and extinction.
"Don't you see the innovation, the rich graphics, the evolution that Xbox 360, PS3 and the Wii are facilitating? I can't either. Arguably, the consoles have taken a giant leap backwards.
"The essence of gaming is the game experience it delivers," claims ClickZ. "Unfortunately, in the race to overtake the film and music industries, the console sector has neglected this principle."
According to the company a game experience can, and does, lose players when it becomes "too real".
"Consumers have evolved and changed platforms. They've left the comfort of the living room, big-screen TV, and game console," says the site. "They've changed and consoles haven't changed enough. Consumers are online, socialising and having digital experiences that meet their needs, connect them with others, and don't cost a thing. They're sitting at the computer, entering virtual worlds and social networks as the TV collects dust.
"Why would they disconnect, walk to another room, and turn on another device? The internet is delivering all they seek in one package."
So, load of rubbish or do these marketing men have a point? We reckon they're probably talking in their own interests here, what with them making money off of Bejewelled and the like. We might've listened if it said casual gaming on consoles was taking over...
Jeez, these guys sound bitter. Who says things have to constantly innovate to be enjoyed? There are so many films that stick to stereotypical storylines, like romeo and juliet and classic action films. Just because they don't innovate and give incredibly, complicated storylines, etc. Doesn't mean people don't enjoy them. And I do think there are games/consoles out there that are starting to innovate. The wii is a perfect example, forgoing the standard concept of a controller. Games like skate and LBP bring something a little bit different to the table. In short this guy is a fool.
Ok this is a little rubbish. Just because people are using Facebook and the Internet more then consoles are doomed? There will always be a demand for console gaming. The hardcore that like their GTAs and their new FPSs will always be there. Casual gaming has not exactly taken a piece of the market share, it has added to it. People that wouldn't play games before are now playing them. There probably isn't less people playing hardcore games, there is probably more people starting to play casual games. The target audience for games has increased. If these guys are right it'll be me on my own playing GTA in the future. I honestly can't see that happening.
leap backward im lost really all three consoles have took a giant leap forwards.
360 - graphics and online is a massive leap forward ps3 - blu-ray and impressive graphic overhaul Wii - motion controls
if you put all three together over last gen its a massive improvement.
the next cycle of games will have very impressive graphics and even better motion controls. the next cycle of consoles are going to be superb, wtf is this guiy on about.
just because now the consoles are accessable to everyone doesn't mean its gone backward.
dam this year gaming has out sold movies and music to be the NO1 form of entertainment. seeing as 10 years ago gaming was for the nerdy and kids. now its exploded into a worldwide brand, that are even geting comps on tv all over the world,
What an absolute tit. Consoles have been going strong for the last 30 years and they're only getting better. Each time a new internet phenomena comes along (Myspace, Facebook etc) the bubble bursts almost as soon as it's blown. The games industry is bigger than ever, just last week didn't it overtake movies in the UK? Pah!
What the f**k is this t**t going on about...tell Nintendo (& Microsoft to a lesser degree) that the console market is dead after posting record profits and going from strength-to-strength!!
The only true dying gaming format is the PC...piracy, alienating anti-piracy measures and non-uniform PC specifications for game releases will kill the market bar a few popular marques!
Tell that to the millions of people who have recently made console software the biggest selling form of entertainment, outstripping Dvd and music sales.
Seriously, thats gotta be the biggest load of non sensical bulls$%& I've read for a long time. The guy is clearly out of touch with reality and should get his facts straight before talking about something he clearly knows absolutely nothing about.
I'm sorry, but I cannot take this seriously. I mean Roomscape more popular than console games? I don't think so. And this is not a very good analyst, I mean this has possible been THE biggest step-forward by this generation gaming consoles. And anyway I thought the Wii was casual gaming.
These folks are smoking some strong stuff if they really believe that.
As long as games like Halo 3 and Gears of War are selling millions of copies on release day, consoles aren't going anywhere. Casual gamers don't buy games... period. Maybe one or two titles a year. These idiots think that because the Wii is selling hardware like hot cakes, casual gaming is taking over. The truth is, even on the Wii, the games that sell the most are "core" games like SSBM and SMG.
ClickZ is a website for 'News and expert advice for the digital marketer', so they obviously hope that the web will replace consoles.
"Consumers have evolved and changed platforms. They've left the comfort of the living room, big-screen TV, and game console
Really? I thought that was why sales of large-screen high-definition TVs were up. I don't see PCs driving that market! Personally, I do play games on my PC, but when I want to have a really immersive experience in Bioshock or Half-Life 2, playing it on my 360 on a large screen in a darkened room, through a proper surround sound system, beats it every time. Also, in view of the sheer number of PCs out there, and the wide discrepancy in performance, I can't see the web delivering on this for quite some time yet.
These folks are smoking some strong stuff if they really believe that.
As long as games like Halo 3 and Gears of War are selling millions of copies on release day, consoles aren't going anywhere. Casual gamers don't buy games... period. Maybe one or two titles a year. These idiots think that because the Wii is selling hardware like hot cakes, casual gaming is taking over. The truth is, even on the Wii, the games that sell the most are "core" games like SSBM and SMG.
Thats not really true, the likes of Game Party, Carnival Funfair Games, Wii Fit, Wii Play, Brain Training and nintendogs have been the big sellers on Nintendos formats recently (Along with Mario Kart).
But all this does is prove the guy wrong even more. I dont like to say it but Nintendos strategy HAS worked, and it has culminated in videogames now being the most profitable media on the planet.
Whereas if you look around for an interview from the guy who made Facebook, you'll find it hasnt made him as much money as people may think.
We may all like to think that the likes of GTA, Halo and Gears have been responsible for Videogames overtaking DVD and music sales, but the plain fact is that 'games' like Nintendogs, Brain Training and Wii Fit have had a massive influence on this result. All in all it shows that the main innovations in the gaming industry have worked with the masses, and so this guy is totally wrong.
Consoles are here to stay, simply because it's far easier to get a top-end gaming experience from them than it is a PC. You know that whatever the developers see on their machine, you're going to get on yours as well - you can't say that for the good old PC.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what the next generation throws at us. PS3 hardware, 360 online integration, Wii motion controls. Hand it over!
Utter BS... All consoles have ever done is improve upon the hardware which in turn presents developers with a greater scope to work with. I'm sick and tired of people throwing around this 'innovation' crap, assuming it means a god like creation. I'm sorry but it doesn't... Wii innovated with the control scheme but then look at that, it's not even a games console anymore but a toy... If that's the direction gamings going in then count me out...
This is probably the big load of rubbish I have heard from an analyst yet. Most comments, as rubbish as they are, you can maybe see some kind of logic but I can't see any here.
When I saw the headline, I thought it was a pop at the wii. Even though casual gaming has been a massive innovation (good or bad?!?) this generation.
I am thinking what was missing last gen, compared to this (graphics don't count, there arguably hasn't been a huge leap forward since Saturn/PS/N64 when gaming truely went 3D and consoles could really compete with the arcade graphics) and I've come up with:
- this has really been the gen for true online gaming on consoles. - hard drives on consoles. - digital content. - DLC. - motion controls. - Sony not p**sing over everybody like the last two generations. - games really reaching out past the traditional demographic. - Nintendo kicking bottom in Europe.
I would say this gen is more likely to contribute to the death of the PC (of course it won't) than consoles. Stick an HD, internet browser and keyboard/mouse support on a console and it will do the majority of what most people use their PC's for (since a PC appeared 'in every home'): browsing, email and downloading media.
Perhaps someone should tell these guys that the internet is not restricted to PC's. It covers mobile phones, portable media devices, consoles, TV, pretty much every aspect of our lives.
My PC is in my room where I work. My 360 is in my lounge with the sofa, TV, right next to the kitchen with the fridge, food etc. I know where I prefer to be.
Well he's got a point to a certain degree. If you don't compare the consoles of this generation to the previous one and just look at what's new gameswise then can we say there has been many creative new games coming out? It seems to me like were moving in the direction of blockbuster games with huge budgets that don't really dare to experiment. Nintendo went out on a limb in the Gamecube era when they cel-shaded Wind Waker. It worked flawlessly but the reason it did was because it's a Zelda game and people are gonna buy it no matter what. But they still had the guts to try something very radical on one of their most beloved characters. I wish more companies would go out a limb like that once in a while. You get tired of watching the same action movies over and over again, Halo and Gears are no different. Just look at what happened when Capcom re-invented Resident Evil. That's probably the game that has had the most influence on console action games today and all because they dared to try something new to the series.
I have Gears of War 2 btw and I like it a lot. I'm just criticizing the tendency here. Companies go for big bucks over creativity.
I have my PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 all plugged into my TV so its not gathering dust lol, I just have to change the channel to play the console/PC I want. (The wii got relegated due to the shovelware and the apparently "fun" casual games)
When the "casual" sector starts putting out deep, immersive experiences like Fallout 3 or Fable 2, instead of cookie-cutter shovelware, I'll start listening.
He talks about "innovation", when his sector of the industry thrives on the same gameplay mechanics that powered Pong and Tetris.
What a load of twaddle. The PC has been nothing but FPS games and MMOs for years now, these guys can't just pick on consoles.
If they are prepared to ignore the motion control of the wii, the sublime xbox live and it's market place and the sumptuous graphics of the PS3 and say none of these have progress, then they are idiots.
The one aspect of the fellow's comments I heartily agree with pertains to the topic of why pay for online activity on the consoles when you can get the same or something similar on the PC platform for little or no cost? And once that becomes a factor I for one do fall squarely in the territory of the end user that has no reason to get up, walk to another room and turn on the TV when I'm receiving most, if not all, of the entertainment and socialising desires I may have at that point in time in front of the PC. I still use the TV but far less than in the past. Now if the TV were in the same room as my PC that might be a different story altogether.
What a load of self serving b******s. Yeah consoles are sooo dead. Considering the current gen has embraced the internet and uses it to better ends than just bloody forums.
Yes anything that has finally broken through into main strwam culture proper is definately dead.
I have felt alienated by the 360 and PS3 offering more of the same, more realistic graphics and nothing else besides that is why I bought the Wii but that has been a disappointment so far but at the end of the day consoles wont be around forever and I believe we will all be playing games on our PC hooked up to a HDTV with everything in one device, I already have mates that use their PCs in this way with their bluray player built in and using Media Centre to do most stuff why have anything else under your TV.
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