Could Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo All Suffer The Same Fate?

With the recent announcements of the PS4 and the confirmation of the Next Xbox, the complete next generation of console gaming is close upon us. While the Wii U is being met with mixed reactions, one could wonder if The Big Three game companies could all suffer the same fate together.

[Godmars290]

If next gen is a step by step FPS, post-apocalypse, realistic and gritty repeat of this one at the very least there's not going to be any growth or change.

[oof46]

The one hurdle that all these companies have to overcome is convincing their userbase to spend $500 - $600 on a new system and games. For the cash strapped parent or adult, this can be a bit much to ask while there are still great games coming and a vast library available for current gen systems.

Now there are loyalists and the hardcore who will buy it day one, but for each system to gain momentum, they need the mass market to make the switch.

[chadboban]

Geez finally someone is thinking on a larger scale here. Sure we(gamers who pay attention to gaming news) are all excited for "next-gen" consoles, but the fact is most consumers don't even know what the term "next-gen" even means. Pricing is also crucial here, just because a lot of folks here are willing to shell out $500 for a new system doesn't mean the average person will be willing to do the same.

I will say one thing, Sony was extremely smart to name their system the PS4. It's much easier for the average person to not get confused by that like they can with a name like Wii U, Nintendo wouldn't have such a hard time getting the message to consumers that it's a new system if they had just put a number at the end instead of an additional letter.

[Jaqen_Hghar]

A man would remind you that not many people have been early adopters on PS3, 360, or WiiU. These consoles have legged it out. They do most of their sales after a price cut or two so the "average" consumer won't pay $500, they'll pay $400 or $350 after a year or two and the console will continue on a stride from their. There's a sales curve with consoles as the Wii is the exception that proves this rule.

[specialagent4532]

help me understand why the price of a console matters so much. Meaning we buy useless things at exorbitant prices like tablets (is just a smartphone only with a bigger screen minus the phone capabilities). A fountain really is pretty yes but it sure wastes water. E-readers really the smartphone is already capable of ebooks and emagazines. So yes I don't understand why $500.00 or $600.00 is too much for a console. I mean really expects the PS4 to cost less than $500.00 :'(.

[oof46]

The average parent who does not game does not know the difference between consoles. One time while browsing the electronics section at Sears during the ps2's heyday. I saw a parent buy a ps1 and a copy of Gran Turismo 3 for the ps2. The sales person told the mom they weren't compatible and that she would need to buy a ps2. She saw the price tag and promptly put everything back.

So, yes, price matters.

[LOL_WUT]

I think Nintendo made their own fate. Sales wise yeah their might be a slow start but in the end it all comes down to who has the better software. ;)

[BattleAxe]

"Could Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo All Suffer The Same Fate?"

These low IQ questions bore me.

[level 360]

Think only Nintendo.

Not really in that doom and gloom certainty of course but with the same monotonous game line-up.

[arbitor365]

the biggest reason the wii u has befallen this fate is because people are waiting for the PS4 and next xbox, to get the real next gen leap. everyone I talk to in real life says this.

[Killzoner99]

Nah Sony is going to dominate next gen for sure. The PS4 will be the last console for the true hardcore gamers.

[chadboban]

"Hardcore gamers"

God I've grown to hate that term so much this gen. I consider myself a true gamer, meaning I don't limit myself to a single system. I prefer a wide variety of experiences and owning just a single system just won't give me that.

Sure the PS4 may be enough for you but I need more than that, hence why my systems for this coming gen will be PS4/Wii U/3DS and Vita along with my PC. I get pretty much the best exclusives along with the best version of multiplat games. Don't have anything against Microsoft (I really like Halo and Gears) but their systems just haven't really done it for me, but whenever there is a game I want to play on it I always borrow my friend's Xbox, and I loan him my PS3.

[revben]

I was waiting at the bus station the other day and a well elegant girl, who probable do not know about the xbox360 or ps3 was playing a game and did so until her iphone's battery died. Mind you the game looked stupid and boring, but she was playing a game. Then she took out her kindle reader and did not read a line.

What I am saying is that gaming has changed and we "hardcore gamers" need to realizes that. We should be focusing on getting those "causal gamers" in hardcore gaming instead of pushing them away.

[Typical-Guy]

If they all do, especially PS4 and Xbox (until reveal), then there's a problem with gaming community....

[Bathyj]

Doubt it. People are more than ready for a next gen console. They just don't see the wiiu as one.

[chadboban]

The problem is that Nintendo's marketing has been all over the place, most people don't even know it's a brand new system and that needs to change. I also find it so strange that people are more than willing to assume that the PS4 will do incredibly well without even knowing extremely important information like what it's launch price is going to be.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm extremely excited for the PS4 and can't wait to get my hands on it, but I think most people seem to forget that price plays a huge part in how a system sells. Should Sony price the system well I'd say they're more or less on their way to having a huge success on their hands. But say for example, It's priced just a little too high plus Nintendo cuts the price of the Wii U(and actually releases some software for the damn thing) then what will the situation for the PS4 be?

Right now though, I think we're still in situation of all this being too early to tell how big of a success the PS4 or Nextbox will be. So I'll just wait and see until we get more info

On a side note, don't you think you're making kind of a big assumption when you say "People are more than ready for a next gen console"? Sure gamers who pay attention to news sites like you and I are aware of the term but most other people don't even know what the term "next-gen" even means. I could go right now and tell my friends who are also gamers but don't visit news sites that "I can't wait for next-gen" and they'll pretty much look at me like "what the hell are you babbling about man?"

[TRGMatt]

We're all ready for next gen. Consoles are a staple in homes these days. Nintendo just fell off the wagon. It's gonna be a 2 man show, maybe 3 if Steam plays their cards right.

[Jek_Porkins]

Whate fate is that? I think things could start slow with $400+ consoles, but it'll pick up within a year or so. There wont be a runaway winner in the console war, keeping it close in terms of sales will really push these companies to give us great content and good prices.

[RuleofOne343]

First off anyone of them can fall from grace, secondly if things start effecting the console manufacturers & developers bottom dollar they will be force to rethink thier partnership with retail especially if retail brags about #'s. Third love how he says he is being sold a incomplete game as I recall developer never promised or gave a detailed descriptions of how long or how short the game would be, they just said a game was coming. Love the snip at DLC or passes but forgets that when he got SM3 store did not take trades , thier was no 20billion revenue from used games sales or it was not yet profitable concepts yet . MO the industry needs to restructure it self so it can maintain it self & continue to exist.

[mydyingparadiselost]

Actually there were specific stores called GAME STORES that took trades, we had a couple in my town when SM3 came out, they just weren't retail chains. And there is massive revenue in used movies, clothes, electronics and TONS of other items but I don't see used movies under fire or DRM on underwear or blu ray players that catch fire when sold at garage sales.

Game companies used to make complete games and not hold back content for dlc because games were sold COMPLETE and I don't recall any companies suddenly saying 'hey, we don't sell complete stuff anymore' either but at some point fighting games started having less characters at purchase, cheat codes became microtransactions, and costumes and extras unlocked by beating a game are now unlocked by credit card.

If the industry needs a restructuring it's because AAA companies have been treating us like fools and our money like it has nowhere else to go to but them.

[DivineAssault]

no

[Apex13]

This gen will be about price. The issue also comes from the fact that we have devices that all do the same thing and games is the only thing that makes the three machines stand apart.

Even though the wii u is the first new gen I have purchased, Nintendoshould have dropped the Wii name but they tried to ride of the success of the original Wii as it became a brand. They have done a piss poor job of marketing but the price is fair for such a great machine.

The other 2 will be more expensive and at even £400 you are having a laugh.

[Thepcz]

people (ie sony fans) think shit is sweet just because their console is powerful. seems everyone conveniently forgets vita, and how that has flopped.

the games market is changing rapidly, i have been saying it for years- brute power is oldskool now. thats the old way of thinking. people want new ways to play.

people play candy crush and angry birds, people buy ipads. nintendo were smart with wiiu and incorporating elements of the tablet into its design, but even that isnt enough.

nintendo know and understand the market, which is why they come with games like wario ware. its aimed at the same consumer who play candy crush etc. when nintendo finally roll its games out, maybe the wiiiu will pick up.

the only thing that will keep ps4 afloat is its fans. ie, people who buy all sony consoles blindly -ie fanboys. it wont be adopted by the average consumer, the same way the wiiu wasnt.

i think microsoft will win the next gen simply by coming with a console that ticks all the boxes but comes at a good price, just as it did with the 360.

and dont go thinking im a microsoft fan, because im not- this is the way i think it will play out.

other than that, nintendo do stand a chance of surprising everyone. but i think sony have misjudged it totally this time. again, brute force is oldskool. its also expensive, and we are not in a climate to support such products.

[revben]

I know you will get a lot downvotes as will I, but you speak the truth as if you have been blessed by wisdom. Games have 50% of apps download on ios and android, and none of them are power houses. Just games will unique gameplay.

[g-nome]

Give me big budget games on overpowered consoles any day over the 5 min shallow experiences supplied by the android and apple devices.

[jcnba28]

I agree with what you said about sony and nintendo. I just can't see the ps4 selling well when (excluding power) it's the exact same as a ps3. Only hardcore gamers are going to care about the "GDDRs RAM", the normal consumer will not.

[monkeyfox]

Have played my share of games on iphone and android over the years but apart from the odd RPG have never had a gaming experience that equals anything on consoles... Sure "non gamers" probably play tons of shitty games on mobile devices but with the most popular games on the consoles bringing in more money than they ever have in history, i cant see mobile gaming being a threat to traditional console based entertainment for a while yet...

[MasterCornholio]

Well as long as they dont have Iwata running the company, Microsoft and Sony will do just fine.

Edit: Yes i firmly believe that Iwata is ruining Nintendo.

[fsfsxii]

Stupid article. People aren't so dumb to leave a CONSOLE for the 30 seconds of joy with Angry birds or whatever mobile game.