200°

Microsoft and Sony Need to Differentiate Next Generation... Or Else

Michael Futter writes: With E3 right around the corner, it seems the perfect time to think about what might be revealed and what the next generation of consoles may hold. There has already been much speculation with some pundits crying about the sky falling due to the rapid growth of mobile gaming, the warning/hopefulness of a used game lockouts and even consoles reliant solely on downloadable software. Let’s be realistic; most of this is just guesswork. What we do know is that the industry is changing.

bfenty4371d ago

I've been saying this for years! Graphics are important, but they aren't enough to differentiate anymore. We're at a point where gaming needs to evolve (and no, I don't think the Wii is the answer)

smashcrashbash4371d ago (Edited 4371d ago )

You talk as if it so simple. Technology can only evolve so fast you know. Changing the way an industry is not something you can do over night.Coming up with something completely different isn't always as profitable as just simply doing something slightly different from before.

Look at how Sony tried to push the PSPGo as an only downloadable machine and people rejected it. To do something dynamic and radical takes great risk. It's easy to yell to try to differentiate when it's not your money or company at risk or on the line.People always simplify things so much.

Companies are complex organisms and it's never as simple as people try to make it seem. Just like people yelling 'Just cut the price' or 'just bring this PS1 and PS2 game to PSN' as if it's just one person in charge of making it happen. Forget about differentiation, concentrate on making a console that is efficient and works well and doesn't shut down in a year and a half or 50% of the time. Don't give me gimmicks and tacked on things to try to be different and give me some crap system. People keep advancing technology and not taking care of the minor details that always get in the way of efficiency.

@ PaladinXII First of all you completely missed my point by concentrating on a single sentence of my post, classical N4G. Second of all that was only one of the reasons. Sony's download only idea for their console was considered a bad idea by many people. It was ONE of the main reasons it failed

PaladinXII4371d ago

The PSPGo didn't fail because it was download only. It failed because you couldn't access the whole library (or even most of it) via download.

CrzyFooL4371d ago

I want SEGA to make consoles again... :-\

BlackjackCF4371d ago

As much as I hate to admit it, mobile tech is the way to go.

sandman2244371d ago

I'm very disappointed with Microsoft. They are holding out on us with a new console. That's why we need to boycot them. Do not purchase an Xbox. We need to give them a reason to release there next console sooner than 2014

catfrog4371d ago

microsoft is differentiating itself, they seem to be going the kinect route, havnt you noticed that they arent releasing controller based games much anymore?

Edward754371d ago

@ catfrog notice in this article when said that Sony is trying to work on tech similar to kinect.

This is like the fourth, maybe fifth article (coming from different sources/sites) that have reported this.
It makes sense. Money is one of, if not THE biggest reason for making games. Sony will attempt to cash in on that aspect a bit.

I long for the days again when the battles were easy to see where the lines were drawn.... Back in the days the good old Nintendo VS Sega!

Hicken4371d ago

The difference is FOCUS. It's just like with the Move. The Move is not a FOCUS of Sony, despite it being largely aimed at the same people who would buy a Wii or a Kinect.

But Sony's FOCUS has been the same since the start: core gaming experiences. It's something they've carried over and doubled up on since last generation, and since that's where the majority of their money is coming from(that thing everybody acknowledges they're after), that's where they'll keep their FOCUS.

I think the difference between Sony and Microsoft is pretty well-defined. At least, for those who care to look. There are plenty of people who don't; for them, there will never be a difference. But anybody who'd want to know the difference between Sony and Microsoft wouldn't have to look very hard to see it.

Edward754371d ago

First time I agree with you hicken. That core gaming experience is a strong focal point for Sony. And as a gamer I appreciate it. It is why I bought a vita. (it's like the core gaming of handhelds)

I am just worried that the core gaming way won't get the revenue that Sony wants. It will keep people like us interested in their products. But in a way that doesn't cut it anymore. Nintendo made a killing with leaving core gamers. Then MS got a share with kinect. Many leave the core gaming group as they get married, get more responsibility on their jobs, or have kids. It happens. I would love to spend 40+ hours of gaming a week like I use to. To reach more people and increase profits it's kinda necessary to devote some time and resources to the casuals as I like to call them. Gaming is changing that way, and sadly I think Sony has to jump on board a bit to compete. I don't want them to, but in a way it's adapt or die.

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140°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers18h ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos3h ago(Edited 3h ago)

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken5h ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g14h ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing14h ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H914h ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola10h ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn66913h ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle13h ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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300°

Microsoft Seemingly Closes Bethesda France

As part of its plans to cut 1,900 jobs, Microsoft has reportedly shut down operations at Bethesda France, letting go roughly 15 people

Read Full Story >>
insider-gaming.com
Hereandthere1d 5h ago

Microsoft should have left them stay 3rd party

GamerRN1d 2h ago

If they are let go, they can be whatever they want. They ARE 3rd party now... 🤦

Barlos1d ago

Yeah, they're also jobless.

GamerRN17h ago

They can form a company if they want, they are just as jobless as if "Microsoft had left them as 3rd party".

peppeaccardo19h ago

"MIcrosoft leaves Bethesda do what they know how to do best" ... close! Oh the irony ....
(Citation from a week old article)

ChasterMies15h ago

I think Microsoft and other game publishers are letting people go because they think ai will replace them. Doesn’t matter how much profit they make. They were always going to be let go.

PassNextquestion1d 5h ago (Edited 1d 5h ago )

Bethesda France was made up of roughly 15 people... they couldn't of being doing much

Bethesda France mainly did publishing and marketing within the region

blacktiger1d 2h ago

that's a shame for you to say that, i'm sure Elite loves hearing what you just said.

Mr Logic13h ago

What a stupid thing to say. The elites give 0 fucks what we say on an obscure website in the comments section.

Crows9012h ago

You can always reach out and give them jobs at your company man. Don't wait

Profchaos1d 5h ago (Edited 1d 5h ago )

Bethesda France focused on publishing and marketing in the region. And 15 people lost their jobs as part of the closure.

I wonder if this is part of Microsoft's strategy to abandoned physical media or possibly gamepass advertising makes their roles redundant you don't need to market a game as hard when the majority of players get the game as part of a sub which already promoted upcoming games

Tacoboto1d 4h ago

It's France too, there's a high likelihood only 1-2 people on the team even had an Xbox.

Profchaos1d 4h ago

Possibly guven all the leaks we know the Xbox brand is really struggling in the region.

Yi-Long1d 1h ago

Well, if your consoles and games are barely found in any stores any more, of course you're gonna struggle finding consumers ...

XiNatsuDragnel1d 3h ago

Tbh Microsoft I think Bethesda being 3rd party same with Activision would probably more competitive than thus scenario imo

Profchaos1d 2h ago (Edited 1d 2h ago )

I think it would have been better for all parties really especially gamers

TheColbertinator1d 2h ago

The recently purchased Activision French offices might take over all the licensing and marketing for Microsoft in France from now on.

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130°

Sony Could Increase Your Game's Difficulty If It Sees You Complain About It

Sony has recently published a new patent that wants to dynamically handle the games' difficulty and gameplay based on the player's emotions.

jznrpg1d 6h ago

This is something I might use. Sometimes I play some good games but they don’t have difficulty option and are a little too easy.

Profchaos1d 5h ago

Souls games will be like that players struggling make it harder

PassNextquestion1d 4h ago (Edited 1d 4h ago )

I think if used correctly it could work well

jambola1d 1h ago

cool idea
cool idea for horror games especially
the way it's explained here sounds like it could never be forced hopefully, so that's ok with me

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