The Changing Face of the Console Wars 223
An article at Gamasutra explores the decisions by Microsoft and Sony to launch significant hardware additions — their respective, upcoming motion-control schemes — in the middle of a console cycle, rather than waiting until the next generations of their systems are ready. It's indicative of a change to the established pattern of console wars; nowadays, it's more about adding features and gadgets to improve existing products than developing entirely new ones. Quoting:
"... for Sony and Microsoft, motion controllers are their next-gen consoles. And it's a damn sight easier than launching Xbox 720 or PS4. They can debut these peripherals without needing to engineer completely new boxes for consumers, potentially bundle them over time, and they have a much better chance at getting exclusive games, thanks to the specificity of the hardware (something that's happened a lot for the Wii). Thus, both hardware manufacturers and publishers like EA see these controllers sparking new interest in Xbox 360 and PS3, which will delay the next dreaded console transition for another few years."
New? (Score:5, Informative)
Nonsense, consoles have been doing this for years.
The various attempts of light guns such as the super scope, sega mega 32x cd add on, eyetoy for the ps2, added memory pack for the N64 etc.
Accessories and gimmicks (Score:3, Informative)
You can sell more $99 gizmos and gimmick games than you can new consoles, pure and simple.
I'd be interested in their 360 addons... (Score:3, Informative)
... but my FOURTH xbox is starting to flake out, and will probably be dead soon.
I appreciate that they sent me 3 new ones under warranty, but god DAMMIT, a console should last more than a year. I would have thought that by the 3rd one they would have figured out how to manufacture them correctly.
Re:You're geniouses among men Sony, MS (Score:3, Informative)
A fad is something that becomes highly popular and is quickly replaced or suffers a loss of use.
I think it is pretty clear, given how little people actually play their Wii's (and how few games are actually even likeable), that it IS a current fad.
Re:What is changing? (Score:2, Informative)
It's indicative of a change to the established pattern of console wars; nowadays, it's more about adding features and gadgets to improve existing products than developing entirely new ones.
Let's go through a long list of things released during the 20+ year console war's history, shall we?
Nintendo Power Glove
Nintendo Power Pad
Nintendo Light Gun
Nintendo R.O.B.
That little light and magnifier thingy for the Nintendo GB?
Sega 32X
Sega CD
Atari Jaguar CD
Nintendo Super Scope
Nintendo GBA's integration into the Nintendo Gamecube
Xbox Media Center
Sony Playstation DualShock controller
PS one (compete w/ LCD screen)
Sony Playstation 2 Slim
Sony Playstation 3 Slim
The numerous add-on peripherals for Nintendo Wii
How is any of this different than what we have had for the last 20 years? It has always been the trend of console designers to milk us for every cent they possibly can on a gaming console before coming out with the next generation. Few systems (like the Xbox) have done so generally with new functionality without the need to purchase add-ons. Others have released better, sleeker versions of the original console before moving on the the next gen. Still others have given us a schlew of peripherals in an attempt to generate revenue from those looking to create "home arcade" systems.