A console that downloads its games on demand would be cool -- but only for a certain class of game and only for certain customers.
Not everyone has a solid internet connection. Not all games require online access. What happens when the internet connection is down?
Although Apple, Amazon, and Netflix have done a lot to develop the market for on-demand movies and music, the rest of the copyright industry has a track record of idiotic counterproductive decisions -- always based on greed. If they try to turn online gaming into a "pay-per-play" model, it will crash and burn.
Are You OK Parting With Gaming Consoles?
SodaHead Gaming
2012/04/03 13:00:00
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According to CNET, the next generation of consoles (realistically, maybe a generation after that) might shed the physical video game altogether, and instead opt for a kind of "virtual ownership," similar to the cloud system used by Apple and Amazon for music. Theoretically, the new technology would simply provide users with a digital ID, a login or maybe a swipable card, and the rest is stored in the ether. Users can purchase the right to play games from any similar console with an Internet connection.
Of course, this is all a wildly unfounded rumor, but given the direction technology is moving in terms of practicality and, perhaps more importantly, piracy, it does sound plausible. CNET brings up an interesting point, that video game rental companies like Gamestop would be run into the ground or reduced to vintage novelty shops, but isn't that what's already happening to record shops? Sounds like the future. Do you think console gaming will go out the window soon? And are you OK embracing virtual ownership for good?
Of course, this is all a wildly unfounded rumor, but given the direction technology is moving in terms of practicality and, perhaps more importantly, piracy, it does sound plausible. CNET brings up an interesting point, that video game rental companies like Gamestop would be run into the ground or reduced to vintage novelty shops, but isn't that what's already happening to record shops? Sounds like the future. Do you think console gaming will go out the window soon? And are you OK embracing virtual ownership for good?
Top Opinion
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V~POTL~PWCM~JLA 2012/04/03 15:08:18
How anyone could even think that cell phone gaming would replace console gaming is beyond me. Cell phones are weaker, their batteries dies faster, their screen is much smaller, the controls are all crammed into the tiny mentioned screen making them hard to play for those with big thumbs, and most importantly cell phone games just like facebook games charge you for all those extras(sometimes to the point its nearly impossible if you don't) to the point your done with the game you would have spent enough to have bought a console game or two. I will admit that they have a few games that are actually worth it such as Zenonia series and Inotia series but their SNES quality at best. Something else I'd like to point out is that phones suck with high quality games I tried Dungeon Defenders on my brand new HTC Vivid and it crashed my phone after only a few mins of play while the PS3 version of the game runs smoothly for hours at a time. So to make sure I'm clear with everyone, I WOULD NOT BE OK PARTING WITH CONSOLES!
My nostalgia is for the 8 and (especially) 16 bit era. A certain amount of artistry went into the look/sound/feel of the best of those games, before they began trying to simulate photographic reality.
However, broadband penetration is high and getting higher. If companies found a way to host the console itself on the cloud so all you need is a TV and a controller that plugs into the TV, I say awesome.
Some stuff would have to get sorted out first, like how to ensure that games can be bought from many different service but all accessible from one place and good graphics cards would have to be installed in TVs, but otherwise it sounds fine to me.
All it is is streaming entertainment, just like Netflix. Everybody seems to think that is OK and many TVs are coming with Netflix chips built right into them. Doing the same with consoles isn't a big stretch.
Plus, it does hurt places like Gamefly and Gamestop. If you buy a game and end up not liking it, you're stuck with it and you're out however much you paid for it. At least with buying a physical item, you can exchange it or get a refund.
I see it being viable, but I don't see it being something the consumer would want. Look at the PSP Go. How much did that sell? Then again, Playstation Network and XBox Arcade seem to be doing well.
Okay for smaller games, PC games, etc., but not okay for console games.
Pressed the wrong button >.<
Violent people search for violent entertainment. And I haven't killed anyone. Stop blaming companies for kids bad behavior.
I played Doom when I was 8 and I'm not a killer, nor was I then.