The Perfect Storm (Who will be the Next Hardware Giant?) Hello all. Thought I would share with you an article I finished writing entitled The Perfect Storm. Basically, it reflects upon the conditions and possible contenders for the next hardware juggernaut. The link: http://videogameconsolelibrary.com/blogs/mg/?p=443#respond Hopefully everyone finds it an interesting and thought provoking read. Looking forward to your comments. Thanks in advance all.
You mentioned Apple - As much as I'd hate that, I think they would be very likely to succeed. But so would Google. Maybe once Chrome OS has been established well enough (so maybe not next gen but the one after...)? Casual gaming's getting bigger all the time, so why not cash in with a "Chrome OS Market"... Also, and this is even more likely, they've already got a huge Android install base (and the apps & games to go with it!), and are working on expanding it onto our TVs - Think about it: Once you got a Google TV, what's to keep you from running Android games on it? Nothing much, really. Maybe the lack of a proper controller, but just add some Bluetooth (anyone know if the GTVs already have that?) and you're set.
@rso Excellent call on Google. I was kind of focusing on the console market, but great points on Google TV and the like! A couple of other interesting suggestions that I have received in regards to who could be the next gaming giant: o HP o IBM o NEC (nostalgic) Thanks for the feedback and I hope that you found it an interesting read.
Some might argue that Apple already is a videogame hardware giant, considering that some people call the iPhone a game machine.
Good point, but to me, the iPhone's still a phone, the iPod a media player, and the iPad a tablet PC, nothing more. (Actually in the case of the iPad it's got too much functionality to be called a "game machine" imo). Personally, I'll start calling Apple a videogame company once they'll let you run iWhatever games on the Apple TV. Re: Android - Just read earlier today that the new 2.3 SDK includes support for the Sony PSPhone's (or whatever it's called) buttons. So... /thread.
Even though the prospect is slightly cringeworthy I'd be quite excited at the prospect of an Apple dedicated games console.
I doubt we will see a NEW unknown company entering the gaming market for a while at least and if there were to be a new player in video game it would certainly be an established company like say apple, HP...etc or at least that's my thought. Maybe Panasonic could make a comeback since they made 3do's and bought the M2 technology (as matsushita) so they aren't all that new to video games but that probably won't happen.
I agree, as pointed out in the article, that some unknown will not come out from left field to enter the console arena - it would have to be an existing entity. I had considered adding Panasonic to the list of possible contenders, but having Philips and Toshiba have been more innovative in recent years than Panasonic. IMHO, some new player will arise at some point and be a force. It has occurred in every decade since the advent of the video game console: 1970s - Magnavox, Atari, Mattel, Coleco 1980s - Coleco, Nintendo, Sega, NEC 1990s - SNK, Philips, Panasonic, Sony 2000s - Microsoft 2010s - ??? The list above is just a look at some of the new players that entered into the foray during the respective decade - some prevailed, others did not. The article details some of the possible 'requirements' for a new entry along with some companies that potentially fit this profile. The intention of the writing is to provoke thought and generate some speculative, educated dialog on the topic. As my friend put it "we all know that someone is going to take a run at the some point - it is just a matter of time." Excellent thoughts everyone - keep the juices flowing!
I don't see anyone "taking a run" at a major new console. Far more likely that the next evolutionary step in console gaming will be on a convergence device like Google TV, Apple TV or whatever. It's the same model that's taken off on the iPhone (whether it serves people like us or not) - as TVs gradually come with more functionality built in it's just inevitable that that hardware will be used to play games. It won't be long until there's one hell of an installed user base.
I tend to agree that a convergence device will be the 'next, greatest thing'. However, this type of device will more than likely incorporate existing game technology from the Big 3 (if it is console based). Regarding new, proprietary hardware, I would put my money on Apple, with Toshiba being the primary manufacturer/distributor.
I doubt the big 3 will change in the next couple generations, but maybe if OnLive does better TVs will start integrating it.
Apple are already a big player in the portable games market with the iPod touch, iPhone, and iPad. what about Apple TV all it needs is the app store which is going to happen, their just entering into the market in a different way. Playstation 3 = games console + media center Xbox 360 = games console + media center Nintendo Wii = ? Apple TV = media center + games console
Incorporating a video game system into an existing television/media center is not difficult, though financially incorporating both might effectively put this out of the reach of most consumers.
The console world is moving and the definition of what we see as a game console is changing, you dont need the fastest CPU of GPU, Nintendo and Apple have realised that and its about time we all did to. Reggie Fils-Aime Quote So far, the Apple incursion into the gaming space has mostly hurt the DS but that could soon change. The surge in popularity of the new generation Apple TV could end up taking a big bite out of the Wii. Since the Apple TV runs on iOS the expectation is that, before long, Apple will make an app market available for the set top device. When that happens, we are likely to see games running on it that could possibly feature Wii-style motion controls for use with the iPhone or iPod. Time to take a big bite of the Apple?
