The Future of Video-Games
 

So a big topic of conversation between my friends and me lately is the future of video-games. Supposedly the PS4 is being announced on Februany ($5 foot longs) 20th by Sony. We'll have to wait and see what that's about.

The more depressing stuff, though, is the sh*t being leaked about the next XBox. It might have mandatory Kinect, need to always be online, and focus more on "entertainment features".

That kind of stuff is depressing to me because I'm wholly in the "Live" economy. I prefer games on the XBox so I can play while speaking with my friends in a party chat and whatnot. The more that comes out, the more it seems like Microsoft isn't focusing on games so much as just apps and stuff. Those are just rumors, so who knows.

Wii U's looking good, though. Nothing really to say about that.

So what do you guys think? Any apprehensions? Excited? Tell meeeeeeee.

A lot of people on all the gaming sites I visit figure this will be the last cycle of consoles. After this all games will just be on streaming services.

It wouldn't surprise me given Sony's dire financial troubles, the Vita flopping, and the PS4 probably having the same slow start that the PS3 did. And the next Xbox is turning into a multimedia device rather than a gaming console.

The Wii-U won't do as well as the Wii but will probably do N64 or Gamecube numbers in terms of sales. Doesn't really matter as people buy Nintendo systems for Nintendo games as usual.

This may quite possible be the last console generation, especially when you figure it'll go on for at least 5 years and end around 2018 or so.

The Wii U supposedly sold 55k in January. Microsoft is turning their head to us. Sony has a flagging handheld, books full of red ink and rumors of a go-for-broke strategy with the PS4 that might blow them up.

I'm so incredible ****ing depressed about the state of my hobby as a whole. I don't even know what it is anymore.

I have a Wii U in fact Im using it right now... I love it... I will be getting a PS4 when its out.. I do not dislike the XBOX i just like the exclusive franchises that Nintendo and Sony have in their pocket..

The future?

Angry Birds and NOTHING ELSE.

Steam console, if that thing gets big, we'll probably see a huge down fall in hard copies of games. or console game disks will just be a download feature and no actual game

Vote with your wallet! For me it's all Steam, Nintendo (begrudgingly, at times) and Sony. I pay for the yearly PS+ membership because the benefits are HUGE. On Xbox you can't even use netflix unless you have a paid live membership... how stupid and greedy is that? No other device requires that. Don't reward Microsoft for their messed up strategy.

And right now if you buy a year of PS+ you get a bonus 3 months free. We don't know for sure yet but your PS+ benefits will probably carry over to the next Playstation, which is likely released later this year, so it's a good bargain.

For my Money Sony and Nintendo have the best exclusives in the industry. I don't care much for Halo or Gears, but I do love Zelda, Metroid (and most other Nintendo franchises) Xenoblade Chronicles (the developer is working on a very awesome looking new Wii U game), Heavy Rain (Quantic Dream is heavily tied to Sony), The Last of Us looks out of this world, The Last Guardian (hey... it'll come out... EVENTUALLY, maybe even on PS4), on and on. Sony knows how to get the cool exclusive games.

The 3DS is the only system that's thriving now.

I get the feeling a lot of people will be reluctant to jump on board the next Xbox/Playstation. Even game developers are still announcing games for THIS generation.

GTA V comes out in September, they announced another Batman Arkham game this year, there is a new Metal Gear Solid, Watch Dogs, etc. Plus all the games released now like Dead Space 3, Boshock Infinite, Tomb Raider, etc.

Next gen console are probably going to have a very slow start, as even game developers are still cranking out games for current systems despite this being the final year.

It probably will be the last cycle of consoles overall.

See...this argument would hold more water if Xbox Live wasn't the best and most accessible online gaming service going. It's beyond easy to do what you need to do to set up and play games with people.

Also. Xbox Live Parties. Simple as that. Enjoy your rental games.


HAAAAAAAAAAAA.....Steam Console. A niche console being put out by a niche company to serve a niche section of the community. NINTENDO couldn't pull down big numbers in the console world, you honestly think Valve would do anything but crash and burn?

I think the Wii U will dominate the video game world... It has so many good features like internet browser or miiverse or even the fact that you can play 5 player games.... I don't see anyone beating that....

.......Psst.

Every other console has those features. Well, not miiverse but whatever.

I don't think every other console has backwards compatibility with old controllers as well as old games...

It should be illegal not to have this.

If you have a Wii classic controller / classic controller pro you can even use that in Wii U virtual console games such as the recently released Balloon Fight (which is only $0.30!) ... I didn't expect that, but it's pretty sweet.

http://i.imgur.com/2gbUl2Z.jpg

Personally I have the Wii U pro controller so I'll use that a lot of the time. But yeah, for most games I'll just use the Wii U gamepad since you have to have it nearby anyway

Why is your **** in Japanese?

The Wii U is selling horribly. It may not even do GameCube numbers.

really? five players ain't that special.

PSN and XBLA have old games all over their services and you don't need to change controllers to play them. (Boy that was stupid on the wii)

And look how cluttered and bad the WiiU handles Wii games. At some point you have to cut the rope and move on. Microsoft realized that NOBODY was playing old xbox games anymore and Sony knew that EVERYONE had a PS2. Save that space to make the damn box better.

still, it is hilarious that the later PS3 can play PS1 games but not PS2

Weebs, man.

Also, Steam isn't just some niche market. It's one of (if not the) biggest avenue for digital purchase of PC games. Do I see them as a threat for consoles, though? Hahahahaha, no.

I think people are entirely blind to who Steam serves. The people buying the Sims and playing Facebook games have no idea what Steam is. If you're not into games you don't know what Steam is.

Wii U has things to worry about but sales is not the real problem at this point. It is outselling where PS3 and 360 were at this point in their lifespan. It's really not fair to talk about sales numbers until sony and/or microsoft launch their new hardware and we compare them a few months after that.

Nintendo definitely Gamecubed'd themselves again with the Wii U.

It won't sell well but it still have a number of great games like the GameCube did.

I think people are completely unclear as to what an actual failure is in the game space. Especially with unrealistic comparisons to the Wii. The Gamecube made Nintendo money. The Wii U is profitable for Nintendo as soon as a single game is purchased and that's from day 1.

I've read so much absolutely ridiculous ******** about Nintendo lately, most recently the Sega comparisons. I don't think enough people know the history behind Sega's implosion and simply toss that comparison out there, because they think they're similar situations, when in reality they couldn't be further apart.

It also seems like the fights about sales come down to fanboy nonsense. Let it the **** go, kids. This entire industry is under fire from all sides and the only thing anyone seems to want to do, fans and journos alike, is fire negative nonsense at each other. I'm sure everyone will feel great when our only choice for gaming is ftp ******** on an idevice. Assholes.

I think that the Wii U will start selling better if Zelda Wii U is good... Thats what the N64 needed to survive...

Ah the WII U will be fine Nintendo rocks overall.:D

Don't count on it.

There's post too be a lot of new games coming out for it....:D

Yeah, xbox and ps3 have a lot of games coming out too, doesn't change a thing,

It's what you like...:D

What? I don't understand you, I like all systems if that's what your saying, but video games is going down like everyone else said.

No, you can count it. Nintendo has been through worse. Once the games start picking up, sales will pick up. I promise you once Smash Bros. and other big Nintendo games come out, sales will go up at least a little bit.

Sales will improve but going back down to N64 or GameCube sales numbers after $100 million Wii's sold is bound to be a wake up call to Nintendo.

All those casuals, 35 year old soccer moms, and 65 year old grandpa's who bought the Wii obviously aren't going to be fooled twice.

The N64 and GameCube survived almost entirely because of die-hard Nintendo fans from the NES and SNES era. The Wii-U won't repeat the Wii's success.

What you can count on with Nintendo is that it would take an incredible sequence of terrible circumstances to really have any kind of negative impact on the way they do business. They have made money hand over fist for the last 7-9 years between Wii and the DS. They're not going anywhere. I really like the Nintendo of today though. They sorta listen to their fans and give us these sweet Nintendo Direct videos.

I love Steam personally, but I don't see myself investing in a Steam Box any time soon. My PC is more than adequate. I've heard a lot of speculation that the market won't be able to sustain 3 heavy hitters in the hardware market this gen. I dunno if that's true, but Nintendo always offers something different from the competition.

No sh*t! The Wii was a once in a lifetime kind of boom. Expecting ANY console to replicate that success is ridiculous. Idiot.

And yet Nintendo expected similar success. The 3DS inflated their ego because its outpacing the original DS sales from its first two years already.

The Wii-U isn't even anything worthwhile yet until the Fall when hopefully a 3D Mario comes out. I certainly don't have one yet although Pikmin 3 is tempting.

Then again I am nowhere near the huge Nintendo fan I used to be when I was younger, I sort of fizzled out halfway into the Wii era.

Cybercubed has 9,999 posts! Next one going to be huge?

I've been thinking about getting the Wii U, it looks a lot better than the original Wii. I wonder how much I'll get if I trade my Wii in at Gamestop...anyone know?

Not enough for a Wii U.

Not enough for a Wii U game.