When you think about it, people aren’t buying games like they used to. While the industry is growing and they are building toward future innovations, sales have been declining. It’s a fact that with the economy the way that it is, gamers have to tighten their purse strings. Nintendo recently reported a 40% loss in revenue, and I’m sure Sony and Microsoft aren’t far behind. The problem is between the high prices and the fact that mobile gaming has taken off. People are playing games on their phones and tablets now, proving that you don’t need a home console or even a handheld to enjoy gaming. Why spend $60 when you can spend $3 and take it with you everywhere?
Also, Nintendo has thrived on their iconic characters (Mario, Donkey Kong, Link, etc.) without relying too much on third-party help. Microsoft and Sony are becoming too much alike in that their consoles are being carried by either first or third-person shooters. Xbox 360 and PS3 share a lot of games with a few console exclusives here and there (Halo, Gears, Uncharted, God of War, etc.), and it’s getting to the point where it doesn’t matter which one you buy besides the Blu-Ray factor for PS3. There are only a few games I care about for the PS3 and I didn’t have to have one for long to play them, beat them, and return the console. I already owned an Xbox 360, so there was no reason for me to keep the PS3.
Sometimes, I think that if the two companies joined to make a super console that was the best of both worlds, I’d be a lot happier. Since that will never happen, I can’t see how they will pull themselves out of this rut they’ve encountered.
Both Sony and Microsoft have failed at motion gaming. I realize that it’s a bold statement considering the Kinect is selling a lot better than the PS Move, but neither of them appeal to core gamers like they should. Families and children are the core audiences, and while it’s nice, the technology is nowhere near where our imaginations wanted it to go.
For me, I want to actually be inside the game and do all sorts of cool things I only ever dreamed of. Perhaps something like the Grid in Tron? Instead, the coolness of the Kinect is marred in advertising that shows parents and their kids jumping around in their overly styled living rooms. There was even one where Grandpa Oldtimer was playing with them like he’s in the know. I know that some grandparents are up and active, but you’ll only relate to that if your grandparents are like that. Kinect has so much potential, and I hope Microsoft changes directions a bit within the next year.
It’s great to market it to families, but the core gamers went completely ignored. Now, games are beginning to add Kinect compatibility, but isn’t it too late for that? I have played games like Mass Effect 3 with when I had a Kinect only to find that I felt like an idiot shouting power commands at my television. Sure, it was empowering for a little while, but I feel that such a feature is meant to impress a group. You know, like when you host a gaming event or movie party?
Handhelds are failing, as well; because it’s too expensive and mobile gaming is taking its place. There isn’t a big difference between the PS Vita and an I-Phone, minus the calling. And there isn’t much difference between the 3DS and any the previous one besides the fact that it has an analog stick, axis gyroscope, and 3D. There were a lot of games marketed along with the 3DS, yet none of them were released with the handheld.
This left a gigantic gap between the system and the games that potential customers didn’t appreciate. Not only was it not marketed correctly/enough (how many of you honestly knew about the 3DS before it came out?), but there were no 3D games to play when it dropped. Keep in mind that there are a plethora of DS games available, but the point of the 3DS is… the 3D. None of the original DS games were compatible with the 3D, for starters. What’s the point of releasing something that plays games in 3D if you can only play Pokemon Heart Gold until Ocarina of Time comes out?
The 3DS was $250 when it came out last year; a year after they released the DSi XL. Because I worked at Gamestop around that time, I dealt with the rage that most parents felt first hand. I have to say that I was surprised at Nintendo’s bold move because the XL didn’t have a lot of time to grow before the 3DS release. One year isn’t enough time even if it’s a bigger version of the DSi. I would rather the DSi stood on its own for a little while longer and the idea for the XL was just trashed. This way, the market won’t be saturated with different sizes of the same product.
Then, because consumers weren’t buying what Nintendo wanted them to buy, they lowered the price to rival that of the DSi XL. So, if you purchased a DSi XL for $170, you’d be upset to learn that you can have an even further upgraded version for the same price almost a year later. The only reason I can provide for why it played out the way it did was that Nintendo got greedy in the interim between the DSi and the 3DS. That’s it; feel free to provide your theories to expand on that!
This, of course, brings me to the PS Vita. The decked out Playstation Portable was said to blow the 3DS out of the water. Two touch-screens, two analog sticks, enhanced visuals, and 3G capability make it seem beyond cool in theory. One of my gripes about the Vita is that while it’s got all these features and a handful of decent games, it seems like overkill. Pricewise, Sony can take some lessons from Nintendo and lower the price a bit. The Vita didn’t sell well in Japan for a few reasons, and the price was close to the top of the list. No one wants to pay the price of a home console for something their phone can do for less.
I realize that I’m ranting, so I will bring it back to the original topic. Not being able to play used games may be what the industry needs, or it may be what brings it into crisis. As I said, people are getting more careful with their money, but not careful enough to drop $60 on a game, trade it in for $25, and buy a new game at full price. This is a rumor, however, but I would like to debate with some people. That is my socratic exercise for now, so comment on what you think about both parts!
