Is Console Gaming Dying?

http://games.venturebeat.com/2009/07/11/as-console-games-slide-online-games-up-22-percent-compared-to-a-year-ago/

The number of online game players rose 22 percent in May compared to a year ago, drawing more than 87 million players in the U.S., according to market researcher comScore.

That improvement is a stark contrast to the slide in overall console game revenues in the U.S., which fell 23 percent compared to a year ago in dollar sales, according to market researcher NPD.

NOTE, this study did not even factor in all the PC MMOs.

http://games.venturebeat.com/2009/07/11/as-console-games-slide-online-games-up-22-percent-compared-to-a-year-ago/

The number of online game players rose 22 percent in May compared to a year ago, drawing more than 87 million players in the U.S., according to market researcher comScore.

That improvement is a stark contrast to the slide in overall console game revenues in the U.S., which fell 23 percent compared to a year ago in dollar sales, according to market researcher NPD.

NOTE, this study did not even factor in all the PC MMOs.

SquatsAreAwesom

I agree with the poster above, alot of people are hurting right now for work, or good work. I wouldn't really say that because the industry isn't doing as well as previous years that it is dying. Now if the economy was booming and the industry was still down 20 - 25% then you might be on to something.

I heard that the major gaming companies were going to make their systems fully online, so that you can download them directly off of the internet, personally, this is a good idea I think, except that the companies would therefore be making LESS money in the process...

Its already dead. The current selection of modern "consoles" are basically simplified and closed PC platforms. None of them retain the traditional console "plug-n-play" styIe of playing like those of previous generations. There is updates, downloadable content, internal data storage for ROM games, online gaming (with the focus on same-room multiplayer disappearing), media playback (music and video) and other non-essential features that were much better suited to the PC platform.

is system wars dying?

Funny to see a thread like this after all the foolish "PC GAMING IS DEAD OR DYING!" threads that have come up.

Atm no console gaming isn't dying,it just has its slow periods between selling good/fast-slows down to a crawl(like how crappy the economy is right now).

Or since Horrible games like Call of Duty came out, thats all people play, they buy one game then play it online for month's because 1. They don't play real games 2. They are BrainDead 3. A cheap RedNecks who are imbred 4. All of the above

LordDhampire

If this console generation isn't the last, the next surely will be -- one of the few of Pachter's predictions I semi-agree with.

xDimMaK

[QUOTE="SquatsAreAwesom"]

http://games.venturebeat.com/2009/07/11/as-console-games-slide-online-games-up-22-percent-compared-to-a-year-ago/

The number of online game players rose 22 percent in May compared to a year ago, drawing more than 87 million players in the U.S., according to market researcher comScore.

That improvement is a stark contrast to the slide in overall console game revenues in the U.S., which fell 23 percent compared to a year ago in dollar sales, according to market researcher NPD.

NOTE, this study did not even factor in all the PC MMOs.

SaudiFury

Pfft, who eats food honestly?

[QUOTE="SpruceCaboose"]Console gaming is still profitable and growing. Why would it stop?xDimMaK

[QUOTE="SpruceCaboose"]Console gaming is still profitable and growing. Why would it stop?xDimMaK

[QUOTE="xDimMaK"]

[QUOTE="SpruceCaboose"]Console gaming is still profitable and growing. Why would it stop?SpruceCaboose

Its already dead. The current selection of modern "consoles" are basically simplified and closed PC platforms. None of them retain the traditional console "plug-n-play" styIe of playing like those of previous generations. There is updates, downloadable content, internal data storage for ROM games, online gaming (with the focus on same-room multiplayer disappearing), media playback (music and video) and other non-essential features that were much better suited to the PC platform.

foxhound_fox

Well, there's something called "horrible economy" going on these days so people won't buy $60 games. F2P onlines games, on the other hand, are free so people WOULD like to play something that's free in these economy times.

Its already dead. The current selection of modern "consoles" are basically simplified and closed PC platforms. None of them retain the traditional console "plug-n-play" styIe of playing like those of previous generations. There is updates, downloadable content, internal data storage for ROM games, online gaming (with the focus on same-room multiplayer disappearing), media playback (music and video) and other non-essential features that were much better suited to the PC platform.

foxhound_fox

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]

Its already dead. The current selection of modern "consoles" are basically simplified and closed PC platforms. None of them retain the traditional console "plug-n-play" styIe of playing like those of previous generations. There is updates, downloadable content, internal data storage for ROM games, online gaming (with the focus on same-room multiplayer disappearing), media playback (music and video) and other non-essential features that were much better suited to the PC platform.

fourseamer4

uh no, the wii sales alone prove just the opposite. Console gaming is very much the mainstream market despite the recent rise of pc gaming.

Well, there's something called "horrible economy" going on these days so people won't buy $60 games. F2P onlines games, on the other hand, are free so people WOULD like to play something that's free in these economy times.

GodofEmpires

uh no, the wii sales alone prove just the opposite. Console gaming is very much the mainstream market despitebthe recebt rise of pc gaming.

striking_

No, but people are dying when they pay $2000 to upgrade their PC and can't afford food.

No, but people are dying when they pay $2000 to upgrade their PC and can't afford food.

2-10-08

No, but people are dying when they pay $2000 to upgrade their PC and can't afford food.

2-10-08

[QUOTE="striking_"]

uh no, the wii sales alone prove just the opposite. Console gaming is very much the mainstream market despitebthe recebt rise of pc gaming.

Danm_999

I guess it depends on how you look at it. There are different degrees of pc gaming due the incredible accessibility since everyone has a pc nowadays. However if you cut out mmos you can't really say that pc gaming is all that mainstream. Also he asked if console gaming is dying and for that my point still stands, it really is not.

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"]

Its already dead. The current selection of modern "consoles" are basically simplified and closed PC platforms. None of them retain the traditional console "plug-n-play" styIe of playing like those of previous generations. There is updates, downloadable content, internal data storage for ROM games, online gaming (with the focus on same-room multiplayer disappearing), media playback (music and video) and other non-essential features that were much better suited to the PC platform.

samuraiguns

Just because consoles have evolved to incorporate a broader range of multi-media functions doesn't mean they are 'dead', just simply a different incarnation to what they were 10 or 20 years ago.

And yes they are still plug n play devices regarding their core functionality i.e. gaming (probably less so with PS3 due to obvious mandatory installs), and it could be argued music and video capabilities are better suited to a lounge-based device such as consoles as opposed to PC's...

PC gaming is the only thing thats dying. Sorry hermits.

PC gaming is the only thing thats dying. Sorry hermits.

Pdiddy105

This is one of those "US only and retail stores only" charts, isn't it? :roll:

PC gaming is the only thing thats dying. Sorry hermits.

Pdiddy105

[QUOTE="LordDhampire"]

Or since Horrible games like Call of Duty came out, thats all people play, they buy one game then play it online for month's because 1. They don't play real games 2. They are BrainDead 3. A cheap RedNecks who are imbred 4. All of the above

SpruceCaboose

Its already dead. The current selection of modern "consoles" are basically simplified and closed PC platforms. None of them retain the traditional console "plug-n-play" styIe of playing like those of previous generations. There is updates, downloadable content, internal data storage for ROM games, online gaming (with the focus on same-room multiplayer disappearing), media playback (music and video) and other non-essential features that were much better suited to the PC platform.

foxhound_fox

[QUOTE="xDimMaK"]

If this console generation isn't the last, the next surely will be -- one of the few of Pachter's predictions I semi-agree with.

SpruceCaboose

It is not "dying" but what I see happenning is a convergence of all electronic devices. As has been pointed out a modern console essentially is a computer and this generation it is becoming true not only from a hardware perspective. The consoles are including things like movie players, and digitaly distributed movies, internet browsers, and now they are going to add Facebook etc. Meanwhile DVD and Blu-ray players are adding features like Netflix instant watching and pandora radio and internet connections. So I don't think they will die, I think everything will just converge into one device. It has basically already happened with portable electronics with devices like the iPhone, (though they don't yet have all the features of their counterparts)

I think it will pick back up 2010. Maybe the PS3 price cut will move things along :]

I think it will pick back up 2010. Maybe the PS3 price cut will move things along :]

NotToBeDied

If this console generation isn't the last, the next surely will be -- one of the few of Pachter's predictions I semi-agree with.

Actually PC gaming is dieing

Always have to upgrade the specs on the PC with this horrible economy.

Console gaming is here to stay.

i think pc gaming is dying faster than console gaming.

[QUOTE="imprezawrx500"][QUOTE="SpruceCaboose"] Console gaming is still profitable and growing. Why would it stop?-Snooze-

[QUOTE="-Snooze-"][QUOTE="imprezawrx500"] the wii which is a traditional console imprezawrx500

History will prove you right though. When PC's reach the point of photorealism and prices plummet, consoles will be redundant and only ones with some kind of gimmick will survive.

Just because consoles have evolved to incorporate a broader range of multi-media functions doesn't mean they are 'dead', just simply a different incarnation to what they were 10 or 20 years ago.

And yes they are still plug n play devices regarding their core functionality i.e. gaming (probably less so with PS3 due to obvious mandatory installs), and it could be argued music and video capabilities are better suited to a lounge-based device such as consoles as opposed to PC's...

poptart