From time to time, Gurwin’s Keyboard will feature guest bloggers. Today’s post is by Gabe Gurwin.
“Console Wars” is usually a term I consider to be slightly exaggerated. Over the last twenty years, we’ve routinely seen two or three companies produce video game systems to compete against one another, but not only has advertising remained relatively civil (“Sega does what Ninten-don’t” is about as vicious as it got), the phrase seems to always rear its ugly head at the beginning of a new generation. For once, however, it’s safe to say that we are indeed in a “console war.”
This current generation has been somewhat of an anomaly for video game systems. Not only did it go on twice as long as the generation prior, but the top-selling system, the Nintendo Wii, fell into obscurity after only a few years. This left Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and Sony’s PlayStation 3 to duke it out, and although the systems emphasized different features—such as Sony’s support for independent developers—the choice in console for consumers largely came down to game preference. Xbox owners were largely attracted to exclusives like Halo and Forza, as well as the vastly superior Xbox Live service, while PlayStation owners had a much larger selection of exclusive games to choose from. However, this generation seems to be taking a much different turn. While there are some big exclusives—such as Sony’s Killzone and Microsoft’s Dead Rising 3—the games themselves are largely irrelevant to the consumers’ choice in console.
Instead, focus has largely been put on the business practices of said consoles’ manufacturers. Rumors began swirling months ago that Microsoft would be implement consumer-unfriendly practices such as the requirement of an internet connection to play games and the implementation of used games restrictions with its Xbox One console. Although Microsoft did clarify that these policies are not quite as strict as some had predicted, Sony’s confirmation that the PlayStation 4 would not feature any DRM (digital rights management) or internet requirements resulted in an explosion of support for the company. (DRM is a technology that allows a software/game vendor to prevent copying or sharing of games and US Copyright law prevents such technology from being subverted.) Amazon has already stopped taking pre-orders for the system’s “launch day” version, while Microsoft’s Xbox One is still available to purchase online. In addition, while Microsoft’s console is priced at $500—due in no small part to the inclusion of a Kinect sensor in every box—the PlayStation is a full $100 cheaper.
Of course, there’s also Nintendo, whose Wii U console has been selling so poorly CEO Satoru Iwata has once again apologized for its poor performance. After a lackluster showing at E3 (the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo) that revealed most of its announced games would be released in 2014, the system will be largely leaning on the success of Super Mario 3D World to boost sales this holiday season.
All three consoles have their perks, but if this E3 is anything to go by, consoles will no longer succeed entirely because of games and exclusive content. Instead, they will rely on a positive relationship with the consumer. So far, Sony is the only company that has done enough to achieve this.
Gabe Gurwin is a video game industry journalist and blogger. He is an Editor of Invisible Gamer (www.invisiblegamer.net) and Video Game Editor of Ohio University’s Tech Heads Blog (techheads.me). You can follow him on Twitter @GamingAngelGabe.
