Your Next Video Game System
With consoles about 3-6 years away from advancing into the next generation, I thought I’d put on my Nostradamus cap again and offer up a few theories in what to expect.
First off, say goodbye to physical media. No more discs or even flash cards, everything will be downloaded to your console directly. This not only fights piracy, but increases profit margins - no need to publish and distribute packaged goods.
Because the console is entirely dependent on the internet to download digital goods, you’ll likely endure an HRM (Hardware Rights Management!) that protects the console against tampering or modding. Also DRM for downloaded games will be in effect, and would require frequent internet authentication of some sort.
You will able to lease your console like a mobile phone. A 3-5 year contract for example, would cover the console and a few online accounts for the term. You’d get a bill every month to cover payment on the system (until you own it). Online use and downloaded content would also be factored in (likely billed in real-time). Don’t be shocked if Satellite/Cable/Mobile providers started vending these consoles as part of a cable/internet/phone package. Can’t afford it? Get bricked! Well, I’m sure you can return it - people could lease a used system cheaper.
Your identity will be tied to the system at the point of purchase. Just like leasing/buying a mobile phone, expect an activation process here too. Modders and people of ill-intent will shake their fists over this. Your online accounts will be activated at point of purchase too. So your mom might be in charge of naming your online persona - now there is a scary thought (Xbox Live tag: mommyslittleangel). This will keep people’s online behavior in check. Ah paranoia.
The all-encompassing console will be gone. Now that consumers are conditioned to choosing from multiple SKU’s of video game systems, they will now pick what they need to suit their gaming needs, and that’s where this design comes in:
1. The Core console. This is all you need to play a limited selection of games. Why limited? Many gamers are of the casual variety, and require less-demanding games. A separate GPU would be available to handle the really robust hardcore games. More on that in a bit.
2. Choose your modem. Wi-Fi? Or Broadband? To save money on a system, the consumer would pick the internet connector of their preference. Maybe even a mobile 7G connector?
3. Choose your TV signal. Do you want HDMI? Component? RCA? Giving consumers the ability to choose this output would save money on providing a cable that is bundled with multiple connectors. Plus the future will have 3D-HDMI. You heard it here first.
4. Legacy Drive/DVD Drive/Blu-Ray Drive or a Multi-Drive. Maybe you’d like to play a previous-generation game disc. Or would prefer a DVD/Blu-Ray player, or one that can juggle all three functions. You’d have that option (and at varying price points) to add to the Core system.
5. Expanded Storage/HD Recorder. The Core console would have some storage for games, though you can opt for adding on a Hard Drive or two. Maybe TiVo or Netflix will offer a third-party storage unit for your TV and film consumption.
6. Graphics Card. One of the bigger costs of a console is the GPU. Allowing people to buy this separately will keep the base Core Console price down, which is attractive for casual gamers (they don’t need a powerhouse). For the hardcore gamer, this swappable functionality will be handy when upgrading the card after X number of years. Also this can be easily replaced should it die. Having the system partitioned will make things easier to diagnose and repair. This does mean games will have to be tiered, but seeing as they are all download only, the game store can detect what your system is capable of playing, and filter what you can buy. Want to play Call of Duty: World War IV? Upgrade your hardware with the Graphics Card add-on.
7. Third Party components. Now a company like Toshiba or Panasonic can create an add-on like the stereo shown. This type of expandability would be very attractive to all electronics vendors, something Apple and their products are enjoying with the numerous docks and accessories for their iPods, iPhones, and iPads.
8. That’s the cover from the Core Console. Gotta think ahead for expansion!
9. Not shown: standard controllers and other input devices. Maybe you’d prefer the Sony/Microsoft-like controllers. Maybe a Wiimote-like input. An old-school SNES gamepad? There could also be an input for a compatible handheld device. Perhaps even a webcam? The sky is the limit. The next form of Kinect could be integrated in this platform of expansion.
This isn’t exactly new thinking. Remember the original NES system? There was a port underneath for future expansion. I was a kid when I saw that, and thought that was smart and very forward thinking (I was a very observant 9-year-old). Sadly, nothing came of that expansion port.
This type of configuration is not only expandable, but the interchangeability will prolong the life of the console. Even just swapping out the Core Console to upgrade to the next-gen beyond would be reasonable. Gamers could buy the latest Graphics Card to make the leap to next-gen.
Also this is User-friendly when something breaks down. Instead of sending the whole console in for repairs, it would just be a component.
I cannot stress enough how much this would help the bottom line for a video game company. Instead of packing every system to the gills and selling it at a loss, they can provide an assortment of options tailored to the User’s needs and lifestyle. Buying a ‘core’ system would be an attractive option for many, especially if given the ability to expand and grow the console.
And those are my predictions. A lot of them won’t be popular, so you better hope I don’t become CEO of Nintendo! Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Evil.
Posted on December 15, 2010, in Computers, Electronics, Video Games. Bookmark the permalink. 3 Comments.
Although I do think that physical media is the only thing holding back gaming graphics, it is still necessary. I like the concept of the digital media but I really don’t see this ever becoming an actual console. People really can’t accept change. If a company like Sony or Microsoft would make a drastic change in design like this, no matter how well it worked, people would not buy it. I can only imagine being new into the gaming world and seeing this display set up and seeing the prices stack up in my head. If I was a parent I would just say “You don’t need this… let’s get a PC instead.” This seems very intimidating for a home console, and I am a gamer.
This may work in reducing costs but it will absolutely raise the overall price of buying into a gaming console. The key part of this generation and all of the ones before it was that the consoles were the same. i.e. I bought XX console and was able to play everything they offered, use the cable they provided to switch between this LED tv and this SD tv, and was able to play on my Wireless N network as well as take the console to my friends house and play on his Wireless G network.
If companies would start dividing their consoles into parts it would just segment their demographics. It’s exactly what happened to PC gaming. Huge leaps in gaming tech ostracized parts of the community because of their inability to upgrade their PC.
Digital is the future, and all the studios and publishers want this (and are probably pressing the console makers for this too), because the profit margins are exorbitantly higher. No packaging, distribution, or vendors to worry about.
Trends are saying that people are becoming more and more conditioned to digital downloading as their primary route of acquiring software.
While my post is all hypothetical, the digital download system is a very likely scenario. It’s appeal in terms of profit and piracy is too hard to ignore.
The consoles are mostly the same, but with Microsoft and Sony offering multiple SKU’s, we’ve already seen fragmentation in the market. I just surmised the customer base can handle further options. Almost like buying a car!
This design was only devised to ensure a long lifespan, and to allow a “buy what you need now, always upgrade later” option. I think this type of flexibility would appeal to many who are budget-minded and like the option of growing their console experience as they see fit.
And the PC divide you speak of was attributed to many different parts being distributed by many companies to reflect advances in processing speed and OS’s. This console design here would be overseen by one company, and would only see upgrades every so often to indicate the next-gen upgrade ( as opposed to an all-new console). The exception being third-party extensions like the stereo add-on I mentioned.
Thanks for your insight and counterargument. I always appreciate this kind of grounded feedback. This is all hypothetical and time will tell where the next-gen consoles really decide to go.
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