Posts Tagged ‘consolewars’

The plot: A kind protagonist with a new idea for the world. A life of fame that reaches tens of millions and makes them smile. An illness as unexpected as fatal. A long and painful death. An unnoticed funeral for a forgotten hero.

We are wondering: Is Nintendo still certain about the appeal of its Wii U console? The company has just pulled the device from the display of Europe’s most significant video game trade show later this month.

The value of 3D is one of the big miracles of our time. Can you charge extra for 3D and if you can, how much? Nintendo is the first company that implies that 3D has little to no value to the consumer and is now offering a 3D console for the price of a 2D device. At the same price, which one will you buy?

Game consoles are generally perceived as instant-on devices. However, the current generation suffers from a mandatory update syndrome that strangles the purpose of a family room entertainment device. Sony and Microsoft, this has to improve in the next generation.

Announcing a new product before it is actually available can be a great tool to build anticipation. Done in the wrong way, you may shoot yourself in the foot and kill your company. Luckily enough, Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U isn’t strong enough to have such an impact.

Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U has not been received with enthusiasm everywhere. The stock market pushed Nintendo’s stock down 10% since the Wii U was unveiled. Nintendo doesn’t get it and says that the Wii U must be played to be understood. How successful can a product be that needs to be used to attract buyers?

Nintendo has given IBM another contract to build the core processor for a game console. The Wii U will be powered by a Power-based CPU again.

There is news about the first Android-based game console this morning. The device will be enabling access to Android Market and deliver Android-based game titles to a TV.

Sony announced a generous band aid today, welcoming its PlayStation Network (PSN) users back with two free games, a weekend of (selected) free video rentals, 100 free PS Home items and a month of free PlayStation Plus membership. So, are you satisfied or greedy? Do you feel appreciated?

If Microsoft could build and sell operating systems in the same way as it develops, builds and sells its game console system, Microsoft would be a much stronger player than it is today. Microsoft’s future flagship may not be so much Windows anymore, it may be the Xbox 360 and Kinect.

After almost one month of outage, Sony has partially brought back its PlayStation network (PSN) today.

Microsoft recently applied for a body scan patent that largely describes Kinect sensor technology, but also touches the potential next generation of Kinect and a step beyond Kinect avatars: Surrogates.