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Tag: Console Gaming

  • Mobile, Online Games To Make Up Majority Of Market By 2017

    Mobile gaming is huge. The ability to play games whenever you want on a device that’s always on your person has attracted millions of people to a market that was at one time propped up solely by consoles and PCs. Now the mobile market is on the verge of taking a majority stake in an industry that it’s only been a part of for less than a decade.

    Digi-Capital predicts that the mobile games market will drive the games industry to $100 billion in revenue by 2017. Out of that $100 billion, it predicts 60 percent of it will be comprised of online and mobile game sales. That leaves 40 percent for dedicated gaming hardware, console software and PC.

    So, what’s the biggest driver behind mobile and online gaming’s dominance? According to Digi-Capital, Asia is leading the charge with with over $20 billion in revenue last year alone. By 2017, it expects Asia to be pumping almost $40 billion into mobile and online games.

    Mobile, Online Games To Make Up Majority Of Market By 2017

    It doesn’t look like Asia will be slowing down anytime soon either with Digi-Capital pointing out that nine out of the top 10 mergers and acquisitions of 2013 had Asian buyers. It also points out that 13 of the 15 gaming IPOs of 2013 were filed by companies based in China, Japan and South Korea. With this kind of capital on its side, a lot of these companies may lead the charge in further acquisitions and mergers in the future.

    Speaking of which, Digi-Capital put together a pyramid of “potential game consolidators.” What that means is that ranks companies based on their capital with the ones at the top more likely to purchase the ones at the bottom. For instance, Candy Crush Saga maker King is at the top and could be seen as a potential buyer for lesser mobile brands, like Angry Birds maker Rovio or Farmville maker Zynga.

    Mobile, Online Games To Make Up Majority Of Market By 2017

    Now, none of this is meant to imply that any one company is going to buy the other in 2014. It merely states that the companies at the top have the capital necessary to acquire companies at the bottom. That being said, it’s likely that we’ll see more mergers and acquisitions in 2014.

    [h/t: Gamasutra]
    Image via King

  • Diablo III Hits Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

    Diablo III Hits Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

    As announced back at this year’s E3 conference, Diablo III has now made its debut on consoles. The game is out now for both PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Blizzard also announced today that a downloadable version of Diablo III will be available via Xbox Live on October 4. As is custom for Blizzard games, Diablo III still retails for its full launch price, $60.

    Diablo III has been changed quite a bit for consoles. The game’s graphics have been locked at console levels, and controls have been significantly to incorporate controllers. The interface has been changed to reflect the new controls, and new tweaks such as a “dynamic camera perspective” and dodge move have also been incorporated to help players deal with the lack of mouse control. Enemies in the game have also been changed for the console versions.

    “In bringing Diablo III to consoles, our main focus has been on making sure we deliver a really fun experience for up to four friends online or on the same couch,” said Mike Morhaime, CEO and cofounder of Blizzard Entertainment. “The game looks and plays great on PS3 and Xbox 360, especially with the new direct-control elements and new interface. We know players will have a blast battling Diablo on their big-screen TVs.”

    Like the PC version of the game, Diablo III on consoles supports four-player online co-op gameplay through Xbox Live or PlayStation Network. The console versions, however, also include a local four-player co-op mode. The new visuals and features were previewed in the below video, which was released back in March:

    Blizzard recently unveiled the first expansion for Diablo III, titled Reaper of Souls. The developer has not yet announced whether the expansion will be coming to consoles in the future.

  • Video Game Console Sales Expected to be Lower This Generation

    The announcements this year of Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One have kicked off a new generation of console wars. While the excitement surrounding these new consoles is palpable, continued slow sales for Nintendo’s new Wii U console could be a warning that expectations for the 8th generation of video game consoles are a bit too high.

    Today ABI Research, a technology analyst firm, released predictions for console shipments over the next few years. It predicts PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Wii U console sales to reach only 133 million units over the next five years – 7 million units less than were sold during the first five years of the previous generation.

    The reason for the lowered prediction is similar to those brought up often in discussions about the uncertain future of console gaming itself. ABI cites the rise of mobile gaming, and even casual gaming devices such as the Ouya as inexpensive competitors to the higher-priced dedicated consoles. Even a possible end to the Chinese ban on consoles isn’t predicted to raise shipments of the new consoles very much.

    “With many of the casual gaming segment embracing mobile devices for gaming, without a shift in strategy and pricing the Wii U will likely fail to match the success of the Wii which will impact future console shipments,” said Michael Inouye, senior analyst at ABI. “If China decides to lift its ban on consoles, however, in the short term this could boost future shipments of 7th generation game consoles while minimally altering the 8th generation.”

    ABI also isn’t too impressed with Microsoft’s positioning of the Xbox One as an all-in-one media device for the living room. The analyst firm pointed out that many set-top boxes under $99 offer much of the same functionality.

    “The future prospects of gaming platforms depends in equal measure on compelling games and pricing falling within household reach for discretionary/gift spending,” said Sam Rosen, practice director at ABI. “Without solid titles and first party franchises platforms will have a difficult time finding traction – streaming media is not enough when low-cost smart STBs are readily available. While we don’t anticipate a drop-off in game console households, barring significant changes to less developed console markets in Asia and Latin America there isn’t a great deal of growth opportunity beyond the current installed base.”

  • China to End Video Game Console Ban, With a Catch

    For 13 years, China has officially banned the sale of video game consoles in its country. Now, a new Chinese economic plan reveals that the ban may soon come to an end – but with a catch.

    The South China Morning Post today reported that a policy blueprint for a “Shanghai free trade zone” would allow for the sale of video game consoles, as long as foreign hardware companies (such as Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft) manufacture the consoles within the new free trade zone. The plan reportedly has the backing of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who is seeking to open China to more foreign business investments.

    Console manufacturers will need the approval of the Chinese culture ministry to sell their products, meaning strict content censorship (stricter than Australia, even) will likely be implemented. The main reason cited for the original ban was the violence and political content seen in mainstream video games.

    The end of China’s official console ban could dead a huge blow to the large black market that has sprung up in the country around video games. China is well-known as a major consumer of pirated video games and video game consoles. Though the report quotes a Sony official as saying the Japanese company does not yet have a plan for selling PlayStation consoles in China, the head of Microsoft’s Greater China region, Ralph Haupter, has been quoted as saying that Microsoft is addressing legal barriers to an Xbox One launch in China.

    (via South China Morning Post)

  • Painkiller: Hell & Damnation Console Release Delayed to April

    It appears that console gamers will be getting a (very) tiny taste of what PC gamers have had to put up with for the past few years.

    Nordic Games today announced that the console release of Painkiller: Hell & Damnation has been pushed back. The title now has a release date of April 5 for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The title was originally scheduled for a mid-January launch. The game will cost $30 for the standard edition or $40 for the Collector’s Edition.

    “We have been working around the clock to bring the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of the game in line with the quality and standard of the PC game,” said Reinhard Pollice, production and business development manager at Nordic Games. “There has been a slight delay so that the console communities can enjoy the fiendishly ghoulish experience that we know they want and deserve. In taking this additional time to add the final touches, we know that players will realise that the best things do come to those who wait!”

    Painkiller: Hell & Damnation is the sequel to the cult classic shooter Painkiller for PC. Unfortunately, Hell & Damnation was not as well-received as its predecessor, with reviewers pointing out that the game was glitchy when it was released. Here’s hoping the development team takes the next three to get the console version right.

  • Ben Cousins Predicts Death Of Consoles In 26 Minutes

    Ben Cousins Predicts Death Of Consoles In 26 Minutes

    Consoles are dying! That is a tired old argument that every gamer has heard for years. Cheaper PC’s brought it on. The popularity of handheld devices brought it on. And until now no one has made a compelling, intelligible argument as to why this is going to happen. Enter Ben Cousins. Ben is the General Manager at ngmoco. Ngmoco is a company that focuses on mobile games. He has also worked for Microsoft and Sony. The guy is very well qualified to discuss this kind of thing.

    Ben Is able to put into a slide show very compelling evidence that mobile gaming will kill off console gaming like the TV killed the cinema. He has got a ton of financial and practical evidence to support his hypothesis, like declining sales of hardware and software.

    Check out his presentation about gaming. Warning! It is the most interesting 26 minutes you will have all day.

    When The Consoles Die, What Comes Next?

    View another webinar from Ben Cousins