Once the euphoria of a new console generation, and the hardware behind it, starts to fade, the focus shifts to software. Nintendo’s Wii U launched in November of 2012 and the sales have been mildly disappointing to date. The system itself was met with positive reviews and accolades, but the system lacked software titles that generated any excitement. The system was off to a sluggish start due to poor launch titles. They have rebounded a bit throughout 2013 with the release of games like Pikmin 3, Rayman Legends, and The Wonderful 101. These three titles were promised to consumers during the launch window, but fell victim to various delays. Sony and Microsoft looked to take advantage of Nintendo’s missteps with strong launch titles. In a competitive industry, it is crucial to get off to a strong start and both companies looked primed to storm out of the gates. That is, until this week’s announcements.
Two of the most anticipated launch titles have been delayed well into 2014.
Here we go, again.
(Image courtesy of: images.eurogamer.net)
Ubisoft, the company behind Rayman Legends’ disappearance from the launch of the Wii U, has delayed their highly anticipated open world action-adventure game, Watch Dogs. The game was available for pre-order in bundles for both systems, the Xbox One and Playstation 4. This game was billed as a system seller and has been advertised to the gaming public for several years. The game has been made available as a demo at several conventions and was even featured in a playable fashion on a recent episode of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The game follows the same structure as the massively successful Grand Theft Auto series and promised to take advantage of the new hardware to deliver an experience worthy of the investment in a new system.
(Image Courtesy of: insideplaystation.com)
The Playstation 4’s lineup took another hit when SCE Worldwide Studios and Evolution Studios delayed their racer, Drive Club. The Playstation 4 has placed a focus on online gaming and social interaction between gamers. This game looked to take advantage of those features from day one on the system. Players can build up, customize and race against fellow car enthusiasts around the world. The game featured graphics that blurred the line between fiction and reality. Gamers were looking forward to owning a high-end sports car and racing it in numerous worldwide locales that are recreated in astonishing detail.
These were two of the marquee titles that were going to accompany the new systems onto store shelves. The systems should still sell well to early adopters and those who have interest in other smaller titles, but these delays may hurt the initial sales. This is beginning to look like the Wii U launch all over again. By the time that the delayed Wii U titles finally saw the light of day, the system had already undergone a price drop and the damage was done.
If these games were on your radar, you might want to rethink that pre-order and wait for a better deal.
Pong introduced many people to wonders of video game technology while they were sitting in their living room. It may be time to introduce the rest of your living room to the latest in video game technology.
(Image Courtesy of: Otpco100.com)
In decades past, video games were limited by the technical aspects and enhanced by the player’s imagination. The basic Pong set up was nothing more than two paddles, a console, two lines, and a bouncing dot. This simple game could double as anything from tennis to ping pong, volleyball, hockey and more depending on the player’s mind. The gap between technology and imagination is getting smaller and smaller with each passing day. The newest display of ‘futuristic’ technology is upon us. It goes by the “Illumiroom” and words cannot do it justice. It must be seen in action.
At this stage of development, Microsoft’s “Illumiroom” is just a concept. It is something that they are working towards making a reality at some point in the next generation of gaming. The television will become the launching point for a totally immersive gaming experience. The system would look to make use of a high fidelity camera system that would optimize the display to the room in which the player is sitting. In the demo reel alone, gameplay can be seen escaping the edges of the television and providing the gamer with a larger game world. Little touches like snowflakes during a racing game through snow-capped trails help to enhance the ambiance and mood of the game.
For those who find the confines of a room to still be too limiting, there is an exciting product on the horizon. The Oculus Rift, whose beginnings can be traced to the crowd sourcing website ‘Kickstarter’, aims to blur the line between game and reality. It shares many similar design features with the ill-fated Virtual Boy from Nintendo. The Virtual Boy hoped to provide a game changing experience with a 3-D headset, but it was undone by the limited technology of the time. It featured a monochrome red and black color scheme and a headache inducing 3-D effect. The folks behind the Oculus Rift feel the time is right to introduce another gaming headset to the masses. The speed with which they reached their Kickstarter goal may indicate that they are right.
As you can see, tech demos for the Oculus Rift have progressed a great deal from the Virtual Boy’s modest effort. The reactions to the device are varied and intense. It showcases that the device might not be for everyone (One person did complain of naseau, but when replicating a roller coaster, that may actually be a positive review), but it does seem to totally envelop the person in the game. The headset uses two displays, one optimized for each eye, to create a realistic world presented in 3-D in a full 360 degree view. The people in the demo reel from Business Insiders react as though they are actually riding a roller coaster and experiencing the ups and downs from the safety of a conference room. The device is certainly on the cutting edge of technology and it is refreshing to see it gain support from numerous developers. Epic Games, the studio behind the ‘Gears of War’ series, and Irrational Games, the publisher of Bioshock Infinite, have already expressed interest in incorporating the device into their future projects. These studios have excelled at creating living, breathing worlds that transport the gamer into the middle of the action. With a device like Oculus Rift, it is exciting to think that they may have only begun to scratch the surface.
There is no word yet if Pong will be available on either device, but you can find the app on your smartphone or tablet, if you are feeling nostalgic.
It may still be September, but there are signs out there that the holiday shopping season is right around the corner. Every winter a slew of new electronic gadgets hit store shelves to high demand and creates a frenzied mob of customers. If the recent lines outside of Apple stores for the new version of the IPhone are any indication, this trend will continue in 2013. People have become accustomed to the short lifespan of their cellphone. The console gaming market offers a bit more longevity, but they are also on the verge of releasing the next big thing. Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo will have new machines on the market that will be vying for your heart (and a good chunk of your wallet). The average price of a standard edition console is $399.99. This article aims to help you avoid the “mob of the moment” mentality and choose the little black box of the future that suits your gaming and entertainment needs.
Nintendo
Nintendo is the one company with the longest history in the gaming industry and they were the first to release their new console. The Nintendo Wii U has been on the market since November of 2012 and features the lowest entry point in terms of price. The system retails for $299.99 and comes with one game. There are two separate bundles that contain the same units but come with a different game. One system is bundle with the fun multiplayer game, Nintendoland. This game was available at launch and remains as one the highest rated games on the system. The newer model comes bundled with a remake of a classic Legend of Zelda game, The Wind Waker.
The three hundred dollar price tag nets you everything you need to start gaming right away. It contains the system hardware with a 32 GB hard drive, the revolutionary touch screen game pad controller, a sensor bar, two A\C adaptors (one for the system, one to charge the controller), a high-speed HDMI cable (the first system to include it with purchase), two stands and a charging cradle. The system launched with a basic white model that contained a smaller hard drive, but that model has been phased out in favor of the deluxe model. The system is sleek looking black box (The Legend of Zelda version features designs from the game) that is noticeably smaller than the competitors.
It is the cheapest of the new systems, but that does not mean that it is cheap in terms of quality. The Nintendo Seal of Quality has been a staple of the company since the mid-1980’s and they maintain that sense of pride with the new system. The touch screen controller offers a new experience for users that is not available on any other system. Games can feature a compelling mix of touch screen controls and standard controls. The visual interface is fun to navigate and easy to use. Nintendo, unlike its competitors, has never included a dvd or blu-ray player in their machines. This could have kept people away in prior generations and the new Wii U is no different. It does not read dvds, cds, or blu-ray discs. Nintendo claims that they want to focus on creating the best gaming platform possible and the inclusion of a blu-ray player would only raise the price of the unit.
This does not mean that the Nintendo Wii U has no other entertainment options. The Wii U can allow users to surf the web in a new manner with a dual screen experience. The Wii U can also allow users to integrate their Netflix and Hulu accounts and stream content to their television via the system. In the last generation, streaming video and music has become the norm with video game systems. The Wii U offers a truly next generation experience when it comes to streaming video. The touch screen controller can become a second screen. This allows a user to instantaneously move a program from the television to the game pad. This can allow for uninterrupted viewing while allowing someone to watch something else on the television screens. The other systems offer streaming video, but due to the lack of a video enabled controller, they cannot offer this option.
The dual screen aspect carries over to gameplay, as well. The games can be enjoyed in 1080p HD quality on the television and on the game pad. This adds a sense of portability to the system. Nintendo has a reputation for being a “kiddie console” and it is an image that they do not shy away from at all. Rather, they embrace it. If you are looking for the system that will offer the most amount of content for younger gamers, the Nintendo Wii U is the best bet. From classic franchises like Mario and Donkey Kong to newer ones like Pikmin and the Wonderful 101, Nintendo offers games that appeal to all age demographics. These titles have consistently offered quality gaming experiences and are exclusive to the Nintendo console. It is also the only new system that is fully backwards compatible with the original Wii. Any games and controllers from Nintendo’s prior console are fully functional with the new system.
Sony
Sony’s entertainment division has seen tough times recently with declining profits. The one machine that has helped keep the company profitable is the Playstation 3, the successor to the highest selling video game console of all-time. The next big thing from Sony, the Playstation 4, is slated for launch on November 15, 2013. It is expected to retail for $399.99. This is for the basic model only and does not factor in any of the bundle options. It can be purchased with a variety of launch games but it drives the retail price to anywhere between $460 and $550 dollars.
The system will feature full 1080p output with the potential to display games and video in 4K. This is a technology that many industry analysts foresee as the future and the Playstation 4 will be equipped to take advantage of it out of the box. The new controller incorporates features from their handheld device, the Playstation Vita. It has a small touchpad in the center of the controller that replaces the traditional start and select buttons. The increased complexity of navigating menus has rendered their older model obsolete. They hope that this controller improves the gaming experience. One interesting thing to monitor going forward is how companies try to take advantage of the new control option.
The biggest draw of the Playstation 3 was their online community. From the Playstation store offering compelling indie games to the free to play online components of games, Sony has gained a positive reputation in this department from consumers. The advertisements are minimal and less intrusive than on the Xbox and the overall experience from menus to actual gameplay is much smoother. The Playstation 4 does feature many changes to this popular model. A mode of online connectivity known as Playstation Plus was introduced during the lifespan of the Playstation 3. This optional paid service provided users with numerous benefits and various games offered at a discount, sometimes for free. This paid service is going to become standard on all models of the Playstation 4. Consumers may meet it with a negative reaction, but the price point is cheaper than Microsofts and offers considerably more in return. Through the incorporation of Gaikai, a cloud based streaming service, the Playstation 4 hopes to offer a substantial back catalog of classic games through a service like Netflix.
The Wii U has had the advantage of being on the market for over a year longer than its rivals. Many analysts and consumers feel like the company has squandered that head start due to the lack of compelling software. The Playstation 4 aims to start strong with its launch lineup. It will launch with highly anticipated cross-platform games like Call of Duty: Ghosts, Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag and Watch Dogs. It also has a slew of interesting looking exclusives that help set it apart. Games like Infamous: Second Son, Knack, and Killzone: Shadowfall. They have also maintained an exclusive agreement with Naughty Dog. They are the studio behind the landmark games in the Uncharted series and the Last of Us.
Microsoft
Microsoft’s new console is the last one to launch, releasing on November 22, 2013. It has the challenge of convincing consumers to wait for it to hit the streets, as well as overcoming a disastrous reveal and potentially confusing moniker. The Xbox One (Microsoft’s third entry in the console market) will retail at $499.99 without a game. The system does come bundled with the company’s follow up to the Kinect motion camera, the Kinect 2.0. The system also takes advantage of Microsoft’s operating systems and can be used by other Microsoft devices including cellphones and tablets.
Microsoft’s reveal was ill received by consumers because they felt that the company was placing unnecessary restrictions on them. Games on the Microsoft system will require a full install in order to function. This applies to both the digital versions and the retail versions. This could mean that the large capacity hard drive will become filled with content in relatively short order. The company has a large stake in cloud technology. The envisioned end goal for the system is to allow users to install the game on their system and under their user name and access it from any Xbox One system in the world. The idea seems great in practice, but concerns over digital rights management and micro-transactions have shelved it for now.
Each new generation system provides access to services like Netflix, Vudu, and Hulu. Microsoft is looking to jump to the forefront in this department with the Xbox One. Microsoft has exclusive deals with the NFL and ESPN. They aim to make their new device an integral part of a user’s television experience. Television can be watched through the device and allow for real-time information and updates that have been catered to the user. It could become the new way that fans watch and track their fantasy teams. The Microsoft Xbox One is looking to become much more than a video game system. It wants to become an all-in-one entertainment hub.
Microsoft has not lost focus on the core gamer, though. They are aiming to provide compelling content from their established franchises, like Halo and Forza, while launching potential franchises in Ryse and Destiny. Xbox Live has become a staple for the system and if a user has a profile and account with Xbox 360, that information will carry over to the new system.
Which One is For Me?
Each console has it’s positives and negatives. It may not be possible to purchase each system. To figure out which one is for you, here is a handy guide:
You want the Ninendo Wii U if:
-Classic Old-School Franchises Appeal to Me
-Backwards Compatibility is Crucial
-Innovative Control Schemes are Intriguing
-Online Gameplay is Not That Important to Me
-Price Point is Inviting
You want the Playstation 4 if:
-Strong Online Community is a Must
-Ability to Play from Disc and Resell is Important
-Streaming Library of Older Titles Appeals to You
-Recording Gameplay and Uploading it to Facebook or Youtube is Important
-You Do Not Mind Paying for Once Free Online Gameplay
You want the Xbox One if:
-Price is Not a Deterrent
-Television and Multimedia Integration is Important
John Gentile's Next-Gen Den 