Monday, December 17, 2007

Multimedia Hubs? No! Games!

 PS3 Primed for 2008 Comeback

It seems like every time you turn around in this industry, someone is predicting the success or failure of some console or another based upon "added value."  Sure, your console can play video games.  But isn't a console that can play video games AND surf the internet worth twice as much?

The first time I was aware of this was during the Saturn era.  Analysts predicted the breakout success for the Saturn due to its advanced e-mail and internet cabilities, bringing it to three times as awesome as that other console which could just play games.  These are the same people who sold "computer" add-ons to every major system in the 80's. That is, every major system except the 2600, the NES, and the Genesis... I.E. every successful one.  Even the humble workhorse the PS2 had been touted as a golden set-top box by Sony brass, until such a time as they found their senses and got to selling games.

My personal theory is that these people simply don't like video games.  That editing a photo slideshow on their television has the same draw to them as Metal Gear Solid 4.  Moreso, apparently, as the sum total of all games on the system are being given the same weight as a TIVO unit.

If you want to know how 2008 is going to go down, I can make some shockingly accurate predictions.  The DS and Wii are going to sell a lot.  More people are going to buy 360's and PS3's as the prices drop.  Almost all of the good games will be released in November.  Continued Madden sales will make developers everywhere cry.  Those who bet against analysts's predictions will do better than those who bet with them.