EA CEO: consoles only 40% of market...

[runawayprisoner]

...and iPad is their new favorite fastest growing system.

Source: http://www.industrygamers.com/news/ea-ceo-consoles-now-only-40-of-games-industry/

Even if you hate the fruit, its products seem like it's influencing the gaming industry quite a lot.

[Dynamo]

It's definitely putting more effort into more retro style games and indie projects. I guess more work for people is never a bad thing. I wonder what the ratio would be in terms of development dollars.

[Samor]

sure, the 3ds is having a hard time for a reason. People already have smartphones, on top of that the iPad is kind of an entire new segment. it even has a game that outputs at 1080p when you connect it to a tv... you know, the stuff you actually expected from your current game console*.

*of course Real Racing 2 HD doesn't sport PS3 or 360 level graphics, but it does one thing really right: it actually runs in Full HD (the other's that it's actually a good game too).

[Dynamo]

The consoles are capable of that on the level those games are on though, wipeout HD for example. I think there's some confusion on what people actually want. :lol:

[Samor]

Of course they're (more than) capable on that level of graphics, but I do think it's funny how the iPad has that game (that's by no means poor looking, btw) and it's advertised as: "look, full HD on your telly, control with iPad" and the crowd goes wow. It makes it seem as if the iPad can beat a PS3/360, simply by actually providing a title that's considered high-profile for the platform in full-hd.... it doesn't seem to matter the ps3 and 360 can do better graphics - this one's full hd and they're often not. I like how that card's played, it's clever :)

[Princess Garnet]

This is not too surprising really. I made a thread which shows, more less, that the claim has some basis.

http://forums.ngemu.com/showthread.php?t=143821

I mean, consider that Xbox Live touted the 2 million consecutive users late 2009 when Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 launched (which was why). I'm not finding anything reporting that that number has been higher since except for one claim of like 2.1 million or 2.2 million I think at once, but it looks like the low ~2.x million range is the most Xbox Live has ever had consecutively. Sony touted how they have had more on consecutively, but didn't back it up, so I'd say they have less (unsurprisingly). Meanwhile, Steam alone, which isn't all of PC gaming (not even all of the "core" gaming, let alone the causal games, MMOs, etc.), regularly has over 3 million consecutive users at peak these days, with a record of ~3.76 million or so I think. I mean, ~3.28 million are on as of writing this and can be seen on their homepage (http://store.steampowered.com/).

Xbox Live and PSN might have a bit more total users than Steam (I can't remember the recent numbers for each), but alot of those numbers are fudged because Sony counts all accounts (PSP, their website, not just the Playstation 3), and Microsoft's might be more legit, but is likely fudged some too. Even Steam's may be, but they're pretty close, and again, that's just one market of PC gaming, not the whole thing.

Console gaming isn't the juggernaut everyone thinks it is. PC gaming, even mobile (smart phones, tablets, whatever) are growing markets. However, when the new consoles are released, we might see interest go that way again. The current generation is getting stale, and we're in a bad economy, so people are less willing and/or able to waste money on $60 games that are getting more stale themselves. Still, the longer generations, and growing other sectors, could be a sign that consoles have only a few generations left, at least as the big and prime market of gaming. Who knows?

[Paratech]

I agree with Princess Garnet regarding the economy and her stats. After hearing about the 3DS price drop, I'm thinking about getting it, maybe I'll lay one away around my birthday next year.

[Dynamo]

I'm not complaining, I own quite a few mac products. Just haven't used them much for gaming yet. Successful games in this market will find there way onto other networks for digital distribution if there isn't any clear hardware limitations; win-win for everyone. iPad has a convenience factor that works in it's favor for gaming on the go.

[Samor]

I think the mobile (phone) market is going to beat the traditional handhelds (they seem well underway), but it's iPhone first, Android a distant second (most major devs/publishers don't seem to be all that interested in it). Windows Phone might eventually be really good for games too, since Microsoft is promoting Xbox Live on it, which is their approach to Mobile gaming (as opposed to the traditional devices Nintendo and Sony are banking on).

[Paratech]

I don't see the games I like playing on a PSP/3DS being ported well to an Iphone / IPad. I also don't want to spent $600 + 2 yr contract so I can have a phone / game system, when I can buy a 3DS to play games and use the pay as I go phone I keep around for emergencies.

[Dynamo]

Sony has Xperia. No idea how well or not that's going though.

[Samor]

I don't see the games I like playing on a PSP/3DS being ported well to an Iphone / IPad. I also don't want to spent $600 + 2 yr contract so I can have a phone / game system, when I can buy a 3DS to play games and use the pay as I go phone I keep around for emergencies.

most people are content with Angry Birds or Cut the Rope though... and I can relate.. if I want my gaming experience to be that immersive and huge, I'd rather go to the big screen. Mind, the mobile phone games are growing bigger too... there's whole "JRPGs" on them, only the funny part is they're Korean ;)


As for the Xperia play... Sony kind of said at E3 what their plans are with that... for them, PS certified devices like the Xperia play and some upcoming tablets are meant as introductions to PlayStation gaming (aside from these devices' regular functions). Basically, they want to try to show people a slice of the pie (old PS1 games) and hope it makes them want the whole pie (as in, a PS Vita or PS3). I don't believe it will work... in part because the advertising material (15 year old games by now) look worse than basic Android games. And also because the most popular smartphone games aren't the best looking ones, but the touch-friendly funny games (which you can pick up and play and then leave and continue later easily).

[Dynamo]

It depends, I find it funny that many of the psone classics like the final fantasy games look better than many newly released psp games. Makes you realize how far above they were at the time.

[Hyuga]

Windows Phone might eventually be really good for games too, since Microsoft is promoting Xbox Live on it, which is their approach to Mobile gaming (as opposed to the traditional devices Nintendo and Sony are banking on).

Windows Phone devices have terrible limitations bulit into them:

No system-wide file manager
No Bluetooth file transfers
No USB mass storage mode
Limited third-party apps availability
No Flash or Silverlight support in the browser
Too dependent on Zune software for file management and syncing
No video calls
New ringtones available only through the Marketplace
Music player lacks equalizer presets
No multitasking
No copy/paste
No DivX/XviD video support (automatic transcoding provided by Zune software)
No sign of free Bing maps Navigation so far
No internet tethering support

Lack of USB mass storage is a deal breaker alone for me, not to mention the other things. I was considering Samsung Omnia 7 actually, but not anymore. I don't think Windows 7 Mobile will last.

[Samor]

doesn't the upcoming new Mango release fix a lot of these things?

[Paratech]

It depends, I find it funny that many of the psone classics like the final fantasy games look better than many newly released psp games. Makes you realize how far above they were at the time.

I have repurchased several PSone games on the PSP and plan to buy more! ;)

[@ruantec]

The problem here is the whole Tablets hype going around that will definitely hurt consoles and handhelds as basically every handheld out there is bad in comparison to what you can do with a tablet this days.

[Paratech]

I'm a bit surprised in this crappy economy so many people can afford IPhones, IPads, and PC tablets.

[Samor]

save on a console and a few games and you're there... the initial purchase is a bit expensive but , unless you're going for a 3G version, additional costs for apps aren't too high, whereas a single console game is rather expensive.

btw... it's going to change now, but carriers in the Netherlands have had the most sweet deals on smartphones... I've got me the HTC Desire HD (Android smartphone); I'm paying about 30 a month for the contract, but that's about as much I did when I didn't have a free phone with it.

[Paratech]

I've been able to save for what I want, I just guess I haven't had the incentive.

I also don't care much for cell phones with games as my PSP and DS are fine as is, although when I get a 3DS, Charline will get my DS lite. She snubs the DS for too many "girl games", but she's smart enough not to snub a free game system. She still likes her GBA SP I bought her.

I would just think people would be more cautious in these uncertain economic times. I'm trying to keep a balanced budget, and I kept within $20 of it this month, which is good for me, and I saved ~ $95 this month, including the Steam summer sale, which I only went over my spending limit by $6, $56 instead of $50, which makes me happy.

I got 4 games of the top ten I wanted, Dragon Age Origins Ultimate Edition, Mass Effect 2, Assassin's Creed 2, and Neverwinter Nights 2 Platinum, as well as a few other games.

I just need to sit down and start playing what I have rather than get more consoles / portables. ;)

But I'm hoping maybe by my birthday next year I'll be able to lay away a 3DS, Feb 2012.

[Nar Matteru]

I'm a bit surprised in this crappy economy so many people can afford IPhones, IPads, and PC tablets.
...
I have repurchased several PSone games on the PSP and plan to buy more! ;)

I'm a bit surprised in this crappy economy so many people can afford to re purchase games that they already own instead of just ripping and converting their existing games

[Xblade]

The problem here is the whole Tablets hype going around that will definitely hurt consoles and handhelds as basically every handheld out there is bad in comparison to what you can do with a tablet this days.
Tablets will never overtake hand helds.


Why?


No buttons.

[Paratech]

...


I'm a bit surprised in this crappy economy so many people can afford to re purchase intellectual property that they already own instead of just ripping and converting their existing games

You're comparing $2.99 - $5.99 purchases to $400+ devices?

Seriously, that is messed up.

[Dynamo]

And as far as I know, you can't do what your saying on ps3 or psp with psone games.

[Nar Matteru]

You're comparing $2.99 - $5.99 purchases to $400+ devices?

Seriously, that is messed up.
Except you make small purchases much more frequently :/ That's like comparing rent and food, sure rent is a big check, but when you add up all the grocery receipts and vending machine visits, its not such a small number anymore is it.

Considering how many great games the PSX has in its library, just to have the top 12 PSX games, you're almost at 100 bucks :/ (Ranging from 5 to 10 bucks a pop, median is 7.5)

Getting things at low prices isn't saving money if you're still spending more than you need to. You could've had your "360 XBOX" that you want so badly in your sig 3 or 4 years ago.

And as far as I know, you can't do what your saying on ps3 or psp with psone games.

I don't know if I can link this stuff here, but search psx to psp conversion, its pretty easy. An 8 year old could do it

[Paratech]

No, I've spent less than $80 in 2 years on every PSP game (digital) I own, that's a far cry from buying an IPAD or IPHONE, PLUS the IPHONE has a 2 yr contract.

It's "against" the law to mod a PSP, at least a guy almost went to jail for showing people how to mod a PS3.

I don't believe you're allowed to show how to mod PSP / PS3 systems here, a mod will have to say if I'm right.

Here I looked up my purchases over 25 months.

Street Fighter Alpha 2 $2.99
M.O.Z.O.X $2.00
Alpha Mission II $6.99
Lock 'N Chase $3.99
League Bowling $6.99
Hero of Sparta $2.49
Burnin' Rubber $3.99
Young Thor $2.49
Money Idol Exchange $5.99
Sonic Wings Unlimited $5.99
Tetris $4.99
Extreme Pinball $5.99
Populous the Beginning $5.99
Pinball Hall of Fame Gottlieb $9.99
King of Fighters '99 $5.99
Jumping Flash 2 $5.99
R-Types $5.99

~$89.00

@ 25 months

~$3.56 a month

[Nar Matteru]

No, I've spent less than $80 in 2 years on every PSP game (digital) I own, that's a far cry from buying an IPAD or IPHONE, PLUS the IPHONE has a 2 yr contract. Oh. So our definition of "many" is different. It's still $80 wasted.

It's "against" the law to mod a PSP, at least a guy almost went to jail for showing people how to mod a PS3.
I don't believe you're allowed to show how to mod PSP / PS3 systems here, a mod will have to say if I'm right.
Custom firmware is 100% legal. Homebrew is not copyright infringement.

I only fear of linking because many sites that deal with homebrew and modding also unfortunately have links to piracy

Here I looked up my purchases over 25 months.

You really didn't have to do that bro.

[Dynamo]

I don't know if I can link this stuff here, but search psx to psp conversion, its pretty easy. An 8 year old could do it

Many have problems one version to another. A lot are worth it for no issues.

[Paratech]

Not really, 2 of the games were Japanese and I don't want to buy them for $40+ a piece, like I had to for Raiden DX.

I also purchased some "mini" games and a PSP game.

Maybe to you that's a waste, but I've spent several hours playing them, that isn't a waste to me.

Custom firmware would have to have -0- data from regular firmware, and as I said, some poor S.O.B. nearly would up in jail for jailbreaking a PS3.

Again, I fail to see how doing the right thing and buying digital software is wasting money.

I also didn't own every Playstation game I repurchased. Some of my Playstation games are wearing out as well and need resurfaced, that will cost about as much as buying them on PSP.

[Dynamo]

Well custom firmware is different, it's not like jailbreak because it isn't software owned by the company... But playing game you haven't paid for isn't legal. My pspgo is slightly modded, just a temp hen loader for games that haven't been put on psn and can't play.

[Nar Matteru]

Not really, 2 of the games were Japanese and I don't want to buy them for $40+ a piece, like I had to for Raiden DX.
I also purchased some "mini" games and a PSP game.
You said specifically "repurchased" Those are the games I am referring to.
Maybe to you that's a waste, but I've spent several hours playing them, that isn't a waste to me. Anything is a waste compared to free. I'm only picking at it because you brag to be such a cheapskate.
Again, I fail to see how doing the right thing and buying digital software is wasting money. Oh, so its a moral issue now. You legally own a license to play said games. It's a huge sin to change those 1s and 0s around to play them on another platform. Developers are losing meals because of that. Oh wait, developers are paid to make the game, publishers pay them then collect the profits from the re-releases. Residuals notwithstanding.
I also didn't own every Playstation game I repurchased. Some of my Playstation games are wearing out as well and need resurfaced, that will cost about as much as buying them on
PSP.
You can also rip those and reburn/emulate those as well. It's not breaking any of these nonexistent laws you are so concerned about.

Hacking your owns stuff is legal as long as it doesn't interfere with others' electronics. (FCC ****) Distributing things, not so much.

[Lasnap]

It is perfectly fine to talk about modded psps here as I have done so in the past and had no issues with the mods or admins. I have even linked to Psp-hacks a few times and the forums over there have plenty to talk about concerning homebrew and getting psx games to run on the psp via a conversion software. so yeah its perfectly fine to talk about that stuff here.

[Nar Matteru]

It is perfectly fine to talk about modded psps here as I have done so in the past and had no issues with the mods or admins. I have even linked to Psp-hacks a few times and the forums over there have plenty to talk about concerning homebrew and getting psx games to run on the psp via a conversion software. so yeah its perfectly fine to talk about that stuff here.
What I remember from the last time it came up, it wasn't so much the sites themselves, but the fact that many of them had third party advertisements for modchips and the like

[Dynamo]

I should have been more specific. :) I didn't think a pspgo could play them, especially a higher version. Most compatibility lists I see don't look very promising; could just be old.

[Lasnap]

I use adblockplus so I do not see any ads at all when I am online

[Nar Matteru]

right, but I dont want to risk it for the masses that don't

[Xblade]

I use adblockplus so I do not see any ads at all when I am online

Which means you're essentially depriving free sites like ngemu of their revenue.

[runawayprisoner]

I'm a bit surprised in this crappy economy so many people can afford IPhones, IPads, and PC tablets.

Well, if they forsake their past tech devices, they can...

iPads are as low as $250 on eBay nowadays. If not, you can always get an iPod Touch for $100 - $150 approximately.

Both of those devices make up the bulk of Apple's gaming front even though they tend to lead you to believe it's the iPhone that's doing so well.

That aside though, when you can get games for a dime a dozen on Apple's platform, literally $0.99 sales or even FREE deals every other week or so, it makes other platforms look expensive.

Imagine... for $200, you can buy an iPod Touch for $100 and almost 90 games not counting the free ones.

[SRPA3]

This is not too surprising really. I made a thread which shows, more less, that the claim has some basis.

http://forums.ngemu.com/showthread.php?t=143821

I mean, consider that Xbox Live touted the 2 million consecutive users late 2009 when Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 launched (which was why). I'm not finding anything reporting that that number has been higher since except for one claim of like 2.1 million or 2.2 million I think at once, but it looks like the low ~2.x million range is the most Xbox Live has ever had consecutively. Sony touted how they have had more on consecutively, but didn't back it up, so I'd say they have less (unsurprisingly). Meanwhile, Steam alone, which isn't all of PC gaming (not even all of the "core" gaming, let alone the causal games, MMOs, etc.), regularly has over 3 million consecutive users at peak these days, with a record of ~3.76 million or so I think. I mean, ~3.28 million are on as of writing this and can be seen on their homepage (http://store.steampowered.com/). Xbox Live gets 2 million + consecutive users whenever a flagship game is released like Halo, Gears of War and even Call of Duty. Sony probably gets about half of that whenever their flagships are released but I can believe their statement of surpassing Xbox Live numbers after the PSN outage.


Xbox Live and PSN might have a bit more total users than Steam (I can't remember the recent numbers for each), but alot of those numbers are fudged because Sony counts all accounts (PSP, their website, not just the Playstation 3), and Microsoft's might be more legit, but is likely fudged some too. Even Steam's may be, but they're pretty close, and again, that's just one market of PC gaming, not the whole thing.35 Million for Xbox Live and 77 Million for PSN. Of course like you said, they're most likely fudged since people can have multiple accounts, although I will believe PSN to have a hefty legit number compared to Xbox Live since online gaming on PS3 is free.

Console gaming isn't the juggernaut everyone thinks it is. PC gaming, even mobile (smart phones, tablets, whatever) are growing markets. However, when the new consoles are released, we might see interest go that way again. The current generation is getting stale, and we're in a bad economy, so people are less willing and/or able to waste money on $60 games that are getting more stale themselves. Still, the longer generations, and growing other sectors, could be a sign that consoles have only a few generations left, at least as the big and prime market of gaming. Who knows?I can agree on the $60 games. I mean most games released these days don't even warrant a full retail purchase so I tend to leave them until they drop prices. Another big reason why most games aren't selling is also due to the ridiculous release dates. I mean starting September through November you have a clutter of big budget games released at once!. I can see, Uncharted and Gears of War to name a few doing well but what about Dark Souls?, Twisted Metal? and Dead Island?. There's going to be a struggle there and I can see a good number of those games suffering.

[Nar Matteru]

Which means you're essentially depriving free sites like ngemu of their revenue.
Not unless he was actually going to click on an ad anyway

[Xblade]

These sites live on accidental clicks.

[Lasnap]

Even if I do see ads I do not click on them as I do not know where they go for one and I may very well end up downloading a virus that way. Yeah some ads can become infected over time.

[Princess Garnet]

You could've had your "360 XBOX" that you want so badly in your sig 3 or 4 years ago.Well, lucky he didn't, as three or four years ago, all you had were the failure prone Xbox 360s.
Xbox Live gets 2 million + consecutive users whenever a flagship game is released like Halo, Gears of War and even Call of Duty. Sony probably gets about half of that whenever their flagships are released but I can believe their statement of surpassing Xbox Live numbers after the PSN outage.The quote I was referring to from Sony was in response to when Xbox Live hit that milestone, so it was long before the outtage.
35 Million for Xbox Live and 77 Million for PSN. Of course like you said, they're most likely fudged since people can have multiple accounts, although I will believe PSN to have a hefty legit number compared to Xbox Live since online gaming on PS3 is free.I can't find much on concurrent Xbox Live users that is recent. Everything just leads to an old 1.5 million milestone or the 2 million one from Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 back in 2009 (http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=xbox+live+concurrent+user&pbx=1&oq=xbox+live+concurrent+user&aq=f&aqi=g-l1&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=20677l22093l1l22327l10l9l0l0l0l4l300l1518l0 .5.2.1l8l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=abb1f03500b21ec4&biw=1355&bih=889). There's also this, showing a 2.3 million record (http://www.afterdawn.com/news/article.cfm/2010/02/13/sony_microsoft_show_off_psn_xbl_numbers) (that's the other one I was thinking of).

Sony hasn't released too many concrete numbers for PSN, so we can't say. Besides, I'm more interested in just the Playstation 3 online gamers (namely, average/top concurrent Playstation 3 users), but PSN is a network of more than that, so it will include more than that. A few years ago, Sony was quoting numbers higher than the amount of sold Playstation 3s.

I'm sort of after total and concurrent online gamers of both of the consoles and Steam with the comparison. Steam is averaging well over 3 million (~3.67 million is the record) peak each day as of late, and was hitting ~2 million two years ago (back when Xbox Live hit their ~2 million), so Steam has had a huge rate of growth recently. Still, we have no current numbers. For all we know, Xbox Live is averaging almost 3 million daily now. I'm a little doubtful of that though. Sony's PSN numbers do no good either, as it's not a reflection of just Playstation 3 users, nor is it giving a clue to the day to day activiy by listing concurrent peaks or averages. With Xbox Live, I say Microsoft's numbers are probably more accurate. I would presume PSN's is lower, but we don't know.

Either way, Steam is at least rivaling, if not outdoing, the console online communities, so I can believe this claim. I kind of wish more numbers were available for this though.

[Cid Highwind]

For PS3 many, many people have two or three accounts because of the Europeans getting shafted all the time. And even to Americans it might be worth it for the freebies in other regions.

Also I don't think you can directly compare Steam statistics of logged in users with PSN or Live, as Steam often loads with Windows directly, even if you're not going to do anything remotely related to gaming. Of course, the PS3 only does everything as well :p In any case, PC gaming is heavily underrated, and deep down there most developers know it, but as it's publishers who make the decisions it will still take a few years before they actually catch on to the market. Smaller publishers and indie devvers always catch on to these things first, with dinosaurs to follow, or die.

[Paratech]

Well I'm hoping the 360s (new ones) will have less issues than the old ones. I like the PS2 Slim better than the PS2 as well.

[Dynamo]

For PS3 many, many people have two or three accounts because of the Europeans getting shafted all the time. And even to Americans it might be worth it for the freebies in other regions.


Lately the EU store has been getting better updates than US... A few games on it I wish were available for me without getting another account.


That's one reason the actual attachment rate of ps3 is increasing so much over the 360 recently, units still in play. Another reason we've seen a software sales shift.

[runawayprisoner]

YWell, considering Steam has had a number of sales lately (free Team Fortress 2 anyone?), I wouldn't be surprised about its growth in log count. While it is possible that Steam counts logs of machines that automatically starts it at power up time, there is little evidence to show that said machine wouldn't be used for some gaming the next instance.

[Princess Garnet]

Also I don't think you can directly compare Steam statistics of logged in users with PSN or Live, as Steam often loads with Windows directly, even if you're not going to do anything remotely related to gaming.Ah, that is true, although that can be disabled (or is it by default?). If you go by in-game users, I imagine it's at least a fair deal smaller, but the point is, this is Steam alone on the "dying PC platform" putting up considerable numbers against the "juggernaut consoles". Twas what my point was. Add in the popularity of other non-Steam POC gamers (World of Warcraft alone probably makes those numbers double), plus the casual games and mobile games, and the claim in the original article is definitely believable.
Well I'm hoping the 360s (new ones) will have less issues than the old ones. I like the PS2 Slim better than the PS2 as well.The recent Xbox 360 (the S model) is far better. With shrinking processes, as well as the CPU/GPU being on the same chip, it now runs cooler and generates less heat, which was a big factor in the failures to begin with.

[Dynamo]

RWtxs5rl7jk

[Xblade]

Well I'm hoping the 360s (new ones) will have less issues than the old ones. I like the PS2 Slim better than the PS2 as well.

You have a gaming pc.

Point of 360 moot.

[Paratech]

You have a gaming pc.

Point of 360 moot.

I have a PC I can't game on at the moment, and even when I can there are games on the 360 I want.

Dead or Alive 4 isn't coming to the PC, nor are a few other titles.

BTW, are Game and Tycho members here?

http://art.penny-arcade.com/photos/i-GgW57X4/0/XL/i-GgW57X4-L.jpg