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[midnightguy]

Will any other company enter the videogame hardware industry sometime this coming generation or near the beginning of the following one? lets not even discuss Sega in this thread, I am counting them out for now. is there another company that has the resources and desire to enter the market against Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft, or are we likely to be set in stone with these three for the next 10 years or so ?

 

[BarneyBP]

Would you count an iPod with enhanced game playing abilities as an entry into the market?

 

[StoOgE]

I doubt it, I dont see anyone who could make a big splash, then again, MS was out of left field as well...

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

It's coming....eventually.

 

[Tarazet]

Of course; everybody wants a slice of the pie. But most companies will fail, because that's the nature of the business. Tiger's Gizmondo is the most promising venture, but it's still sketchy.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

I doubt it, I dont see anyone who could make a big splash, then again, MS was out of left field as well...

Not really, after Sony and Nintendo spurned their offer for putting windows in their consoles, I knew it would happen

 

[Reilly]

I could see Apple maybe entering. All they have to do is put a lower case "i" in front of their system name and make the color all white, it will sell.

 

[midnightguy]

as bad as their execution was, I liked the 3DO company. they pushed technology further. I miss them. I had a 3DO and was prepared to buy an M2 and an MX. to bad it all went to hell.


SNK - I miss them too. not for King of Fighters, but for bringing the arcade home in general.

NEC-Hudson, makers of the first console to seriously challenge and disrupt Nintendo in Japan: the PC-Engine was an awesome 8-bit system with tons of awesome games.

Commodore Amiga - I miss them also. Amiga ruled in the 1980s and early 1990s. they had one of the early 32-bit consoles which sadly went no where.

Sharp - (huh, who Sharp?) yeah, Sharp. they along with Hudson created the X68000, an Amiga killer. this was the best machine for arcade ports. in Japan.

Fujitsu - makers of an awesome workstation PC for gaming, the FM Towns of the late 1980s and early 1990s, which became the basis for the first 32-bit console, the Marty. - like Sharp, Fujitsu had cutting edge technology for home gaming and was capable of providing arcade-quality simular to Neo-Geo, but sadly was not as successful as SNK


I want another company to come along to challege what is now the establishment: Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft. - and to especially challenge Sony and Microsoft on a technological level, and Nintendo on a creative-inovative level.

 

[VariableTerry]

I remember hearing new of a home console with not much power(snes level stuff) but you could develop your own games for it. Could have swore it was supposed to be released this fall, or maybe I am just imagining it.

 

[midnightguy]

I remember hearing new of a home console with not much power(snes level stuff) but you could develop your own games for it. Could have swore it was supposed to be released this fall, or maybe I am just imagining it.

I know exactly what you mean. youre not imagining it. expect to see it posted very soon, as soon as I or someone else remembers the name and finds some websites.

edit: have not found it yet, but I think I remember it was said to be XXXX times faster/ more powerful than SNES, IIRC.

 

[Tarazet]

I could see Apple maybe entering. All they have to do is put a lower case "i" in front of their system name and make the color all white, it will sell.

How could they do that? They're the only company out there that is more self-centered and anti-cooperative than Nintendo. If you thought third-party support on the Gamecube was bad, an Apple console would be worse.

 

[Oxymoron]

I know exactly what you mean. youre not imagining it. expect to see it posted very soon, as soon as I or someone else remembers the name and finds some websites.

I don't remember the exact name, just that it was a combination of the names of the three consoles this gen. Something lame like Xcubestation.

 

[midnightguy]

I don't remember the exact name, just that it was a combination of the names of the three consoles this gen. Something lame like Xcubestation.

yeah, that name, it was something along those lines....

 

[Oxymoron]

I googled a few permutations, and I found it. XGameStation

 

[midnightguy]

I googled a few permutations, and I found it. XGameStation

ahh yes, thankyou. that is it

too bad nothing mainstream has come of it.

 

[StoOgE]

I also think I heard something about a Blockbuster game console (like the movie rental place) a few years back, I think it was going to be low end though.. I guess someone in the company pulled their head out of their ass long enough to realize it was a bad idea.

 

[Bog]

Google.

 

[bobafett]

I think Samsung will launch a console in a 5 year timeframe. They are huge and profitable.

 

[midnightguy]

I think Samsung will launch a console in a 5 year timeframe. They are huge and profitable.

do you think Samsung will partner with anyone (Nintendo ?) or go it alone like Sony ?

 

[MC Safety]

It's coming....eventually.

I believe!

 

[bobafett]

do you think Samsung will partner with anyone (Nintendo ?) or go it alone like Sony ?

Alone. But they will have to partner with an experienced and established publisher. It could be Sega, Konami, Capcom, Namco Bandai, etc.

 

[PC Gaijin]

I'm surprised that Matsushita hasn't made a better effort to get into the console business, although perhaps 3DO and M2 scared them off. The Panasonic Q seemed like a half-assed attempt, but who knows? Maybe Matsushita was just testing the waters with that one. How about a new console from Matsushita with exclusive Nintendo software?

Samsung is the other big electronics company that I could see trying to do a console. Didn't they license the Saturn for Korea? So yeah, Samsung and Matsushita are the ones I'd place bets on if only to challenge Sony in all areas of consumer electronics. While I'd love to NEC release another console, the PC Engine seemed to be a fluke as they never had any idea how to follow it up properly.

 

[midnightguy]

I would love to see Samsung and or Matsushita come out with a killer console.


I believe that either of them would have to partner with or acquire technology/chipset company (i.e. Matsushita bought M2) in addition to partnering with or acquiring a major game developer/publisher.


Matsushita no longer has M2 or its follow-on, MX and I don't know that Samsung has any high-end 3D graphics/chipset technology for gaming at the moment.

NEC's effort with the PC-Engine is probably a good model to look for. they partnered with Hudson. Hudson provided the chipset technology *and* first-party game software.

 

[Varian]

.

 

[sangreal]

Microsoft was able to enter the market and survive because:
a) They owned a game publishing company already
b) They have an extremely large amount of cash (literally more than they know what to do with)
c) They were able to leverage DirectX/Windows to get more 3rd party publishers onboard
d) They had to. Microsoft couldn't let Sony slowly blur the line between console and (non-windows based) computer. That gave them the willpower needed to go 5 years losing $1B a year.

Even if there was another company around today with the resources/desire/need to enter the console market, is the market big enough for more than 3 big players? Quite frankly its looking like it may only be big enough for two. There is only so much content to go around. Also, remember that Microsoft is only a success in the sense that they are willing to try again next generation. They have yet to make a dime off the Xbox.

I don't know why most of the companies listed in this thread would bother. They'd be better off just making cheap gaming PCs.

 

[DJ Sl4m]

When matsushita ducked out it was obvious it would come down to MSFT and Sony, it's just a matter of time before Nintendo folds, I don't see how they can keep up with the bleeding and promotions.

 

[midnightguy]

Microsoft was able to enter the market and survive because:
a) They owned a game publishing company already
b) They have an extremely large amount of cash (literally more than they know what to do with)
c) They were able to leverage DirectX/Windows to get more 3rd party publishers onboard
d) They had to. Microsoft couldn't let Sony slowly blur the line between console and (non-windows based) computer. That gave them the willpower needed to go 5 years losing $1B a year.

Even if there was another company around today with the resources/desire/need to enter the console market, is the market big enough for more than 3 big players? Quite frankly its looking like it may only be big enough for two. There is only so much content to go around. Also, remember that Microsoft is only a success in the sense that they are willing to try again next generation. They have yet to make a dime off the Xbox.

I don't know why most of the companies listed in this thread would bother. They'd be better off just making cheap gaming PCs.

honestly, Sangreal is, overall, pretty much right on the money. he's right, even though his points don't completely rule out another first-party videogame system provider emerging within the next 2 to 8 years.


I think the biggest possibility is the likelyhood that Nintendo will partner with someone on the successor to Revolution. I do not see Nintendo bowing out of the console / home videogame system industry, post-Revolution, however, I also do not see them going it entirely alone either.

 

[Hilo]

Google.

But, will it come before or after their Windows-killing-OS?

 

[Fëanor]

When matsushita ducked out it was obvious it would come down to MSFT and Sony, it's just a matter of time before Nintendo folds, I don't see how they can keep up with the bleeding and promotions.

Nintendo bleeding? Huh!?

 

[Calidor]

I expect some hard competition on the handheld market with mobile phones

 

[Starfire]

Sega......................................................

Nokia? Hahaha, I hope not

 

[pj]

do you think Samsung will partner with anyone (Nintendo ?) or go it alone like Sony ?

I think they'd partner with MS. They already have ties to eachother with the GDC giveaway and all those HD kiosks, plus I think they supply x3's ram..

Aren't MS's plans to get out of the hardware business and solely provide middleware anyway? Handing over the name to samsung would benefit both parties.

 

[GDGF]

A big :lol to the Nintendo bleeding comment.

With that out of the way, I wouldn't be surprised to see Comcast enter the fray (not this gen, but the next)

I forsee them sticking a nice beefy chipset in their digital cable boxes and creating some kind of gaming on demand service. Those boxes would make for a great trojan horse IMO.

 

[Azure Dream]

Google.

...Forget the Xbox Guide, instant access to porn while you game...

Holy crap, they'd win.

 

[Lazy8s]

Starfire:

Sega......................................................

Nokia?

Not SEGA (as excluded from discussion by the topic message), but yes to Sega Sammy, in some capacity.

Nokia is the other one about to emerge as a legitimate contestant.

 

[Bauer Action Hour]

A big :lol to the Nintendo bleeding comment.

I think the bleeding comment refers to the OTHER guys bleeding money to acquire marketshare and how Nintendo are going to keep up (w/ their current profits at all costs policy). It's a valid point.

edit: they're to their. Damned brain farts...

 

[GDGF]

I think the bleeding comment refers to the OTHER guys bleeding money to acquire marketshare and how Nintendo are going to keep up (w/ they're current profits at all costs policy). It's a valid point.

Oh. I guess I misread that. I think that they've already got a strategy for that though. Low cost hardware projects and all that. Not going to turn this into a system battle thread, though

 

[Operations]

A big :lol to the Nintendo bleeding comment.

With that out of the way, I wouldn't be surprised to see Comcast enter the fray (not this gen, but the next)

I forsee them sticking a nice beefy chipset in their digital cable boxes and creating some kind of gaming on demand service. Those boxes would make for a great trojan horse IMO.

I think Microsoft's long term plan is to license the Xbox hardware to other manufacturers. The way I see it, Comcast will eventually release a cable box with X360 functionality.

 

[GDGF]

I think Microsoft's long term plan is to license the Xbox hardware to other manufacturers. The way I see it, Comcast will eventually release a cable box with X360 functionality.

I can certainly see that happening. It's a win/win situation for both parties. I'd actually be very surprised if Comcast didn't team up with someone next gen.

 

[Starfire]

Starfire:

Not SEGA (as excluded from discussion by the topic message), but yes to Sega Sammy, in some capacity.

Nokia is the other one about to emerge as a legitimate contestant.

Oops, my reading comprehension is slipping, I completely missed the ixnay on the egasay part of the first post, as for Sammy, that would totally make sense given their financial standings, and the IP they own, a straight port of one of their arcade boards maybe?

 

[djtiesto]

Nice thread, I had an idea for a similar topic a while ago, have always been forgetting to post it. Anyways, I can totally see Samsung enter the market within the next few years, especially as the market for games in Korea is exploding. I don't see Apple really entering the games market, they as a whole never really gave too big a shit about games. They're better off just being the inspiration for other companies (Nintendo).

 

[JackFrost2012]

Samsung, believe it.

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

I think Microsoft's long term plan is to license the Xbox hardware to other manufacturers. The way I see it, Comcast will eventually release a cable box with X360 functionality.

Makes sense, Microsoft is the biggest shareholder of Comcast stock

 

[Version 3.0]

Considering what it cost Microsoft to get in, I don't see that there are any other non-videogame companies who could pull it off...at least, not while the 3rd parties are content with the status quo.

And the only videogame company who might be able to get into hardware if they wanted is EA. And I don't think they'd want to--too costly and uncertain. But they're the only ones who'd have a shot if they tried it (and I think they'd fail anyway).

 

[Chittagong]

Microsoft was able to enter the market and survive because:
a) They owned a game publishing company already
b) They have an extremely large amount of cash (literally more than they know what to do with)
c) They were able to leverage DirectX/Windows to get more 3rd party publishers onboard
d) They had to. Microsoft couldn't let Sony slowly blur the line between console and (non-windows based) computer. That gave them the willpower needed to go 5 years losing $1B a year.

Excellent points, especially the one on publishing. Samsung has no interest in content whatsoever, they focus on components. I would add to this list also the competence to manufacture profitable / cost-effective hardware in the long run. Besides Microsoft, there is pretty much only one company that fits every criteria.

 

[Juice]

How could they do that? They're the only company out there that is more self-centered and anti-cooperative than Nintendo. If you thought third-party support on the Gamecube was bad, an Apple console would be worse.

But they'd have some KICKASS homebrew. Have you used Adium, Transmit, PSPWare, JEDict, etc...?

Hell, BBEdit started as homebrew and it's now renowned as probably being the best text editor on earth.

 

[Stinkles]

Mattel. I'm not kidding either. Come back in six months and see if I wasn't right. Not a straight up game console tho.

 

[worldrunover]

Mattel. I'm not kidding either. Come back in six months and see if I wasn't right. Not a straight up game console tho.

It doubles as a collectable Barbie doll, doesn't it.

 

[DJ Sl4m]

I think the bleeding comment refers to the OTHER guys bleeding money to acquire marketshare and how Nintendo are going to keep up (w/ their current profits at all costs policy). It's a valid point.

edit: they're to their. Damned brain farts...

Yea, I should have been more clear about it.

Thanks.

 

[Hellraizah]

I would like to see SNK come back, but I doubt they are stupid enough for this.

Anyways, I don't think anyone can really defend themselves against Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo. They would have to come out with something that doesn't base its technology on power and focus on another part of the market instead. Like I've said before, a powerful (for what it is) 2-D sprite-based machine with great resolution and games as deep as the ones in 3D could be something a lot of people would like. Of course, the console would have to be cheap.