Plenty has been said about how consoles need to change now every mobile phone is effectively a games machine, but when the founder of the world's largest games publisher has something to say on the matter, it's time to sit up and take notice.
In a recent interview with IGN, Trip Hawkins -- founder of EA and ex-colleague of Steve Jobs -- expounded on the changing face of gaming. He said consoles will become less mainstream as mobile- and browser-based action becomes more popular.
Hawkins doesn't think console gaming will die, though -- he just believes that it'll have to change to survive.
"The console market is always going to be with us, because there's always going to be a hardcore segment, a segment that likes innovation," he said. "But it's going to become a smaller market, and it's going to be more like a hobby market.
"You look at airplanes. Most of just want to be a passenger, but there's a hobby market for people who are really into aviation and want to take flying lessons and maybe someday have their own airplane. I think that's what's happening to the console market."
Hawkins noted the rise of alternative devices to play platform games on, and the advantages they have over consoles. "It's a trend towards mobile- and browser- and cloud-based games. You contrast that with what happens when you have to either purchase or download a specific app that runs native on a specific device and you only ever play it when you have that platform in front of you.
"In the old days I'd go down to the basement to play Grand Theft Auto. But the Facebook gamer is able to play at work, at home, in a hotel on a PC. They can get access to a browser just about anywhere. People are thinking about convenience first."
The rise of mobile games does seem to be taking its toll on traditional console companies like Nintendo, who can't compete on price. As phones become more powerful, with bigger screens, will consoles just be for the hardcore? Let me know what you think below, or on Facebook.
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Comments 9
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anonymous 14 October, 2012 14:59
I'm sure he also predicted Their Old Republic MMO would be a massive success.....
So much rubbish spews out of this guys mouth...his comparing a £300 console to owning a plane. Then they wonder why most gamers hate them.
The reason there's a trend towards PC games now.. is because the consoles are at the end of a long cycle so games on a good PC look amazing. You need a computer anyway...why not spend £200 more and have a gaming rig. If you make it yourself a £350 pc that you need anyway can beat a console.
At the start of the current console cycle..everyone kept saying PC gaming is dieing...because consoles were at the start of their cycle and a PC to match it would cost relatively more.
Also d it llooks like windows 8 is not as open..maybe this will put gaming back in the hands of consoles
anonymous 14 October, 2012 15:08
....I realise his talking about browser and mobile games and I went off on a tangent..
:)
anonymous 14 October, 2012 22:42
All I have to say is this - in 10 years time - I'm certain people will still be getting stuck in to the next version of FIFA or COD or Zelda or any of the other massive games out there on a console.
There is only so much a touch based system can achieve - those games are great for the quick pick me up and play - but nobody for a while will be spending 3/4 hours straight on an iPad or iPhone.
anonymous 15 October, 2012 08:11
There will always be a market for dedicated gaming platforms for dedicated gamers; just like movies.
Most people still use DVD but that doesn't mean there isn't anyone buying Blurays and home cinema kit.
No dedicated gamer chooses a 4-5" screen touch device as their primary hobby over a 40"+ HD TV and dedicated hardware for their favorite pastime.
Mobile games are just that, something to fill the time until the gamer can get back to their big screen TV/ Monitor and gaming rig/ console.
anonymous 15 October, 2012 09:03
Heres how its going to happen; everybody is going to go "hey I can play games on my iPad". So everybody will buy one, but after a while a few years after the games console is dead, the games console will make a glorious comeback and everybody will go "hey, what a cool idea, I can play games with more controls and my screen wont get smudged!" Its only a matter of time before history repeats itself!
anonymous 15 October, 2012 09:41
He is saying consoles will become a 'hobby market'. What does that mean...isn't gaming already a hobby market? Or is he saying dedicated gamers will leave consoles?
Either way there are holes in everything he said...
The mobile and browser games will make games accessible to new people...so that is a growth industry but it would not affect consoles.....If anything it will introduce new people to games who as a result will purchase a reasonably priced console for their living room
Leszcz 15 October, 2012 11:33
He's saying that casual gamers (like myself) don't have to spend extra money on a console anymore to play a few games every now and then. People seem to forget that 10 years ago, in order to play ANY sort of games, whether you were hardcore gamer or not, you HAD to buy dedicated hardware.
I don't agree though that the change is to come, it's already here. Hardcore gamers have are and will be buying top spec pcs and casual gamers already have their phones or tablets that also allow browsing the web, and other stuff
anonymous 15 October, 2012 11:55
As he's the man responsible for EA I wouldn't trust a word he says. EA represents the pure gread of the video games market. They're not innovators. Their philosophy is to buy up successful developers and run their franchises to the ground. The Sims and Command & Conquer anyone?
They're lazy money greedy capitalists of the worst variety. They'd like it to go that way so they didn't have to make an effort to make good games...Oh hang on, they don't anyway. Screw EA and screw what they say.
anonymous 15 October, 2012 20:05
Every mobile phone is a games machine, is it? What a load of utter rubbish. The games available for mobile phones are pretty much universally terrible and touchscreen controls are just a massive pain. A dedicated games machine, currently anyway, is definitely needed unless all you want to play is games designed for five year olds.