Comments on: Platform generation transition http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/10/18/platform-generation-transition/ A veteran's view on marketing games Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:53:25 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Steven H. Taylor http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/10/18/platform-generation-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-583 Steven H. Taylor Sat, 08 Dec 2007 21:47:10 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/10/18/platform-generation-transition/#comment-583 Was the PS1 to PS2 transition really that bad? It's struck me how Sony, unlike other console manufacturers, really appears to have a policy to maintain two consoles in the market simultaneously, one 'high end' and one 'low end'. The PSone was only discontinued by the time PS3 was about to be introduced. This is in stark contrast with the abrupt end of support for Xbox by Microsoft and GameCube by Nintendo -- or any previous generation, for that matter. Arguably, the Wii is a GameCube in disguise and there's perfect compatiblity but only one way. If you want to play the new Zelda you're still forced to upgrade to the new hardware. As for the next generation, I concur Nintendo will have to go first but I wonder if Microsoft will really be able to say they benefited from a first-mover advantage in the long term. It didn't benefit 3DO, nor Sega's Dreamcast. I think Sony has made a bigger jump technologically and their cost-reduction curve will last longer. I don't expect a PS4 before 2011 (and actually believe Sony will continue to sell PStwo until 2010). Was the PS1 to PS2 transition really that bad? It’s struck me how Sony, unlike other console manufacturers, really appears to have a policy to maintain two consoles in the market simultaneously, one ‘high end’ and one ‘low end’. The PSone was only discontinued by the time PS3 was about to be introduced.
This is in stark contrast with the abrupt end of support for Xbox by Microsoft and GameCube by Nintendo — or any previous generation, for that matter. Arguably, the Wii is a GameCube in disguise and there’s perfect compatiblity but only one way. If you want to play the new Zelda you’re still forced to upgrade to the new hardware.

As for the next generation, I concur Nintendo will have to go first but I wonder if Microsoft will really be able to say they benefited from a first-mover advantage in the long term. It didn’t benefit 3DO, nor Sega’s Dreamcast.
I think Sony has made a bigger jump technologically and their cost-reduction curve will last longer. I don’t expect a PS4 before 2011 (and actually believe Sony will continue to sell PStwo until 2010).

]]> By: son of Zune http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/10/18/platform-generation-transition/comment-page-1/#comment-338 son of Zune Thu, 18 Oct 2007 15:11:59 +0000 http://www.bruceongames.com/2007/10/18/platform-generation-transition/#comment-338 I think we will see a Zune phone before a Zune game device. But I do expect some tetris type stuff for the original Zune pretty soon. I think we will see a Zune phone before a Zune game device. But I do expect some tetris type stuff for the original Zune pretty soon.

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