What could be the next generation game console look like? The latest trend of gaming consoles are highly innovated and definitely techie. And despite the relatively high price, the market for gaming consoles rises abruptly along with the boost of online games and video games. The reason is that, perhaps, it’s only through these gaming consoles that game fanatics can better enjoy and competently take advantage of these online games and the latest video game trends.
The lat
est released game console is Zeebo (2009). This 3G wireless game console was released in Brazil just this year, targeting Russia and China for the next release. They say, it’s not really competing with the “big three” games console because it is designed with an easy to learn user interface specifically made for the emerging markets where target customers may have little or no experience with game platforms. However, an interesting feature that goes with this new game console is the integrated Qualcomm MSM chip set used in mobile phones. This enables the console to connect automatically to a wireless network called the ZeeboNet™ so owners can buy games via wireless networks, therefore, eradicating piracy.
The newest Nintendo Wii was released two years ago (November 19, 2006). You can enjoy its outstanding features at a reasonable price because aside from the traditional game buttons, it has built in accelerometers and infrared motion detectors that allow any player to physically interact with the game. Moreover, it completely reduces wires through a Bluetooth connection to the console.
Sony PS3 was released on the sa
me year (November 17, 2006). One can enjoy a high definition game console, perfect with superb graphics. It is also incorporated with a blue ray disc and WiFi, along with free online gaming service and…. 80GB Hard drive!
Even if it was released 4 years ago, X-Box 360 (November 22, 2005) remains the game console of choice for many. It’s not so feature packed, but it confers a top-notch gaming and superb digital media experience with every game.
How about XaviXPort (2004)? This console allows players can interact with every game through the peripherals that goes with it. The console contains image recognition and infrared sensors that can detect player body movements. And the multiprocessor found in each game cartridge (yes it’s installed outside the system), measures the velocity and angle, then it calculates and converts every actions into screen movement. Cool right?
Are there any gaming consoles we should expect this 2010?
Perhaps it’s the “new Xbox 360.” Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer (while speaking at The Executive’s Club of Chicago last June) has mentioned that the “new Xbox 360” is close to release. Nothing much said, but close to release, perhaps, could mean we can watch out for it in the fall of 2010. The exciting thing about the “new Xbox 360”, aside from an internal hardware update, is that it is said to have a natural interface feature that has a built in camera with the ability to recognize movement and voice. This incorporated technology is perhaps the new motion sensing technology being developed by Microsoft called the “project Natal.”
Later than 2010, Nintendo might also release a “new Wii.” The interesting thing here is that while Microsoft currently has the HD hardware and plans to introduce motion controls this year; Nintendo currentlly has the motion controls feature and might in the future introduce the HD hardware. On the other hand, Sony’s PS3 will also be providing motion controls in the coming year an accessory for its EyeToy camera. Who knows if Apple will be releasing a gaming console? we will just be surprised.
Whatever it is, it will be exciting for gaming fans.
Who would have thought, it was just fifteen years ago, I was 7 years old, my siblings 
and I had gone up with excitement on our new Atari VCS (released 1977). Back then, we enjoyed playing the famous Packman, Racing Cars (my favorite), and Stunt Cycle almost every after school. But not so many months after, our new stuff was replaced by Atari 2600 Junior (released in 1986) which our cousin just gave a
way to us. We noticed that there were not so much change in the appearance, but for us, holding a rectangle console with two red push buttons with our little hands, rather than a square with only one red button was pretty cool then… Pit-Fall was our favorite game to play. We didn’t realize that the first game console we had during that time, was actually outdated and our cousin had just given away another outdated thing (lol). We were innocent and ill-informed about the latest trend in gaming consoles. We just sat satisfied, laid back, hands glued on the old Atari game controller, and eyes fixed on the screen, until mother calls us for dinner time – or – our father scolds us because of fighting over taking turns in game.
Not so many years after, I enjoyed playing Super Sonic on a Sega Dreamcast (1999), the first console to include a built-in modem and Internet support for on-line gaming. Not to mention, playing on a high-graphic-almost-everyone-wants-to-have-it PlayStation two years after.
Since the successful release of the ancient consoles, gaming hardware and software evolved rapidly and gaming turned out to be a major release for a lot of people and creating a big target market around the world. The evolution of game consoles along with the development of various video games and internet games has won the time, interest and patronage of not only youngsters but also adults who are yearning for a successful adventure and conquest in the virtual world– or maybe who just doesn’t know where else to spend their millions (just maybe).
Game console designs, is continuously innovated for an even more attractive, user-friendly and of course, comfort-ability. With the available gaming consoles in the market today, you can sit and repeat a level until you are able to finish it without building up major cramps on your hands or hindering the flow in your blood vessels, therefore increasing your momentum and time-to-spend in playing… It’s worth it if you either make it to another challenging level and decide to stay in the virtual world for another day, or you were able to unlock several game secrets and post it somewhere in the web ^_^ which is of course a quality time for sharpening your 2 ½ pounds of brain. Also, some new features enable players to update their game without much hassle because you can easily connect to stores online from your console.
But as this generation progresses, and innovation is accelerated than before, we can only dream, and be surprised as gaming entertainment is taken to the next level. I’m not going to be surprised if in the future, we’ll be playing with brain-wave controlled consoles with 4-D gaming experience. We can play with better graphics, sound,physics effects, and with many people across the globe.
Photocredits: tuvie.com, coroflot.com
The PlayStation Move will “absolutely” help the sales of the PlayStation 3 console itself. That’s the view of Sony Worldwide Studios European boss, Michael Denny.
