6 ms·

Why Do Dedicated Game Consoles Exist?

53 points by FigBug 13y ago

JL2010 13y ago
Besides the cost advantage due to the economies of scale, specialized gaming consoles offer something that both developers and gamers want: a consistent experience due to a common hardware platform. The QA effort that goes into PC games vs a Console games is a considerable difference. The myriad of hardware configurations (amount of RAM, GPU types and its capabilities, processor speed, etc) make for complicated debugging and graphics quality compromises to capture the mean population of computer performance capability. Contrast this to console development, developers can guarantee the performance of their game and optimize accordingly because they only have to account for one hardware and OS configuration (or 2, if they are going for multi-console release). Likewise, gamers can be confident that they won't run into performance or compatibility issues. Due to the specialization and simplification of these computer systems, gamers also get to enjoy the sheer convenience of gaming consoles. They boot quickly, jump strait into your game and are fairly no-nonsense. At a low enough price point relative to general purpose PC's or smart phones, they are still the best experience for enthusiast-level gamers.
chrischen 13y ago
Here's my guess: 1) It's easier to say here pay $300 and you'll be able to play graphically intensive games vs here pay $200, install this video card into your computer, update your PC and drivers, etc. 2) Much harder to pirate console games. <-- probably the main reason.
overshard 13y ago
It's simple, they're cheaper and easier to use.
derefr 13y ago
A good reply to such articles: http://www.lostgarden.com/2005/09/nintendos-genre-innovation-strategy.html http://www.lostgarden.com/2005/09/nintendos-genre-innovation... > As a side note, folks who argue Nintendo should just make games for other platforms are completely missing the point. Nintendo needs to control their hardware platform in order to force innovation to occur in the control mechanisms. Other console manufacturers who rely on the hardcore audiences and standardized genres don’t see this need. They would happily standardize the console platform and make it into a commodity. Microsoft has historically made major comments about having one universal development platform. > The moment Nintendo loses control over their hardware, they lose a major competitive advantage in terms of creating new genres.
- recursive 13y ago
  That's easy. User maintenance is a lot easier for XBone and PS4 than it is for any general purpose PC.
  - derleth 13y ago
    And, because game developers know the precise specs of every console they target, they can reduce load times and make texture rendering... sorry, sorry, I can't do this with a straight face.
    - recursive 13y ago
      I own a PC and an Xbox. I know from first hand experience that the Xbox is easier to maintain. I wasn't joking about that.
      - rangibaby 13y ago
        How is an Xbox easier to maintain? When something dies in your PC, you just pop it open and replace it. You might not even need tools.
        recursive 13y ago
        I'm talking more about software maintenance. For example, sometimes I need to respond to flash or java update messages.
- untog 13y ago
  I feel like PCs are a sliding scale. You have to keep updating them to play the latest games. Wheras consoles are a known - you pay once, and it's good for what, 5 years?
  - ekianjo 13y ago
    That's less and less true for PCs. I had to update my PC every year or so before to keep up with the latest games, but nowadays it's clearly a slower moving target, and even with a 2 years old PC (equipped with a good graphics card at the time) I play most games in full/medium details in Full HD.
NoPiece 13y ago
Speaking to the portable gaming space, I'd also add that a big part of games is the controls. Phones don't have a d-pad and buttons (or analog sticks, etc..). That pretty much makes games like Super Mario Brothers impossible. You can have your simplified endless runners, and that will probably satisfy most people. But for serious gamers, you need more precise control than a non dedicated console can provide.
- asifsignupfor 13y ago
  Xperia Play
- ekianjo 13y ago
  Check The Open Pandora Pocket Gaming Handheld. It has physical controls and IS portable. Way better than a phone for Gaming, and it comes with a full Linux distribution for more serious applications.
  - sliverstorm 13y ago
    Still a dedicated gaming handheld.
    - ekianjo 13y ago
      Not sure what you mean here. It runs a linux distro so you can use it as a computer (more like as a netbook replacement) and not just a "gaming only" console. Plus, being open, you can create and port your own applications on it using standard languages.
      - sliverstorm 13y ago
        What I mean is you're plugging how it's open and uses standard languages in a thread titled "Why do dedicated game consoles exist?". That stuff is irrelevant.
georgemcbay 13y ago
As to why a system like the 2DS or 3DS or Vita is compelling when we all have iPhones or Android devices, for me it comes down to the control systems. Touchscreens are fine for a narrow band of game types, but I wouldn't want to play the latest Mario platformer or Little Big Planet or 3D FPS with one. For lots of games I'll take the physical d-pad and/or analog sticks and physical buttons any day. And while you technically can get such controllers to sync with touch-centric devices, it isn't quite the same if you have to carry around a separate controller. Even more importantly, it isn't the same if the controller type is not completely standardized so that games for the platform can expect it. External controllers are a fine solution for emulation on phones and tablets, but not for core games on the actual native platform.
- Apocryphon 13y ago
  Exactly; it's really about the form factor. However, gaming accessories for smartphones already exist, and it's only a matter of time before they become refined enough to be competitive with consoles.
- macspoofing 13y ago
  >it isn't quite the same if you have to carry around a separate controller... As opposed to carrying around a separate game console?
iamshs 13y ago
Set design spec sheet allows developers to target their games more appropriately. Engines like Unity come in, drive more innovation. Low price point compared to a PC, and no additional hassle of making sure drivers are compatible etc.
shurcooL 13y ago
Probably because the iPhone lacks tactile input buttons/joysticks. Isn't iOS 7 supposed to add some sort of support for bluetooth gamepads? Will that help out?
- yareally 13y ago
  Android has had support for bluetooth game controllers for years and has yet to get widely adopted by end users. I think there's even been some companies that have tried specializing in controllers for Android.
  - shurcooL 13y ago
    To be fair, developing for an iPhone is a lot closer to developing for the 3DS, because there tends to be one per year. Android devices vary, even if not by much, it's not the same. Especially when it comes to demanding games. So while Android wins out on bluetooth support, it loses on the standardized console platform aspect.
qq66 13y ago
The reason I prefer console games is the control. I prefer a controller where my hands are upwards, like a Playstation, instead of a keyboard and mouse. There are peripheral controllers for PC, but since games are built with the expectation of just a keyboard and mouse, they don't make maximum advantage of the peripheral control (except flight yokes and steering wheels).
- ineedtosleep 13y ago
  > There are peripheral controllers for PC, but since games are built with the expectation of just a keyboard and mouse [...] These days, that's simply just not true. Sure there are a good amount of games that are just kb/m, but the many of the newer games support the have full 360 controller support (or PS3 controller if you want to fiddle around with some settings).
  - qq66 13y ago
    Haven't played video games in about 5 years, so you're right that things have probably changed.
  - rodgerd 13y ago
    Indeed. My living room XBMC/Steam PC has a Logitech wireless controller, and Steam highlights controller support as a feature in the game pages these days. It's pretty common, especially given so many games are cross-platform.
- milsorgen 13y ago
  Personally I enjoy the ecosystem, the standardized hardware and input and the community that envelopes it.
Kaali 13y ago
Tactile controls are something that most phones are missing. But there seems to be a problem of culture. The games developed for mobile phones are targeted at mainstream casual markets. And there is also a culture of free beer with mobile gamers. When the client won't pay a proper price for the game, it is too much of a risk to create a large game. Which is why developers target simple casual games, and tries to nickel and dime with some targeted psychological tricks. I enjoy more complex game, even with mobile platforms such as Nintendo 3DS. My most played games are Fire Emblem Awakening, Etrian Odyssey IV, Devil Survior Overclocked and Monster Hunter 3 U. The first three games would not even require tactile controls; but I don't think any mobile gamer in the current culture would buy them for 30 to 40 dollars. With dedicated game consoles the culture of actually paying for a good large game is still alive and well. And I think that is the reason why developers make games for them. If the day comes when free-to-play casual games are the only mobile games available, it will be a sad day for me.
alwaysinshade 13y ago
> Is the custom hardware so fundamentally critical to the experience that you couldn't provide it otherwise? You could spin the question around and ask why do point & shoot cameras (analog: consoles) or SLR's (analog: PC's) exist when you're always carrying a camera in your pocket? The answer is level of control, depth of experience and quality. Such hardware will be used by enthusiasts, whereas those who just want something to snap selfies, dinners out etc will stick with whatever is most convenient. I can play games on my phone anywhere I go but they lack the richness and intensity of playing a multiplayer FPS or RTS game on a stable wired connection and dedicated controller. A way around this was mentioned in the article - tactile displays. A display or bezel that can raise parts of its topography into customizable shapes that react to touch. This will largely solve the input issue. It might even make it better than the fixed human-machine interface like a controller because it provides freedom for the developer (or user) to craft the input mechanism to perfectly suit the game/app.
aaron695 13y ago
Because people are still buying them. Once they do, they have to buy your product and it's harder to pirate, so publishers win. Why do people buy them A. People get a quick high when they buy objects, this is big part of capitalism. B. They are only game machines. When you use a console there's no emails coming through to stress you out, your body relaxes in game state. (Why ebooks readers if they are smart won't add features, books are meant to be stress free) C. 80-20 rule. The little bit of extra work on a PC can be a deal breaker, even if it's cheaper and better.
- trekky1700 13y ago
  Also, they're considerably cheaper than a gaming PC. I can get an Xbox 360 for $250. I'd need at least twice that for a modest PC. While the PC would be more powerful, the optimization allowed when having every user on the same machine with the exact same specs on a closed platform makes a big difference too as far as performance goes.
  - hayksaakian 13y ago
    You could probably buy a hardware equivalent PC for $250, or even less.
    - wvenable 13y ago
      $250 PCs (I own one) suck for games.
      - nitrogen 13y ago
        $250 gaming PCs are possible, if self-built.
        hetid 13y ago
        Really? LogicalIncrements says that kind of money only gets you Intel HD 4000 power with no peripherals. How is that in any way a gaming PC?
wmf 13y ago
If the controls are the thing, maybe Nintendo should make a controller that docks to an iPhone and have exclusive games that require their controller.
dsugarman 13y ago
The quality of games are significantly lower on mobile than dedicated consoles, a lot has to do with hardware, a lot has to do with strategy. A PC was a lot closer to the ps2 than an iPhone is to the ps4. Casual games may be the hot new thing, but you should be able to see the difference when you compare the production value to a Naughty Dog title.
- TwoBit 13y ago
  There are very few mobile games that I want to play, and lots of console games I want to play. Most mobile games are small and simple. And I think the $1-$4 cost of most apps has killed much of the market for serious apps. Apple's 30% cut is far too much for apps over $20 and further drives developers away.
LarryMade2 13y ago
Because a lot of people aren’t technoweenies like us. The reson why consoles sell is because largely they "just work" Hook it to the TV pop in a disc and you are rivalling the arcade. No dealing with popups, driver incompatibility, installations, etc. Why are consoles are popular for developers? Because if they write some super spiffy game for console X it will run on ALL of them since they all have the same hardware - no-brainer to buy, not too hard to support, etc. Where if they write something for a PC you have to cross your fingers everyone knows what sort of system they have (even Aunt Edna buying little Tommy's Duke Nukem Forever game), that their system is relatively virus free, they have the proper controllers, a decent monitor, understand what it means when they need to update a driver, etc. etc. As far as quality, a lot of folks, don't really care. As long as the game is reasonably fun and they can take it out of the box and have it playing in under a minute. Heck I appreciate the resolution of DVDs, but frankly I don't give a darn about blu-ray, the ability to see Leonardo DeCaprio's nose hairs doesn't make really make the movie all that more enjoyable to me. Only thing that sometimes compels me about blue ray may be some exclusive feature... But again, like consoles, most blue-ray stuff is also on DVD primarily because all the DVD and Blu-Ray folk can use it and there is better potential sales.
kenneth_reitz 13y ago
Phones can take pictures. Why do cameras exist? Because a phone is a shitty camera.
ChuckMcM 13y ago
I was once contracted to be an expert witness in a case involving the definition of an "appliance" versus a "computer." The bulk of the argument was than an appliance was designed (and often constrained) to doing the 'thing' it was designed to do, and a computer was designed to embrace doing many different things. As the author points out, a game console is a computer which has sacrificed generality in order to achieve a cost advantage in the market where it competes. As the cost of generality goes down, the comparative advantage slowly evaporates. An example of how this plays out is with robotics. You can consider your dishwasher to be a robot, it reacts to conditions (dishes, no dishes) it has various schemes for cleaning them, and that is pretty much what it does. A clothes washer is another robot of the genus 'washer' but works only on clothes. A general purpose robot could, in theory wash clothes, or dishes, and pretty much anything else if you programmed it to do so. So where do you draw the line between robot and appliance? I posited the line was based on the relative cost/complexity advantage of one over another. When a computer was targeted to a particular task, and could do that task at a significant market cost advantage over the general purpose implementation, it went from being a 'computer' to being an 'appliance'. Game consoles are appliances that play games, which is not to say that iPhones don't play games, but if you only want to play games then a console has a cost advantage over a phone.
leefrank 13y ago
up to I looked at the draft for $5082, I did not believe ...that...my friend was like actualey earning money in their spare time on their laptop.. there moms best frend has been doing this for less than eight months and as of now cleared the loans on their villa and purchased a new GMC. look at more info big57.com
city41 13y ago
I've found it interesting that arcade games have gone in the opposite direction. Most modern arcade games are released on the Taito Type X, Sega Lindbergh and other similar platforms. These are basically just PCs with Intel processors, Nvidia or ATI graphics cards, and Windows or Linux. A good example is Street Fighter. Street Fighter 3 was release for the CPS3 [0], a completely proprietary platform that ultimately only had 6 games released for it. Street Fighter 4 was on the Taito Type X2 [1], which is pretty much a PC. [0] http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=799 http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=799 [1] http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=903 http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=903
InclinedPlane 13y ago
The same reason modern smartphones do. PCs (whether windows, Mac, or linux) are horrid from a usability perspective. It boggles my mind how regular people manage to put up with the shit that it takes to use a computer effectively. But I know that the answer is that they don't, and the result is that they are exposed to a vastly degraded experience of using a computer compared to an expert who can easily troubleshoot and solve the vast majority of problems that they run into day to day. Gaming consoles (and DVRs, and every other device which is basically just a computer) are simplified systems which remove a lot of the hassle of using them. Even a PS3 or a Wii-U (which are excruciating to update) is orders of magnitude easier to use than a general purpose computer.
Justsignedup 13y ago
Nintendo DS vs iPhone comparison: Nintendo DS can be a gift to a 6 year old. I am not giving a phone with open data and calling capability and store to a 6 year old. Also a NDS costs $200 while the iPhone is $450 for cheapest model without a phone contract (was more until recent anouncement). A PS3 cost 400 at launch. And still plays new games till this day. SURE they are not as good quality but they work well. Meanwhile you keep having to upgrade your PC, and since I assemble my own, I can make a $600 / $700 pc, most people end up spending 1.5k+ for that. So cost is still a huge factor.
mistercow 13y ago
This ignores another big part of the equation historically (I don't know if it applies today, and AFAIK it never applied to Nintendo) which is using a clever business model. Many consoles have been sold at a significant loss at launch. An equivalently powerful PC would have cost much more, and did, in fact, cost the manufacturer more than they were selling it for. The cost would then be recaptured in game royalties.
pmarin 13y ago
Lukas Mathis has a series of articles about Nintendo that I think is worth to read: http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/08/29/nintendo/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/08/29/nintendo/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/03/more_nintendo/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/03/more_nintendo/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/05/lateral_thinking_with_withered_technology/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/05/lateral_thinking_wi... http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/07/where_do_people_use_portable_gaming_systems_/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/07/where_do_people_use...
uvTwitch 13y ago
Because games that aren't shit require buttons.

53 points by FigBug 13y ago

JL2010 13y ago

Besides the cost advantage due to the economies of scale, specialized gaming consoles offer something that both developers and gamers want: a consistent experience due to a common hardware platform. The QA effort that goes into PC games vs a Console games is a considerable difference. The myriad of hardware configurations (amount of RAM, GPU types and its capabilities, processor speed, etc) make for complicated debugging and graphics quality compromises to capture the mean population of computer performance capability. Contrast this to console development, developers can guarantee the performance of their game and optimize accordingly because they only have to account for one hardware and OS configuration (or 2, if they are going for multi-console release). Likewise, gamers can be confident that they won't run into performance or compatibility issues. Due to the specialization and simplification of these computer systems, gamers also get to enjoy the sheer convenience of gaming consoles. They boot quickly, jump strait into your game and are fairly no-nonsense. At a low enough price point relative to general purpose PC's or smart phones, they are still the best experience for enthusiast-level gamers.

chrischen 13y ago

Here's my guess: 1) It's easier to say here pay $300 and you'll be able to play graphically intensive games vs here pay $200, install this video card into your computer, update your PC and drivers, etc. 2) Much harder to pirate console games. <-- probably the main reason.

overshard 13y ago

It's simple, they're cheaper and easier to use.

derefr 13y ago

A good reply to such articles: http://www.lostgarden.com/2005/09/nintendos-genre-innovation-strategy.html http://www.lostgarden.com/2005/09/nintendos-genre-innovation... > As a side note, folks who argue Nintendo should just make games for other platforms are completely missing the point. Nintendo needs to control their hardware platform in order to force innovation to occur in the control mechanisms. Other console manufacturers who rely on the hardcore audiences and standardized genres don’t see this need. They would happily standardize the console platform and make it into a commodity. Microsoft has historically made major comments about having one universal development platform. > The moment Nintendo loses control over their hardware, they lose a major competitive advantage in terms of creating new genres.

recursive 13y ago
That's easy. User maintenance is a lot easier for XBone and PS4 than it is for any general purpose PC.
- derleth 13y ago
  And, because game developers know the precise specs of every console they target, they can reduce load times and make texture rendering... sorry, sorry, I can't do this with a straight face.
  - recursive 13y ago
    I own a PC and an Xbox. I know from first hand experience that the Xbox is easier to maintain. I wasn't joking about that.
    - rangibaby 13y ago
      How is an Xbox easier to maintain? When something dies in your PC, you just pop it open and replace it. You might not even need tools.
      - recursive 13y ago
        I'm talking more about software maintenance. For example, sometimes I need to respond to flash or java update messages.
untog 13y ago
I feel like PCs are a sliding scale. You have to keep updating them to play the latest games. Wheras consoles are a known - you pay once, and it's good for what, 5 years?
- ekianjo 13y ago
  That's less and less true for PCs. I had to update my PC every year or so before to keep up with the latest games, but nowadays it's clearly a slower moving target, and even with a 2 years old PC (equipped with a good graphics card at the time) I play most games in full/medium details in Full HD.

NoPiece 13y ago

Speaking to the portable gaming space, I'd also add that a big part of games is the controls. Phones don't have a d-pad and buttons (or analog sticks, etc..). That pretty much makes games like Super Mario Brothers impossible. You can have your simplified endless runners, and that will probably satisfy most people. But for serious gamers, you need more precise control than a non dedicated console can provide.

asifsignupfor 13y ago
Xperia Play
ekianjo 13y ago
Check The Open Pandora Pocket Gaming Handheld. It has physical controls and IS portable. Way better than a phone for Gaming, and it comes with a full Linux distribution for more serious applications.
- sliverstorm 13y ago
  Still a dedicated gaming handheld.
  - ekianjo 13y ago
    Not sure what you mean here. It runs a linux distro so you can use it as a computer (more like as a netbook replacement) and not just a "gaming only" console. Plus, being open, you can create and port your own applications on it using standard languages.
    - sliverstorm 13y ago
      What I mean is you're plugging how it's open and uses standard languages in a thread titled "Why do dedicated game consoles exist?". That stuff is irrelevant.

georgemcbay 13y ago

As to why a system like the 2DS or 3DS or Vita is compelling when we all have iPhones or Android devices, for me it comes down to the control systems. Touchscreens are fine for a narrow band of game types, but I wouldn't want to play the latest Mario platformer or Little Big Planet or 3D FPS with one. For lots of games I'll take the physical d-pad and/or analog sticks and physical buttons any day. And while you technically can get such controllers to sync with touch-centric devices, it isn't quite the same if you have to carry around a separate controller. Even more importantly, it isn't the same if the controller type is not completely standardized so that games for the platform can expect it. External controllers are a fine solution for emulation on phones and tablets, but not for core games on the actual native platform.

Apocryphon 13y ago
Exactly; it's really about the form factor. However, gaming accessories for smartphones already exist, and it's only a matter of time before they become refined enough to be competitive with consoles.
macspoofing 13y ago
>it isn't quite the same if you have to carry around a separate controller... As opposed to carrying around a separate game console?

iamshs 13y ago

Set design spec sheet allows developers to target their games more appropriately. Engines like Unity come in, drive more innovation. Low price point compared to a PC, and no additional hassle of making sure drivers are compatible etc.

shurcooL 13y ago

Probably because the iPhone lacks tactile input buttons/joysticks. Isn't iOS 7 supposed to add some sort of support for bluetooth gamepads? Will that help out?

yareally 13y ago
Android has had support for bluetooth game controllers for years and has yet to get widely adopted by end users. I think there's even been some companies that have tried specializing in controllers for Android.
- shurcooL 13y ago
  To be fair, developing for an iPhone is a lot closer to developing for the 3DS, because there tends to be one per year. Android devices vary, even if not by much, it's not the same. Especially when it comes to demanding games. So while Android wins out on bluetooth support, it loses on the standardized console platform aspect.

qq66 13y ago

The reason I prefer console games is the control. I prefer a controller where my hands are upwards, like a Playstation, instead of a keyboard and mouse. There are peripheral controllers for PC, but since games are built with the expectation of just a keyboard and mouse, they don't make maximum advantage of the peripheral control (except flight yokes and steering wheels).

ineedtosleep 13y ago
> There are peripheral controllers for PC, but since games are built with the expectation of just a keyboard and mouse [...] These days, that's simply just not true. Sure there are a good amount of games that are just kb/m, but the many of the newer games support the have full 360 controller support (or PS3 controller if you want to fiddle around with some settings).
- qq66 13y ago
  Haven't played video games in about 5 years, so you're right that things have probably changed.
- rodgerd 13y ago
  Indeed. My living room XBMC/Steam PC has a Logitech wireless controller, and Steam highlights controller support as a feature in the game pages these days. It's pretty common, especially given so many games are cross-platform.
milsorgen 13y ago
Personally I enjoy the ecosystem, the standardized hardware and input and the community that envelopes it.

Kaali 13y ago

Tactile controls are something that most phones are missing. But there seems to be a problem of culture. The games developed for mobile phones are targeted at mainstream casual markets. And there is also a culture of free beer with mobile gamers. When the client won't pay a proper price for the game, it is too much of a risk to create a large game. Which is why developers target simple casual games, and tries to nickel and dime with some targeted psychological tricks. I enjoy more complex game, even with mobile platforms such as Nintendo 3DS. My most played games are Fire Emblem Awakening, Etrian Odyssey IV, Devil Survior Overclocked and Monster Hunter 3 U. The first three games would not even require tactile controls; but I don't think any mobile gamer in the current culture would buy them for 30 to 40 dollars. With dedicated game consoles the culture of actually paying for a good large game is still alive and well. And I think that is the reason why developers make games for them. If the day comes when free-to-play casual games are the only mobile games available, it will be a sad day for me.

alwaysinshade 13y ago

> Is the custom hardware so fundamentally critical to the experience that you couldn't provide it otherwise? You could spin the question around and ask why do point & shoot cameras (analog: consoles) or SLR's (analog: PC's) exist when you're always carrying a camera in your pocket? The answer is level of control, depth of experience and quality. Such hardware will be used by enthusiasts, whereas those who just want something to snap selfies, dinners out etc will stick with whatever is most convenient. I can play games on my phone anywhere I go but they lack the richness and intensity of playing a multiplayer FPS or RTS game on a stable wired connection and dedicated controller. A way around this was mentioned in the article - tactile displays. A display or bezel that can raise parts of its topography into customizable shapes that react to touch. This will largely solve the input issue. It might even make it better than the fixed human-machine interface like a controller because it provides freedom for the developer (or user) to craft the input mechanism to perfectly suit the game/app.

aaron695 13y ago

Because people are still buying them. Once they do, they have to buy your product and it's harder to pirate, so publishers win. Why do people buy them A. People get a quick high when they buy objects, this is big part of capitalism. B. They are only game machines. When you use a console there's no emails coming through to stress you out, your body relaxes in game state. (Why ebooks readers if they are smart won't add features, books are meant to be stress free) C. 80-20 rule. The little bit of extra work on a PC can be a deal breaker, even if it's cheaper and better.

trekky1700 13y ago
Also, they're considerably cheaper than a gaming PC. I can get an Xbox 360 for $250. I'd need at least twice that for a modest PC. While the PC would be more powerful, the optimization allowed when having every user on the same machine with the exact same specs on a closed platform makes a big difference too as far as performance goes.
- hayksaakian 13y ago
  You could probably buy a hardware equivalent PC for $250, or even less.
  - wvenable 13y ago
    $250 PCs (I own one) suck for games.
    - nitrogen 13y ago
      $250 gaming PCs are possible, if self-built.
      - hetid 13y ago
        Really? LogicalIncrements says that kind of money only gets you Intel HD 4000 power with no peripherals. How is that in any way a gaming PC?

wmf 13y ago

If the controls are the thing, maybe Nintendo should make a controller that docks to an iPhone and have exclusive games that require their controller.

dsugarman 13y ago

The quality of games are significantly lower on mobile than dedicated consoles, a lot has to do with hardware, a lot has to do with strategy. A PC was a lot closer to the ps2 than an iPhone is to the ps4. Casual games may be the hot new thing, but you should be able to see the difference when you compare the production value to a Naughty Dog title.

TwoBit 13y ago
There are very few mobile games that I want to play, and lots of console games I want to play. Most mobile games are small and simple. And I think the $1-$4 cost of most apps has killed much of the market for serious apps. Apple's 30% cut is far too much for apps over $20 and further drives developers away.

LarryMade2 13y ago

Because a lot of people aren’t technoweenies like us. The reson why consoles sell is because largely they "just work" Hook it to the TV pop in a disc and you are rivalling the arcade. No dealing with popups, driver incompatibility, installations, etc. Why are consoles are popular for developers? Because if they write some super spiffy game for console X it will run on ALL of them since they all have the same hardware - no-brainer to buy, not too hard to support, etc. Where if they write something for a PC you have to cross your fingers everyone knows what sort of system they have (even Aunt Edna buying little Tommy's Duke Nukem Forever game), that their system is relatively virus free, they have the proper controllers, a decent monitor, understand what it means when they need to update a driver, etc. etc. As far as quality, a lot of folks, don't really care. As long as the game is reasonably fun and they can take it out of the box and have it playing in under a minute. Heck I appreciate the resolution of DVDs, but frankly I don't give a darn about blu-ray, the ability to see Leonardo DeCaprio's nose hairs doesn't make really make the movie all that more enjoyable to me. Only thing that sometimes compels me about blue ray may be some exclusive feature... But again, like consoles, most blue-ray stuff is also on DVD primarily because all the DVD and Blu-Ray folk can use it and there is better potential sales.

kenneth_reitz 13y ago

Phones can take pictures. Why do cameras exist? Because a phone is a shitty camera.

ChuckMcM 13y ago

I was once contracted to be an expert witness in a case involving the definition of an "appliance" versus a "computer." The bulk of the argument was than an appliance was designed (and often constrained) to doing the 'thing' it was designed to do, and a computer was designed to embrace doing many different things. As the author points out, a game console is a computer which has sacrificed generality in order to achieve a cost advantage in the market where it competes. As the cost of generality goes down, the comparative advantage slowly evaporates. An example of how this plays out is with robotics. You can consider your dishwasher to be a robot, it reacts to conditions (dishes, no dishes) it has various schemes for cleaning them, and that is pretty much what it does. A clothes washer is another robot of the genus 'washer' but works only on clothes. A general purpose robot could, in theory wash clothes, or dishes, and pretty much anything else if you programmed it to do so. So where do you draw the line between robot and appliance? I posited the line was based on the relative cost/complexity advantage of one over another. When a computer was targeted to a particular task, and could do that task at a significant market cost advantage over the general purpose implementation, it went from being a 'computer' to being an 'appliance'. Game consoles are appliances that play games, which is not to say that iPhones don't play games, but if you only want to play games then a console has a cost advantage over a phone.

leefrank 13y ago

up to I looked at the draft for $5082, I did not believe ...that...my friend was like actualey earning money in their spare time on their laptop.. there moms best frend has been doing this for less than eight months and as of now cleared the loans on their villa and purchased a new GMC. look at more info big57.com

city41 13y ago

I've found it interesting that arcade games have gone in the opposite direction. Most modern arcade games are released on the Taito Type X, Sega Lindbergh and other similar platforms. These are basically just PCs with Intel processors, Nvidia or ATI graphics cards, and Windows or Linux. A good example is Street Fighter. Street Fighter 3 was release for the CPS3 [0], a completely proprietary platform that ultimately only had 6 games released for it. Street Fighter 4 was on the Taito Type X2 [1], which is pretty much a PC. [0] http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=799 http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=799 [1] http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=903 http://www.system16.com/hardware.php?id=903

InclinedPlane 13y ago

The same reason modern smartphones do. PCs (whether windows, Mac, or linux) are horrid from a usability perspective. It boggles my mind how regular people manage to put up with the shit that it takes to use a computer effectively. But I know that the answer is that they don't, and the result is that they are exposed to a vastly degraded experience of using a computer compared to an expert who can easily troubleshoot and solve the vast majority of problems that they run into day to day. Gaming consoles (and DVRs, and every other device which is basically just a computer) are simplified systems which remove a lot of the hassle of using them. Even a PS3 or a Wii-U (which are excruciating to update) is orders of magnitude easier to use than a general purpose computer.

Justsignedup 13y ago

Nintendo DS vs iPhone comparison: Nintendo DS can be a gift to a 6 year old. I am not giving a phone with open data and calling capability and store to a 6 year old. Also a NDS costs $200 while the iPhone is $450 for cheapest model without a phone contract (was more until recent anouncement). A PS3 cost 400 at launch. And still plays new games till this day. SURE they are not as good quality but they work well. Meanwhile you keep having to upgrade your PC, and since I assemble my own, I can make a $600 / $700 pc, most people end up spending 1.5k+ for that. So cost is still a huge factor.

mistercow 13y ago

This ignores another big part of the equation historically (I don't know if it applies today, and AFAIK it never applied to Nintendo) which is using a clever business model. Many consoles have been sold at a significant loss at launch. An equivalently powerful PC would have cost much more, and did, in fact, cost the manufacturer more than they were selling it for. The cost would then be recaptured in game royalties.

pmarin 13y ago

Lukas Mathis has a series of articles about Nintendo that I think is worth to read: http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/08/29/nintendo/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/08/29/nintendo/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/03/more_nintendo/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/03/more_nintendo/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/05/lateral_thinking_with_withered_technology/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/05/lateral_thinking_wi... http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/07/where_do_people_use_portable_gaming_systems_/ http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2013/09/07/where_do_people_use...

uvTwitch 13y ago

Because games that aren't shit require buttons.