Feature: How Sony could revolutionise the gaming industry
So with Sony acquiring cloud software company Gaikai this week, it is clear that their strategy for the future includes some form of cloud-based move for their current, or next, generation.
But what does this mean for us as consumers? Well, it could mean many things as cloud systems offer up a heap of possibilities as we are currently witnessing around us. Microsoft already offer cloud save storage for Gold members whilst PSN+ members can access this functionality whilst games can be played via the internet through providers such as OnLive.
So will Sony change the way we game? Maybe, but for now we are left to speculate their next move so here’s a list of how this could happen;
1) Next gen on current hardware – As per the OnLive systems, Sony could potentially offer higher quality games to their current users through the internet. Whilst current hardware is slowly peaking in terms of quality, the console could be used as a hub whilst internet-connected computers at Sony’s end could deal with high processing duties. Therefore further extending the life of the PS3 and, more importantly for them, trumping the Xbox 360.
2) Previous content made accessible – A massive catalogue of games from the PS1 and PS2 era could be made accessible to gamers via this service. As per the above possibility, PSN users could access these games through the internet without having to download them onto their hard drive. What’s more important though, is once restricted content will be made accessible to all so those games and consoles that were left out of the compatibility regime will finally see action.
3) Higher storage capabilities – With massive cloud storage systems being in place, Sony could offer massive hard drive and storage incentives to their customers so they can store their saved games, films, music and much more online as not to clog up their systems. More importantly, this would allow them to access the content on other consoles when they sign in.
4) Cheaper games – As they can avoid selling boxed, retail titles it would seem obvious that Sony would charge less for accessing the content through the internet. With games costing less for consumers, they would be tempted to buy more games than before and boost the industry.
5) Death to updates – It’s a well-known fact that Sony aren’t the best when it comes to updates. We have all waited too long for our console or game to update but these could be a thing of the past as, games especially, will be updated straight away and therefore meaning we don’t have to wait to play our games.
6) Cheaper consoles – Think about it; if we don’t massive storage on our consoles, then surely we can expect to pay less for our consoles? It would be great to see Sony offer smaller sized storage consoles to those who wish to use the online services.
7) TV gaming – Sony could easily incorporate gaming possibilities to their TV’s if they offer streamed gaming to its consumers. What’s more, with Gaikai having a deal with Samsung, Sony could offer this service for both manufactured sets and extend its user base in order to take out the console usage all together in some cases.
8) Portable gaming – The Vita’s appeal could be massively improved if you could play your games, taking out the storage issue, through the internet or through your tablet computer.
The possibilities are endless but whilst this may sound all rosy and perfect, is our infrastructure up to these demands? Can we all guarantee that our internet speeds will cater for the demand put on by these services and what happens if Sony’s service gets hacked again? We have yet to see but the future certainly is exciting to think about at least whilst we wait with baited breath as to what we will see next.
Let us know your thoughts below.
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Why didn't you use the vita for the handheld part? I had that device, the dingoo, which is a really awesome emulator, and does use the XMB format for it's menu/UI.
1) Not ever going to happen. Not in a million years. 2) Devs already hardly support psn with past titles, now, and your expecting this to improve that? not a chance. That isnt BC that isnt what gamers want 3) At a price 4) Physical games will always exist. Its what most gamers want and its were most of the new game sales come from. And they wont be cheaper. 5) The one true thing 6) AHAHAHHAHA 7) For a limited audience this is true 8) The vita is failing because it needs more exclusive games. This wont solve that So basically only 2 of 8 things are even within the realm of possibility
Is your reply what gamers want, or what YOU want? 2) Dev CAN'T always support backwards compatibility because of contract issues, formatting, etc. The PSOne library isn't bad at all, and pretty much all of the biggest PSOne titles are there. The PS2 is a lot harder to do that with, although now they're trying to do that. There has been a few articles that say that instead of trying to reformat it as a PSN downloadable or an HD downloadable, they can just make it accessible through some kind of emulator and allow people to just stream it. 3) Everything is a price. That's the point of gaming. BUT, so far, for the price of Playstation + we get free cloud storage in addition to great deals, so it's works out in the end. 4) Again, this trend is changing. A year or two ago, MOST games were played on consoles and MOST best selling titles were stuff like Halo and God of War. Now we have cheap iOS games like Angry Birds outselling some high profile stuff. Times change. A year ago, a poll I read said only a small percentage got into downloading digital games. Now I believe IGN or gameinformer or one of those sites did an article saying at least 1/3 of Playstation users download digital titles. And Sony's done a great job of getting gamers used to it: the hacking situation gave all PS3 owners who were active prior to the attack 4 free games (2 psp, 2 psn). I for the first time downloaded a retail game digitally LBP and inFamous) and found it not so bad. Just set it overnight or when doing errands, it's done by the time you wake up/get back. Then downloaded PSN titles, and then I got PS+ and got free retail titles. Now I still buy more discs than digital, so far, but I have to say that if I ever break a disc, I have to get a new one. If I ever get my memory erased (like when I upgraded my harddrive at a store recently) I can redownload EVERY game I've ever downloaded (which I did). And as people get used to things like Netflix and Hulu streaming, gaming may be the next logical step. It takes up no extra storage, it's never lost. No one ever thought music and movies and now books would ever go digital, and they are. Gaming is following. 6) While I don't entirely agree, I have doubts Sony would risk another $600 and up console, unless the PS4 has everything known to man inside of it. Nintendo proved a half-powered but strategically marketed/gimmicky device can sell well at $250 or less, and with a streaming service (plus perhaps a subscription service, like how Microsoft has done with its latest Xbox consoles, selling them cheap but making consumers pay for it bit by bit) Sony could make the money up fast and not spend too much on the actual hardware. 7)For a WIDE audience this may become true. This last generation brought moms, grandmas, uncles, and your little sister into gaming. Yet they may not have the know-how to operate a full gaming device like the PS3 or 360. Yet we've seen casual gamers get into simple interfaces on phones and tablets. Having a TV that just gets you into games quick could give you the casual, easy nature of iOS games but the HD quality of console games. Stop talking about what gamers want because no one man can ever talk for an entire group. Everything the general public has said won't work has. MP3s have conquered CDs, Cassettes, and record players. Streaming TV has made a mighty roar against Cable and Satellite. Illegal streaming networks on the net have made most TVs obsolete. As a person who has worked in media retail stores, I have seen the death of CDs and the decline of movies, and i witnessed first hand the change in trends for books. Two years ago Sony tried to introduce an ereader to the market and no one wanted it. Customers told us readers would never accept anything but actual books with paper pages and print. Half a year ago there have been millions of Kindles and Nooks sold, with many brick and mortar stores (partially) rightfully blaming the decline of bookstores to ereaders. Now gaming has reached a critical mass with the amount accessible to the general market from so many devices, and statistics say that we hardcore gamers are not the majority anymore. Which is why so many bigwig game developers and some indie game companies have decided to change their focus to that market, because it's more lucrative. The time's are a changing, pal.
I wont respond to a moron. There is no point in proving every single thing wrong you just said which is childsplay. Angry birds hasnt OUTSOLD anything Downloads for a free game, dont mean anything. If you look at the companies financials. They are nothing more than a mid size company looking in Stop being a stupid fanboy The vita, is a flop right now. It needs exclusive games. Those push systems You do realize 90 percent of book sales total are physical right? Barnes and noble is stronger than ever and more book stores are poping up.
