The Long Road

05/30/2006 Archived Entry: "The World Post EEE"

Let’s pull this out in five years and see how my armchair analysis of the video game industry will match up to real life!

The incoming 7th generation console race will be the tightest since the 16 bit era. Unlike the outgoing generation’s 80 million unit gap between first place PS2 and third place GameCube, I predict that we are going to have far less of a runaway winner. Advanced models that I’ve cooked up suggest a maximum of a 20 million unit gap between first and 3rd place.

This smaller gap will exist because for the first time ever, all the competing video game consoles will have something markedly different to offer. Previous generations had consoles which differed, more than anything, in the games they offered, this time, we have clear segmentation in terms of price, features, and functionality.

[more to come]

Replies: 2 comments

Well you have to take into account the fact that it's really only a race between PS3 and the 360, as they are the only next gen consoles. Nintendo is only claiming the wii is new gen since it's graphic levels are only about as high as the first xbox, but what it lacks in graphics it makes up for in unique features.

Posted by Mike @ 05/30/2006 06:55 AM EST

apparently the wii is the most anticipated console in japan ... or i think that's what i read today. the heat has been making me hallucinate.

i think the ps3 is screwed though .. 360 has way too much lead time and will have the price advantage too ... but maybe the consumer will think the blu ray is worth it ... we'll see ...

Posted by melpie @ 05/30/2006 11:29 PM EST