14 DAY TRIAL // It might be quite some time before we see a new generation of home gaming consoles in action. From the moment the Xbox 360 from Microsoft and the PlayStation 3 from Sony were launched, it was clear that the current devices cost a lot to be developed and that the companies making them intend to sell them for a long time to recoup their costs. And now a voice from one of the biggest videogame publishers is arguing that the current generation might be in for a long haul.
Speaking at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference held in San Francisco, Eric Brown, who is the Chief Financial Officer of Electronic Arts, told the audience that “Pricing has not come down as much as we would have expected at this point in the cycle compared to the last,” adding that “We do have a long way to go with respect to pricing. Last cycle, approximately 48 percent of PlayStation 2 units were sold at a price point of $149 or less. Clearly at $299 we're nowhere near that price point.”
Brown also said that the current technology powering television sets means that a new generation of gaming console would not be able to deliver a significant upgrade in terms of graphics. There are significant improvements to be done in services offered for the current generation that will extend their life on shelves as well.
Both Sony, with its Arc or Gem, and Microsoft, with its Project Natal, are aiming to deliver new experiences without actually offering fresh consoles. The two motion tracking technologies are set to arrive during the fall of this year and some analysts consider them to be as important as a full console launch. Sony is also talking about introducing 3D capability to the PlayStation 3 through a firmware update that should come late this year.