14 DAY TRIAL // Rumors are talking about new gaming platforms from Sony and Microsoft and we already know a lot about the new Nintendo Wii U but at least one industry legend believes that the age of the home console is over.
Speaking to IndustryGamers Richard Garriot, who is best known for going into space and creating the Ultima series, has stated, “I think we might get one more generation, might, but I think fundamentally they’re doomed. I think fundamentally the power that you can carry with you in a portable is really swamping what we’ve thought of as a console.”
The developer says that at the moment there are some experiences, like first person shooters and other graphics intensive titles, that work best on home console but the development of new hardware will continue to shrink that gap.
He added, “I play most of my games now on my iPhone and my iPad. In the last two years I’ve found more games that I’ve put way more hours into playing as a player than I have in any other period of my life. So I’m very excited about the new era, I’m a big believer in this new era, but it is very early on in this evolution, so there’s still a lot of work to do.”
Garriot believes that the gaming industry is benefiting from ever increasing graphics capabilities but he also says that the best video games are not released when a big jump forward is made, like when the CD was introduced or with 3D now widely adopted.
Instead, developers deliver their best work when they have a level playing field and depth is the only way to attract more players than a rival project.
The Nintendo Wii U will be probably launched during the summer of 2012 and rumors are saying that both Sony and Microsoft will unveil new platforms during the E3 event, next year.