Consoles: The Final Hurrah?

Tangible. It is defined as: 1.) capable of being touched; discernible by the touch; material or substantial; 2.) real or actual, rather than imaginary or visionary; 3.) definite; not vague or elusive; or 4.) (of an asset) having actual physical existence, as real estate or chattels, and therefore capable of being assigned a value in monetary terms.  When something does not have tangibility, at some point we doubt and question everything about it.  From its authenticity, to its abilities, to the feeling of our own legitimate possession; without tangibility, your mind becomes clouded with doubt.  If you own something-you own it. It is yours. This further increases when your possession has tangible qualities; you can hold it, transport it, display it-and in most instances-visibly enhance it.  There is no doubt to be had.

With this 8^th console generation just a few months away there has been an “elephant in the room” of sorts amongst gamers, analysts, and even investors alike: with consoles being pushed to limits we have never seen before; with so much processing power being emitted from (tangible) boxes, will this be the last console generation?  Any gamer will tell you that such a reality is one that they could never even imagine.  Any conscious gamer will tell you that it’s one that they’d never like to witness, but with the way the industry has changed its focus from providing an excellent gaming experience, to nickel and diming consumers, it’s a reality that may inevitable.  Why?  Although the number of American gamers has risen from 205.9 million in 2012 to 209.9 million in 2013, these gamers are not flocking to consoles.  Instead they are embracing mobile and free-to-play platforms; and these numbers continue to grow.  Factor that the average household has 3-5 screens to occupy their attention: TV, mobile device, computer, tablet.  Because of such division, where does a console fit in as a major time-consumer? Aside from your moderate/hardcore gamer, a console does not occupy much time for your casual gamer.  Furthermore, because this reverse correlation of casual to hardcore gamers continues to trend, console makers claim to see the bigger picture and have implemented more content on a downloadable platform; (this is seen by some as preparation to console-less gaming.)  Looking at a recent study by IDC and App Annie, consumer spending on mobile games has grown to three times that of gaming devices like Nintendo 3DS and PS Vita; an easy indicator as to why console makers have made it easier to collaborate tablets as second screen options.

Will consoles be present 8-9 years from now when we reach the 9^th console generation? No one can be quite sure. Personally, I think a console-less world of gaming would void the gaming experience.  The possession of a console partnered with amassing a collection of games is a rite of passage of sorts; it is the recovering of Samus Aran’s powers, the attaining of Mega Man X’s abilities, it is the maturation of Link becoming undoubtedly focused to battle Ganondorf.

Otherwise, without consoles, we’ll be stuck in a world where we continuously press “B” when Pikachu reaches a certain phase in life-failing to evolve. (Not that’d we’d let Pikachu evolve anyway.)

:D