Report: Console life cycles grow as big three share the market

[wraggster]

We've heard from a few non-Microsoft sources that the Xbox 360 is heading for an extremely long console cycle, but last week's CES found Microsoft saying exactly that. David Hufford of Xbox product management mentioned during a briefing that the 360 is "the console of the long future for us," and that he doesn't yet know "if we're at the midpoint" of the console's timeline. Which sounds pretty amazing, since the console actually released in 2005, but the numbers support that theory, with adoption only recently passing the rates of the last generation.

In other words, the mad dash from 8- to 16- to 32- to 64-bit and beyond gaming has apparently relaxed for the moment, and Jack Schofield of The Guardian says it's because all three major companies at the moment (Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo) have all achieved a viable place in the market. Without feeling constant pressure to outdo each other, the major console companies can settle into their own niches and expand their own markets. Which, as Hufford said at CES, is exactly what Microsoft is planning to do in the coming "Natal era."

http://www.joystiq.com/2010/01/11/re...re-the-market/

[symbal]

The Ps3 has the hardware features to justify a 10 year life cycle but the 360's basically just a Xbox 1 with more power so think it's going to struggle, and the Psp was pretty much out dated and needed a proper replacement within 2 years of release.

[symbal]

It's the Ps3's Blu-ray, Bluetooth and card slot that makes all the difference for longevity so video card is only a small issue because graphics are close enough, and better graphics equals higher game production costs so developers will be happy with the 360's limitations, i think it was someone in Nintendo that called the 360 the Xbox 1.5 and i do kinda agree.

[symbal]

It's just the extra features that give a 10-15 year old console the quality and extras to keep it viable against opposition, the Ps3 is more than i need and i'm very happy with my 360, but the Xbox 1 was more than i needed when i had Ps2 but eventually the extra features gave it the edge for me.