Tuesday, March 16, 2004
Here's an interesting column predicting a second big video game crash. According to David Wong, look for the next video game crash during the next generation of consoles.
I'm not sure I quite agree that the game industry is going to crash in the next few years, but he makes a good point and I'm almost inclined to side with him and go, "Hell, yeah! It's gonna happen!" I mean, he's definitely right that each new console and game is just more of the same thing in the past, but with better graphics, faster processors and more non-gaming-related functions. Take my buddy The Law as an example. He bought an Xbox about a year-and-a-half ago. It was the first console he'd purchased since his Sega Genesis (still in working order, according to Mr. The Law). According to The Law, the Xbox has everything he needs, and he's already more or less made up his mind that there's no reason to buy Xbox 2 when it comes out. He's got a healthy supply of games that he plays, but he often only breaks the 'box out when friends are over anyway.
Anyway, a video game crash starting in 2005? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. But the signs of stagnation in the market David Wong points to are there.
I'm not sure I quite agree that the game industry is going to crash in the next few years, but he makes a good point and I'm almost inclined to side with him and go, "Hell, yeah! It's gonna happen!" I mean, he's definitely right that each new console and game is just more of the same thing in the past, but with better graphics, faster processors and more non-gaming-related functions. Take my buddy The Law as an example. He bought an Xbox about a year-and-a-half ago. It was the first console he'd purchased since his Sega Genesis (still in working order, according to Mr. The Law). According to The Law, the Xbox has everything he needs, and he's already more or less made up his mind that there's no reason to buy Xbox 2 when it comes out. He's got a healthy supply of games that he plays, but he often only breaks the 'box out when friends are over anyway.
Anyway, a video game crash starting in 2005? I don't know. Maybe. Maybe not. But the signs of stagnation in the market David Wong points to are there.
// posted by Chris @ 8:48 AM 
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