Konami getting out of the console game...game.

[Flarecobra]

Several informative links.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2015-04-30-what-is-happening-at-konami

http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2015/05/14/konamis-mobile-games-are-the-future-statement-reads-like-a-parody/

Now, as to the why? In a nutshell, console games are just not worth making anymore for them, whereas there is still money in them mobile hills. Though to be honest, the writing is just on the wall for the past month.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

Even farther back then that. Ever since early gen 7 most of Konami's games just haven't been doing so well there (Console/PC wise). Granted that was also largely due to quality. especially with the Silent Hill and Z.O.E HD collections which were very buggy in the beginning until they were patched.

Combined with the fact that mobile and handheld games are doing well in Japan. This ended up being not too much of a surprise.

[shiney]

A good example of too much management and not enough creative team. I highly doubt Kojima is willing to drop the console market, and obviously Iga is moving on to better things (retread though they may somewhat be).

[Solid Snake]

Honestly, with all sorts of companies like Konami flooding a relatively soft market for mobile games, I'm fully expecting a variation of the 1980's video game crash in the not-too-distant future.

Mind you, it won't be as bad a crash as gaming has been proven as a profitable market and there will still be Indie content and a smattering of AAA titles churning out of outlets like Steam, but we'll still witness a downturn.

The AAA games are going to keep getting more and more expensive to produce, the risks will grow exponentially with each market failure, etc.
It also can't be a great thing that games releasing now are already too much for the PS4 and XBone's hardware to handle. It's been, what, two years since release? And Witcher 3 already strains the PS4 to its limit with below-30 FPS dips.

EDIT: I have a gut feeling either Sony or Microsoft is going to rush a PS4.5 or an XBox1.5 following Nintendo's lead on the 'New 3DS.' Like, couldn't you just see that happening, the way consoles are becoming more and more like PCs and how they're using easily upgradeable parts? We can already manually insert new hard drives. There will be some PS4 iteration that's like, "Pay more money and you get a better GPU in there!" And future games will be compatible with the New PS4 and the Old PS4, but look better on the new PS4 and some shit. And it'll be awful. It'll have a profoundly negative effect on the industry.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

What a horrible night to have a curse.


For $0.50 you can remove the curse!
For $0.99 you can get the Belmont Bundle of uncurses! 5x uncurses

[Aerozord]

I'm waiting for Sony to realize they can integrate a console into a TV and just stream content

[Loyal]

Honestly, with all sorts of companies like Konami flooding a relatively soft market for mobile games, I'm fully expecting a variation of the 1980's video game crash in the not-too-distant future.

Really? Because I've been seeing that outcome on the horizon for the past five years since I first learned the mobile game market was a thing.

I mean, this might speed it up, sure, but a market cannot sustain itself forever when by design it has near-zero QA, zero attempt to guard against stolen assets, dozens of clones for every half-decent game, and predatory and manipulative monetization schemes that would make a loan shark blush. The mobile game market is a cesspool that no respectable game dev should ever touch in its current state.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

I'm waiting for Sony to realize they can integrate a console into a TV and just stream content

They actually tried that with the PS2. Didn't sell as well as they hoped though.


... I still want one.

[shiney]

They actually tried that with the PS2. Didn't sell as well as they hoped though.


... I still want one.

Broadband and HD / flat-screen televisions were still a novelty in those days.

[rpgdemon]

EDIT: I have a gut feeling either Sony or Microsoft is going to rush a PS4.5 or an XBox1.5 following Nintendo's lead on the 'New 3DS.' Like, couldn't you just see that happening, the way consoles are becoming more and more like PCs and how they're using easily upgradeable parts? We can already manually insert new hard drives. There will be some PS4 iteration that's like, "Pay more money and you get a better GPU in there!" And future games will be compatible with the New PS4 and the Old PS4, but look better on the new PS4 and some shit. And it'll be awful. It'll have a profoundly negative effect on the industry.

http://i.imgur.com/NXQyCiJ.jpg

[Kyanbu The Legend]

We might see the return of console upgrades like the expansion pack eventually.

---------- Post added at 06:13 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:04 PM ----------

Honestly, with all sorts of companies like Konami flooding a relatively soft market for mobile games, I'm fully expecting a variation of the 1980's video game crash in the not-too-distant future.

Mind you, it won't be as bad a crash as gaming has been proven as a profitable market and there will still be Indie content and a smattering of AAA titles churning out of outlets like Steam, but we'll still witness a downturn.

The AAA games are going to keep getting more and more expensive to produce, the risks will grow exponentially with each market failure, etc.
It also can't be a great thing that games releasing now are already too much for the PS4 and XBone's hardware to handle. It's been, what, two years since release? And Witcher 3 already strains the PS4 to its limit with below-30 FPS dips.

EDIT: I have a gut feeling either Sony or Microsoft is going to rush a PS4.5 or an XBox1.5 following Nintendo's lead on the 'New 3DS.' Like, couldn't you just see that happening, the way consoles are becoming more and more like PCs and how they're using easily upgradeable parts? We can already manually insert new hard drives. There will be some PS4 iteration that's like, "Pay more money and you get a better GPU in there!" And future games will be compatible with the New PS4 and the Old PS4, but look better on the new PS4 and some shit. And it'll be awful. It'll have a profoundly negative effect on the industry.

Nah we'll just get the PS5 and NextBox much sooner then anyone expected. New Gen Consoles use to come out every 5 to 7 years. Wouldn't be surprised if this gen gets replaced in 4 to 5 years. Granted the PS4 and X1 much like the PS3 and 360 will likely still be supported for a full 10 years despite this. Nintendo is already doing this with the NX, which according to Iwata, will be unveiled in 2016 likely during E3.

[Solid Snake]

RPG: I have no idea what that picture means.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

Following some length of time after the original N64 release, the pictured object is known as the Expansion Pak. An extra boost of RAM installed into the N64 yo help it run some of the games in its later life cycle.

[Solid Snake]

Following some length of time after the original N64 release, the pictured object is known as the Expansion Pak. An extra boost of RAM installed into the N64 yo help it run some of the games in its later life cycle.

...Heh. I played N64 rather extensively as a young'un but never knew that existed.

[synkr0nized]

It was pretty vital for a few games, and I for one thought it was neat that a console had an upgrade.

[shiney]

No love for the 32X? :<

[synkr0nized]

N64 was when I was still enamored with Nintendo. Everything else may not have existed (unless I was with my cousins or at a friend's house).

[rpgdemon]

It was pretty vital for a few games, and I for one thought it was neat that a console had an upgrade.

Yeah, it was required for Donkey Kong 64, Majora's Mask, and Perfect Dark, and upped the texture resolution for a couple other games. So, like, pretty much what you said, hahah.

[Solid Snake]

It was pretty vital for a few games, and I for one thought it was neat that a console had an upgrade.

I'm concerned with the possibility that future console titles will require said upgrades -- or, even worse than an upgrade, a new version of the PS4 or XBone that requires full purchase of said new hardware, like how you can't just upgrade your Old 3DS to a New 3DS, you gotta just buy a New 3DS.

With the PC already eclipsing the PS4 and the XBone, I'm petrified this console generation is going to get messy with that kind of shit -- or we'll just immediately see the PS5 out, which would be just as bad. Hell, I'd rather see graphically inferior versions of major titles for the consoles but still retain the six to eight year life cycle for the investment, but that's because I'm not a GPU addict.

[synkr0nized]

Oh, yeah -- in the current console world, the idea isn't one I find appealing. But back when it was kind of safe to assume your console would be king of the hill for multiple years, getting some additional RAM in a little pack was cool.


full disclosure: I still haven't committed to either Xbox One or PS4, so *shrug* I might be worried about nothing.

[Aerozord]

They actually tried that with the PS2. Didn't sell as well as they hoped though.


... I still want one.

and abit before that a company tried combining a cellphone with a game console and it bombed.

Ideas sometimes fail because technology hasn't reached a point to make it marketable yet.

[Karrrrrrrrrrrresche]

Big problem is that back then something like a little ram was a huge deal and it was an easy swap. Any changes now would have to be pretty big to get bang for the buck, and they definitely haven't made these consoles to have easily interchanged components.

[phil_]

No love for the 32X? :<There has never been any love for the 32X. Sega CD was arguably ok, but 32X has never been invited to a birthday party in its life, not even the ones where everyone in class gets invited.

While I'm here:Combined with the fact that mobile and handheld games are doing well in Japan. This ended up being not too much of a surprise.Pretty sure video games are doing better on phones than video games have ever done everywhere in the world, not just Japan. Having an install base of a billion-and-a-half helps.*

Handhelds though, yeah, you're probably right about that being a national thing.

*And yes, that is smart phones worldwide, not just cell phones, as of 2014, from the graph here: www.emarketer.com/Article/2-Billion-Consumers-Worldwide-Smartphones-by-2016/1011694

[Bard The 5th LW]

I went with PS4 this gen because it was convenient for me, but I get the feeling that consoles are on the way out. We'll probably see Microsoft and Sony and Nintendo roll out one more generation after this one, but I think gradually more people are going to turn to PC gaming as a matter of convenience - especially since digital distribution is kinda becoming the norm on consoles anyways.

[Kyanbu The Legend]

and abit before that a company tried combining a cellphone with a game console and it bombed.

Ideas sometimes fail because technology hasn't reached a point to make it marketable yet.

If Nokia tried it again. It would probably do so much better now. And give the X-Box brand it's own handheld too. Shame the name "N-Gage" got dragged through the mud during it's rough life.

[rpgdemon]

I went with PS4 this gen because it was convenient for me, but I get the feeling that consoles are on the way out. We'll probably see Microsoft and Sony and Nintendo roll out one more generation after this one, but I think gradually more people are going to turn to PC gaming as a matter of convenience - especially since digital distribution is kinda becoming the norm on consoles anyways.

I think you misunderstand what convenient means.

[Bard The 5th LW]

I think you misunderstand what convenient means.

What I' trying to say is, Console gaming and PC gaming are going to become a bit blurred anyways, what with Digital Distribution becoming more normal and Microsoft having attempted stuff like DRMs and always-online play. Add to this the fact that the hardware is becoming fairly similar too. Valve is also attempting to push console-styled PCs into the market. And like, when it comes down to it, if you're going to play videogames on a system that is a lot LIKE a PC, you may as well just get a good PC.

[shiney]

I like the standardized peripherals and control schemes utilized by consoles, personally. Mouse and keyboard is okay but there are plenty of games that simply don't work on that level. And, while controllers are standard with consoles they are not with PCs which adds another peripheral and a need for developers to code their products to either allow keyboard/mouse and a controller or to disregard that as a control scheme altogether. Customers will need to buy controllers for their PC, developers need to ensure compatibility, etc...

I like the simplicity of consoles in that it is "put game on, go" and that's that. Maybe you have to download an update sometimes, but otherwise it's strictly get in and go. PCs have a whole host of other issues, from unexplained lag to minimum system requirements to inputs and peripherals and are more expensive to continually upgrade than buying a new $400 system every 3-5 years. To play next-gen games on a this-gen computer you're either sacrificing the primary advantage PCs have, which is better specs, or you're spending well over $400 to upgrade the necessary components to make the PC functionally superior to a console for the same game.

/opinions

[Doc ock rokc]

I just hope someone buys Silent hill's IP off of these guys. I really REALLY want Silent Hills. I hate to see the effort of both this and other IPs go to waste because the company lost interest.

Also if your spending over 400$ on updating your cards you are getting ripped off shiney

[shiney]

Card processor RAM, sometimes motherboard, if you're actually trying to keep up with specs that will allow you to run a game at a decent clip. Video cards aren't everything after all.

[Doc ock rokc]

General rule of thumb via guys that build comptuers for a living. If you need a new motherboard and processor you might as well go buy a new desktop. As at that point you are already replacing the majority of what makes a computer a computer. Plus often times it's cheaper.

[synkr0nized]

I would agree. If I've ever felt I needed a new CPU, I usually assume I want to get a good motherboard and RAM with it, so I just roll that in as a new build.


Also in the high-end GPU market $400 every few years is pretty reasonable.

[Aerozord]

I like the simplicity of consoles in that it is "put game on, go" and that's that.

But they are moving away from that. My biggest pet peeve about this and last generation is needing to go through a freakin menu to boot up my games. I put a video game in my video game playing machine, I think its pretty safe to assume I WANT TO PLAY IT.

[Flarecobra]

I should also note: Konami has no press conference for E3 this year...

[Spooniest]

This is the era in which game creators will start coming out with games that we look forward to, rather than large game labels.

People are talking about Iga's next game. Mighty No. 9. Etc.

We'll lose the loyalty we have to IPs and start playing the games of particular people...it'll be interesting for sure. I predict there will be a certain game that comes out, making its creators uber famous worldwide, something akin to the "Beatlemania" of the 60's. Maybe I'll even see it in my lifetime.

Surely there have been celebrated game creators up to this point, but never moreso than now, when the old megaconglomerate game companies are flatulating about.

[synkr0nized]

I look forward to the games themselves, not who's made them. I really don't care about the latter, as long as it's something I think/know I will enjoy.

If the packaging and loading screens of most games didn't have the company logos I don't even know if I'd know who's made what for a large number of games.


I don't think getting hyped by creator would be really any different from getting hyped based on the company.

[Aerozord]

I agree its heading in that direction but I do not know if its good. Two reasons for this. First is a creator with no restrictions is just as bad as a publisher with an iron grip just for different reasons. Look at Duke Nukem Forever where the creative team trapped it in development hell with constant tweaks that ultimately made the game worse.

The other issue is one we see in the movie and book industry where name alone starts being used more as a marketing ploy than an indicator of quality.

[Spooniest]

First is a creator with no restrictions is just as bad as a publisher with an iron grip just for different reasons.


I'm not saying there'll be no restrictions and no game labels. I'm just saying the focus of the fanbase is shifting to the creators themselves.


The other issue is one we see in the movie and book industry where name alone starts being used more as a marketing ploy than an indicator of quality.

They already do that with game labels. Nintendo has become something of a caricature of its former self...I'm loathe to give too many examples but let's just say I have my reasons for saying the large companies are all kind of flatulating about.

It's because try as they might, they can't replicate the creativity of creative people without those same people telling them how it's done...and the game business has always been stingy, so the only people who would ever stick around to learn how its done are those who love creating games. I'm a music creator myself, so I know this process well. The music industry is no different.

Nobody ever gets paid. These businesses have like a zillion ways for you to get screwed out of getting paid for your work. So the only people who really want to become game makers are those who just do it because it's their favorite thing to do and just about all they're good at for that reason.

There aren't a whole lot of different ways to characterize a backing away from developing mainstream titles...it's a definite fold, a safety valve being closed. They're getting their butts whooped and they need cash...the same thing happened to Sega...what a shame.

Here, here's a Castlevania no death run of mine to make you feel better. Let's go kill Dracula!!

Spooniest's Castlevania No Death Run (https://youtu.be/bxT7WcSAGpg)