Interesting article about relation of games and console sales

http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/182596-playing-the-sales-game-do-game-releases-actually-increase-console-sales/3

The reason the original Wii was such a hit is because it was significantly cheaper than any other console. Same thing with the PS3, it cost around $600!! when it first came out, while the cheapest Xbox 360 was around $200.

Actually that is only partially correct. The reason original Wii succeeded was due to to its innovative controls that drew in entire family, as opposed to kids and teens, to console gaming. It also forced Sony and Microsoft to bring about their own versions of motion controllers in a me-too act. Being cheap surely helped, but it did not cost Nintendo too much to build a unit either and it delivered performance at par with its price. Once you figured the cost of buying additional controllers like Wii MotionPlus, the gap between competition narrowed.

But Wii was not about the price alone as PS2 was cheaper and far more established. I know a lot of parents who liked the fact that kids did not become couch potatoes while playing on the Wii. PS3 on the other hand was initially a loss for Sony even at $600. Had HD TV been common when PS3 came, it would have been a huge hit. The fact that PS3 made up in lost numbers towards the end of its life span speaks volumes for how advanced it was for its time. I know a huge number of people who bought PS3 purely as a BD player.

Sorry for this OT post.

The most important thing about the PS4 isn't the specs, it's the COST. The reason the original Wii was such a hit is because it was significantly cheaper than any other console. Part of the reason the Wii U is a flop is it's significantly more expensive than any other console. Same thing with the PS3, it cost around $600!! when it first came out, while the cheapest Xbox 360 was around $200.

Economic times are tough and if this comes out at similar costs as the PS3, it's toast. There's also rumors that games will cost $100, it that's true, it's DOA.

@subco yes, when the thing takes off full speed ahead, everything and everybody will want and get a piece of it, including smart devices.

@subco, some games allow you to skip the "cinematics" lol

and there are 100 million people that play first person shooters that don't have much issue with the accuracy.

@subco

You just described most popular modern games :-) Interactive film with little freedom going on rails of scenery. Plus some added network battles stuff.

@stonebat I've never seen a PS3, or really even a PC game looks THIS nice. Skip into it about 30 seconds or so

Funny, I was just talking about this with one of my students tonight, who buys all the latest greatest gadgets. I am onboard with VK, PC can do more for less. I own two consoles, an Original Atari, and a Dreamcast. I have played PS3 Gamecube, and Wii, and though the gamecube and Wii hold their own, the PS3 never gave me as much joy as the Dreamcast. I don't give a shit about graphics, just fun. Also I am proud to say I have never owned a BR player, and never missed it, because again there is nothing a PC can't do here without a bunch of plastic discs messing up my house (still have plenty of those for various things). All that being said, I am sure there will be some fanciness to be had with the new system, and some mehness.

THE FACT IS THIS

new ps4 is highly integrated x86 machine, and a GPU with a direct interconect to cpu on a ITX with propetary LSI running linux.

Its the lest inovative Playstation from the history of the brand, and by fact the lest inovative console in the history of gaming, damm they havnt developed shit. The ram, the cpu, the GPU, they only rebamped the controller, and make a case with propetary moderboard and modified linux. I bet a give a guy like apefos the challenge and i would be surpised by the results using simple parts.

For me this time they are selling Brand name not research. Anyone now can make a much powefull machine in an itx from factor with similar ok...more watts but same or better performance.

@subco

The PS3 actually does support mouse and keyboard, but very few games actually allow it. Unreal Tournament (actually even the PS2 versions of UT and Half-Life supported M&KB), CS: GO and Dust 514 are the only ones I can think of. The PS4 will most likely be the third straight Sony console to support standard USB keyboards and mice, hopefully more developers will actually allow you to use them.

I'll probably still stick to PC as well, though.

@subco In what way inaccurate?