"Console gaming is going to explode on the scene of consumer electronics with this next generation of consoles. Sony and Microsoft absolutely need to deliver new boxes that really impress us."
- Former CEO of Electronic Arts John Riccitiello, in an editorial with Kotaku.
John Riccitiello may have departed publisher Electronic Arts, but with years of experience under his belt, he still has plenty of things to weigh in on when it comes to the console business.
Riccitiello outlined "four potential pitfalls" facing Microsoft and Sony, both of which are poised to release their next-generation consoles before the end of the year.
1. "The first and most obvious of these pitfalls is if Sony or Microsoft forgets who brought them to the dance in the first place. Gamers," writes Riccitiello. "To paraphrase a political slogan, it's about the games, stupid."
2. "A second potential pitfall has to do with supply. Consumers today have gotten used to getting what they want, and getting it immediately. We want it now and we want our friends to have it now, so we can play together."
3. "The third issue is price," Riccitiello goes on. Staying competitive against the growing mobile and tablet market is essential. "Getting the price right is a very important part of the equation. The stakes are enormous."
4. Lastly, "they need to think open platform more than walled garden," said Riccitiello, and avoid stumbling over practices such as intrusive DRM.
Wrapping up, Riccitiello says that if Microsoft and Sony avoid these pitfalls, "I am quite sure console gaming will (once again) be the next big thing."
"[I]f you are still debating whether mobile gaming will kill the next generation of consoles before they ship, my answer is no," Riccitiello concludes.
1) people want to play games, so think games (so i totally agree on that side)
2) we want quality games, that worth money (a rare thing today)
I don't think console have to fear mobile, playing halo, zelda, shadow of the colossus in the living room is much different than playing, angry bird, temple run or cut the rope on a phone. Controls, immersion, comfort cannot be compared. Moreover, good games are sunk below the mass of the others games.
Well i'm happy i'm not the only one spotting a problem with the first reason. It surprises me that he can even spout stuff like that after EA decided to shaft pretty much every fan they ever had before they started to role out poor quality sequels and immensely buggy games.
I think he forgot about the key challenge, which is accessibility. When you want to play a console game today it takes several minutes before you're actually playing. Mobile games are instant and always within arms reach, PC's tends to be always on and are time until you're in the game is way faster than on a console.
I always liked Riccitiello. He was kind of geeky and had a gamer streak inside of him. I think many of the choices he made as CEO were a conflict of his excitement for a product, much like any gamer seeing a fancy trailer for the first time, and his need to appease the share holders with your typical corporate supremacy tactics. Sometimes (most times) it takes a tyrannical and heartless CEO to be successful at the highest ranks of the corporate world. Those kind of people aren't very likeable but they make shareholders lots of money. Apple didn't re-hire Steve Jobs after firing him because he was a lovable guy. Riccitiello just couldn't find the balance of being a fan of video games and a soul crushing ass at the same time.
2) we want quality games, that worth money (a rare thing today)
I don't think console have to fear mobile, playing halo, zelda, shadow of the colossus in the living room is much different than playing, angry bird, temple run or cut the rope on a phone. Controls, immersion, comfort cannot be compared. Moreover, good games are sunk below the mass of the others games.
There aren't enough open palms in the world available to appropriately facepalm to how oblivious and self-serving Riticello is.
And I believe that the focus of the article was meant to be on the success of mobile not spelling doom for console gaming.