The Box That Does it All?

Recently there has been a spate of predictions that we will soon see the end of the console war, with us being presented with a platform which either supports multiple operating systems, or which is an open platform. The argument is, eventually all publishers and developers will support this as their primary development platform. The other method by which the prediction might come true is that we also might still end up using different platforms, but via a a control box which then accesses the games via the great server in the sky, otherwise known as Cloud computing.

Well as always, I’m going to be all Liberal Democrat and not really come down hard and fast on whether those boxes will become the de-facto system. However I will predict that many, if not the majority of, us hardcore gamers will not be using them exclusively. However, before I go on I should declare that I might be biased in my prediction, as I’m not sure I want people to be using them.

I like having different consoles as it’s fun and it makes life interesting. Now I know it isn’t cheap. Very little is these days. However, consoles are not like ‘Hi-Fis’ or other music players. Music has always been a universal experience with hardware only changing the quality of the end result, whereas games have always been dependant on the type of hardware for which they were designed. The hardware has had an intrinsic effect on the type of software produced and hence the gaming experience.

Despite the argument that different consoles, if designed right, can offer a very different experience from each other, Sony’s PS3 was until recently the best possible advert for a single console world. If you wanted a PS3 but cheaper, and on the whole with better versions of most of the same games, you got an Xbox 360. As a consequence of Sony’s poor launch the non-Wii market is now split 50/50, and more and more third party publishers are finding it bad business to only release on one platform. To compound this, the third party exclusive is clearly becoming less and less of a draw to customers.

Nintendo's IP says: "Come here and say 'single platform'!

Ironically much of 2009‘s highlights were made up of PS3 exclusives such as Killzone 2, Uncharted 2 and InFamous – however, based upon those title’s sales figures, they have not really shifted new consoles in any meaningful way. It is this failure of third party exclusives’ ability to shift new consoles, which is perhaps driving the one console fits all argument. Indeed, even with Nintendo’s great ‘in-house’ IP it is their games which have best utilised the new hardware and have sold the best – which have sold systems. Games such as Wii Fit, Mario Kart (with the steering mechanic – not the best way to play the game though), Wii Sports (and Resort) and most obviously Wii Play!

Rather than pushing the current hardware companies towards a shared platform, the lessons learned via Nintendo’s experience is driving both Microsoft and Sony’s business plan towards divergent and not convergent technology. This may be expensive for gamers, but ultimately it will result in choice, better quality software, and a range of exciting experiences not limited to one set of common denominators.

Onlive: our games can be played anywhere, anytime, by anyone, for whatever reason, on whatever day, whatever...

It should be noted that competing against them are two very credible technology trends. Firstly there is the cloud computing solution being offered by companies such as OnLive which in effect gives you a control station, which sends control data between itself and the ‘cloud’ (server to us old people). Ultimately, to sell the system it will have to be sold in a configuration of some sort. Whatever that basic solution is, it will become our de-facto, common denominator development solution. Hence whatever control mechanic is bundled with the box will become the default gameplay experience and define it as a platform – even if technically you can run multiple game engines and software and hardware solutions through the control box.

My mate tried Twittering via a widget on his TV the other day. Pretty hard to do without a keyboard or decent input device. An infrared remote doesn't cut it. Software is only half the solution everyone!

The other competing technology trend is the ongoing march of Flash as a platform in its own right. In recent years Flash games have become fully featured 3D experiences and it’s quite clear that as a technology it has the potential to one day fully compete with traditional consoles. Indeed it is one of the reasons that Microsoft’s Xbox 360 does not support web browsers and Apple does not let Flash work within its Iphone/Itouch browser but only within an app.

The real development is the incorporation of modern, powerful CPUs and Flash in a range of TVs. TVs are still required whatever console you choose and TV companies are aware that now we have small, cheap CPUs and GPUs which can push a lot data around, then it would make sense to converge these devices into gaming devices. They might not be as powerful as the PS3 or 360/720 but as the Wii has shown, that’s not always a problem in the eyes of the public. Activision have already announced that they would be happy to bring the Guitar Hero IP to such a platform – take note.

Hence is the ‘one console’ future assured? It will become an option but one which is not enthusiastically supported by the big three traditional companies. They will react by making their hardware (and hence software) as different from each other as possible. This will be a headache for some developers as it will mean fewer ports (and hence higher production costs), but it will also open up new IPs or new interpretations of traditional IPs.

Microsoft is betting on Natal forcing developers to adopt an alternative set of design parameters to distinguish its software offering..

Ironically the one box solution and the fear it has installed in the minds of the traditional console manufacturers might be the main reason motivating them to reinvent what it is they do and how. On the other hand they might hedge their bets and perhaps the PS4/Xbox 720 will support both the ‘one console platform’ (or advanced flash) : provide their own unique experience for their first party exclusives.

See, I told you I would not really come down hard and fast on whether those boxes will exist! Grump’s prerogative.

What causes violence? If you are a fan of George Lucas then you know that ignorance leads to fear, fear leads to anger, and anger to violence. I ask this as currently we are going through the yearly attack on gaming, largely caused by Modern Warfare 2; but most probably an attack which would have attached itself to another game had MW2 not been released. It’s the time of year when everyone wants a game and hence gaming is big. It used to be films which were attacked at this time of year, but hey, compared to games they are so small fry.

It's the fault of these guys. If only they had gone by Easyjet and left the guns at home. Stag parties are getting too complicated these days.

Now whenever I see a news report discussing evidence of how games might make a player violent, I see quotes relating to how those who play games demonstrate increased adrenalin and hence are ‘pumped up’. I can accept that. I can also accept that the same symptom might be displayed by those watching or taking part in football, rugby, boxing, X-Factor, Crufts, ballroom dancing, viewing the news, horse racing, motor sports and, for those who get a kick out of it, fishing.

Are we suggesting we ban those? Of course those commentators who are either stupid or just set out to be, might argue that their point is that only games have you committing acts of violence. I would point out that the violence though has to be triggered through some kind of condition or state of mind. Adrenalin is an indicator normally associated with such a situation. There is little evidence out there of players actually going to commit violence having just played a game. The research instead relies on indicators which might lead to violence, such as adrenaline. Well doesn’t that mean many activities have the potential to turn quiet, peace loving individuals into maniacs?!

In a month where six pupils at a school almost poisoned themselves for copying a plot line from the the pre-watershed BBC drama Waterloo Road, it’s amazing that the industry that got attacked was gaming! Now Waterloo Road is popular, but in the big scheme of things many more millions of young and old people are gaming than watching Waterloo Road. I would suggest that perhaps gaming is less dangerous compared to other activities such as watching EastEnders, Coronation Street, or possibly Countdown. It’s certainly worth examining on that level – i.e. looking at its effect on behaviour proportionally to the amount of gaming content consumed.

What is even more amazing is that the media have no problem with allowing lies about games being circulated. They seem to feel that it is fair game to drop all journalistic training and principles when it comes to attacking gaming. Hence, we see repeated quotes about how MW2 allows you to play as a terrorist – most shockingly played out on Fox TV. For those that have not played the game I have something to say. No you cannot!! You play a CIA operative embedded into a terrorist cell. You witness an attack and, if you feel it’s part of the character, can take part in a massacre; but ultimately you are a bystander to such an attack with limited control over the game at that point. It is crucial to the plot and at the end (spoiler alert) you yourself are then shot dead. It’s dramatic and has been seen in countless movies before. So why the problem now? You even get the choice to skip the scene – ever been offered that by a TV show or movie?

Now this isn't potentially violent at all? He is actually a member of the National Association of Local Butchers

Perhaps it’s because we call them games? Games are meant to be fun, and for children – right? That’s another lie the media propagate of course. They continually allow commentators to remind us that most people buying or playing the games are children. For sure, some are – but most people playing these games are 18 or above, and many are 25 years plus.

In the USA we hear people say that even if a game is bought by and for an adult, if there is a child in the house then they are sure to gain access and play it. Perhaps they are right. However, if they are, perhaps they should start by not keeping handguns in their house! I’m thinking (and correct me if you feel I’m missing something here) that this may be a more immediate and dangerous problem. And you know, you can even lock out your kids from your console very, very easily if you choose to.

I’m not saying there are not games out there with bad taste, nor am I suggesting there should not be age limits or even some games banned. If you can ban a film, then you should be able to ban a game. However, there should be parity between the art forms. In the UK the BBFC initially banned Manhunt 2 and fought to try to stop it being released. Why?

Now, apart from the pictures of men in masks holding guns AND this picture of a fist, what actually IS there on the packaging to alert parents to the fact that some games might contain shooting and violence?

Their own research concluded that players do not think that events in a game are real. We no more think we are really scoring the winning goal in the FA Cup than we think that we too have three heads and live on the planet Zog whilst playing a fantasy game. Indeed, they found that the fact they are interactive and we have to push buttons often brings us out of the drama and narrative, reminding us they are only games. This is something movies cannot do, and we can get lost in them and become ‘pumped up’ in a sustained way without having a release until the end of the film. So, why oh why, when it comes to violent games, suddenly all that research goes out of the window? What is the logic and reasoning for this? When films like SAW and Hostel are released, why then fight to ban Manhunt? Are the individuals in charge of these organisations stupid?

"I see stupid people, they're everywhere. They walk around like everyone else. They don't even know they're dumb!"

I don’t think they are. Well, I hope they aren’t anyway. I think it’s far more likely they are running scared. Those that are in the industry and those that are associated with it, such as the BBFC, still lack the self confidence to describe and communicate what gaming is to those that do not yet play them, as we do. This is a huge problem as it allows the issue to be hijacked by the Keith Vazs of this world. There are people, often important and influential people, who latch onto these issues without first thinking them through. People who, fuelled by their own ignorance, let their own emotions get carried away, eating away at their fear until they explode violently against an industry, artform and past-time which contributes greatly, in a positive way, to millions of people’s lives.

Maybe George Lucas had it right all along.

That's Right - I got the Limited Edition One! Does This mean I get a limited edition RROD too?

Buying a console is not as easy as it used to be, or as it should be.

In the old days we didn’t have backwards compatibility to worry about. Nor did we really have to worry about ‘content’ and save games as the consoles either didn’t offer it or it was a simple case of buying a cheap memory card.

Not so now. Consoles, as with almost all technology, offer more than ever but hide it behind multiple layers of complexity and ‘rules’. My most recent run-in with the current reality of console owning revolved around the launch of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. I was originally going to get this game for my PS3. I own an Xbox 360, but to be honest it’s the original core version (it hasn’t died yet) and unless it’s a game only on that console (such as a Halo title) I almost always buy the PS3 version. Why? Because when you switch my 360 on it sounds like someone is standing in front of me hoovering. It’s that loud.

So, as my birthday is coming up (end of November, if anyone wants to send a present) I asked my wife to pre-order and get me a limited edition copy of the game. Not the version with the goggles, that seemed a bit mad (but tempting). Instead the one just below. My wife being, well… my wife, didn’t actually understand that Limited Edition might mean that it’s going to be limited. Consequently when, having asked her if she had pre-ordered it, I learnt she had not, I checked to see if one could and we were told ‘no’. She had buggered up my present (not for the first time I should add as we almost didn’t get the limited edition of Fable 2).

Hence I was over the moon when they announced the limited edition 250gb Xbox360 coming with the game. I knew that if I put some money in along with other family members, it could be a viable present! I asked my wife to pre-order it, but based upon my previous experience told her I would sort it out. I laid a deposit with my local GAME (the St Albans branch run by a guy called Ian, who makes a big effort for customers).

When I got home I passed my proof of receipt to my wife, and explained how important it was she kept it. I also told her that she would not have to pay full price as I had already laid down a small deposit, but that on the day itself I would present her with my old Xbox, controllers and some old games I don’t play for a part exchange. Simple enough you would think.

This all happened way back in September or thereabouts. I suddenly realised though that I had a problem. How would I get my old data onto my new machine? I emailed Microsoft who told me about the data cable. The only problem was that the data cable can’t be ordered until you have the serial numbers of both machines. Additionally you can’t use it unless you have both hard drives. This in effect kills the whole point of a part exchange. Lets be clear here, the type of console I’m getting must surely being bought by ‘upgraders’, and not first time buyers. Ian did say he might consider allowing me to part ex the console and drive, but allow me to hold onto the drive for a week; but as it takes Microsoft 5-10 days to send out the cable, it doesn’t leave much room for error.

Incidentally, Ian empathised with me as as he too had ordered one and was in the same situation. Clearly in terms of save games, a memory card would do – however they often cost £10+ and what’s the point of spending money on one to use once? So I called GAME themselves as they are the exclusive retailer for this product. It would make sense that a senior buyer might be able to chat to their counterpart at Microsoft UK and organise a solution. No luck there. They seemed unable or unwilling to do anything.

So I called Microsoft UK. I ended up having a strange conversation where I pointed out to the ‘team leader’ I was chatting to, that by having the consoles ship with the transfer cables that it would save them money. They said ‘but how do we know how many cables to ship’ and I pointed out that as almost all those purchasing this unique console were upgrading, then probably it would be a 1-1 take up. Additionally as we have to lay down deposits, GAME would actually have a name and face linked to each console. Lastly, it would save Microsoft money as the consoles have to be delivered to the shops anyways and it removes the extra cost for them to send out the data cable in the post (they use UPS). You think anything happened?

She's a natural with those accessories.

It’s worrying when a stranger knows how to run a business better than the people that work there, but on this issue I really think Microsoft are missing a trick. Why they insist on this cable in the first place is daft. Yes they want us to buy memory sticks and also they want to make it hard for people to pirate games and hack their systems. However, go on the internet and it would seem that those that really do want to hack their systems can and do. So all Microsoft are achieving is winding up legitimate customers like myself. Similar to the way Sony insists on wiping all internal PS3 Hard Drives!

Anyway it comes to the night of the 9th, launch night. I’m not going down to the store at midnight but I’m excited as the next day (today, as I write this actually) I’m pumped, and ready to get my console. I have called up and my new best friend, Ian, has confirmed its there. He reminds me about the receipt, and I say ‘don’t worry, my wife has it’. Originally it was going to be her alone who went to get the console, to make up for the mistake with the previous attempt of organising a birthday present. After all it’s the making the effort to organise and get one which is what makes presents special, not just throwing money at one.

Two new problems presented themselves. My wife had lost the receipt.

i can't separate them now.

Additionally once I reminded her about the part exchange plan she exclaimed ‘h-h-hold on a minute, what do you mean “part-exing”?! You can’t expect me to do this!’ I looked at her and could see complete confusion and dismay and hence I decided to support my wife in her hour of need and accompany her to the shop, to see Ian. Lucky for all concerned I had planned to work from home that day, to do my accounts (yup, playing the game would have to wait till the evening!). We schlepped a box of cables, console parts and games to GAME and it would have been quite a task for my wife to make sense of it all, what with her not being a gamer.

I still had not worked out what to do about my saved data, but having gone through it all, I managed to write off a lot of it and settled on the saved games which meant the most to me and of course my gamer profile.

Once at the store we saw Ian (who was wearing a very realistic Royal Marine helmet). He forgave us for losing the receipt and just needed a form of ID, which was no problem. They also had a memory card lying around for £8, which by now I had decided would probably be a good investment in case I needed to go through this all again in the future! I part exchanged my old console and controllers but kept the 20gb hard drive. When I got home I quickly stuck the old hard drive on the new console, moved the data to the card, swapped over the hard drives again and moved the data off the memory card to the new 250gb drive. What a nonsense! I’ll now have tons of Game Reward points and can still part ex the old drive by itself. So I’ll be getting Assassins Creed 2 for almost nothing. Something to look forward to!

Never Call my wife for technical support. Mind you, she does know how to put borders around boxes in word or powerpoint.

So as we come to the end of this saga, where are we? Well we have a new console. It looks cool. Its very quiet. They have certainly improved things in that department. Additionally I have two lovely colour matching controllers and a new headset. Most importantly my wife agreed to assist in the customary ‘unboxing’ ceremony us gamers go through. Indeed she modelled the process, as you can see by the pics.

But I really think buying a console should be easier than this, for all concerned. After all, if you can’t buy a console without needed lessons or support from someone else, then it really has become too complex for the layperson to be expected to become a console owner in the future. Certainly it’ll mean no surprise birthday presents for gamers, as we will need to take our loved ones through the process!