So I've been reading a lot on the new consoles coming out within the next year, and the future of video gaming as a whole. It's a bit disturbing to see the trend that two other power houses are going with over Nintendo. Don't get me wrong, I've owned both Sony and Microsoft products and generally enjoyed them (well when I can find a game that isn't a flat out gore fest or full of sexual content and zombies) but I'm a bit disheartened at the route they're taking.
The big issue that I think is on everyone's mind is "DMR" which is basically a form of anti-piracy that turns around to being like Big Brother, just lighter. Basically both of these consoles will require you to have a very active internet connection, or you can't play your games. While that's not an overly bad thing It's not a good thing either when you see that both of these consoles actively monitor you. Hence the big brother comment. Microsoft is taking it a bit further too with the whole "If you don't connect to the internet at least once a day, then your console can't play video games" Not to mention that they're going heavy with the "You can't play preowned, borrowed, or rented games on the system without buying a license for the game first. So basically you pay 40-50.00 for a preowned game, then you have to pay another fee to Microsoft to be able to even play the game you just bought. Lovely how that works isn't it?
Then you hit Sony who's doing a very similar thing. they're running the same DMR thing, and pushing hard for the online connection or no gaming at all. The only plus is they'll let you play rented/preowned/borrowed games w/o paying an extra fee to enjoy them. But on the downside to both of these consoles, neither one will have backwards compatibility and won't be able to play the previous generations games. So you'll have to have two different consoles out to enjoy your gaming. Or in the case of Sony, 3 (PS2, PS3, PS4). The PS4 is also having a major issue with 3rd party software developers too. The rumor has it that the company is forcing every game developer whose making games for the PS4 to make the games remote play for the PS-Vita, and that's going to make the PS-Vita a needed accessory to play games instead of an optional one. Great marketing guys.
And then we hit the old warhorse Nintendo. They've been doing everything right this console generation except for the premature launch of the Wii-U. The only issue that's being had with that console is the fact that it's going to be underpowered by mid next year. Other than that they've done everything to make the console appealing. Backwards compt. to the Wii? Check. Virtual Marketplace games being able to played on the game pad? Check. Constant stream of updates and new games? Check.
The basic solution if you don't want to buy or feel chained to a console is to basically drop them entirely and build a good gaming PC. It's going to run you about a grand to build a good one. But to constantly maintain it will be something like 200.00 every 3 or 4 years. VS 700.00 every few years for another console that can't play previous generations games. STEAM has made it very cost effective to be a pc gamer too. Constant influx of sales, great game content for cheap, big community for modding and other things and a huge variety of developers who are making games for both PC and console? Yeah it's time to leave the DMR behind and get on the pc gaming bandwagon I think. Though I still recommend keeping a Nintendo Console around for the Sonic, Mario, Zelda and Metroid games. You can't go wrong with the classics and those will never be on a console other than Nintendo anymore.
Just my two cents based on the information I've read over the past 2 months.
