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Analysts Talk Online Gaming Services
Gamasutra goes right to the source, starting with the first column in a new series querying analysts directly about gaming-related issues. Today they've got several views from the big thinkers about the importance of online gaming services in this round of the console wars. From the article: "Anita Frazier, The NPD Group: As technology and capabilities advance, not having some of these [online] capabilities would simply make the system appear to be behind the times. Core gamers are technology lovers and, whether they actually use online play features all that much, having that capability helps games appear more cutting edge. And we do know that, with teens and young adults 'hanging out' online so much these days (a la MySpace), there is an appeal of an online community."
Which is why with having much better online services the Dreamcast and XBox really dominated during their generation ... After all Sega was only knocked out of the hardware buisness and Microsoft only lost $4 Billion (approximately $200 for every system they sold); these companies would never over-estimate the importance of features.
Face it, in 1999 every analyst was estimating that Revinue generated from online games (through the sale of the games and services provided) would rival the revinue made by the rest of the industry by 2005; they were wrong. Online gaming is not advancing because there is no community; if you're not in an elite guild in WoW, or if you can't Pwn people, you are pretty isolated in most online games. Many casual gamers have tried online games and have given up due to the frustration of dealing with cheaters and exploiters. Until game developers start producing superior online content online games will not gain much more market share