The 5-Year Console Cycle Is Dead

Pickens writes "The Xbox 360 recently turned five years old, and with no known successor on the horizon for the 360, PlayStation 3 or Wii, Cnet reports on the death of the 5-year console cycle — one of the video game industry's most longstanding truisms. For example, the Nintendo Entertainment System came out in 1985, followed by the Super NES in 1991, the Nintendo 64 in 1996, the GameCube in 2001, and the Wii in 2006. But now, why should console makers upgrade their offerings? Consumers are still buying their machines by the hundreds of thousands each month, and ramped-up online initiatives are breathing new life into the systems. A lot of it has to do with the fact that with the current generation of consoles, each company found a way to maximize either the technology behind the devices, or the utility to a wide range of new gamers."

Comments

Why do they call it the Xbox 360?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because when you see it, you'll turn 360 degrees and walk away.

Re:Why do they call it the Xbox 360?

[ZosX]

You need to learn basic geometry.

Re:Why do they call it the Xbox 360?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because when you see it, you'll turn 360 degrees and walk away.

Re:Why do they call it the Xbox 360?

[Zero__Kelvin]

You need to learn to think outside the X-Box, and get past the assumptions of basic geometry. He is probably walking backwards, keeping a steady eye on the box, ever vigilant against any mutant viruses that might attack at any moment.

Re:Why do they call it the Xbox 360?

[owlstead]

180, you stupid, spaghetti-slurping cretin - *180*! If I did a 360, I'd go completely around and end up back where I started!

Re:Why do they call it the Xbox 360?

[Anonymous Coward]

Because when you see it you do 3 60's and walk away!!!!!11111lol

Re:Why do they call it the Xbox 360?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why?

You do a 360 check that no-one saw you with it, then walk forwards (crushing it first).

Re:Why do they call it the Xbox 360?

[coaxial]

Perferably moonwalk away after that spin.

Re:Why do they call it the Xbox 360?

[sorak]

Woosh!

But they're so close!

[jtownatpunk.net]

Just one more generation and we'll finally have a true HD console (one rendering at 1920x1080, not scaling up from a much lower rez). I don't want to build another gaming computer. Give me a console that can do what my current rig can do and I'll be set.

Re:Say again?

[JAlexoi]

Didn't you see the commercials? Kinect is not the controller, you are the controller....

Re:Maybe in this economy...

[Anonymous Coward]

am getting a red Wii.

You might want to have that looked at by a doctor.

Re:It is all about resolution

[KingFrog]

I play most of my games at 1920x1280...oh, wait, that's because I use a COMPUTER, not a limited machine, for my gaming. Ooops.

Re:Maybe in this economy...

[Dthief]

come on, *serious* gamers don't have friends over

Re:It is all about resolution

[Samantha Wright]

I believe you. Wholly.
This was to be a Haiku,
but I couldn't think of anything finish up with.
Refrigerator.

Re:It is all about resolution

[neumayr]

You're probably one of those poor deluded souls who think that a thousand euro lens will automatically make for great pictures.

Re:Maximising technology?

[hedwards]

I still play those games regularly, you insensitive clod!

Re:It is all about resolution

[mweather]

Have fun with those resolution-limited console ports.