The next generation of gaming is looking like a scary one in gaming. We are not talking about the future, the next-gen is now. It’s also a scary one for publishers, developers, and platform holders. In the past many have tried to innovate, others stay the course. One thing that’s always been interesting is the form that consoles take in terms of their design, internal components, and overall focus. Except I don’t think till this generation, and perhaps with the Sega Dreamcast have we seen consoles that are truly unique in what they offer to gamer’s.

Consoles are limited, but they don’t have need to outdated before they’re done. Let me explain. Although the Wii is not technically on par with its rivals the Xbox 360, and PS3. The console out the gate did something for gaming that the other two did not. It catered to lifestyle. The console was built from the ground up focusing on how the family games, and how people who never, or left gaming could get back into it without feeling overwhelmed. When we look at the other consoles we see very powerful machines that are technically capable, but are not much different in what they can do. The great part of this current generation is that both the Xbox 360, and PS3 have evolved. To Microsoft’s credit they established that although a system is built to engage everyone. You must have a place where the community can gather, relate, create, play, discuss the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you don’t have this then you have a shell of potential. Even as well designed, and different the Wii was it didn’t bring the community together on the console. The PS3 was well mentioned, but it suffered from a lack of focus. Powerful, dynamic with addition of blu Ray, free online. Sony has yet to fully make it all work seamlessly. The PSN outage shows this. Microsoft handled their catastrophe with a deft blow that only the haters still talk about RROD. Sony is trying to mend as best possible, and with the exclusive games they have be able to serve up. It’s great to know they are putting their stamp as veteran game company in our industry.

PC gaming, and technology trumps console gaming in many ways. Yet, the space lacks structure, and the failed attempts by Microsoft with Games for Windows didn’t help the situation. When we look at the tech of consoles I’ve always found it strange that as platform holders created them they always skimmed on the most important areas. Memory, and RAM being the most significant. It’s fie to have the latest chip, or graphics card, but there fundamentals that must be addressed. Why should a game system that will last more than five years have little RAM to make sure that the lifespan of the game content can always be at it’s best? Regardless of the graphic chip shouldn’t it be pushed to the max once developers have a handle on the hardware? Wouldn’t that help them with efficiency in creating the content? The more advanced their process becomes as well as the progressive nature of tools, and technology games get better. That math adds up. Would this not help the cost of development with fewer resources needed. Imagine if the Xbox 360 had say, 2 gigs more of ram in the machine. How good, and realistic would be the goal of true 1080p gaming be? You would see the difference in your gaming experience, content, and how that big screen tv truly screams. Now some folks reading this will say it would have been a lot more expensive. I don’t doubt that, but I do question if there was a focus on recouping. The eye on the ball for the lifespan of the console must be paramount. The technology is certainly there, and it would not have been the first time that a console manufacture took a hit financially. In the case of the Dreamcast Sega had tons of bells, and whistles. They had an online strategy, a beast of a graphics card, and developers ready. They lost the marketing battle.  Take a look at the PS3. It’s hardware is totally unfocused with the most potential because of the Cell chip. It’s doing 3d out the box, and it had motion controls from the gate. Had their been a focus on what developers needed from Sony. There’s no doubt the PS3 would be blowing console gaming beyond what we’ve known. Then fanboys could have a valid argument against PC games that don’t push like some PS3 exclusives. As it stands now though, there is nothing the PS3 can do that a PC cannot obliterate.

If you are going to ask developers to put in the work, call them lazy, demand more, then platform publishers, and gamer’s have to give them an incentive to be great, and do great work. You can’t hamstring developers, turn around to ask them to do the impossible, and then call them lazy.  You’re wrong, and whomever else subscribes to that nonsense. Developers this generation deserve Kudos. They have been delivering. Console manufactures must be keen. Without this thinking, all it means is you are spending more money in the long run as a platform holder. That’s more tools, more man power, more of everything to make sure they can deliver on your platform. This generation is a successful one because you have three true contenders that are doing well in the console space. Yet, as this generation has gone on, we are seeing competing platforms take advantage of new technologies from mobile to cloud that not only threaten, but I happily love; are pushing the gaming business model. If the current platform holders are not paying attention, or in the case of Microsoft with Kinect, believe that alienating your core audience without finding a happy medium is the answer. Then you will be archaic in no time flat.  The next new consoles don’t need to be future proof, they just have to keep in mind that there is a future beyond them. Prepare as such.

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There is no doubt that Skyrim is a hit title by Bethesda. There is no doubt that Kinect is a beast. Here’s the rub for both. Skyrim is so hardcore of an RPG that you need an install base of active gamer’s to get it. Kinect is so casual that Microsoft is losing the faith of their hardcore game base to care. Bethesda was smart enough to realize they need each other. Microsoft needs to now care that voice command will legitimize the Kinect before it’s too late. Skyrim x Kinect will bring the masses in a new way. 

Tomorrow’s Skyrim Kinect voice command update is significant. The game could skate alone by just adding the voice component alone. The element honestly is naturally in how it brings a new dynamic to an RPG game. This may sound crazy, but Skyrim is now a better game. One of the reasons I say this is because without changing the game fundamentally, Skyrim is now the casual game that Microsoft has wanted to make for it’s Kinect audience. Where it differs from all the other Kinect titles is that it’s depth is actually engrossing enough to the point that gamer’s who have a Kinect will play the game longer. Listen if like me you know people who have a Kinect. They will tell you how much they love it, but don’t play it often. That juxtaposition, and in some respects oxymoron does not help Kinect be a difference maker for a casual audience that Microsoft is mining. In fact the success of the Xbox 360 may perhaps be blinding Microsoft to how serious they need to take Kinect has a momentum push into the next generation. Now that most PS3 players don’t take the Move serious. Microsoft with Kinect can show us why they will be more than formiddable next generation. The fact that most gamer’s are not that eager for it to get here. Skyrim gives you reason to get really excited about owning both an Xbox 360 and Kinect if you are a gamer who’s been sitting on the fence. Look Star Wars as a franchise had no benefit from having a Kinect game using it’s license. Most gamer’s only asked why and wtf?

Skyrim is already an amazing game. Bethesda does not benefit from having to add anything extra. Yet, the publisher values their product, and you can see their are determined to make it better. By offering a way to get more gamer’s involved they push the RPG genre forward, and legitimize the future of the genre with Kinect. I would not be surprised that the word of mouth alone will be something phenomenal. At the same time for gamer’s who have already been fans this is a new experience in a way that will be refreshing. Voice command is giving players a much more diverse interaction which is utterly cool. Bethesda is also teasing us with more info tomorrow. In the mean time inbetween time here is where you can download the PDF Voice commands for Skyrim.

Original Article