When Microsoft announced the Kinect, the motion-gaming peripheral that requires no controller to work, it was celebrated by the mainstream and hardcore alike for its unique functionality.
Since then, Microsoft has delivered enhanced features, but for the vast majority of gamers, it has become a bit of a novelty. Sure, it’s a neat way to command the Xbox or shout some orders in games, but beyond that, it delivers little value to the average person trying to sit down, relax, and enjoy a title.
I’m always interested in scenarios in which we examine the “what-ifs.” In some cases, that means discussing what might have happened to RIM if it saw the touchscreen craze coming. In others, it’s a look at what Apple might have been without Steve Jobs. But this time around, I want to take it away from the real world and put it in the digital realm: what might the game industry look like today without Mario?
Microsoft’s success in the gaming market has been nothing short of astounding. From starting out as a company with little knowledge about how the market works to becoming the leading console maker for over a year, Microsoft has cemented itself as a major player.
However, the one thing the company is missing right now is a deep first-party game lineup. 343 Industries will undoubtedly help with the Halo 4 launch, and every now and then, something good comes out of Microsoft Game Studios, but I think it’s about time the software giant acquires a major publisher.
I’ve become an expert of sorts on entertainment. I’ve spent the better part of my life watching televisions, enjoying movies, listening to my favorite artists, and playing video games. To me, having all of that media available to me whenever I want it is a blessing.
Because of that, I spend an awful lot of time evaluating different entertainment opportunities. From Netflix to Hulu Plus to iTunes, I’m always out there examining what’s best and what might need some work.
In the gaming world created and crafted by Nintendo, games make or break the company. When solid titles like Super Mario or the Legend of Zelda make their way to the market, consumers care. And in the process, they buy an awful lot of consoles.
When the Wii U launches later this year, Nintendo will need to rely on games in order to sell more consoles. However, in the past, the company has relied nearly entirely on first-party titles. In fact, the Wii’s third-party lineup was so sub-par that many folks (including myself) made it a last-resort gaming opportunity in the living room. Soon after the allure of motion gaming wore off and the first-party titles dried up, there was little else to enjoy.
For years now, the technology world has been sounding the death knell for brick-and-mortar stores. Consumers and even online retailers reason that technology customers are too knowledgeable of the deals available online and see no reason to head to the store to pick up a product. Instead, they can have it delivered to their home in no time.
For that reason, just about everyone believes that technology brick-and-mortar stores will eventually go extinct. A host of companies have tried to be successful in that market, like Circuit City, CompUSA, and others, and they have all failed. Now Best Buy, the company that helped put tons of competitors into the ground, is starting to lose its footing.
Apple’s Retina display has quickly become a major selling point for consumers. The technology is purported to deliver the very best picture quality out there, and the vast majority of folks that have actually taken the iPhone 4S or MacBook Pro with Retina display for a spin would probably agree.
I’ve said it time and again on these pages: I’m a gaming fanatic. I’ve been playing video games my entire life, and have enjoyed everything from the arcade to console titles to handheld games. But we’re living in a different world now. And one of my favorite gaming exploits — handheld — seems to be succumbing to a slow and agonizing death.
There was a time, not long ago, that Vizio was the talk of the tech town. The company was delivering low-priced televisions, its market share was soaring, and by all accounts, it was well on its way to becoming one of the most prominent firms in the marketplace. Vizio’s success was so strong that its business model was being celebrated by nearly everyone.
Prior to the Worldwide Developers Conference keynote Apple hosted on Monday, there were several reports that surfaced saying the company would launch a software development kit for the Apple TV. The reports reasoned that Apple is trying to extend the usability of its Apple TV, and can use that with help from third-party apps.
Nintendo earlier this week held a keynote address at the E3 gaming expo. And although the company showed off a new Super Mario Bros. game, some 3DS titles, and a new Wii Fit, the big story out of the event was that the Wii U is in deep, deep trouble.
Looking at all of the major conferences in the technology space, it’s hard to find one that easily stands above the others. After all, the Consumer Electronics Show is great, and Mobile World Congress is great for mobile customers. Even CTIA can be a winner.
But as far as I’m concerned, the upcoming E3 Gaming Expo, which kicks off on Monday, is the best technology-related show of the year.
