Game Consoles Are 'Fundamentally Doomed' says GarriottConsoles are massive investments for companies like Sony and Microsoft, and already we're seeing longer console cycles than we ever have before, in part because companies need to recoup costs. Additionally, consoles are facing increasing pressure from other platforms, like smartphones, tablets and browser or social gaming on the PC. Can the dedicated console really survive? Richard Garriott says no.
The Ultima creator, currently running social gaming firm Portalarium, told IndustryGamers as part of a special "Game Industry Legends" interview that consoles will likely be extinct in the near future.
"I think we might get one more generation, might, but I think fundamentally they're doomed," he asserted. "I think fundamentally the power that you can carry with you in a portable is really swamping what we've thought of as a console."
In the rest of the in-depth interview, Garriott talks about his career, the evolution of the industry and his design philosophies. He believes the keys right now are in free-to-play, and a combination of synchronous and asyncrhronous gameplay regardless of platform.
