Could a games console ever be an essential household item?
Could a games console ever be an essential household item? It’s a simple enough question, and one you’ve probably already answered in your head with a big fat no. But don’t be so hasty. It could happen, it just needs the different factions of the games industry to work together to create something beautiful instead of bitching at and competing with each other.
It’s highly likely, unless you’re a tramp or vagrant, that you have all of the following items in your house: an oven, a fridge, a telephone, a television, and a vacuum cleaner. I’d guess you also have a computer or you’re otherwise reading this article using the power of your mind and nothing else. Clever you.
It’s also highly likely that you also own at least one, but probably more than one, games console. If you don’t then I’d guess you’re looking to purchase one in the near future or I’d have to wonder what you’re doing reading this site. The problem is there isn’t just one console to choose from. There’s three current-gen home consoles, as well as the plethora of retro consoles still knocking about.
While reading an interesting article on Bruce On Games in which he argues the case for the Wii becoming a “must have” domestic appliance, I realized the question could be opened up. The Wii is not, and never will be, an essential household item or anything similar. Yes, it’s popular, but it’s still way short of being as popular and installed in as many homes as the PS2, so that’s a big fail.
But could any console ever be classed as a must have appliance? I think it’s possible, but there will have to be a huge change of strategy in the games industry for it to happen. We currently have a multiple console industry where various different manufacturers compete to gain the upper hand. There is no standard, no universal machine that will play all games.
I’ve argued the case for a universal games console before, although I accept the arguments against it. But on this score, I think it’s the only possible way of gaming merely going beyond the mainstream it’s now definitely entered, and into the realms of must have household item.
Video games are more popular now than they ever have been, but as a supporter of the hobby, I’d like to see it grow even bigger. Hopefully one day, we’ll find it strange to walk into a house and not see “the” (as opposed to “a”) games console in the lounge underneath the television. But it sure as hell won’t be the Wii.
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17 Responses to “Could a games console ever be an essential household item?”
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February 25th, 2009
The only cool console that has enough power to achieve this household title will be the PlayStation.
February 25th, 2009
AGREED
February 25th, 2009
Would need to be an all inclusive media console, I think I know one.
I know games console(s) will always be essential in my own home.
February 25th, 2009
its a definite yes for me especially if a game console turns more into a easy to use networked media center, I agree the ps3 is probably closer to this, but the 360 is at its heels. in fact my parents to my surprise bought a ps3 for there new DVD/Blu-ray player and are wanting to hook it to the net. if the ps3 worked more like a pc/mac I would do more with it, I tried hooking up my pc to it to transfer movies and songs, but the ps3 is very picky about file types and codecs….
February 25th, 2009
Wake up guys.
Console? LMAO.
Most of the the world wants a Wii/XBox type console, not PS3.
Quit your fanboy dreaming and smell the coffee.
If it’s at all possible it’ll happen with PCs……and just as we see it right now patchy take-up at best.
February 25th, 2009
Other than the wii, the 360 and the PS3 can act as media hubs. The PS3 also has the added functionality of being able to view the web and a blu ray player. The PS3 therefore is the best choice for the future essential household item.
February 25th, 2009
phranc you can preach your sermons about the PS3 as much as you like but it’s 3rd and last place this generation with absolutely zero prospect of that changing any time soon.
In fact it’s probably too late for the PS3 to ever sell enough now to over-take the 360 before the next gen arrives.
So the idea that the PS3 is set to be this ubiquitous home hub is laughable.
In fact telecom companies are right now marketing their own home hubs.
Far to few (quite rightly given the limted benefits it offers most) could care less about Blu-ray.
Wake up.
February 25th, 2009
The Wii is a must have paper weight. And the Balance is the must have dust collector. Don’t be caught without one of each!
The 360 is a must have appliance because all of its functions. Not only can it play video games, but it can also double as a space heater and you can fry an egg on the top of the console’s housing. Futuristic!
February 25th, 2009
PS3 is third and last due to its high price, and not lack of functionality, but like all you MS fans with broken consoles know now…you get what you pay for.
February 25th, 2009
Happy, nobody said it WOULD (except Ivan). But which is more of a media centre for the lounge out of the 3? You can’t honestly say 360 is more appropriate?
Take the sand out of your vagina.
February 25th, 2009
“And the Balance *Board”… -I sir, am a douche.
February 25th, 2009
my 360 is already an essential household appliance.
February 25th, 2009
Erm…360 is a Windows Media Center, i.e it can be used as a media center, with the media center gui and all…..
February 26th, 2009
Did anyone say it couldn’t harry?
February 26th, 2009
Using a PC as the media server, and streaming to the PS3, reduces some of the compatability issues. As long so the host PC has all the proper codec installations, there are very few avi/divx/xvid/mp4 that the ps3 can’t have streamed.
Mkv files are still out, but there is a kickass converter very quickly converts them to .vob, a dvd format the ps3 can play, without sacrificing any of quality.
February 27th, 2009
Hate to break it to you guys, but the job (if it exists) of “essential” home kit is already taken.
By the PC.
None of the current gen’ are up to the task of replacing even a basic PC. I’d take the versatility of a PC over the closed nature of any console.
In spite of certain companies wishful thinking, they are just toys, not essential.
February 27th, 2009
Royzy
In my living room I have a nice C2D 6750 HTPC and my Xbox, all running on a wireless network to my Quad core main PC.
I’ve over 2tbs of HDD.
I also have an HD satellite DVR (with 500gbs of HDD).
That’s are perfect for my needs
(and tbh if I could be ar$ed to reencode) I could easily run just the Xbox and .
Either way I spent a hell of a lot less than taking the PS3 option.
– and I don’t have to put up with Sony trying to creep into my system(s) forcing their branded proprietary products onto it (hands up who ever had a Sony product install stuff on your PC you never asked for) or risk another ‘root kit’ crime by them .
I know people with the PS3.
I’m not saying it’s awful at everything.
I just think that what the PS3 offers compared to an Xbox is nothing special (even playing games – when using the Xbox HDD to save games to – the noise level is about the same) and compared to a good HTPC or regular PC the PS3 is laughably weak, limited and outdated.
Holding up Blu-ray as if it’s a great big deal doesn’t wash with me either.
The PS3 Blu-ray unit is region locked and can’t do HD audio by bitstream.
chillyfish is correct.
Those tech-minded enough to be into this will go or continue to go PC.
The idea that there’s a big market out there for non-techy householders who will race to install PS3s to run as their ‘media hub’ is just a reheat of that original BS that the PS3 isn’t really a games console.
It’s laughable PR garbage and fanboy wishful thinking, nothing more nor less.