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Acer plans to join the console market
Acer plans to join the console market
Gamestar - March 16, 2008
Submitted by tyrile (511) at 3:19PM PST on March 16, 2008
The taiwanese Notebook manufacturer Acer plans to enter into the console market. This communicated the senior Vice President, James T. Wong, on a press conference. Most current consoles are closed and proprietaere systems, which machine" on PC technology based "game machine"; from Acer is to set against it on open standards. This could mean that game developers would not have to pay license fees for the publication of plays on this system.
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1apujanata posted on Industry News at 4:56PM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console market@Bobuido,
I started from PC, and am still in PC (but not as deep as I was 20 years ago). I wish Acer good luck, but I personally don't believe it will be succesfull.
I knew Acer back when it is just a small company in Taiwan (not gone global yet), and Stan Shih is still the major shareholder there. Now Stan Shih is only a minority shareholder, and Acer technical edge is way down compared to Stan Shih era. Acer dream of Server majority (like Compaq, HP or IBM) cost Stan Shih his share (Acer almost went chapter 11 before), so I hope that this console effort is not a second major blunder that may put Acer into "chapter 11 candidate" the second time.[ Oracle ] [ Level 30 ] [ Rank: 14935 ]bids
-1Laoldar posted on Industry News at 4:38PM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console market@Bobuido,
Corporations don't spend money switching development teams to unproven platforms for "freedom".
Do you know why companies like EA want a single open platform? Because it costs them money to port games over to other consoles. Having another one enter the market is a PROBLEM to them, not a solution...unless they switch over completely to that new platform and no company is that stupid.
As long as there are millions of consumers playing their Wii/360/PS3, then this new open platform does nothing to address EA's concern...in fact, it just makes it worse. Which is why companies like EA will completely ignore it.
As you've said yourself, it's just a PC. Trying to sell it as an "open console", when it's just a PC with standard specs, isn't fooling anyone.[ Oracle ] [ Level 21 ] [ Rank: 182 ]bids
3Bobuido posted on Industry News at 4:22PM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console market@Laoldar,
No not spite. Money. Freedom. Collaboration. When did I mention spite? I know some of you guys have your opinions that open gaming won't happen. You think only billion $$$ budgets make consoles. If EA want an open console, the FOSS fanatics and Acer want an open console... that's probably enough momentum to get something started...isn't it?
DrMK Yes it is relevant. For a start I can sell that PC to anyone that needs one. Again. Try that with an Xbox. Also what about if a parent buys one for their child. If the format flops, the parent can still use it as a PC. Just another scenario for you there.
Some minds just aren't up for new ideas or possibilities I guess. I believe open gaming will rise. I wish Acer well and will support them all the way. As will many FOSS advocates.[ Contributor ] [ Level 19 ] [ Rank: 467 ]bids
-1Laoldar posted on Industry News at 10:16AM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console market@Bobuido,
Developers won't support another so-called console just out of spite. They will only make the move if the company behind it puts up the capital and makes some sort of guarantee that the user base will be there to buy the games...that won't happen here. Consoles also draw many of their customers by the first-party games on them, which will be entirely absent here.
It's not enough just to call yourself a "console"...you actually need to have the benefits of one. Where is the first-party software? Where are the deep pockets needed to buy the shelf space?
Unless Acer can show otherwise, this will just be a dumbed-down quasi-PC that won't get any attention from consumers.[ Oracle ] [ Level 21 ] [ Rank: 182 ]bids
4DrMarioKart posted on Industry News at 9:09AM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console market@Bobuido,
Having a new device on the market doesnt automatically constitute new competition. It has to be relevant in order to be competition.
My example for a new device being a non-factor to the consumer is going to be Gizmondo.
Console owners also buying PCs isnt relevant if they arent buying it for gaming or arent planning to game on it.[ Veteran ] [ Level 22 ] [ Rank: 448 ]bids
1Bobuido posted on Industry News at 8:54AM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console market@DrMarioKart,
Which is exactly why I said
"This appeals to several groups of people and it will have at _least_limited success"
These groups will give it the initial success. The rest is not so easy to predict.
Tell me one instance in which additional competition doesn't benefit the consumer? If Wii wasn't a huge success and HD-DVD won the HD-war would we have just had a 360 price drop? Hell no!
I think it's a very good consolation prize for anyone who use a PC. Which is just about everyone.
I agree to truly take off you need developer support. TBH I don't think that'll be a problem with the way the big three treat developers. An open platform would be very appealing to developers. It opens up more competition in publishing. In particular online digital distribution. Very important for new, rising dev studios. Will take more to get the bigger fish but it's by no means impossible. Weren't EA crying out for an open platform?...seems they were
EA wants 'open gaming platform'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7052420.stm
They don't need to pull me away. I buy PCs_&_consoles anyway. To buy one that is also an open gaming platform. Sold! How many console owners only buy consoles? Not many I would imagine.[ Contributor ] [ Level 19 ] [ Rank: 467 ]bids
2DrMarioKart posted on Industry News at 7:30AM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console market@Bobuido,
Those groups that stand to benefit most that you mentioned are very niche.
There will be no significant benefit to the average consumer unless the new platform can pull significant game developer support away from the traditional consoles.
If a gaming console flops, resorting to "still having" the non-gaming functionality is a very weak consolation.[ Veteran ] [ Level 22 ] [ Rank: 448 ]bids
2Bobuido posted on Industry News at 7:10AM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console marketThis appeals to several groups of people and it will have at _least_limited success. These groups being:
FOSS advocates (N.B. How Sony encourages Linux)
Indie / Aspiring Developers
Modder types
Hardware manufacturers
The real benefit to the average consumer here is competition. Don't see much of that on the Xbox now do you. Do you get to choose another Live provider? Do you get to choose to have a Blu-Ray drive? No. MS sets the standards, hardware, prices and systems. If you don't like it...well... tough!
Now what happens in an open world? Anyone can make a PC to their unique specifications. Power, memory, shape, size, colour etc. Providing, of course, it conforms to the open standard. With a choice of components to build a compatible system, suddenly the consumer has more choice and more reasonable prices.
An open console is a no risk buy for the consumer. If the platform flops, you've still got a reasonably priced PC that can any run any traditional OS. Not so easy to do that with your Xbox is it. Prepare to be branded a security circumventing criminal (hacker) if you try and install Linux...though I doubt you'll do the time :)
Funnily enough I already had a discussion on an "open console". The real argument there was due to people believing no hardware producer would step up to the open standard challenge. Well here's the first, so congratulations Acer. I wish you the best of luck and I for one will be ready with my wallet when they're ready for sale.
Will it make the mass breakthrough beyond the aforementioned groups? ...maybe. If nobody tries, nobody knows. I for one am confident some form of open console will break through.[ Contributor ] [ Level 19 ] [ Rank: 467 ]bids
1Just_Ben posted on Industry News at 3:50AM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console market@apujanata,
The prices should be the same as PC software. Didn't say that it has a bright future. But there are 2 upsides: Standard hardware (like DVD) buy your game on any standard system and it works (should keep the price low of the hardware, no monopol) and people might buy it to use it as media center, to run linux. Depending on how "good" the hardware is developed.[ Oracle ] [ Level 21 ] [ Rank: 112 ]bids
1apujanata posted on Industry News at 3:41AM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console market@Just_Ben,
Nice price has been proven to be a wrong move (at least that is what I get from PS3 result on $ 600) price point.
How much cheaper will the price be ? IIRC, the license fee is only around 10$ (min) to $20 (max). That will put game price down from $60 (X360 & PS3) to $50 (same as Wii) or $40 (cheaper than Wii, but more expensive than DS).
If the price difference is not significant (like only $30 or even $25/20), I don't see this "Acer system" as having a bright future.[ Oracle ] [ Level 30 ] [ Rank: 14935 ]bids
1Just_Ben posted on Industry News at 2:31AM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console market@apujanata,
Standard Hardware, not much resource taking OS (Like Windows). The downside will be that it is that it can not be sold at a loss. So either you go by the Nintendo way (no power) or you have a nice price for a console (600$+?). The upside for the consumer? Most likely cheaper games (no license fees). The downside: No one buying content (like MS and Sony is doing).[ Oracle ] [ Level 21 ] [ Rank: 112 ]bids
1ixaarii posted on Industry News at 2:05AM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console marketwow! that's the most interesting news i've read in months. If this should be true...
for a while now i've been thinking that like the world can eat up 3 consoles it probably can 4, and by that i mean if the 4th is specifically targeted at the huge russia/asia region...
It would have the great advantage of a fixed hardware pc (the reason i moved to consoles is control + not having to constantly upgrade and/or play at low settings/tweak)
However a big problem would be what @welshbloke pointed out Sony/Ms lose big time to have the console prices at the begining of the lifetime. This 'could' be avoided if they keep rereleasing the console every 3 years thus making it less cutting edge expensive... but not only is that a minus but the bigger problem i see: unless they make it *very* easy i don't see how they're going to convince big developers to support it. That becomes an even bigger problem considering they're just starting up and will have low install bases and even lower if they have like I said shorter lifecycles... this could take 5-10 years to start up even if they start it now and are willing to do it at a bit of loss[ Oracle ] [ Level 20 ] [ Rank: 444 ]bids
0welshbloke posted on Industry News at 12:38AM PST on March 17, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console marketI would wonder how a PC based machine without a massive subsidy derived from the sale of games could be sold at a price that was attractive enough to the gamers.
As for piracy if we are adopting a PC based system with a standard then we could introduce hardware restrictions or simply continue to use the existing mechanisms although I would be inclined towards some sort of hardware solution would be available in conjunction with existing mechanisms.[ Oracle ] [ Level 30 ] [ Rank: 60 ]bids
2apujanata posted on Industry News at 5:48PM PST on March 16, 2008. RE: Acer plans to join the console marketbids
24tyrile posted on Industry News at 3:19PM PST on March 16, 2008. Article: Acer plans to join the console marketThe taiwanese Notebook manufacturer Acer plans to enter into the console market. This communicated the senior Vice President, James T. Wong, on a press conference. Most current consoles are closed and proprietaere systems, which machine" on PC technology based "game machine"; from Acer is to set against it on open standards. This could mean that game developers would not have to pay license fees for the publication of plays on this system.[ Oracle ] [ Level 18 ] [ Rank: 511 ]
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Some for freedom but more for money
Maybe it's a short term problem for EA that leads to a long term solution? An investment if you will.
You say "just a PC" like the PC is some lesser product. What we're talking about here is an open gaming platform. For developing, publishing and playing games. Plus the Xbox looks pretty PC like from where I'm standing.
People have already warmed to digital distribution. More people are entering the market with casual Wii and Web games. I think the time is right for a shake up. You guys are being Negative Nancy but are entitled to your well formed opinions. I say what I say because I look for a more open world, as do more and more people.