Anyone interested in the business of games should look at the video of the ‘analysts’ at GDC. It is called ‘Analyst Shoot-Out’ (you will see it at the very bottom). I’ll put some impressions as I hear it.
-Do my ears decieve me? Did the moderator start off asking about disruption in the games industry?
-The ‘shift’ that is discussed is growth in two areas: Nintendo platform and online games. Obviously, since I never hear much discussed about Nintendo, they all talk about online games.
-Pachter is talking about cabbage and salad at the grocery store. Oh my.
-Pacther is disapointed that 30 million people do not have digital boxes which means they are definately not up to speed online.
-Talk about Asia growing in the online market. Emphasis is on China and India.
-Talk moves to Europe. Nothing too interesting. Numbers are thrown around but it is clear these guys are winging it. They don’t know what is going to happen haha.
-Now they are asked what they think are the Next Generation systems of consoles to come. Oh, this will be fun.
-Cole says gestures (motion controls) will what the new hardware and to follow Nintendo’s lead. He thinks this will happen in 2012 and curiously says that Sony will make a new Playstation system because the Playstation division is so important to them. (This is curious because, aside from eccentric people like myself, no one thinks the PS3 might be the last Sony platform.)
-Pachter disagrees. He STILL says that Nintendo will upgrade the Wii to HD and it will just bring it up to this generation. (Sorry Pachter, but Nintendo won’t do that.) Pachter thinks Microsoft is the only company that is competitive enough with deep pockets to make another console before 2015. However, he thinks Microsoft will get resistence from publishers due to the high cost of content “they will tell Microsoft to pound sand.”
-David Cole thinks there will be one more generation. He says PS3 will be the top system in 2012 (really!? bahahaha).
-Moderator calls for one last question. Pachter suggests shooting the audience with nerf guns and having those shot give a question. Moderator says no because they didn’t sign a waiver and he doesn’t want to get sued.
-Last question is “What do you guys think is the consumer interest in exercise and fitness games?”
-Pachter: “The Wii audience is bifocated bweteen those who like Nintendo and fat house wives.” “Wii Fit keeps selling. Every. Single. Month.” Now Pachter is scaring me because he is talking about Oprah… in tights!!!
(Malstrom fast forwards)
-Not much to fast foward. That is the end of the conference. I guess Pachter stole the other guys’ answers.
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