Technological
convergence – Game consoles becoming Swiss Army Knives – How have consoles
evolved from purely game consoles and what has been the impact on the industry?
In the present day 7th generation consoles are
changing from purely consoles to play games to a multimedia device with lots of
media types such as video, music and internet browsing. In this essay I will
look at how games consoles have turned into swiss army knives and how this
affects the gaming industry. Technological convergence is the tendency for
different technological systems to evolve toward performing similar tasks.
Convergence can refer to previously separate technologies such as voice, data,
and video that now share resources and interact with each other synergistically
(this meaning two or more things functioning together to produce a result not
independently obtainable)
I will firstly look at how games consoles can now use the
internet. For example the PlayStation 3 has access to internet
browsing, this means that more people will buy the PlayStation as it no
longer just attracts the gaming audience it attracts others audiences that are
looking for computer but can get a PS3 instead and also have access to gaming. The
internet also allows consoles to use multiplayer services such as the Xbox,
with Xbox live and the PS3 with PlayStation network this allows the user to
play online with other gamers and produces a social gaming community. The use
of internet also allows things to be downloaded onto the console such as DLC
which allows the player to add new levels or characters to a game. So overall
the internet allows people to search the internet just like a computer and it
produces an online community that is not necessarily linked to gaming. On June
6, 2011 at the E3 convention, it was announced that the XBOX 360 dashboard will
be updated again to include the Bing search engine, this allows users to search
for games, trailers, movies etc. this therefore means it’s even easier to use.
Consoles now offer a lot of multimedia such as music. On 17
November 2009, Microsoft released a downloadable Zune application for the Xbox
360. This application allows the user to download music directly from the Xbox.
Although the application is free to download you have to pay to download the
music, they offer 3 packages to pick from which are a 30 day music pass trial
which is free, a 14 day pass which is also free but if you want access to all
aspects of zone you must buy the 1 month music pass for £8.99 but this must be
renewed every month to keep downloading your music. This means that Microsoft
will get money from the consumer and from Zune themselves as they pay to get
Microsoft to advertise their application on the XBOX 360.
Also consoles now offer a lot of video applications and
services such as the YouTube application which is free to download on the Xbox
and PlayStation this allows the user to watch videos while on their console. On
the Xbox 360 you can also watch live TV or catch up TV through applications
such as sky player, I player and 4OD this allows the consumer to watch TV on
their console rather then there television. Netflix is a movie service that
allows the person to watch any of the most recent movies from release. In 2008
at the E3 premiere Microsoft released that they had signed a deal with Netflix
over the Xbox live subscription, the application was released on Xbox live in
November 2008 and it allowed subscription owners to stream movies directly from
the Xbox. This changed the industry as it meant film fanatics now wanted the
console as it meant they had an easier access to movies. Also In October 2009,
Sony and Netflix announced that the service would also be available on the
PlayStation 3 from November 2009. This was similar to Microsoft’s deal,
allowing Netflix owners to stream the newest releases on the PlayStation. The
future of consoles has also followed with video media as Nintendo president
satoru iwata announced that the Wii U would also make a deal with Netflix and
have a games console with video access. Video as an extra feature has changed
the industry as it has opened games console to a wider audience even though it
may not be for gaming.
In conclusion games consoles can be compared to a Swiss army
knife as they now offer many different services within one place, this has
impacted the video game industry as people may now buy the console as it offers
more media services that may appeal to them, and they will then buy games which
will increase game sales.
