Hasta La Gadget!

I was using my Apple TV the other day to stream some music to my television and thought about something: prior to the Worldwide Developers Conference in June, rumors suggested that Apple was going to announce a new Apple TV operating system that would support applications and all kinds of other goodies. There was also some speculation that the company might offer up a new Apple TV set-top box that would come with some storage for the apps.

However, amid all of the talk of a new MacBook Pro with a Retina display and discussions on Apple’s new mobile and desktop operating systems, the Apple TV was overlooked. And those of us who actually want to run apps on our televisions were left to hope it might happen another day.

There’s just one issue: since WWDC, discussions on a new Apple TV have dried up. We haven’t heard of any improvements to the device’s operating system nor discussions on developers bringing their apps to the device. There hasn’t even been a rumor mentioning the possibility of a new Apple set-top box launching sometime soon.

So, what gives? Has Apple’s highly touted ability to keep everything secret won yet again? Or is it possible that the rumors were nonsense in the beginning, and those of us who own an Apple TV will never get the update we so deeply desire?

Unfortunately, I’m starting to think that it’s the latter. For years now, Apple has called its set-top box a hobby, and although it doesn’t like to use that moniker nowadays, the device really is. Like it or not, Apple doesn’t really care all that much about the Apple TV, and it has proven to be an afterthought for the company for far too many years.

“I’ve decided to ignore all Apple TV rumors”

Realizing that, I’ve decided to ignore all Apple TV rumors that might arise in the next several months. The way I see it, Apple cares most about its iPhone, iPad, and Macs, and the company is more than likely working on a television. To worry about updating a device that comes in at $99 and many consumers don’t even know about would be a mistake from a business perspective.

Admittedly, it’s not the end of the world for me. As much as I’d like to have an App Store on my Apple TV, I have applications running on my current Samsung HDTVs. At this point, I really only use my Apple TV to watch television shows or movies I download or to stream some of my music. Beyond that, I ignore it.

But that could all change if Apple actually started caring about the Apple TV. And if those rumors could eventually come true, I think there would be millions of the device’s owners who would be awfully happy to have that extra functionality.

Don’t hold your breath, though. Unfortunately, the Apple TV is slowly but surely meeting its maker. And within the next year or so, it’s quite possible it’ll be discontinued and throw into the grand junk heap of tech goodies that couldn’t hold out for long.

Whatever Happened to That New Apple TV? is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

When the Wii U launches later this year, I’ll be one of many people getting into line to get my hands on the latest console. Although I’m not so sure I’ll enjoy it over a long period and I still believe that the Wii U is coming out too soon and with lesser components than it should, I’m a gaming fanatic. And as a gaming fanatic, I can’t help but get my hands on the latest console.

I did the same with the Wii. I stood in line to finally get my chance at buying the console that so many people were after, and for some time, I was impressed by its technology. After awhile, however, I found that the motion gaming was a gimmick that I couldn’t stand for a long period of time. And with a sub-par game library at the time, I was bored within a couple of months.

Now, as I consider my next console purchase, I can’t help but think back at that time. The Wii seemed so appealing at launch, but it wasn’t long before it started collecting dust in a closet in my house. The Wii U seems to stink of the same scent, and I’m concerned that it might arrive at the same fate as its predecessor.

Although I’ll fully admit that many people out there are huge Wii fans and still enjoy playing the console ach day, I think there are a larger number of people that fell into a similar situation as me. The Wii was their favorite console for a while, but before long, it was ignored.

So, Nintendo has to do everything it can to make sure its latest console doesn’t end up the same way. And the only way to do that is to keep us interested.

“Keeping us interested isn’t as easy as it once was”

Keeping us interested isn’t as easy as it once was. Today’s gamer expects to not only have high-quality graphics and a deep library of titles, but also a host of entertainment options, robust online gaming, and a nice selection of digitally delivered legacy games. We’re more sophisticated now. And Microsoft, which was really the first company to acknowledge that, is successful today because of it.

However, Nintendo has proven to be the last in the gaming space to realize the changing landscape. The company wants us to believe that the old days are still here. They’re not. And that kind of mentality will kill the Wii U.

I think we’re all fully aware of the challenges the Wii U faces. From Nintendo’s spotty relationships with third-party publishers to the threat of the Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 launching either next year or in 2014, the Wii U is facing a host of challenges. But keeping us interested over an extended period of time might just be its greatest threat.

Now more than ever, we have entertainment options available to us that will take up time and make the Wii U’s fight for our attention all the more difficult.

Given what we know now – namely that the Wii U is an iterative update over its predecessor and not a major step up – should we expect the Wii U to keep us interested over the long-term?

We can certainly hope. But I’m doubtful, to say the least.

Nintendo Wii U’s Biggest Challenge: Keeping Us Interested is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

When Microsoft announced the Kinect, the motion-gaming peripheral that requires no controller to work, it was celebrated by the mainstream and hardcore alike for its unique functionality.

Since then, Microsoft has delivered enhanced features, but for the vast majority of gamers, it has become a bit of a novelty. Sure, it’s a neat way to command the Xbox or shout some orders in games, but beyond that, it delivers little value to the average person trying to sit down, relax, and enjoy a title.

For that reason, I’m interested in finding out how the peripheral will be incorporated into the next console Microsoft offers, the Xbox 720. According to reports, the console will be integrated directly into the device, meaning it won’t be an extra accessory. But for those of us who like to have our consoles tucked away in cabinets, that’s a problem.

Beyond that, I’m sure Microsoft will deliver a host of improvements to the Kinect to ensure that it has better quality, an improved microphone, and faster response times. For those who use the Kinect often, that’ll be a major selling point.

But what about the rest of us?

The fact is, the Kinect is unable to escape its inherent functionality as a device that lets folks control the on-screen action with motion. It’s a gimmick in some games, and something that has delivered little value in far too many titles. The issue isn’t Kinect’s functionality; it’s the very way in which we actually play video games.

Realizing that, I don’t think Microsoft should make Kinect too important to the experience of playing the Xbox 720. It’ll be a nice addition for those who enjoy that type of gaming, but for everyone else, the peripheral will be an extra feature they pay extra for and receive little benefit from.

“Kinect will be something people show off and then quickly forget about”

Given Microsoft’s success so far in the gaming space, I don’t think it’s dumb enough to miss that point. In fact, I can see the software giant making Kinect an important, but not too important component in the gaming experience in its Xbox 720. It’ll be there for those who enjoy it, and for everyone else, it’ll be something they show off at a couple of parties and quickly forget about.

Given Microsoft’s latest strategies, I think the company’s focus with the Xbox 720 will be graphics quality and entertainment options, in that order. Microsoft knows that solid graphics that look much better than current-generation hardware is vastly important. But the company also knows that the longer it can keep people engaged with its console’s software byway of movies and television shows, the greater its chances of hurting the competition.

Although I’m not sure when Microsoft will launch its Xbox 720, I’m fairly positive that Kinect won’t be as integral to the gaming experience as some believe. The future of gaming rests solely in the hands of content. And while Kinect can supplement entertainment experiences, it can’t create them.

Microsoft knows it. And it won’t let its love for its peripheral get in the way of that understanding.

How Big of A Role Will Kinect Play in the Xbox 720? is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft’s success in the gaming market has been nothing short of astounding. From starting out as a company with little knowledge about how the market works to becoming the leading console maker for over a year, Microsoft has cemented itself as a major player.

However, the one thing the company is missing right now is a deep first-party game lineup. 343 Industries will undoubtedly help with the Halo 4 launch, and every now and then, something good comes out of Microsoft Game Studios, but I think it’s about time the software giant acquires a major publisher.

Of course, acquiring a major publisher won’t be cheap. Microsoft will need to once again dig down into its massive cash coffers and dole out billions just to get its hands on a major company. But in so doing, it can go a long way in finally establishing itself as a credible threat in software.

Don’t think that doesn’t matter. Part of Nintendo’s success, even during its current downturn, is due to its ability to deliver compelling first-party games. Although the third-party lineup hasn’t always been up to par on Nintendo’s consoles, franchises like Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda have kept it propped up.

Microsoft right now really doesn’t have that. As noted, it has Halo, but it needs more. And acquiring all or at least part of a major game publisher could help it become more like Nintendo in all of the right ways.

Luckily for Microsoft, it might have an opening. According to a recent Bloomberg report, Vivendi is considering dumping its equity stake in Activision for $8.1 billion. What’s more, the company has reportedly already talked to Microsoft about it.

“There’s a market out there to invest heavily in gaming and get some real value”

Whether Microsoft should take the deal is decidedly up for debate. But it underscores a broader point: there is a market out there for major companies, like Microsoft, to invest heavily in gaming and get some real value for its cash outlay.

Of course, Microsoft has been spending a serious amount of cash as of late. The company acquired Skype for $8.5 billion and offered up $1.2 billion for Yammer. Add that to the cash it’s spending on patents, and Microsoft appears to be willing and ready to write checks.

Unfortunately, the company really hasn’t done enough in the gaming space. It’s about time for the software giant to find a suitable target and start spending some money.

The issue is, which company should Microsoft consider acquiring? It’s not as easy as one might think. Electronic Arts is probably off the table and Activision Blizzard can’t be bought outright. Ubisoft might be a suitable choice, but who knows if it’s willing to be let go. Perhaps Take-Two Interactive, which would come in more cheaply, could be a fine option.

Exactly which major publisher Microsoft should acquire is up to the software company. But it’s time for Microsoft to make a choice.

Why Microsoft Should Acquire A Major Game Publisher is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

In the gaming world created and crafted by Nintendo, games make or break the company. When solid titles like Super Mario or the Legend of Zelda make their way to the market, consumers care. And in the process, they buy an awful lot of consoles.

When the Wii U launches later this year, Nintendo will need to rely on games in order to sell more consoles. However, in the past, the company has relied nearly entirely on first-party titles. In fact, the Wii’s third-party lineup was so sub-par that many folks (including myself) made it a last-resort gaming opportunity in the living room. Soon after the allure of motion gaming wore off and the first-party titles dried up, there was little else to enjoy.

For that reason, Nintendo must rely heavily on third-party publishers with its Wii U. The days of simply carrying a console over the finish line on the back of first-party games are over. Nowadays, in order for console makers to be successful, they’re going to have to deliver not only solid first-party games, but allow other companies to offer up outstanding titles themselves.

For Nintendo, playing nicely with third-parties has always seemed difficult. For years, third-party developers have criticized the company on everything from its hardware design to its seeming unwillingness to allow other games to shine. In Nintendo land, first-party titles still reign supreme.

“With the Xbox 720 and PS4 incoming, longevity is the name of the game”

But with the Wii U likely launching this year, to be followed by the Xbox 720 and PlayStation 4 either next year or in 2014, longevity will be the name of the game. And in order to stick it out until the bitter end, Nintendo must be able to foster strong relationships with third-party developers and urge them to bring their best and brightest games to the console.

At E3, Nintendo seemed willing to do so. Rather than spend too much time on hardware, the company focused on games and brought up several third-party developers to show off their latest and greatest titles for its new console. It was a good start. But let’s not forget that Nintendo had some backing at the Wii’s start, as well. And now, Wii owners are left wishing more solid titles would have been launched.

Of course, Nintendo fans would disagree with that argument. They would say that Nintendo’s first-party titles are really all customers need, but even in those cases where third-party games are on the ready, they hold up quite well. In fact, some Nintendo fans might go as far as saying that the Wii’s game library is just as deep (if not more so) than the Xbox 360’s or PlayStation 3’s.

But are we really supposed to believe that? If that was the case, the Wii wouldn’t see its sales slumping and Nintendo wouldn’t be having so much trouble keeping pace with its past successes. If the Wii had a deeper library, trust me: the gaming space would look much different.

Remember third-party developers, Nintendo. Believe it or not, you’re going to need them with the Wii U.

Third-Party Developers Will Make or Break the Wii U is written by Don Reisinger & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.