GigaOM » game consoles

Connected consumer first-quarter 2013: Analysis and outlook

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:46:59 +0000

Many long-standing legal rules of engagement between publishers and consumers tilted the playing field in unexpected ways in the first quarter. The period also saw a major expansion in the amount and quality of original productions for web-based video platforms and a major move by chipmaker Intel to stake a claim in the digital living room.

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Nvidia’s got game with Shield, a Tegra 4 Android gaming console

Kevin C. Tofel — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 07:18:45 +0000

On Sunday at the International Consumer Electronics Show, Nvidia debuted its next generation chip, the Tegra 4. The new silicon contains six times more graphics cores and uses a more advanced architecture than its predecessor. Tegra 4′s introduction wasn’t unexpected, but Shield, an Android game console built around the Tegra 4 surprised.

First there’s the new chip, which will power smartphones and tablets as well as Shield. Nvidia combined 72 graphics cores with a quad-core Cortex A-15 chip, which it claims offers a 2.6 times performance boost for browsing the web on mobile devices.

Those graphics cores come in handy for photography too: Every photo capture can be done in HDR, or High Dynamic Range imaging; something that Nvidia says takes 2 seconds on an iPhone 5 today takes 0.2 seconds on a Tegra 4 device. An optional 4G LTE software-defined modem chip, the i500, can also be paired with the chip. This puts Nividia in with Qualcomm offering an integrated Radio and application processor for mobile devices and takes advantage of its Icera purchase.

Now about that gaming device. Shield is slightly larger than and looks similar to an Microsoft Xbox 360 game controller. There’s one key difference however: Shield is a standalone gaming device that provides console-gaming quality. Nvidia’s Tegra 4 is at the heart of Shield and its 5-inch 720p integrated touchscreen display. Games from Nvidia’s TegraZone are supported as are streamed video games on the Steam platform. The handheld has bass reflex speakers and 802.11n (Wi-Fi) connectivity.

Shield runs on pure Google Android and in addition to games, can be used for viewing media, checking in on Facebook and more. Shield will run for 5-10 hours for gaming and just over 20 hours to view high-definition video. You’re not limited to the small screen, however. With an integrated HDMI port, Shield can output all content to an HDTV screen; wireless video streaming is in the works. The device can play streaming games from a supported computer.

Although Shield is Nvidia-branded and built, no details on were provided on sales channels or partners. Nor was a price provided for the unit, although a few audience members shouted, “Take my money!”

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Nintendo’s Wii U bets big on second screen TV

Janko Roettgers — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 16:48:39 +0000

Nintendo’s Wii U game console, which will go on sale mid November in the U.S., will feature on-demand video from Netflix, Hulu Plus and Amazon as well as some interesting second-screen action for live TV consumption. The company revealed details of its media offering, which is officially called Wii U TVii, at a press event in New York Thursday.

Nintendo had first announced that the Wii U would come with support for Netflix, Amazon and Hulu Plus at the E3 gaming show in Los Angeles earlier this summer. The move means that the company is catching up with its competitors Sony and Microsoft, which have been offering video services on their current-generation game consoles for some time. Microsoft in particular has been putting a lot of emphasis on TV, adding live TV feeds for pay TV subscribers and numerous other services in recent months.

The line-up of supported services on Nintendo’s Wii U TVii looks kind of meager in comparison, but the console has something that none of its competitors can offer: integration with a user’s existing cable or satellite TV service. That’s possible because the Wii U’s gamepad, which is essentially a touchscreen tablet, doubles as a remote control with IR blaster and second screen capabilities.

Check out a demo video of Wii U TVii below:

The gamepad can be used to browse both titles on services like Netflix as well as live TV listings. Owners of a TiVo can even control their DVR through the gamepad. And it will turn into a second screen while you watch live TV, displaying game stats during a sports game and making it possible to interact with your Twitter followers. This type of functionality was made possible through a cooperation with I.tv, a company that previously built second-screen experiences for media brands like Entertainment Weekly and AOL.

Nintendo said that the TVii service will be free to use. Of course, users will still have to pay for Netflix, Amazon and Hulu Plus — but making the service free itself sets it apart from media services on the Xbox, which require a Xbox Gold subscription in addition to any third-party fees. However, the question is: With so many apps for existing tablets already providing second-screen experiences, and other consoles offering access to many more services, will Nintendo’s Wii U TVii really move the needle and make users want to buy a Wii U?

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Xbox Live: Worth a bundle

Paul Sweeting — Fri, 04 May 2012 13:05:09 +0000

Apart of what it would do for Microsoft’s Xbox games business, the purported new hardware-and-services bundle, if successful, could hold significant implications for its broader digital living room ambitions as well. If Microsoft proves it can attach long-term service commitments to Xbox hardware, it’s no big leap to imagine it eventually leveraging those contracts to begin reselling other services and subscriptions.

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Video gamers: TwitchTV wants you to quit your day job

Janko Roettgers — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 16:00:40 +0000

Video game live streaming specialist TwitchTV is opening up its partner program Wednesday morning, allowing video gamers to monetize their live streams and share the resulting revenue with the site.

TwitchTV is a spinoff of live streaming provider Justin.tv dedicated to video gamers broadcasting their competitions, tournaments and training sessions online. Justin.tv has long been focused on the gaming community, and introduced its partner program with a limited number of broadcasters six months ago, even before launching TwitchTV in June. Justin.tv Co-Founder and CTO Emmett Shear told me yesterday during a phone conversation that the partner program has been a full success: “We have gamers on TwitchTV that are literally quitting their day job.”

TwitchTV’s partner program offers participating broadcasters the ability to run pre-roll ads as well as interstitial ads, with gamers deciding themselves when ads are running. Partners can also offer subscriptions for their channels on TwitchTV, something one of the early beta participants has used for an NPR-syle voluntary contribution.

Shear didn’t want to reveal the details of the revenue sharing deal, but he said the CPM rates have been “competitive if not better” than what comparable video services are offering. Participation in the partner program is limited to those with certain metrics including a minimum number of concurrent average viewers, something Emmet credits for the high CPM rates.

TwitchTV isn’t the only site offering video gamers an option to monetize their live streams, and we’ve been fascinated by the growth of video game live streaming in part because it’s such an unlikely success story. People who aren’t into gaming often have a hard time understanding why anyone would even want to watch a broadcast of others playing games.

Gamers, on the other hand, often follow their favorite teams and players with the same dedication as traditional sports fans. Professional players are increasingly finding ways to make a living with their skills, with live streaming becoming one part of their revenue stream. Said Shear: “Some of these (teams) are quite sophisticated businesses in their own right.”

Image courtesy (CC-BY-SA) of Flickr user ECL X-Series Liverpool

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Where to watch E3 2011 live online

Janko Roettgers — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 16:31:37 +0000

The Electronic Entertainment Expo, better known as E3, is officially starting this Tuesday in Los Angeles – and it’s gonna be a good one: Not only are we expecting the announcement of the Wii 2, but also a new TV-related service from Microsoft, and a whole lot of damage control from Sony after its PSN debacle. And yes, there are also gonna be tons of new video games…

Can’t make it to the Los Angeles Convention Center? No worries, pretty much all major press conferences are going to be streamed live online starting Monday on a number of web sites. We compiled a list of the most important live streams below:

Monday 06/06

Microsoft Press Conference (9:30am PT); YouTube / IGN live stream,
Livestream / Gamespot live stream, Hulu Live Stream
Electronic Arts Press Conference (12:30pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream, Livestream / Gamespot live stream Hulu Live Stream
Ubisoft Press Conference (2:20pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream, Livestream / Gamespot live stream Hulu Live Stream
Sony Press Conference (5:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream, Livestream / Gamespot live stream Hulu Live Stream

Tuesday 06/07

Nintendo Press Conference (9:00am PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Live Stage Show Day 1 (12:00pm – 6:00pm PT); Livestream / Gamespot live stream
Mass Effect 3 (1:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Battlefield 3 (1:30pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Batman: Arkham City (2:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Resistance 3 (3:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Starhawk (3:20pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Twisted Metal (3:40pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Super Secret Sony Game (4:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Journey (4:20pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (4:40pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Gears of War 3 (Campaign) (5:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Super Secret Game #1 (5:20pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Super Secret Remake (5:40pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Super Secret Game #2 (6:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Modern Warfare 3 (6:30pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream

Wednesday 06/08

Live Stage Show Day 2 (10:00am – 6:00pm PT) Livestream / Gamespot live stream
Spider-Man: Edge of Time (11:00am PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Dead Island (11:20am PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Gears of War 3 (Horde Mode) (11:40am PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Rage ( 12:00 pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Prey 2 (12:20pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (12:40pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Saints Row III (1:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Lord of the Rings: War in the North (1:30pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Ninja Gaiden III (2:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
The Darkness II (3:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Street Fighter X Tekken (3:20pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City (3:40pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Super Secret Sequel #1 (4:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Super Secret Sequel #2 (4:20pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Super Secret Sequel #3 (4:40pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
WWE 12 (5:20pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Super Secret Sequel #4 (5:40pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
Prototype 2 (6:00pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream
BioShock Infinite (6:30pm PT); YouTube / IGN live stream

Thursday 06/09

Live Stage Show Day 3 (10:00am – 11:00am PT); Livestream / Gamespot live stream

We will update this list as soon as new links become available, so check back while E3 unfolds.

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Video: Real Racing 2 HD Now Does 1080p Output On iPad 2

Darrell Etherington — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 00:15:00 +0000

Real Racing 2 HD previewed 1080p output from the iPad 2 back in March, but now the update is available and it is indeed as awesome as it looks, I can tell you from experience. The update provides a true two-screen experience across menus and in-game, and really shows what the iPad 2 is capable of in terms of becoming a force in living room gaming.

I won’t go into much detail describing how it works, instead check out the video below of me actually playing the game on my 40-inch Samsung LCD:

Watch this video for free on GigaOM

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Is Nintendo Missing Out on Video?

Janko Roettgers — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:05:00 +0000

Nintendo America President and COO Reggie Fils-Aime recently told CNBC that the company isn’t even close to releasing a second-generation Wii console. Consumers don’t want HD as much as they want a compelling experience, he argued, and more than 26 million Wii owners seem to support that statement. Fils-Aime was interviewed by CNBC about the launch of Netflix VOD on the Wii, and, pressed on the issue by CNBC’s Maria Bartiromo, had to come up with a good reason why Wii owners won’t be able to watch any HD video with the console anytime soon.

Fils-Aime’s answer must have made Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who was tele-present for the on-screen interview as well, cringe. “The vast majority of content available on Netflix is not HD content,” the Nintendo exec explained, adding that Wii consumers aren’t losing anything without HD. It’s true that Netflix’s HD VOD catalog is small, but it’s growing. The company told us that it’s currently streaming around 1,000 titles in 720p. Add to this the fact that even for SD titles, devices like Sony’s PS3 or the Roku box allow far higher bitrates, and it becomes clear there’s little room to grow for Nintendo in the world of connected devices.

The mere fact that Nintendo is now touting the Wii as an entertainment device capable of watching Netflix streams shows how much the world of online entertainment has changed since the Wii’s introduction in 2006. Nintendo made the trail-blazing decision back then to essentially rely on last-generation console technology and enhance it with the unique capabilities of the Wiimote.

Less tech plus more fun, combined with a much cheaper price tag than devices introduced by the competition: That recipe worked for Nintendo, and the Wii quickly became the best-selling console worldwide. Meanwhile, Sony struggled to convince folks to plunk down $500 for the PS3, despite integrating a Blu-ray drive. Apparently people cared less about HD video than they did about playing tennis with their Wii look-alikes.

However, online video has exploded in the years since. Microsoft and Sony have been embracing the change, bringing video downloads and streaming services to their consoles, with the Xbox 360 now even expanding to live video streaming. Nintendo, on the other hand, has been slow to react. It initially only planed to bring Wii-specific, family friendly-content to the console. And when it finally did start to explore regular VOD, it restricted its partnership with CinemaNow to Japan, leaving it to outsiders like the BCC to push the boundaries of what’s possible on the console.

The Beeb did succeed in bringing its hugely popular iPlayer to the Wii, but during this process it quickly became apparent that the Wii’s lack of HD wasn’t the only factor that made it less than desirable as a newteevee gadget. The console’s browser is stuck with an old version of Flash that makes it impossible to access videos on many sites. And not only does the hardware not play HD video, it’s also incapable of rendering anything with a bitrate beyond 700kbps.

Just as a comparison: Netflix streams its SD movies to the Roku box with up to 2200 kbps, while HD streams are delivered with 3600kbps. Mind you, the SD Roku box retails at $79, and the HD version just costs $20 more. That just shows that Nintendo could easily make a console capable of playing HD video without driving up the price tag of the device.

However, Nintendo has made the strategic decision against an HD upgrade of the Wii. Fils-Aime told CNBC that his company wanted to wait until it had totally exhausted all the possibilities of the existing Wii before releasing a new model with lots of new features. That makes sense for the gaming market — but it could inevitably mean that the Wii will lose out on the very audience that made it so successful: Casual consumers that are interested in things other than all-nighters with the latest first-person shooter.

Read more about the worlds of game consoles and video streaming coming together in our GigaOm Pro Connected Consumer Quarterly Wrap-Up (subscription required.)

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Sony PS3 Gives Good VOD, Xbox Getting New Vid Goodies

Chris Albrecht — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 16:48:30 +0000

Blu-ray may be a bit of a bummer, but in its first year, the Sony PlayStation Network has delivered more than 500 million pieces of digital content to PlayStation 3 and PSP devices, reports Variety. This figure covers purchases and rentals of movies, TV shows and original programming.

Unfortunately, we don’t know how that 500 million breaks down to see exactly what types of programming the PlayStation sets are paying for, but at least the half-a-billion mark is a start.

Digital downloads have been a bit of a conundrum for the Hollywood studios. They know distribution is moving in that direction, but revenues from downloads have been tiny and studios have to manage any cannibalization of lucrative DVD sales. Though it looks like we may be turning a corner. The Digital Entertainment Group reported that digital distribution was up 21 percent in the first half of this year, generating $968 million, compared with $407 million in Blu-ray sales.

Game consoles are the most popular device for digital delivery of web-based video to TV sets, according to recent research from In-Stat, a trend that will continue through 2013. By that time, In-Stat predicts that the revenues generated by web-to-TV video services will hit $2.9 billion.

Of course, Sony isn’t alone in its quest to dominate digital video delivery in the living room. Microsoft is set to roll out a bunch of new video features to its Xbox LIVE service this fall, some of which will be available in preview (for the lucky ducks with access) starting this Monday. We’ll be tuning in next week to report on some of the new video goodies that will be unveiled, including:

Movie parties, which allow friends to sit in a virtual theater to watch video together.
Queue management, so users can manage their Netflix queue from their couch.
Enhanced playback, to smooth out some of the streaming bumps when bandwidth fluctuates.

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Nintendo Wii Gets CinemaNow Movies…in Japan

Chris Albrecht — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:13:40 +0000

While Nintendo‘s Wii has proven itself to be a formidable gaming platform, it lags behind the competition when it comes to offering video content. But that is about to change. Kind of. In Japan. Sonic Solutions announced today that it is partnering with Fujisoft to bring Hollywood movies to the Nintendo Wii game consoles in Japan.

Movies will be delivered through Sonic Solutions’ Roxio CinemaNow, and Paramount has signed on as the first Hollywood studio to provide new release and library titles through Fujisoft’s “Minna no Theater Wii” (Everyone’s Theater Wii).

Game consoles aren’t just for gaming anymore, as movie delivery via the devices is set to be a big business. In-Stat predicts that game consoles will remain the dominant delivery platform for web video to TV sets, with more than 10.7 million game consoles to be used as “web-to-TV mediation devices” in the U.S. by 2013.

Nintendo’s competition may not have the install base that the Wii has, but Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 are ahead in terms of video delivery. Microsoft in particular announced a slew of new video features for its game console at E3 this year. The Xbox 360 will be getting 1080p movie streaming, social viewing features, and gestures control.

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