Game Design: Are Dedicated Game Devices Over?

Game Designers Discuss: With the transition to the cloud now in progress, are all devices becoming simply content appliances, including game systems? Xander Davis, Sarah Jones and Sam Elder discuss the future of ubiquitous entertainment.

PLEASE SUBSCRIBE & LIKE OUR VIDEOS! IT HELPS US!
http://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?&add_user=XanderDavisTV

XANDER DAVIS
Game Designer / Writer / UI Artist
Host & Producer
http://www.xanderdavis.com
http://twitter.com/XanderDavisLive

SARAH JONES
Television Producer / Gamer
Co-Host

SAM ELDER
Level Designer
Co-Host

ABOUT XANDER DAVIS:
Xander Davis is a creative media artist, now the Senior Game Designer, Writer and Senior User Interface Designer for an upcoming FPS fantasy action RPG with CryEngine 3. He served as UI Artist on Transformers: War for Cybertron at High Moon Studios (Activision Blizzard) for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, rated 9.0 "Amazing" by IGN. Additionally, Xander is a Unity developer and an independent filmmaker.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• xbox 360
• xbox 720
• ps3
• ps4
• 3ds
• nintendo
• microsoft
• sony
• onlive
• ipad
• iphone
• ios
• apple
• xander davis
• sarah jones
• sam elder

[steelfoe]

I would an iOS companion game for skyrim, mini games or jobs, crafting. Something so I can take the work with me. Than get home and and all that progress to the main. (not progress, but money,spells, creation etc.)

[steelfoe]

Com Truise. Great musical choice guys. Great discussion

[nemirc]

Now that I think about it, with Unity you can deploy pretty much anywhere, but I don't think there's such thing as "one size fits all." You'd always need to redesign something on the control and visual level due to the different controlling schemes as well as screen sizes.

[smokinbull123]

I don't think how "dedicated gaming device" is currently being used is correct because both PS3 and iPhones have a lot of games so aren't they both technically dedicated gming devices? Isn't a dedicated gaming device something that JUST plays games? PS3, 360, PSP, Vita, even Wii and 3DS aren't dedicated gaming devices because even on Wii you can use Netflix and take and view photos on the 3DS.

[smokinbull123]

On home consoles, home consoles (PS3, 360) aren't just gaming devices. You have games, Netflix, Vudu, Hulu Plus, MLB tv, NFL, rent/purchase tv shows and movies, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Bing, internet browser, Blu-ray, music, videos, photo viewing, 3D, video chat and more.

[smokinbull123]

Handheld wise, dedicated gaming devices will not die by how games on smartphones and tablets are currently and won't UNTIL smartphones/tablets solve the analog sticks and physical buttons problem because phones/tablets can do everything and can also call which is a must and everyone would rather carry one device that does it all than more than one.

I'm not going to get a Vita at launch because I want to see where gaming goes on phones/tablets. And I would rather just have one device.

[Kinos141]

I will get the PS vita, because I like dedicated gaming devices that can do other things over a phone device that can also game. I do not own a iPhone or will ever own one. I never got into the iPhone hype. I'd rather get a android phone if anything, if I had to choose. I don't think vita will beat iPhone, however, because iPhone does a lot of other things as a phone that the vita will not.

P.S. R.I.P. Steve Jobs

P.P.S. Go Unity3D!!

[6xXSasoriXx6]

i allways love the way you look at these things,

just gives some new information or let me look differently on it,

But still i love my games on my xbox and i ain't going to buy a handheld,

i got my sony xperia play and i'm just going to wait and see what xbox en sony are going to do with there consoles.

[nemirc]

I believe in the long run sorta-mobile devices may replace consoles, but IMO for that to happen you need: more quality games (ppl aren't giving up skyrim in favor of tiny wings), stream games to a BIG SCREEN, controls that don't suck (touch-based "sticks" with no force feedback? seriously...). Those are my thoughts on not-so-many-words, for more, I wrote a post about that a while ago on my blog (see my profile)

[pocketmego]

@WorldOfWarcraftusers

Check out ONLIVEdotcom and all will be explained.

[NebulaSteam]

It'd be great if it was all on one device, but sadly, the smartphone games are just no where near as good as the games on the 3DS and (soon to be released) Vita. I'd love to be able to make phone calls, have all the productivity apps, and still play some fantastic games, but right now, we're not there yet. I forsee in the next 5 years great gaming devices will merge with cell phones to give a terrific, best of both worlds experience tho

[hazatude]

I'd rather have one device. As it is now, my DSi resides in my bathroom. My phone has taken over every other aspect of my portable gaming life.

[keny46]

Portables/smart phones are ok for more "casual" games but for high production games I would find it amazing if someone would want to play one on a portable vs a computer or console. I don't find the games that do well on smart phones to really be that interesting since the only gratification you really get from them is a high score. If you're a teen or just not home much I could see the point but if I was given the amount of money it would cost to buy a portable I wouldn't buy one.

[WorldOfWarcraftusers]

@pocketmego What's cloud ?

[tyrokiller]

@pocketmego Agreed with everything here, also another good episode guys.

[TheRob2D]

I own neither smartphone or iPad, and I'm not planning on getting one anytime soon. So that whole side of the industry has passed me by. Does it matter to me? Not really. Not yet

No would be my answer to the idea of an all in one box. I like having all my different machines for different things. Maybe that's just what I grew up with, but I've always found the variety exciting. I find the idea of an all in one box rather boring. It will be whats expected though, but I'll miss dedicated devices.

[bg27garcia]

I think dedicated game consoles are pretty much over since every system out there right now does more than just play games, the Wii even lets you surf online.

[UDDeganidesings]

im sticking to my PC for games

[pocketmego]

Great video, as always. I think most of what you guys talk about is pretty much on the money. The idea has always been one central hub in your house and another smaller device you can carry with you that links back to the hub for your games. ONLIVE is the closest to that now and I think it MOST DEFINITELY where its all going. The Cloud is where it is at.

[MiiDylan]

I hope no....it would suck.

[87krackle]

i just can't wait for the psvita