With the surge of tablets and latest smartphones that have powered their way toward our homes, WSJ has revealed that Google intend to release it’s latest innovation- an Android based gaming console- with a view to having the shelves stocked as early as this Autumn.
Following the recent success of the Ouya console (another Android based system, currently being sold at just under £100) and a possible console being produced by Apple, the latest offering from Google promises to add an extra dimension of competition to an already thriving industry, usually dominated by the gaming giants Nintendo (Wii, DS), Sony (PS3, PS Vita) and Microsoft (Xbox, Windows). Of course, all this follows the news that other consoles such as the Gamepop, the GameStick and Project M. O. J. O have all been announced over the past few months. These are all looking to be released at around the same time- over summer and just in time for Christmas, as always.
So, does more competition mean fairer deals for us gamers out there? Well, it all depends on the usual P’s: popularity, performance and, of course, profit. Game developers such as Zynga are known for creating the simple but effective games for apps but it’s still not entirely certain whether this will translate well in terms of consoles. Yet, above all, what will really matter is whether the games developed for these consoles still speak to us as the consumer. Will the everyday app creators be able to compete with the years-of-production mainstream games? Will they compete with the story arcs of the Playstation, the action packed Xbox or the hearty family fun of Nintendo? Luckily for you, over the next few weeks, good old impatient me will be attending various conventions- and the more I know, the more you’ll know.
Let us know what you think of this news in the comments below!