Konami to focus on mobile games as it's main platform

[marurun]

Inflammatory or not, it's not far off the mark when you consider trying to import an American console over there and trying to get people to buy it.

The point you are trying to make isn't inflammatory. The word xenophobic is. That's like calling me triskaidekaphobic because I don't like the number 13 nearly as much as the numbers 12 or 14.

[o.pwuaioc]

Super Cassette Vision

whoa.

What's wrong with that?

[GSZX1337]

This is all because game budgets have just gotten bigger and bigger - at least with mobile it's small and managable.

Konami doesn't have to move to mobile to make lower budget games. The company can make games for the downloadable markets. If they still want to occupy the retail space, Konami can simply make lower budget console/PC games or target the handhelds.

Yeah. I don't own any of them, and I haven't seen a real reason to get one when the games that I want are on Steam or GOG.

This is how I feel. In fact, I took it a step further and gave up on last gen, too, with the exception of the Wii and the handhelds.

I'm somewhat in the middle. I was ready to hop on to the 7th Generation and bought a PS3 in summer of '07 (I acquired a Wii and Xbox 360 later). Over the course of the next six years, I have slowly grown to hate mainstream console gaming, enjoying far fewer titles compared to previous generations. During that time, PC ports of console games have gotten much better and other console games becoming multiplatform. This in addition to the heaps of Steam indie games, PC exclusives, and games I'd generally prefer to play on a PC pretty much killed my interest in console gaming.

[Exhuminator]

I didn't buy a 360 or PS3 for the first time until last year. There are plenty of titles on both platforms that interested me, so that wasn't the issue. Rather it's my backlog that held me off. I have games from the 8-bit era that I still want to play, but haven't yet. And that desire extends throughout the ages through consoles, handhelds, and PC games up unto the modern era. So the impetus to shell out significant cash for a brand new system and its brand new $60 dollar games is stifled by the mountainous backlog I already have accumulated.

At the same time I understand there are people who just love to game on the bleeding edge, and want the latest and (not necessarily) greatest, cost be damned. Perhaps I'm just a bit too frugal for that mindset though. I also have met people IRL who think as soon as a new system comes out, its predecessor and its games are now outmoded schlock. Instantly irrelevant. Now, that mindset I do not understand and could never agree with. But there are gamers out there who literally think that way.

All in all, I can totally understand someone not buying a PS4 or Xbox One right now because honestly the biggest games will be ported to PC anyway. That habit began in the Xbox/PS2 era, really gained traction in the 360/PS3 era, and is now in full force in modern times. The only thing a modern console can offer at this point (aside from the rare exclusive) is pop a disc in and play convenience. But even that aspect has worn down over time due to system updates and constant large patches. That sort of thing blurs the line even more between a console and a PC.

Well we'll see how it goes. I'm happy stopping at the 360/PS3/Vita/3DS border for a good long while personally.

[marlowe221]

.... The only thing a modern console can offer at this point (aside from the rare exclusive) is pop a disc in and play convenience. But even that aspect has worn down over time due to system updates and constant large patches. That sort of thing blurs the line even more between a console and a PC.

Well we'll see how it goes. I'm happy stopping at the 360/PS3/Vita/3DS border for a good long while personally.

In all honesty, my gaming PC downloads and installs DLC and patches WAY faster via Steam/GOG than my PS3 ever did. Same internet connection too...

My "border" for current gen gaming is PC/3DS/Vita. I might (might) get a PS4 a few years down the line but it really depends on what exclusives come out for it during that time.

[Gunstar Green]

.... The only thing a modern console can offer at this point (aside from the rare exclusive) is pop a disc in and play convenience. But even that aspect has worn down over time due to system updates and constant large patches. That sort of thing blurs the line even more between a console and a PC.

Well we'll see how it goes. I'm happy stopping at the 360/PS3/Vita/3DS border for a good long while personally.

In all honesty, my gaming PC downloads and installs DLC and patches WAY faster via Steam/GOG than my PS3 ever did. Same internet connection too...

My "border" for current gen gaming is PC/3DS/Vita. I might (might) get a PS4 a few years down the line but it really depends on what exclusives come out for it during that time.

Pretty much this, I feel like the convenience of most home consoles has been negated by this point. The only thing left to be said for consoles is that you know a game made for them will work for them where as you may still run into compatibility issues with PCs, though as PC hardware has become more streamlined it's less of a problem than it used to be.

All that really matters now is how much certain exclusives mean to you as a consumer.

[noiseredux]

I'm with y'all. The concept of consoles seems so antiquated to me now. While I'd be interested in Nintendo's IP's, I just can't justify spending hundreds of dollars on a box just to play them.

But to go back to the main point of the thread - I'm not surprised about the mobile thing. The install base of the mobile market is like what? 2 or 3 devices for every person ( )?

But as far as Konami seeing the monetary benefit of getting away from AAA development, I would hope that beyond mobile games they'll realize that they could making 2D "indie style" games on PC. I mean, look at stuff like Shovel Knight and how well it's done on Steam/etc. If Konami started making new 2D Castlevanias a la the stuff that they were doing on the DS on PC, I think we'd all be happy - gamers and Konami's pockets, both.

[Forlorn Drifter]

I'm opposed to everything going PC or Mobile. Until gamepad support is a rule in PC gaming, I can't make the switch. Being able to pop my game in and play it is a necessity for me, which is something you have a hard time doing with PC games, when so many are download only. (Especially with when so many are stuck on Steam and have no other option for download. Even on hardcore gaming PCs, I've had hell getting Steam to run decently.)

And the PC game community? I'd rather not join that.

[GSZX1337]

I'm opposed to everything going PC or Mobile. Until gamepad support is a rule in PC gaming, I can't make the switch.

It's not a rule per say, but gamepad support is very common right now.

Being able to pop my game in and play it is a necessity for me, which is something you have a hard time doing with PC games, when so many are download only. (Especially with when so many are stuck on Steam and have no other option for download.

That's going away soon. My prediction is that by the PS5/Xbox Two all console games will be download/install. In my opinion, most of the good shit is download only, so for me it's already that way.

Even on hardcore gaming PCs, I've had hell getting Steam to run decently.)

My PC is about four years old and is built with five year old hardware and Steam runs just fine for me.

And the PC game community? I'd rather not join that.

You don't have to join a community to play PC games.

[Tanooki]

That's a stretch. I had steam running on a flimsy netbook years ago and that thing was with a trashy intel video chip, 2GB of ram, and a wonky weak processor on it.

If someone can't run Steam well, their computer has some real problems or a virus. And there is no 'PC community' in a sense, at least not with tablet, console, and handheld which center around that stuff. Maybe you'd rather not join a Steam or GoG community, that could make sense, but there isn't some overarching arrogant, mean or rude PC community out there to avoid like you do get with console, handheld and tablet nuts.