Coffee Talk #149: Console Gaming Without Consoles?

I’ve been thinking a lot about how Google TV, the Chrome Store, and HTML5 can change gaming. Seeing a version of LEGO: Star Wars running on HTML5 and delivered through the Chrome Store made a lot of lights go off in my head (What? You don’t have lights in your head?!?). The next day, Google announced Google TV along with its launch partners. “A-ha!” I said to myself, “There’s the final piece of the puzzle!”

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Lost vs. Sopranos finale, 24 ending tonight, or Cleveland firing Mike Brown, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how Google TV, the Chrome Store, and HTML5 can change gaming. Seeing a version of LEGO: Star Wars running on HTML5 and delivered through the Chrome Store made a lot of lights go off in my head (What? You don’t have lights in your head?!?). The next day, Google announced Google TV along with its launch partners. “A-ha!” I said to myself, “There’s the final piece of the puzzle!”

Picture this: playing complex HTML5 games on a Sony television with Google TV built in — no console required! Sure, a web game will never be as impressive as one running on a proper console, but for most people LEGO: Star Wars graphics are completely acceptable. You know the millions of people that are fiending on casual and social games? I can easily see them “graduating” to a more involved experience in HTML5 games. If Google want it, the company could become a big player in the home gaming space.

What do you guys and gals think? Do you see a future playing games without a box and with a service like Google TV? Do you think I’m giving Google too much credit here? I know several of you are still weeping over the Lost finale, but give the matter some thought and leave a comment. I’d love to chat about this with you!

Author: RPadTV

https://rpad.tv

13 thoughts on “Coffee Talk #149: Console Gaming Without Consoles?”

  1. I think there's a formula there that will come down to how much it costs the consumer. Nintendo has proven that people will ultimately choose the cheapest option overall regardless of what they prefer.

  2. I think it is to early to say anything, but I will always need a box and a controller. I never thought I would say this at 24 but we might be one of the last generations to have a console and controller.

  3. i think we can all agree that the age of the console is getting close to the end. I think you can almost compare the way video games are going to the way the film industry has been going. I remember when (crap i can't believe i just said this) you had to wait a long time for a movie to come out to VHS and when it did it was like $40.00. As technology progressed we got DVD's and also a quicker release times for new releases as studios saw more people either rented or bought the movies they loved. Most recently now we have streaming and digital downloads first supported by PC's and set top boxes but now Netflix has been a great innovator on how to get movies to the customer at a much faster rate and what's cheaper and more convenient. We already see companies like Onlive and even Steam can be considered something along these lines as well. With TV's being internet enabled now i can't see why we would need consoles anymore. Isn't that exactly what a console only helps with letting us see what we're playing. If Sony, Nintendo, or Microsoft can find a way to stream games or download the games with an attached HDD to our TVs what's the point of a console?

  4. @Ray

    I don't think it will happen unless the console part of the tv is removable or upgradeable. Simply having a board that decodes isn't going to cut it. What if that part goes out? Send the whole tv in? Replace the tv? That would mean a console would cost you over 1k easily.

  5. @smartguy It would, as I envision it, be a software solution built into the TV. The cost wouldn't be much of a premium. Besides, how many Bravia TVs are under $1,000?

  6. @Ray

    My Bravia XBR was 2k. I don't plan on replacing it anytime soon. Does 1080p at 240hz with Bravia 3 engine. I will use it until it gives out. I'd hate for a gameboard that is built in to be outdated in 3-5 years.

    I don't think tvs are replaced as much as consoles. Extra tvs get bought yeah, but not just to get a new board to play games. That's why I say it has to be some kind of on rails popout. Kinda like the cdrom on a laptop in most cases. Eject the whole unit and upgrade if need be.

    Unless you are talking about Gtv with html5 being equivalent to a streaming service like OnLIve. That would take some more thought.

  7. I think smartguy is close with OnLive. I could see it going that way with games being streamed directly to your TV with no in between device. However that still needs to proven as solid consumer and business model. Personally, HTML5 games might be nice and all, but not nice enough for me.

  8. @Raymond Padilla

    I'm sorry, I read the title wrong. I thought it suggested that gaming without the console would replace console gaming. That's what I meant would not happen.

  9. @Ray

    So they implemented a Tivo gui? I guess that would be somewhat helpful. To be honest, w/o the ability to dvr it would seem to defeat the purpose. I wonder if you have to pay a monthly to use the tivo gui?

    I don't mind things like this put in the sets as long as they don't require subs and if there is hardware to be included, i hope it can easily be taken off the tv and replaced. Kinda like my iMac :)

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