DFC Intelligence: Console wars has just begun

All of us are closely monitoring the next-gen console race, and some may even think that they know the outcome. But that’s just for the meantime.

According to DFC Intelligence, a marketing research and consulting firm focused on gaming, the console wars is just getting started. It all depends on whether or not the hardware manufacturers manage to fulfill their shipment goals for the next year. If they all do, DFC said, none of the systems will have more than 40% of the market shares by next summer.

When speaking about the PlayStation 3, DFC stated that it is quite hard to assess a product that is meant to last for a decade, so it’s best to expect something different after a couple of years or more. It is just a matter of letting game developers get a feel of the PS3’s full potential.

Another interesting point to note is DFC’s prediction that none of the competing systems (all together now, folks: Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) will get the same level of success that the first two PlayStation systems had.

DFC also offers some advice for those working in the game industry: Those developing major FPS (first-person shooter) games should release them on the Xbox 360 platform even if their sales may not be spectacular at this point. For the PS3, a big price cut as well as beefing up the games library will do the Sony next-gen console a big favor.

As for the Wii, DFC cautions game developers that while Nintendo’s quirky little machine captured the hearts of many, it’s best to refrain from creating too many big-name franchises on the Wii. The reason? The Wii phenomena may have already cooled down by the time all the big third-party name games have been released.

Those who think they know which console wins in the next-gen war should have second thoughts. The race has just begun, so who knows? The bigwigs at Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo may be listening to DFC’s advice. If so, expect the unexpected in the near future.

All of us are closely monitoring the next-gen console race, and some may even think that they know the outcome. But that’s just for the meantime.

According to DFC Intelligence, a marketing research and consulting firm focused on gaming, the console wars is just getting started. It all depends on whether or not the hardware manufacturers manage to fulfill their shipment goals for the next year. If they all do, DFC said, none of the systems will have more than 40% of the market shares by next summer.

When speaking about the PlayStation 3, DFC stated that it is quite hard to assess a product that is meant to last for a decade, so it’s best to expect something different after a couple of years or more. It is just a matter of letting game developers get a feel of the PS3’s full potential.

Another interesting point to note is DFC’s prediction that none of the competing systems (all together now, folks: Wii, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) will get the same level of success that the first two PlayStation systems had.

DFC also offers some advice for those working in the game industry: Those developing major FPS (first-person shooter) games should release them on the Xbox 360 platform even if their sales may not be spectacular at this point. For the PS3, a big price cut as well as beefing up the games library will do the Sony next-gen console a big favor.

As for the Wii, DFC cautions game developers that while Nintendo’s quirky little machine captured the hearts of many, it’s best to refrain from creating too many big-name franchises on the Wii. The reason? The Wii phenomena may have already cooled down by the time all the big third-party name games have been released.

Those who think they know which console wins in the next-gen war should have second thoughts. The race has just begun, so who knows? The bigwigs at Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo may be listening to DFC’s advice. If so, expect the unexpected in the near future.