Tech companies vying to have everyone gaming

Intent is to become center of your electronic universe

Published: Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2008 12:16 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
There is a multibillion-dollar game being played by big, rich, technology corporations and the winners will land a spot in your living room — maybe more than one.

Many millions are being spent to develop products to lure you into what used to be known as the world of video games. That niche, which sometimes carried a stigma of being for ever-single, 30-year-old adolescents (and actual 11-year-old boys) has changed its focus and has grown into the all-encompassing title of "home entertainment" that stands, or will stand, at the center of your electronic universe.

The biggest target these days is non-gaming females — yes females of all ages, getting the most attention from mega-corporations that manufacture gaming consoles and the legions of smaller companies that produce the games for them.

To say they want to get into your living room is only part of their ambition. They also want to be in your car, your gym, your school and your kitchen. They are probably even thinking of ways to get in your bedroom.

Playstation 3 vs. Wii vs. Xbox 360

Story continues below
The spot at the center of your entertainment life is highly coveted. Nintendo's Wii system, without any doubt, has found its way into the most homes and the company once predicted to lose the race among the trio is a hands-down winner in number of consoles sold both worldwide and in the U.S. Microsoft's Xbox 360, now the cheapest of the three options (stripped down to its bare bones) sits in second place but struggles in Japan while the PlayStation 3, successor to the still viable PlayStation 2, is bringing up the rear for Sony and things are still looking a little grim.

Total units sold worldwide:

Nintendo's Wii: 37.6 million — Innovative control system still bringing in non-gamers by the droves

Microsoft's Xbox 360: 23.4 million — First released, new dashboard, best live experience, least expensive option

Sony's PlayStation 3: 17.1 million — Blu-ray player included, a lot of machine but does it cost too much?

The Wii is still difficult to obtain for the third holiday in a row and it prospers in Japan, the U.S. and the rest of the world. So game over? Yes and no.

The PS3 and the 360 and the companies behind them still have a few tricks up their sleeves, and the unquestioned console king has its limitations.

Movies, television, games and music

Recent comments

Although my first 360 console had to be sent back because of system...

360 | Dec. 3, 2008 at 12:14 p.m.

It's like someone just dumped a pile of press releases, flak email...

Agree with D to the A | Dec. 2, 2008 at 9:06 p.m.

PC sales may be declining in some areas, but there is the World of...

rien | Dec. 2, 2008 at 1:26 p.m.

Image
BioWare

In "Sonic Unleashed," the little blue hedgehog has both a day and a night persona that play completely differently. It falls in both 2-D and 3-D play category, with spiffy new environments.

Related content
previousnext

Latest comments

TCU 55, Utah 28

...for Ugly playing.

TCU owns the mountain west, and I would have to say anyone else that stands...

Look at the state of the country right now. There is no incumbent that has...

If the state needs to raise money so badly then increase the sales tax by a...

Just to echo what all the other folks have said about this tragic incident....

Utes exposed

Now it's a rebuilding year? Whatever excuse fits, I guess. The Utes haven't...

Vanishing languages a 'tragedy'

While I agree that teaching and learning the core subjects needs to be...

It's hard to read some of the comments here and not conclude that the gays...

Hopefully, more and more people from big movies will come and visit the fans...

Letters: Utah not all rosy

Approximately 26 years ago I moved to Utah from the midwest, returning to my...

Advertisements
Advertisement