Very interesting editorial over at C-NET related to whether or not a console’s hardware lifecycle length really matters.  Original Link.

Here are some excerpts:

“We look at our products having a 10-year life cycle, which we’ve proven with the PlayStation,” he said. “Therefore, the PlayStation 3 is going to be a console that’s going to be with you again for 10 years. We’re not going to ask the consumers to suddenly buy another PlayStation console in five years time, and basically have their investment go by the wayside.”

Perhaps 10 years really is important to Sony, but it begs the question of why the company and all its predecessors released new iterations of their respective consoles before that 10-year period was up. Doesn’t that fly in the face of its longevity claim? I don’t even remember the last time I bought a new PS2 title and yet, Sony believes it’s still providing value to me. It might to those 1.1 million who bought the console in December, but for someone like me who owns a PS3, the PS2 is but a memory.

And that’s exactly why I believe the 10-year life cycle matters more to hardware companies than consumers. For Sony and the rest, it matters because it gives them an opportunity to recoup their investments over the long-term.

I gotta say I have to agree with the author on this.  (Disclaimer: I own a 360.)
[ad#post-banner-ad]
I really could care less about how long a console will ‘last.’  I wouldn’t call myself a hardcore gamer, but I’m at least an avid one, so I’m usually pretty quick to jump onto the next generation when it’s released.  I haven’t given my original Xbox a second thought since I went to the 360.  Just like I forgot about the N64 after going to the Xbox, the SNES after going to the N64, and the NES after going to the SNES.  At the end of the day, I’m going to want to play games that I like on the system that I enjoy the most, which for me tends to be the latest one out.  Each jump has generally brought something that’s game changing…usually graphics, but the analog stick with the 64, Mario 3 with the SNES, and online play with the Xbox were all pretty huge for me.  For the pattern to hold (which I think it will), each generation jump is going to need to bring something new.  It’s harder and harder to see what that next jump is going to be, so it stands to reason that time between generations will grow, but that’s what we all thought after the N64 came out.  I mean they weren’t ever going to make anything better than Mario 64 right?

Of course, I can’t put too much faith in someone creating something so earth shattering in short order anymore.  I mean, I’m still waiting on my Back to the Future hover/skate board .