But that's the thing while the Wii U might have postioned itself as a Gaming console the next Xbox and maybe PlayStation are going to be aimed as an all in one box that can do everything.

They have already been testing out a subsidiary opp plan using the current xbox since last summer.

Most rumors are pointing toward that as well

http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/7/3958546/new-xbox-speech-reco...

Microsoft will greatly improve its speech recognition technology inside the next Xbox, The Verge has learned. Sources familiar with Microsoft's Xbox plans have revealed that Durango, the codename for the next Xbox, will support wake on voice, natural language controls, and speech-to-text. The improved capabilities mean that Xbox users will be able to walk into a room and simply say "Xbox on" to wake up the new Xbox.

Users will also be able to automatically resume video content where it left off simply by asking the new Xbox to play a particular movie. With speech-to-text built-in, it's likely that Microsoft will utilize this support to type out messages using the new Xbox. It's widely expected that Skype will make its Xbox debut on the new console. Microsoft will fully detail its new Xbox at E3 this year, with suggestions from sources that the company may hold a separate event to unveil its new hardware ahead of E3. The new Xbox is expected to be released later this year.

http://www.theverge.com/2013/1/2/3829276/microsoft-reportedly...
http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/21/3674802/xbox-tv-set-top-bo...
http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/29/3708146/microsofts-next-ge...

Microsoft also recently purchased R2 studio and made the founder who is also the creator of the sling box vice President of the Interactive Entertainment Bussines.

http://www.theverge.com/2012/11/13/3633038/microsoft-xbox-360...
As well its been rumored that cable companies will offer the Xbox as as an alternative cable box something that could potentially let Microsoft get a crazy head start.

Theverge did a great piece on this using the current Xbox as a basis.

But in the end just look at how the current Xbox is being advertised.

Tecmo Koei had a 300 per cent increase in profit for the December quarter. TK's one of the least risky publishers right now.

No doubt my next computer is probably going to be the HP Envy X2 or the next gen Surface Pro. (My name a aside I'm probably a Microsoft fanboy)

@Sony_70 But what separates the iDevices from Orbis and Durango is that the iDevices are a portable general computing devices for everyday use while the consoles are primarily entertainment devices stuck to your home.

And the more likely reasons why the Wii U had sold under expectations is because of the lack of games, misinterpretation of the high price tag, and the fact that it resembles a Wii too much.

The subsidy plan sounds interesting, but let's see how Microsoft can justify its Xbox LIVE subscription costs in the near future.

I'm actually looking into a Tablet PC right now, but it will probably take me a few months to save for one. All in one devices are hitting it big. There's pretty much no way to not be able to play all your media on any device nowadays. The Windows based tablets beat iPad and Android, even with over 300,000 apps, with only 100 being actually good IMO.

Yeah I'll provably be getting a new laptop in April/May. Instead of a tradtional laptop rather get a Hybrid instead. You get all of the standard windows kappa plus the made for Metro windows 8 apps.

@OT Nope. Everyone will be on an even level once the next-gen comes out. Right now, Wii U is too new, and people are already half-way/almost done with most projects on last-gen.

I also love how this topic doesn't answer the question anymore.

We use the expensive argument because price flipping matters you dolt! God! Not everyone is a blind mindless consumer, many are savvy and informer'd consumers.

I know quote a few consumers who would gladly take a Xbox cable box replacement for their current cable boxes. If I were to renew my Xfinty and instead of getting a cable box alongside my game console just have one box under my Television.

Many people would pay for that convience and people would rationalize the $200 with $15 a month or cables fee depending on how Xbox live is changed to reflect with play station +

Sounds like an even better acquisition then! Imagine Warriors being Nintendo exclusive. How awesome would that be?

To those of you saying many parents will just toss away $500+ for a new console, especially if they themselves aren't going to use it, I have to bring up the economy issue here. Think about it, the consoles were cheaper last generation, and a good number of people could afford them. Now the new ones will inevitably cost more (doesn't matter how much, they WILL cost more) then last time, and even less consumers will be able to afford them due to the weakened economy.

Now to add to another topic, I do believe that the Wii U is following in the 3DS's footsteps. Things are going slow now, but as soon as the true heavy hitters at last arrive (3D Mario, Mario Kart, Zelda, Smash Bros. ect.) sales will pick up. Sure the Wii U has tougher road ahead considering all the 3DS had to content with was the Vita (which it soundly crushed into the ground) while it has to deal with two more powerful consoles, but the biggest weapon Nintendo has is it's IPs, and they have served them well so far, and will continue to do so.

Well that's assuming consoles are $500. Most rumors are putting them in the ball park of $399 on the low end with at least Microsoft and its partners selling the console for $99-$199 on a two year contract.

Price matters, not everyone will spend a boatload of money on a box that is stuck to your home unlike the portable tablet. There is also the question of despite all in one products people are still willingly buying stuff separately. Other than the news cable is basically horrible but someone is still paying for it. Most people I know don't use the extra features on their cable box. The problem is how many people actually use all the features of a device and how many all in one devices you need. I use my iPhone for texting, calling, internet, and as an alarm to wake me up.

I don't even use it it to check my email, I still like the laptop for that. When it comes down to it people may realize these new consoles can do more, but they still see it as as a game console. They got a desktop/laptop and a tablet, for many that is enough. As for the kids thing, tablets can be used by everyone and is a more general device. Even if the parents can use the Xbox would they honestly feel compelled to when they already have other devices?

I, for one, have not and still am not interested in getting rid of my traditional cable. I do use my 360's HBOGO app and sometimes the XFINITY app to watch shows, but I'm subject to the whimsy of the reliability of both services- especially the XFINITY app. No word of a lie, I haven't been able to watch anything on my XFINITY 360 app all weekend because of error messages. It's frustrating.

Also, what do most sports fans do without a basic cable plan? I'm asking that as a honest question, by the way lol I understand that there are ESPN apps that let you watch some live games, and I have poked around there a bit, but it seems to be a metric boat load of soccer and rugby (which apparently is the new coolest hipster thing to watch in America lol). I'm a huge NFL fan and I have yet to find a way to watch games live without a good ol' cable subscription. Also, without a cable subscription, you have to wait to watch your shows on Netflix/Hulu Plus/cable provider app until they have already aired... usually at least 24 hours, often a bit longer. I'd rather be able to watch a show when it's live.

I don't know. I'm a hold out on some of this stuff. I have yet to buy a Kindle/Nook/Cranny/whateverelsetheyhavethesedays- I'd prefer to just read a gosh darned book. Same with gaming. I'd rather Nintendo just focus on making their awesome games- not how many Netflix/Amazon/Hulu-type apps they can load us down with.

The difference is that Nintendo lacks the capacity to do that stuff anyway. Sony and Microsoft have preexisting partnerships with content providers (or own them themselves), and so can provide these services with minimal challenge. For Nintendo to build up those kinds of relationships could take months or years, and cost Nintendo a lot of money in the process.

I rather wish they would have stuck with the news channel though. I really enjoyed that on the Wii.

You thought the News channel was good? W. T. F. That thing was mediocre at best. Rather read the Washington Post, New York Times, and basically any other easily accessible news site free or paid. In fact, this sort of proves my point. Do we really need another way to look at the news? We got the good ole' computer and apps on smartphones along with normal internet. Do you really need that on your game system?

The experience of reading the news on the TV was fun, and I liked the globe interface. Whenever I had my Wii on I was in the habit of checking the news for the heck of it.

For my serious news consumption I have an iPad and Al Jazeera, yes, but the Wii offered a quick, engaging way to catch up when I got home.

It seems there are people that still don't understand the concept of a "nice to have" and how enough "nice to haves" help build the experience of using a product. :-/

Am I the only one who is annoyed by the fact that gaming consoles are judged by what other services they carry, seemingly more then the games and game quality they were originally made for these days? To go back to a time when consoles were only for games and not full of extra things to worry about...

If not, then we can lock this thread

Gaming as a medium has to grow substantially to appeal to a worldwide consumer, and with that, having multimedia features that place other devices obsolete (DVD players, TVs, MP3 players, newspapers), is the key objective for companies.

Convenience is what people of today desire.