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[Lunatic_Gamer]

Bobby Kotick said that the console transformed gaming in contrast to every other innovation we’ve seen. The Ex-Activision CEO explains that the introduction of upgrades like real-time 3D visuals evolved gaming.

In a recent episode of the Grit podcast, Bobby Kotick elaborated that PlayStation 1 was the innovation gaming needed to see the biggest growth spurt. It helped the brand legitimize the gaming businesswith 3D graphics and transition to CD-ROMs.

The 3D graphics revolution and gaming genre expansion were only possible with the architecture that PlayStation 1 introduced, influencing future consoles to further innovate in the industry.

He also argues that there is no good hardware innovation as we used to see decades ago. Despite many promises, Kotick is especially disappointed with how VR devices like Oculus have turned out so far.

The Thing That Transformed Gaming Most Was PlayStation, Says Ex-Activision CEO

The former Activision CEO said in an interview that PlayStation 1 is what transformed gaming the most because of its innovative technology.

tech4gamers.com

 

[FrankWza]

Consoles stopped being looked at as toy-like and more like technology

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Kotick for PlayStation´s new CEO?

 

[od-chan]

Let's put aside the fact for a moment that it's a futile endeavour to try to single out one "thing" that changed gaming the "most", you could make a much better argument for "online" to be that thing. Hell, you could probably make a better argument for "home consoles" being that thing, seeing how gaming would probably not gone very far if it had been stuck at the arcade.

So this is both a very stupid question as well as a pretty stupid answer.

 

[yurinka]

Yes, it's a fact that PS1 made consoles mainstream because hugely increased the consoles market, making it meaningfully way bigger than it was in previous generations.

Then they grew it a bit more with the PS2, and since then the console market didn't meaningfully grew.

 

[Punished Miku]

I wouldn't have picked that personally. I think the PS2 with the DVD player and the black serious look did a lot more of that. I think Nintendo DS did quite a bit to usher in the era of mobile gaming, touch screen gaming and the blue ocean. Also the Wii obviously had some massively transformative elements.

Behind all those, and maybe a few others I'd put the PS1.

 

[Wildebeest]

CDROM and 32 bit processors changed it. Playstation just had those things.

 

[Synastry]

That's right.

I highly recommend watching From Bedrooms To Billions The PlayStation Revolution.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

From the perspective of a third party publisher it is easy to see why he chose that - Sony actually treated third parties like trusted and equal partners and did everything in their power to help them succeed. Like the complete opposite of how Nintendo treated them, and the results speak for themselves.

For instance people say it was CDs that swayed FFVII onto the PlayStation, but equally if not more important was the favorable licensing agreement terms Sony have them.

 

[peronmls]

Consoles stopped being looked at as toy-like and more like technology

How when they hardly make exclusives for said "technology"? What are they trying to show off?

 

[Gaiff]

 

[DeepEnigma]

Back when they slashed game prices, not raising them.

 

[Horseganador]

The first Playstation changed the way we viewed video games, transforming the entire industry from something only for kids to something for everyone.

 

[FIREKNIGHT2029]

He’s right. Before the PS1 consoles were looked at as toys for kids, the PS1 totally changed that perception.

 

[baphomet]

I wouldn't have picked that personally. I think the PS2 with the DVD player and the black serious look did a lot more of that. I think Nintendo DS did quite a bit to usher in the era of mobile gaming, touch screen gaming and the blue ocean. Also the Wii obviously had some massively transformative elements.

Behind all those, and maybe a few others I'd put the PS1.

The PS2 didn't transform anything. It was just an upgraded PS1.

 

[Idleyes]

Nah, I don’t think video games stopped being seen as kids' toys because of any specific console like the PS1, 2 or any console. It’s more about the fact that the kids who grew up playing games became the very adults now making them, for both their peers and younger generations. Even if home consoles had never existed, that shift was already happening in arcades. From what I remember, it was always a mix of young adults, actual kids, and even some fully grown folks hanging around.

 

[Hookshot]

The marketing around the PS1 it is what convince the masses that gaming was evolving into something new, despite PC existing and playing those same games.

Breaking away from just games media into the wider entertainment industry is where Sony flourished. It played CD's so music show/mags could also cover it, and for all CD's allowed FMV, better tracks, fancier graphics and longer stories, Ocarina of Time was the highest rated game of that Gen, making it all irrelevant to people reviewing in the games industry while PlayStation came along.

 

[proandrad]

Kotick for PlayStation´s new CEO?

Imagine the re meltdown.

 

[LectureMaster]

Back when they slashed game prices, not raising them.

 

[nowhat]

One could have said, it was more than met the eye.

 

[DenimDevil]

Bullshit. Gaming was already going through a huge shift and Playstation just happened to be there at the right time.

 

[nowhat]

Sony originally wanted to do a addon CD device for SNES. It eventually fell through. This is why we now have PlayStation.

(Although yes, Sony was kinda being a dick as well, it's a long story - but in the end, Nintendo shafted Sony, Ken Kutaragi wouldn't let it go, and now we have a PlayStation. In part, due to Nintendo.)

 

[YCoCg]

Bullshit. Gaming was already going through a huge shift and Playstation just happened to be there at the right time.

Nah, especially in Europe, Sony made a push to get demo stands in night clubs and other such places, and that changed the view of consoles just being the "Nintendo" in the kids room, here you had people getting smashed, grouping round these things checking out the Namco and Psygnosis line up, people taking turns playing Ridge Racer, Tekken, Wipeout, etc. No other console maker at the time was doing those sorts of moves and Sony helped push that shift.

 

[DeepEnigma]

That was the whole selling point of the disc-based games. "Cheaper than carts, bigger worlds, better sound and audio, all for $39.99 and $49.99, not $70-$80+++ carts." (paraphrased)

Which helped with the mainstream appeal as well.

 

[LectureMaster]

That was the whole selling point of the disc-based games. "Cheaper than carts, bigger worlds, better sound and audio, all for $39.99 and $49.99, not $70-$80+++ carts." (paraphrased)

Which helped with the mainstream appeal as well.

Absolutely, it remembered quite a few early game design compromises were revolving around fitting the capacity of a cartridge.

It was always the most exciting to see a newcomer with better advanced technology to step in a well established market, like PS1, iPhone, and Tesla. Curious to see what's the next game changer.

 

[IntentionalPun]

I mean yeah, but it’s all from PC gaming lol. And this isn’t giving N64 enough credit.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Meh. SEGA consoles were better.

 

[Badlucktroll]

Meh. SEGA consoles were better.

I am ensaddened that the SEGA SAGA has ended

 

[phant0m]

Meh. SEGA consoles were better.

Saturn kinda sucked but man the DC had such potential and was such a cool console

 

[DenimDevil]

Nah, especially in Europe, Sony made a push to get demo stands in night clubs and other such places, and that changed the view of consoles just being the "Nintendo" in the kids room, here you had people getting smashed, grouping round these things checking out the Namco and Psygnosis line up, people taking turns playing Ridge Racer, Tekken, Wipeout, etc. No other console maker at the time was doing those sorts of moves and Sony helped push that shift.

Sony played their cards right for sure, but I remember Megadrive and SNES kiosks at the most randon places, this was nothing new. My point is gaming was booming, Playstation or no Playstation.

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

This is hardly controversial. If you are old enough, you have noticed the paradigm shift in how mainstream media perceived video games back then.

 

[Muffdraul]

Bullshit. Gaming was already going through a huge shift and Playstation just happened to be there at the right time.

I think I agree. What the Playstation really did was succeed where the 3DO, CDi (and ultimately the Saturn) failed.

But I mean, the PSX deserves a lot of credit simply for not failing.

 

[bitbydeath]

Don’t know about that.
Playing Duke Nukem 3D and the Command and Conquer games with friends over a 14.4 kbps modem was definitely a game changer (for better or worse)
worse

 

[YCoCg]

My point is gaming was booming, Playstation or no Playstation.

Where are you from? You really underestimate how much in the UK at least, the SNES and Megadrive were seen as kids things, shit like the 3DO was non-existent and Sony propped up UK studios at the time and focused on growing into the young adult market, they made it cool for this period, especially when Tomb Raider blew up the scene, yeah it was on PC and Saturn too but THE image of Lara Croft was associated with PlayStation and the pride behind this massive product that it was also made in the UK, along with a lot of other titles in that era, really broke the mould in terms of how people saw gaming. I miss that UK focus the PS1 era had.

 

[TGO]

Changed, not saved
The NES saved gaming from crashing and continued as it was as a kids hobby.
The Playstation exploded the industry to new heights.

 

[adamsapple]

That was the whole selling point of the disc-based games. "Cheaper than carts, bigger worlds, better sound and audio, all for $39.99 and $49.99, not $70-$80+++ carts." (paraphrased)

The other scam everyone seems to be OK with for some reason is digital games costing the same as physical games, even though it's saving the publisher money on needing to press discs, booklets, physical shipping and stocking fee. They're still exactly the same price for the customer.

More people need to make a fuss about this.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Saturn kinda sucked but man the DC had such potential and was such a cool console

Saturn is the greatest console in console history.

 

[Wulfer]

He’s right. Before the PS1 consoles were looked at as toys for kids, the PS1 totally changed that perception.

Not really, it's just those of us that had Pong, Atari's and Nintendo's never grew up! LOL

 

[TheGodfather07]

You know you got something special when you sell over 100m units on your first try. Everything lined up so perfectly for sony its as though the universe itself destined for it all to play out the way it did.

 

[DenimDevil]

Where are you from? You really underestimate how much in the UK at least, the SNES and Megadrive were seen as kids things, shit like the 3DO was non-existent and Sony propped up UK studios at the time and focused on growing into the young adult market, they made it cool for this period, especially when Tomb Raider blew up the scene, yeah it was on PC and Saturn too but THE image of Lara Croft was associated with PlayStation and the pride behind this massive product that it was also made in the UK, along with a lot of other titles in that era, really broke the mould in terms of how people saw gaming. I miss that UK focus the PS1 era had.

I was in Belgium at the time. Yes Playstation took gaming to new heights and helped make it more mainstream. But transform? No.

 

[Wulfer]

Sony originally wanted to do a addon CD device for SNES. It eventually fell through. This is why we now have PlayStation.

(Although yes, Sony was kinda being a dick as well, it's a long story - but in the end, Nintendo shafted Sony, Ken Kutaragi wouldn't let it go, and now we have a PlayStation. In part, due to Nintendo.)

And that boys and girls is how Playstation was really born! Nintendo was even warned this could happen because Nintendo had to show Sony how the Nintendo operating system worked so, the drive could connect to it! When Nintendo backed out of the deal all Sony needed was new keys (OS) to run what is now the PSX. Basically, Nintendo handed its keys over to Sony on how to get the engine started.

 

[RoboFu]

Yup but this didn't get into gaming industry until the 90s so he probably doesn't know anything before then.

But yeah super Mario bros was just as ground breaking as virtua fighter

 

[Punished Miku]

The PS2 didn't transform anything. It was just an upgraded PS1.

It was most people's 1st DVD player

 

[lifa-cobex]

Kotick for PlayStation´s new CEO?

Imagine the re meltdown.

Their would be a meltdown here too.
Just for more rational reasons.

 

[Guardian Monkey]

Oh come on now. He is saying that because the Activision nes/snes games were trash tier. Activision did not make a mark until the ps1.

 

[Sentenza]

Sounds like nonsense, especially in front of far more significant milestones (like the dawn of dedicated 3D accelerators etc), but I'm not surprised this forum is dickriding the suggestion so joyfully.

 

[bender]

Saturn is the greatest console in console history.

 

[Neff]

NES or Game Boy, fact

 

[baphomet]

It was most people's 1st DVD player

And that transformed gaming how?

 

[SkylineRKR]

PSX was a game changer if you like it or not.

Before PSX, Sega and Nintendo didn't really go anywhere. They had the market locked down. They kept going on with their archaic business, and didn't really target anyone beyond kids and teens. Their consoles looked like toys, and were marketed as such. Sega was a bit more forward thinking, but too early with many attempts.

PSX just took them all out. Everything was available on there, and they didn't really aim at a a specific group. I remember, a few years after launch, I saw them popping up in living rooms left and right. It wasn't tucked away in a bedroom, or kids playroom. Parents were also using it. I think consoles kind of became accepted. I wasn't like one of the 4 geeky kids in class with a console, but suddenly everyone apparently had one at home.