Capcom the Console?

[Richardstone]

Firstly let me apologize if this thread is misplaced it's just, well I practically live in this section these days. It truly feels like a Golden Fighter, I mean age......a Golden Age for collecting PSX games, but I digress wildly. It occured to me that it would'nt be too expensive or left field for the big develpment houses like Capcom, Konami etc. to produce and manufacture their own dedicated 32Bit CD sytem. I chose CD over cartridge because you'd have none of the costs of developing new technology and presumably it's alot cheaper (even Nintendo made the switch eventually, sort of). They need be nothing more than a PC capable of emulating/running whatever games and perhaps, if they were succesful enough developing new Two Dimensional masterpieces. This machine would only be capable of producing 2D graphics but as the GBA and the huge rise in popularity of theso called 'retro' gaming scene that there would still be a market for this stuff. A fanboys money is as good as any others but, if I'm right about the (relatively) small develpmont and production costs plus the fact that they need only make new packaging for their old games means they'd surely be onto a winning ticket. If hundreds of thousands of people every day are flagrantly flouting copyright laws then it should be a message enough that there is demand, and it will only be quenched by Supply :yes:

So, would you buy one? I know I would for shizzle

I certainly think it's an idea with potential

[polobunny]

I would like to see a console made by capcom with no CD or cartridge, just the old roms (consoles under 32bit) in a silicon chip. You would only need that console in a controller format, psx style or arcade style since it fits fighting games so well. The controller would have a S-video or scart support and the power cord. Additionally , you could get an extension cartridge, that would fit in a expension slot for bigger games (PSX, Arcade, etc)

But capcom wouldn't do that, for the fact they can't sell such a little thing too expensive.

[Cyberxion]

It occured to me that it would'nt be too expensive or left field for the big develpment houses like Capcom, Konami etc. to produce and manufacture their own dedicated 32Bit CD sytem.
I chose CD over cartridge because you'd have none of the costs of developing new technology and presumably it's alot cheaper (even Nintendo made the switch eventually, sort of). They need be nothing more than a PC capable of emulating/running whatever games and perhaps, if they were succesful enough developing new Two Dimensional masterpieces.

Uh...no. Actually it's wouldn't be as cheap and easy as you'd think. Even if Konami and Capcom were to simply adapt their acade technologies for use at home (which would likely be the easiest route as far as development goes), there would still be costs involed in the process. For example, there would be marketing research costs, production costs, and advertising costs on top of that. This would be the case even if they went with your suggestions.

Hell, even making new packaging for thier old games is a cost they'd have to factor into the equation. Almost forgot that one.

This machine would only be capable of producing 2D graphics but as the GBA and the huge rise in popularity of theso called 'retro' gaming scene that there would still be a market for this stuff. A fanboys money is as good as any others but, if I'm right about the (relatively) small develpmont and production costs plus the fact that they need only make new packaging for their old games means they'd surely be onto a winning ticket. If hundreds of thousands of people every day are flagrantly flouting copyright laws then it should be a message enough that there is demand, and it will only be quenched by Supply :yes:

You're seeing this all in very short-sighted terms. The GBA and console markets are two entirely different beasts. You can get away with primarily releasing 2-D games on the GBA, but if these companies were to develop and market home consoles that solely played OLD 2-D games, they'd meet with market death.

I don't doubt that there's some sort of a market out there for this idea. Even so, it's a small market, and these companies aren't going to take such monitary risks for little to no return. Espeically when they can continue to serve the fans the retro compilations that have become so popular recently, at far less a cost to thier bottom line. If a $20 game fails at market, it's far easier to re-coup your losses then it'd be with what you're proposing.

As for your equating piracy with demand for such a product, you have to consider the fact that....piracy's free. You can't gauge the amount of people who'd be willing to buy such a system by who's downloading these games. Most people would simply be content to continue to play these games for free, and the only people who'd pay for this thing would be the uber-fans. And as I've pointed out (I hope..) they cannot and would not take such a risk at market just to serve what is essentially a small niche of gamers.

So, would you buy one? I know I would for shizzle

I certainly think it's an idea with potential

Would I buy one? Yeah, if this kinda thing ever did somehow find it's way to market, I probably would.

It's certainly an imaginative, if slightly flawed, idea.

For now we'll have to continue to rely on those compilations, as well as those odd TV Games joysticks Radica and Jakks Pacific keep releasing.

[Richardstone]

I was thinking along these lines, just expanded a little so as to have swapable carts. Perhaps carts would be cheaper?

Sega 6 in 1 Gamepad

See, dirt cheap and I think also that, instead of a Capcom or Konami generic one a branded Street Fighter II or Castlevania one would be HUGE

[Richardstone]

Would I buy one? Yeah, if this kinda thing ever did somehow find it's way to market, I probably would.

It's certainly an imaginative, if slightly flawed, idea.

For now we'll have to continue to rely on those compilations, as well as those odd TV Games joysticks Radica and Jakks Pacific keep releasing.

Thanks for a very good reply How about franchise based ones?

[Cyberxion]

I was thinking along these lines, just expanded a little so as to have swapable carts. Perhaps carts would be cheaper?

Well, I can't say, actually. If they could keep costs down, it might work. I wouldn't be opposed to seeing something like that though, if they could work out the logistics. At the very least, Konami should consider liscensing the Castlevania games for one of these TV Games dealies.

Though I'm betting they'd rather hold onto them and do something with them somewhere down the road. Maybe release some sort of anniversary collection as Capcom recently did with Street Fighter and Megaman, or something.

[Xaenn]

I wish they would still make 2-D games...Just because 3-D is possible, doesn't mean it's better in all situations.

I don't think it would be worthwhile to make, but it'd be cool.

[Zorlon]

Konami have had something along the line of an anniversary thing rumored in the works in the past for Castlvania, if they actually have had and still have these plans I wish they would get on with it

The unofficial translation of Dracula X got stopped in the past by Konami maybe this was because they had plans for it in a collection then, I don't know why exactly though.

Not that I'm a fan or anything, OK maybe just.... I'm a big fan ok

The only reason I can see why any anniversary collection has to be on a console system is for pure cash as they are gunna make more cash that way, but I guess if there is still a want afterwards yeah I imagine they would jump at the chance.

I'm sure Nintendo and Sega both know that there is still a great want for there older consoles as they get sold and resold all the time at places like eBay that anyone can see and thats just one place out of all the many places that have older console/game sales, so they both done a mini version of there older machines (N64 and Genesis that I've seen).

hurry up Konami jump on the band wagon

We do see older games pop up again it seems anyway from time to time, in GBA and in bonus disks.

Only other thing is that the older game industry does not have as much an impact as it should through the fault of us that are into emulation, and I'm sure this effects the sale of older games, though there are alot of people that will still buy these or they wouldn't get made, also I do still buy some games almost just for the retro bonuses included and I do fully play and enjoy them.

Anyway basicly I can't see any of these to come along just yet but maybe in the not so near future there will be such a thing as a Konami Castlvania TV Pad and a Capcom TV Arcade Stick

Though I think both could pull this off now, more so for Capcom as a TV Arcade Stick prebuild with several Classics, it would have the advantage of the Arcade Stick, though yeah I know you can get console Arcade sticks aswell....

Rambling :/

[polobunny]

Long life to retro gaming
Richardstone->Yeah, I saw a couple of those plug and play device, but none of them was really interesting to the point I would buy one.

[Cyberxion]

I wish they would still make 2-D games...Just because 3-D is possible, doesn't mean it's better in all situations.

I don't think it would be worthwhile to make, but it'd be cool.

It really is too bad, because 2-D should be embraced as a valid form of expression in videogames. It's the foundation that videogaming was built on, and shouldn't be written off as archaic or worthless just because a system can do 3-D. In a perfect world, developers would be encouraged to develop in 2-D if they so choose.

You still see 2-D games on the PS2 and XBox from time to time, but we'd be deluding ourselves if we really thought it still had as big a place in todays "OMG LOOK AT HALO" videogaming climate as it used to. It's all about graphics these days, and how many poly's a particular game is pumping out. Gamers seem too focused on how a game looks, and not focused enough on how entertaining they are. If more people would look beyond a game's graphics, a project such as this would perhaps have merit. But as I said earlier, only people like us would really be into it, and we're not a big enough group to warrant such a thing.

[polobunny]

Nothing like some good Circus Charlie or Tetris.
I'm sorry that 2D has been forgotten so fast, most of the 3D games are focusing on the image quality rather than the fun factor. (like Cyberxion said)
On that, they also put alot more time on sfx, which I totally agree is a good part of a game that his almost always neglicted, but still they forget about the fun factor. I could also complain about the always more technical gaming, pushing 5 butons only to jump in a game.... Just have a look at yer old Atari joystick. How much buttons you see? 2?!? Whoa, you got the special edition of the Atari joystick?
Now look at that GC controller. How much buttons on this one? I cannot even count up to that.

I think I enjoy 2D more than 3D, seeing how I love capcom fighting games and japanese shooters and beat em ups. I don't want to play Luigi's Mansion or that crappy Mario Sunshine.
Do you see billions of blood stains in Street Fighter? Now look at Bloody Roar 3.... deceiving. While BR3 still a great fighting game, is all this blood necessary? Don't you enjoy having a clean look at your opponent when fighting? I'm sure you don't like to have that blood splat in the camera!
Look at the sky in Halo, more directly at the sunshine. What do you see? Nothing? Even thought that lense type effect is well done, wouldn't you like to see more missions than that?

I think were losing game fun factor because were gaining GFX and SFX. Maybe not directly, but in a certain way, the game conceptor's put less time in making a good gameplay than in making a realistic (or not) world.

I dunno, if Cyberxion got any money left in his bank account, we could try to do a 2D only console?
128Bit only for 2D, wouldn't that be great? (insert Irony here) Eye candy + Great gameplay + 2D style, you can't ask for more.
Only kewl 2D games, pure retro gaming stylez baby.

[Cyberxion]

I could also complain about the always more technical gaming, pushing 5 butons only to jump in a game....

Heh, I'm with ya there.

I dunno, if Cyberxion got any money left in his bank account, we could try to do a 2D only console?
128Bit only for 2D, wouldn't that be great? (insert Irony here) Eye candy + Great gameplay + 2D style, you can't ask for more.
Only kewl 2D games, pure retro gaming stylez baby.

[mighty]

I really miss 2-D games their isn't enough of them left. They should make new games a little harder, I mean a lot of new games are a walk in the park. I think old games accually needed skill to beat the game, now they are made for anybody to beat. I think retro console would be cool. I'd buy one but for now we all have emulation.

[Richardstone]

I've been thinking this over and it had an idea, what about an MP3 or iPod style device that you could plug into your PC and download a few games onto. The only way to buy old games these days is through eBay or at high street stores bargain bin/2nd hand selection, the developers get none of this money . If they could market something capable of storing and emulating a few games at a time then they'd avoid the overheads for redesigning packaging, people might be willing to pay a small subscription to get access to 'classic' games

[Zorlon]

The problem with that is prolly the same as what it is like with mp3's now is that there will only be a small % of peeps going to go for that with the huge numbers of free services that do that now though illegal.

This also goes in hand with the small number of peeps that can't actully pay for anything online due to not having credit and or a credit card, either because of age or other reasons.

There will always be people that are willing to pay though saying that.

Sega do have a few old games that you can download and pay for a key to fully play.

though not to a TV pad but the same sorta idea