The Cultural Effects of the Ever-changing Mass Media: Online Interactive Home Gaming Systems

In June of 2011, Nintendo announced that they were working on a new next-gen console Wii U, which would represent the eighth generation of gaming consoles. It is expected that the eighth generation of video game consoles will replace their predecessors Xbox 360, Wii and PlayStation 3, which are widely used today. Thereby, the development of new devices always means the addition of new features to the old ones. For example, on 21st of May 2013, Xbox family from Microsoft, announced a new eighth-generation video game console Xbox One, which will greatly surpass its predecessor Xbox 360. The original Xbox 360 supports Internet connection and has Xbox Live - an online service, which is used to download games, videos, music, demos, and allows users to play online. The console also has Kinect, which is a “controller free and entertainment experience” for Xbox 360. It is actually a revolutionary peripheral device that allows users to interact with the console via two infrared VGA cameras, without any controllers. Xbox One maintains the same characteristics as Xbox 360, but of course it is more advanced and improved. For instance, with the help of Xbox One, user can surf all over the Internet using Skype, Internet Explorer, etc. The console can be used as HDMA TV adapter. In fact, the company's representatives emphasized the Xbox One's TV feature during the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2013. At the early stage of developing the eighth generation consoles, there were rumors that next-gen hardware would not use the optical disc drivers, and they would come to replace with the digital distribution. It means that Xbox must be connected to the Internet all the time. However, this idea was later rejected. During the announcement of Xbox One, it was said that the console would require a constant connection to the internet to enable online communication between the players and registration of their achievements. Nonetheless, this idea was rejected as well because Sony Corporation, which is the main competitor of Microsoft, has presented their product, which does not require such restrictions as Xbox, and it caused a lot of negative feedbacks towards the Xbox developers. The above mentioned Microsoft’s rival-product is none other than Sony PlayStation 4, and it is also representing the eighth generation of video game consoles. It was presented as home media-center, and has a cloud-based gaming service as well. The information about achievements and trophies can be uploaded on user's Facebook or Twitter accounts. PlayStation 4 (as the Xbox One) can also be used offline, but the console fully brings out its recourses only with the enabled Internet connection. Today, when the Internet speed and costs have become available for most of the people all over the globe, almost every electronic device uses the Internet services. Nowadays, Internet means “communication”, and online services in modern videogames can help to establish a contact among video gamers, who are outcasts by their nature. That is why every modern videogame has a multiplayer mode. PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are not the only game consoles that are heavily stuffed with media features. Another project by Valve, which is also considered as the eighth generation gadget, is called Steam Box. The device is specially optimized for working with Steam service and using Steam Big Picture technology. Valve tends to integrate a large system unit, which is PC and video game console in one compact package in the form of a grapefruit-sized box. Since consoles and personal computers are most often used by gamers, it was decided to make a prefix on a miniature personal computer that supports only games but none of the extra settings and applications. PC games are cheaper and support mods, while a PC itself is more expensive in many times. Therefore, Valve tried to find a compromise between these two solutions, as the games for consoles do not require any installations, downloads and settings, and gamepad is much more convenient to use than a keyboard and mouse. However, the media functions that PC has, were handed down to Steam Box. It is also supports TV-shows broadcasting, music download, films, games, etc. According to Valve’s CEO, Gabe Newell, PC has limitations in terms of interoperability with the games: multitouch technology of iPad is impossible to use, since there is no gestures-control function as in the Xbox 360 with Kinect controller and PlayStation 3 controller with PS Move. Newell states that the adaptation of the Internet in everyday life makes PC the thing that should be promoted in every house. Everybody uses Twitter, Facebook, and iTunes, therefore, if choosing a PC as the home system, all the content that was purchased earlier, will be immediately available everywhere in the house, and there is no need to buy it again. Since 2008 everything led to removing the computer from the house. Its functions could easily be preformed with the other devices connected to the internet. Smart TV is used for surfing the Internet, watching movies and lostening to music. To play video games, the gaming consoles are used, and now, when the Internet is available for most of the people, one can play MMORPG via these consoles. A lot of people are using laptops and tablets for work nowadays. Meals can be ordered directly from the built-in refrigerators panel. The eightht generation of gaming systems could easily use non-optical disk drive systems and could be constantly connected to the Internet, but the fans do not want it, and the desire of the customer is the law for every company.
About the author: Jessica Sanders is a bachelor in English philology and sociology at California University. Jessica is currently working as one of the best writers at the https://essayswriters.com/ She also studies feminine psychology.