FEATURE: The longer console lifecycle

Last year, Microsoft’s game software boss Phil Spencer offered a telling quote about the direction of the games industry to MCV.

It wasn’t about motion controllers or new online services – it was about the market forces that are allowing those things to appear: Do we need a new console? I don’t think we need one right now.”

While the industry saw a relatively quick switch from Xbox, GameCube and PS2 to 360, Wii and PS3, this generation is shaping up to be quite different.

And with more diverse interface technology on the way – Project Natal, Wii Vitality Sensor and PS3’s motion controller – this all makes complete sense: the longer cycle is needed to make these new add-ons commercially viable for all.

MCV spoke to Sony’s Michael Denny, Microsoft’s Chris Lewis and Nintendo’s Rob Lowe. To read the full feature, click here.