Listen "Console Castles (Ep. 6)"
Episode Synopsis
Mitch and Blake debate the continuing relevance of dedicated gaming consoles to the video game business. They begin with a discussion of the economics of the console business, and how console manufacturers built defensible moats that have remained relevant for over 40 years. Mitch compares the current state of the console business to the theatrical feature film business -- and how both have become the domain of big budget blockbusters with cultural significance but dwindling market share. They discuss the history of Nintendo, how its often-contrarian business strategy has paid off over time. Mitch explains how a lawsuit with Nintendo got him into the video game business. They conclude with a look at Sony and Microsoft's different responses to cross-platform play, as powerful platform-based publishers like Epic challenge the traditional console model, and what it means to the future of the business. Links & Show Notes: Atari Alex St. John Xbox GDC Launch Video Nintendo Playing Cards (1889) Valve's Hardware History "Iwata chooses violence" Pokemon GO / Niantic Atari Games v. Nintendo List of Cross-Platform Games (Q1 2023)
More episodes of the podcast Gamecraft
The EA "LBO"
15/10/2025
The Sum of the Parts (Ep. 24)
21/05/2025
AI as a Platform (Ep. 23)
14/05/2025
Hasbro and Lego (Ep. 22)
07/05/2025
The Venture Deadpool (Ep. 21)
30/04/2025
China (Ep. 20)
23/04/2025
Valve (Ep. 19)
16/04/2025
The Mobile Gaming Duopoly (Ep. 18)
09/04/2025
Cycles & Survival (Ep. 17)
02/04/2025
Artificial Intelligence (Ep. 16)
13/03/2024
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.