10 Innovative Gaming Technologies That Failed
Gaming has evolved and continues to evolve some amazing technology. Unfortunately, not every innovation brings money-making opportunities to its creators.
Valve's newest product, the Steam Deck, once again demonstrates how innovative the gaming industry can be. The success of such a simple but player-friendly idea should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention to Valve's track record. Still, Steam Deck is a success story among many failures over the past few decades.
Sometimes a system does have truly innovative technology, but for some reason, doesn't work as advertised. Whether it's bad marketing, bad engineering, or just plain bad timing, these gaming trends quickly become forgotten fads.
Ouya
The Ouya was touted as an "indie darling" console, allowing indie developers to easily make games that could be played on a TV. Not only that, but being an Android device means it's highly customizable. It is not innovation in the sense of a new technology. More importantly, it will concentrate a large number of enthusiasts. Think of a more accessible Raspberry Pi optimized for video gaming. Well, at least in theory.
Upon release, Ouya quickly revealed itself to be nothing more than a glorified emulator for mobile games on larger platforms Screen. Everything from the store's shallow library to the horrible input lag made the Ouya a flop in the first place. Everything it does can be done with existing technology. Today, it's notorious as one of the game's biggest blunders.
Kinect
It hurts to criticize the Kinect because it really is the most advanced as far as motion capture is concerned. Kinect is a fantastic piece of hardware used by many professionals for creative projects in games, movies and TV shows. Unfortunately, as a gaming accessory, it's plagued by shovelware and "AAA" titles that barely function.
Yes, great Kinect games like Dance Central and Fru showcase the impressive capabilities of the Kinect. However, the fact that Kinect was forced into a community that wasn't interested in action games sealed Kinect's fate when it came to gaming. If any gaming accessory deserves a second chance, Kinect is there, especially with advances in motion capture. This time, though, they should be sold separately.
Stadia
Google Stadia is billed as the next phase of gaming by its creators and marketing team. Seeing as they filed for bankruptcy earlier this year, it's clear that it didn't work out. for Strangely enough, Google Stadia is supposed to be a cloud gaming service that requires an internet connection and a "Netflix"-like subscription service, as well as its own dedicated "console."
Although an ambitious project, numerous hardware and software issues crippled the project before it even started. The model is also too greedy, requiring full-priced games on top of subscription services on barely functioning consoles. By January 2023, Stadia joins the ranks of Google's failed products.
3D Gaming
There was a time in the early 2010s when it seemed like everything needed 3D capabilities. The hype surrounding Avatar, the highest-grossing film of all time, certainly played a role in this. Gaming is no exception, as handheld consoles like the 3DS have found success with their new gimmicks. After that, however, it's been crickets.
Attempts to make a 3D game simply don't work when the core gimmick is actively disgusting. It's one of those cool experiences for a few minutes, but one that inevitably drains their welcome. Even the 3DS, far from a failure, was successful despite the gimmicks, not because of it, because the feature might be closed by the player.
Wii U
The Wii U has a ton of classic games, from The Wonderful 101 to Bayonetta 2. The Wii U is the first Nintendo console to support high-definition graphics, and it has an interesting new accessory in the form of the Wii U gamepad. It's even backward compatible with the original Wii, so it looks like a slam dunk. If only they sold it.
The Wii U failed to live up to the high expectations set by its record-breaking predecessor. The core gimmick of the gamepad is rarely, if ever, actually used. Very few games use this as anything other than an inventory screen. It doesn't help that Nintendo has marketed it so poorly that many customers confuse the Wii U for an accessory.
Virtual Boy
Designed by none other than Gunpei Yokoi, the father of mobile gaming, and with consoles like the Game & Watch, Gameboy, and Gameboy Pocket under his impressive belt, the Virtual Boy seemed destined for greatness. The Virtual Boy bills itself as the first console capable of stereoscopic 3D graphics, and even fulfills every '90s kid's dream: virtual reality goggles. Virtual The boys' best game should be the Blazers.
Unfortunately, the executives wanted to make a quick buck, not allow Yokoi to develop the system to be his best self. Virtual Boy's debut was a complete failure due to executive intervention. The technology has potential, but there's no time or game to live up to its hype. Unfortunately, Yokoi himself passed away a year later, preventing Yokoi from realizing his dream of a true VR console for mobile 3D games.
Miitomo
Miitomo was Nintendo's first foray into the social media market. For a game that has been slow to move in the online gaming space like Nintendo, Miitomo's presence is a pleasant surprise. It's a fun (and free) way to connect with friends in the online world using adorable Miis. The question system, in particular, earned many laughs from Nintendo fans.
Unfortunately, Miitomo's player base declined rapidly after the first few months, as Nintendo didn't seem to know what else to do with the concept. Lack of updates and people actually playing it just for the quick rewards. It closed its doors after less than two years on the market, and it seems It's like Nintendo will be revisiting the concept soon.
PS Vita
The PS Vita is the next evolution of the mobile gaming monster PSP. With such a large shoe to fill, all eyes will be on the Vita to at least live up to expectations. Unfortunately, Sony itself doesn't seem interested in supporting it. Despite its many improvements, the Vita proved to be "too good" for developers and gamers alike.
For one, the system was very powerful and required more expensive memory cards. Larger companies don't know how to use all this power, and don't seem to want to bother with the risky math. At the time, mobile gaming was being alarmist as a "dying industry," and many gamers and publishers balked at its standard $40 price point. In hindsight, that's a pretty laughable worry, since mobile games account for more than half of all video game revenue.
Sega Saturn
The Sega Saturn is Sega's follow-up console to the fairly successful Sega Genesis. To continue the hype for their console, Saturn will be boasting that Sega is the first-ever console that can run 3D polygonal graphics. These state-of-the-art graphics allow classics such as the Virtua Fighters and Panzer Dragoons flourished.
Unfortunately, its initial success quickly fizzled out, especially when the cancellation of the Sonic X-treme killed hype for the console. When the console promised "Sonic 64" type games but didn't deliver, it's no surprise that people abandoned it. Many of the console's flaws have been attributed to bad decisions made by Sega's upper management with regard to its development.
Dreamcast
The Dreamcast was Sega's answer to the emerging console wars of the PS2, GameCube, and Xbox. The console offers some genuinely innovative offerings, a breath of fresh air in an increasingly corporate market. Plus, it's the first console to push an online mode, and includes other innovations like motion sensors, second-screen functionality, video chat, 480p resolution, and even voice commands.
Unfortunately, the Dreamcast fell under the hype of industry giant PS2. Gamers also lost faith in Sega after the failure of the Sega CD, Saturn, and 32x. It also had no "killer app" at launch, as games like Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy VII, Resident Evil 2, and StarCraft all debuted on competing consoles. Simply put, the Dreamcast is a A case study of how not to post a console.
