Playstation Orbis is Coming... Retro Gaming Boost to Follow!

Rumor has it that the new Playstation home console developer's kits are out there now. The machine is code-named Orbis, and this could actually end up being the name of the machine- the Playstation Orbis. The guts of the machine are an incremental leap, etc. etc. And like the upcoming "Xbox 720", it will not be backward compatible, and used games will have to be "married" to the machine, requiring a license purchase online from PSN. (Choosing to not go online and just playing the game will not work, either.)

These are all just rumors, Kotaku broke the story recently. My point is not to examine the Orbis or the "Xbox 720" at this time.

If the console manufacturers and game companies are going to begin controlling used games in such a way, this could make the machines and their services suddenly a bit too complicated for all but the hard-core or "core" gamer. Rather than selling more new games, the effect could actually be the opposite: consumers could shy away from these new machines. Perhaps this could even pave the way for a fourth console to be introduced, that isn't worried about selling used games as much as being relevant to a broader audience. Or perhaps not. This is also not my point.

This is my point: Retro Gaming is hot right now, and it's about to heat up. What's to stop consumers from simply going back to their previous consoles, for which there is an abundance of used games that only need to be inserted and played? Take it a step further. What if an ample percentage of gamers decide to go and purchase, for example, a used N64 somewhere, because they miss the ease of inserting a game and just playing it? The current generation has showed us that graphics are not the only concern for gamers anymore. why wouldn't someone suddenly become nostalgic for those games that deliver the fun but don't require all the complicated B.S. that these new consoles are rumored to be bringing to the table? Could these consoles be approaching an era where the security and the need for maximum profit is just TOO MUCH to sell them in numbers like we see currently?

I am certain something like this will give tablets another serious boost in sales. A $60 game sells for $30 used, but requires a license, and let's say the license is $15. Is that really worth it? Will anybody but the most hard-core gamers really go for this? Or will tablets, with their $5 or $10 "high-end" or "top tier" games suddenly have that much more appeal?

Any way you slice it... if you're planning on selling your old PS2, N64, or even Sega Genesis at your yard sale this summer, now might be the time to stop and re-think the matter. And certainly it would be wise to hold on to your Wii, Xbox 360, or PS3 even after these companies have made the transition to their next consoles with their online services, just so you can continue to play those games.

By the way, there is no information yet as to whether the Nintendo Wii U will force consumers to buy new games like Microsoft and Sony's machines.