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toblix

Next² Generation Consoles

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Xbox: 2001

Xbox 360: 2005

PlayStation: 1995

PlayStation 2: 2000

PlayStation 3: 2006

Nintendo 64: 1996

GameCube: 2001

Wii: 2006

Okay, so it seems to me that since there's been about 5-6 years between console generations, we're about half-way through the prime lifetime* of our current generation of consoles should start hearing stuff about the next generation consoles soon, right? Maybe Q4 this year?

Owning all three consoles (but not having played on any of them as much as most of you) it seems to me that the Xbox 360 is the only one that fits this description. It has a shitload of games and they just released a "refresh" of the GUI. I still feel like the PS3 is new, and not in a good way. Granted, it was the last console I got, but it's like people are still talking about PS3 games that finally makes people buy a PS3. Shouldn't these awesome console-selling games come out almost immediately and not this late? I haven't heard anyone saying "this is the reason you should get an Xbox 360" in a long while. Those games have been out forever, it seems. That Home is now in beta seems so weird to me.

Each console's strengths and weaknesses seem to have been agreed upon now. Obviously the next version of each console will play on the strengths of both its predecessor and its competitors. The next Xbox will continue with awesome online shit, achievements, etc., the next Nintendo will be smaller and cheaper than the others and keep its motion controllers, etc. and the next PlayStation will be monolithic, sleek, and a marvel of technology.

However, how will the established weaknesses of each generation will be improved upon. Will each system "overcompensate" and focus a lot on ridding themselves of these associations? Will the next Xbox be as silent and stable as the Wii? Will the Next PlayStation be smaller, cheaper and have more platform exclusives (I don't know if Sony can just do this, or how this works)? Will the Wii be relatively more powerful and have more online functionality?

*Meaning they're the latest and greatest.

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I believe that, beyond the occasional acknowledgment that somewhere deep in the bowels of their company work is underway on the next-next-gen, you won't hear much about it this year.

None of the platform holders are in a rush. Only MS might want to move to next-next-gen in a year or two if hardware failures continue to plague them, but if they can manage to reasonably control those they'll want to stay exclusively focused on Xbox 360 for another while.

The gaming landscape is changing and the historical platform release cycles might not apply anymore. For the foreseeable future I expect all platform holders to focus on cutting production costs while pushing more online stuff or maybe some new peripherals. Or maybe introducing updated versions of existing hardware (e.g. Xbox 360 but with different form factor or design and better cooling etc.?).

Of course, I'm prepared to :eathat: and/or :getmecoat but I think I'm right.

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I'm having a hard time at the moment eating all the hats because PS3 has become a clear favourite of mine, the wii having been used once in 2008 and the 360 not getting much play time at all since Castle Crashers...

The Wii isnt even plugged in.

wow.

tell that to me 2 years ago.

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I spent more time on the PS3 in December thank to Little Big Planet and Wipeout HD. I'm also eying up Echochrome, Pixeljunk Eden, and The Last Guy. Nothing on 360 looks that interesting to me.

Sony are unfortunately really badly positioned for the next year. Without massive sales it's going to be difficult to push through hardware revisions and price drops, which they're already a year behind Microsoft on. There's every chance that recession will fuck things up even more for them. As someone pointed out to me recently, you can now buy a Blu-ray player and a 360 for less than the price of a PS3 ¬¬

wrt longer console cycles, I recall Sony execs saying the PS3 might potentially have a 10 year cycle. Given that the RSX chip seems to be a massive bottleneck that means it never really exceeds the 360 graphically, I find it doubtful, though it could still be the case as a legacy system (i.e. the PS2 for the past few years). It's a great pity, since the CPU is so beefy.

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Yeah, I've found myself favoring the PS3 as well, and having to remind myself I have a 360 for certain games. If it weren't for the fact that I got Prince Of Persia on 360 instead of PS3 as a gift, I'dve played it on PS3 just out of habit. When I got it almost exactly a year ago, I figured it was within striking distance of its potential, and I think this year it struck. Especially the PSN. Get all 3 of those games you mentioned Nachimir, you won't regret it.

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wow, really?

I've still been trying to think of a good reason to buy a PS3 and haven't found one.

Yakuza 3 looks promising and I like the idea of... Well that's it really.

The Wii has a bunch of titles that I'm sort of interested in: Okami, Resident Evil 4, Madworld and Battalion Wars 2 but nothing that has given me the urge to go out and buy one.

The 360, in contrast, has kept on trucking for me and I just can't imagine needing another console (depending on how good Madworld is) to play any other games.

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littlebigplanert, drakes fortune 1 &2, wipeout3d, pixeljunk eden, pixeljunk monsters, echochrome, MGS 4, and real HD are some good reasons.... but perhaps not platform purchasing ones necessarily.

But I know what you mean, it is weird, I even find it weird, but I friggin' love my PS3 (i friggin love you too mr Burgandy) , it gets used for all media related things now, and when cross platform game choices come about, i pick ps3.... GH World Tour, Dead Space, etc.

Also one extra bonus, it doesnt make a fucking sound.. ever.

My Elite makes weird background beeping noises when i play DVDs..... WHY? that on top of the fans and whirring makes ut a useless media device.

but back on topic.... new handheld revisions perhaps? i mean DSi is coming but that doesnt exactly count... think PSP will do anything to boost itself a bit?

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For me it's been the same story this year as it has been since the time of the Gamecube: the big consoles are peripheral gaming machines for me. The Nintendo DS is the prime platform that gives me the biggest gaming thrills and delights. Okay, maybe the big hitters on the 360 have done a bit more for me last year, but on the overall, the DS has seen the most love.

I don't expect a PS4 anytime soon. Microsoft is probably the first to announce a new project, but it's still some ways away. The consoles to me don't feel like they're reaching the end of their cycle, they're just warming up and they have lots of ways to go. I'd expect upgrades sooner than new consoles altogether. The Wii has especially placed itself outside of the console wars. The Wii will probably stay in homes for many, many years, since it isn't viewed as a 'disposable' or upgradable console by most buyers.

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PS3/PC for me too. I would have sold the 360 by now if it was actually worth anything.

Lately my entire gaming time is taken up with EVE Online and WipEoutHD and occasionally Dead Space.

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Will the Wii be relatively more powerful and have more online functionality?

I just thought of a name for it: Wii Tuu *

I'm currently playing on the PC mostly, and Xbox 360. Wii is mostly unused. Still haven't got a PS3. I think I will after I move to my own apartment (which should happen Q2 this year I hope).

* edit: damn forums, the Tuu is shupposed to be in superscript.

Edited by Erkki

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Microsoft is probably the first to announce a new project, but it's still some ways away. The consoles to me don't feel like they're reaching the end of their cycle, they're just warming up and they have lots of ways to go. I'd expect upgrades sooner than new consoles altogether. The Wii has especially placed itself outside of the console wars. The Wii will probably stay in homes for many, many years, since it isn't viewed as a 'disposable' or upgradable console by most buyers.

Nintendo probably can't get a better version of the Wii out fast enough, and it wouldn't surprise me if they were first to announce for the next-next gen (urgh. Hate that term, and that it fled to "next gen games" from the mouths of people like Braben and Molyneux once all the consoles were out). All their major usuals for a platform are now out for it, and outside of that there's mainly shovelware. I don't think I know anyone with a Wii who doesn't just have it collecting dust, whether it's next to another console or not. It's at serious risk of being regarded as a fad, which in itself is a major problem for games: No use winning over a new, much bigger audience if there's nothing of substance (or at least significant novelty) at their level of comprehension.

Also, Ninty have been dumping a lot of money into research. I doubt this was all for the DSi and motion plus ;)

Based on figures from Nintendo’s annual financial reports, the company is currently spending more than ten times as much on research and development as it was five years ago, and since the Wii was launched in 2006, R&D spending has more than tripled. While this could be attributed to any number of additional projects, the level of spending suggests that a large project is in the works.

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wrt longer console cycles, I recall Sony execs saying the PS3 might potentially have a 10 year cycle.

They've said that all of their consoles were designed for a 10 year cycle. That said, I do think the PS3 might have a longer time being the newest Playstation console than PS2 did.

Lately my entire gaming time is taken up with EVE Online and WipEoutHD and occasionally Dead Space.

Ooh, what's your nickname in EVE? I'm doing the trial right now.

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Ooh, what's your nickname in EVE? I'm doing the trial right now.

Tonsko, currently based in Curse. I'll add you to my address book tonight if you tell me your nickname.

It's an awesome game, and although I've only been at it about two months, I've upped sticks and moved to 0.0 space. It's a lot more interesting (and expensive. I've lost a few ships now, and although they're only cruisers, it can still hurt your pocket.)

If you decide to stay, I'll send you some money to get started. It's a MASSIVE game. Also, 3 basic rules:

1)Keep your clone upgraded.

2)Keep your clone upgraded.

3)Focus on learning skills first, sprinkle in other stuff so you can use new kit to stop getting bored.

4)Keep your clone upgraded.

Edited by Norfolk'n'Clue

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My nickname is Domaaco. I have no idea where I'm based, or what I should do next, or how I can find a charge for my lazors which aren't working anymore. EVE is intimidating.

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My nickname is Domaaco. I have no idea where I'm based, or what I should do next, or how I can find a charge for my lazors which aren't working anymore. EVE is intimidating.

I know that feeling! A couple of things: The weapons you select initially are down to the race you are - different races get different bonuses on their ships. For example, Minmatar craft get bonuses on AutoCannons, Caldari seem to have bonuses based around the railgun (and that's all I know as I'm still very new myself).

Download and install EVEMon.

Good resource links: http://www.eve-wiki.net/index.php?title=EVE_Resources

Ship loadout helper (you can grab these directly from EVEMon, and it will also tell you what skills you need) http://www.battleclinic.com/eve_online/ship_loadout_browse.php

I've mainly concerned myself with combat, but you can mine, trade, make things, reserach, spy, and in combat you can specialise in Damage, support, scouting etc etc. That's prolly barely half of it. Did I mention it was massive? :)

The best thing about it's intimidating nature, is if you can get past that, it keeps the dicks out largely, precisely because of that.

Oh yeh, here's an image that always makes me laugh:

2335016192_6003c39c4c.jpg

:mock:

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I love that EVE has an API.

That graph is 100% on the mark based on my observations of friends who were high-level EVE players. :grin:

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Two questions: not rhetorical. I don't know things. 1. How much farther can the technology go? Will they hit a plateau where there's no improvements left that would be substantial enough to justify everyone buying a new system? 1b. If that does happen, do you think they'll just screw us by putting out a new system anyway and counting on the fact that we'll have to buy it for the new games (you know you will). 2. Could there come a time when consoles are no longer financially viable, because the costs of the hardware are too high to remain within the reach of the consumer base? I think that's already a consideration; hence, the different versions of the xbox (arcade anyone?) and the fact that no one is fucking buying the PS3.

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I don't think any of the consoles are where they should be halfway through the cycle.

The 360 is closest, and if the hardware problems go away, they'd be closer to where they want to be. They'd be releasing this year if they were going by their previous standard, and I don't think they'd even release in 2010.

PS3 has not had the sales they wanted. Blu-ray isn't taking off as well as Sony had hoped either, but stand-alone sales are beginning to gain in proportions to PS3 sales.

And the Wii needs more quality games. While Nintendo could be blowing all that R&D money on new consoles, I suspect that a notable portion of it is looking to expand the capabilities of the Wii Remote, a la Wii Motion Plus. I remember two years ago that we were all speculating that by now games would present more precise and exciting ways to use the remote. But it seems that most of the control schemes I've seen on the Wii were used on launch games. I think Ninty realizes that, and is trying to upgrade the Wii with these retro-fitted add-ons. In my opinion, they should make them very cheap (maybe include two with Wii Sports Resort instead of one) and really push third-party devs to see what it can do (supposedly a second Red Steel is going to use it or something—I never played the original). If WM+ isn't a notable improvement, it'll be a bust. But the Wii will still remain the ultimate party console.

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I honestly don't think we really need another generation. Graphics can get a bit better, hardware more stable and framerates (a biggie for me) all at a flawless 60 fps, but we're just about there and I have an inclination that this cycle will last longer than others. PS3 is still finding its feet, 360 continues to sell, and Wii offers enough for the casuals as it is. Nintendo will preserve that price point as long as possible.

As for my current spread of play, I have all three consoles and a fairly high end PC, and the time spent on each is pretty even. I have to say though, having recently purchased a PS3, that its exclusives far surpass most on 360. I can't stomach console shooters because of the PC, so many of them are already write-offs. Banjo is great, and I love XBLA, but even "run of the mill" PS3 exclusives seem to be geared much more to the man who'd rather play solo. Obviously once the "new console sheen" wears away I'll play it a bit less, but for now I'm very much a fan of the PS3. Also, Yakuza 3 and Heavy Rain look to plug the enormous Shenmue III sized hole in my soul.

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I honestly don't think we really need another generation.

What, you mean like right now? Or ever?

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What, you mean like right now? Or ever?

It's inevitable that we'll hear something before the end of 2010, but I could easily go another six, seven years without hearing of PS4 and Xbox 720. I hate the way developers seem to just be grasping the full potential of a system towards the end of its life cycle (look at God of War and Twilight Princess).

I look forward to the day the advancements in tech are so minor that the industry relies entirely on software.

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I could easily go another six, seven years without hearing of PS4 and Xbox 720

Holy shit. Even though I fully agree it's sad that a console is "outdated" just as the really "good" games for it start to come out, but I think six more years with Xbox 360 is a bit much.

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