When would you be ready for next gen consoles?

[plasmid303]

Are you ready for the next generation of console hardware? If not, how long will you be comfortable with the current consoles?

The current cycle will be about 5 years in by fall of this year.

With next generation portable gaming devices out this year in the form of 3DS and PSP2/NGP, I thought I'd propose the question.

 

[EVILFACE]

I think the current consoles still have a 2-3 years of life.

 

[Deckard]

The question is what is next gen really. 3D? Movement response? Both?

I think from here the next big innovation seems likely to be 3d, but its still too early imo.

 

[Vader AL]

I think 2-3 years too.

Are there any pics, etc. of what next generation games will look like, is the technology there to give us a large enough bump in graphics/frame rate, etc. to warrant new systems? Seems like the companies are focusing on peripherals.

 

[dominishin]

This has been a pretty long generation... I'd say by next year, companies will talk about next-gen.

 

[Kibishii]

I would like to see more consoles take on PC MMORPGs like EQ, WoW, etc.

 

[Deckard]

I think 2-3 years too.

Are there any pics, etc. of what next generation games will look like, is the technology there to give us a large enough bump in graphics/frames per second, etc. to warrant new systems?

Theres a definate jump in quality from consoles to PC. The new BF3 for example, will feature larger maps with 64 player combat on the PC, something consoles are not currently capable of.

I would rather see a newer innovation like 3d integrated then just upping the graphics capabilities.

 

[Kabukiman]

From Sony and Microsoft? I can wait, probably 3-ish years.

From Nintendo? I'd like them to make an announcement this year.

 

[Calcifer]

I'm not ready yet to have my whole game collection outdated.

 

[Starkiller]

I'd say a year or two.

 

[Sweet Rabbit]

I'm not ready yet to have my whole game collection outdated.

backwards compatability

 

[Starkiller]

backwards compatability

Yeah, I mean just because the console is older doesn't mean the games are outdated. I still go back and replay a lot of my NES, SNES, PSX, and PS2 games.

 

[hairlesswookiee]

backwards compatability

Exactly. Except that Sony and MS have given us the shaft with BC. 360s play some xbox games, and some PS3s play PS2 games. Next generation better support ALL games of the previous generation.

I could see Nintendo announcing something this summer for holiday release. MS and Sony will probably wait at least another year, maybe two before announcing a new machine.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

I wonder what approach the companies will take for their next generation.

PS3 added HD graphics, online play, media centre solutions, digital games and movies, DLC, wireless comtrollers and so forth over the PS2

Xbox 360 added Hd graphics improved online play, digital games and movies, DLC, wireless controllers, avatars and so forth over Xbox

It seems likely the next generation will add...

3D, standard
More emphasis on motion control
DRM (which i hate)
Perhaps a focus only discless gaming
Larger community-based online integration into every game
Trophy/achievment expansion into gampelay rewards/content
and if some get their way; buying chunks of games instead of complete games

One approach i would like to increase the longevity of a game is simlar to the VIP packs offered by DICE and EA in Bad company 2, these added new maps free over the course of the year, these didn't feel as if they were taken out of the final game and reserved for us too pay to unlock later, they felt that they increased the 'new feeling' months after you bought the game, this tactic if publicized by the dev and publishers would keep the buyers of the games happy as well a reason to keep the game and a reason to keep coming back for a new replayability.

Unfortunatley this seems like DLC that isnt paid, for which it is, and thusly companies wont want to lose money they could take from the consumer.

The EA/DICE way seemed more friendly to the consumer like you were being rewarded rather than fleeced.

Perhaps when you buy the game you could pay £10 and over the course of the year new content is released and downloaded automatically. Like a one-off subscription with the guarantee of future decent content, rather than solo DLC released for increasing cost each time.

Or perhaps an easier way is to include trophy/achievements unlock rewards, so lets say you unlock a bit of content after doing a certain amount of trophies/achievements, this would be a great idea i think, it implements trophy/avhievements into the gameplay itself, especially since going after trophies/acheivements is quite popular now.

 

[Darth_Fatso]

I'm perfectly content with the current gen atm plus I never get new consoles on release so I'd say for me personally, another 4-5 years.

 

[Balsquat]

Hell I say right now!

I am only 25, but I plan to retire and play MARIOparty 3d all day long when I am an old man. Let's see how far we can take it!

 

[Starkiller]

Like all media, games sooner or later will be all digital and download. No hard copies on discs anymore.

The switch has already begun. 3D and motion control games will dominate next gen.

 

[Solidus]

This generation of consoles still has a lot of life left, and I doubt that Sony and Microsoft are even thinking about rolling out new consoles any time soon. 3D support has been added to the PS3, so we're bound to see even more 3D releases in the future. The "Move" and "Kinect" are also new technologies with a lot of potential.

In my opinion, the earliest that we'll hear news about something new, might be in 2 years. The latest in 4 years. But, as of right now, the hand-helds seem to be the new focus of the never-ending "console" war.

 

[Uncanny Web-Slinger]

^ The switch is lazy though, you can buy assassins creed in the shops for less than £10 yet they had it downloadable on the PSN for about £27 a while back, a ridiculous price considering it's about two years old

 

[dominishin]

Yep, I don't know why the hell someone would buy digital, the infrastructure is sloppy right now. You can get hard copies cheaper, can sell them later, and let friends borrow them.

Digital is overpriced and over protected.