gaming Next gen. consoles taking a bit too long?

[OkBuddy 586]

This topic needs to be said.

Does anyone think that the next gen. consoles are taking a bit too long to be finished? I do. I mean, the thing that pisses me off the most about this is that neither the Xbox 720 or the PS4 have been ANNOUNCED yet. (And for those of you who think Wii U is going to be next gen., I think this console is just catching up with the other current gen. systems.

 

For crying out loud we now know what the graphics look like. For example:

 

Unreal engine 4:

 

Cryengine 3:

 

and dozens of developers showed us the power of next gen graphics.

But with Cryengine 3's first game, Crysis 3, it will be coming out as soon as 2013 on the Xbox 360 and the PS3. Wow. Plus, the Cryengine 3 in general is already out now!

 

And Unreal engine 4's first game will be on the PC for that same year.

 

See what I'm talking about?

 

So who else thinks of this? Crytek. The creators of Crysis and Cryengine.

 

So what is your opinion on this?

Comment bellow!

[Autumn Skies 49]

Sony wants the PS3 to last 10 years at max, but knowing them, they'll try to one up everybody else and come out with the PS4 sooner rather than later.

 

As for the Xbox 720, I'd rather Microsoft wait and make sure they don't screw anything up. I want them to put lots of effort into their next console as they have never disappointed me.

 

As for the Wii U, I see it as next gen seeing as how the Wii did have its share of nice games and I believe the Wii U will have better ones.

[My little pwny 1,392]

Historically, video game consoles came out 4-6 years after the previous generation, so you are correct. Can you believe the Xbox 360 came out in 2005? Its crazy, it doesn't seem that long ago to me, but yet it is. Why is this? There's been no demand for a new console. It's as simple as that.

 

Some people predicted that the PS3 would be the sony's premier console until 2016 because it was so 'advanced' and 'expensive'. Luckily they made the slim version since then and they can make the ps4 sooner. I think Microsoft, Sony, and whatever company looking to join in the console war will study the sales of the WiiU before making any major annoucement regarding their next-gen console. In the meantime, enjoy your 'next gen' 3DS and PS Vita

[AegisReflector 886]

I think it's because our technology is becoming way too advanced and complex that the systems are always under-going massive restructuring and therefore take more time to develop.

 

It's also because of competition. The big 3 want their systems to be the best out of this generation, so they try to perfect a great console that can withstand at least 6 years (since that's the average generation gap) for the public to be interested in.

 

Sony and Microsoft are actually smart though. They aren't quickly releasing info on their next projects yet because they know that the PS3 and 360 are still going massively strong amongst their audiences, and the audience themselves probably don't want to switch to an entirely new system just yet. Give or take 2 more years, then the next phase really begins.

 

Nintendo needed to release the WiiU because their target audience was getting more and more tiresome with the basic capabilities with the Wii (and it's "friendly" library of games, so to speak). U is showing such great promise that most of Ninty's fanbase can hardly wait for this console to come out and surprise them again, only this time with a promise filled with "hardcore" games and a centralized (stable) internet environment.

[Acoustic Cloud 2,202]

Actually microsoft said they have something big to be announced... but it won't be until E3 2013 so... i guess we will have to wait, but it is time for something new.

[MLP Nick 8]

I dont think it takes too long it really takes a long time to make a next gen console.The Wii U is coming out soon cant wait for it.

[AegisReflector 886]

Also realize that the PS2 is still going under production. Heck, even a few games are still being produced for it. It's because PS2 is the best selling gaming console so far and demand for it is still there. Imagine the lifespan the PS3 will have.

 

I conclude that the demand of consoles will be very stable for the next generation of gaming that the big 3 might make these their main consoles for a number of years to come, because we are already so far ahead with the internet age and the entertainment aspect is finally being perfected by Nintendo's TVii, so I won't really be surprised if they just started releasing system update discs or whatever that internally boosts up a system's capabilities for better graphics and more storage. I'm pretty sure we are so close into perfecting the highest quality of graphics, because really, when you look at Unreal 3 or the engine shown in Agni's Philosophy, it's really breathtaking.

[silvadel 1,393]

What annoys me actually about the new consoles is how conservative they are being in their specifications. I mean usually consoles have an edge on all but the most bleeding edge PC when they come out -- this next gen is not going to be that way. And of course the current gen is an utter joke right now powerwise.

[AegisReflector 886]

And of course the current gen is an utter joke right now powerwise.

 

Elaborate on that.

 

Do you mean specs or just the overall gaming experience?

 

I personally think that the PC age is hardly going to affect actual game consoles. I'd be more concerned about the tablet and iPhone fields.

[Fghik 360]

Sony is too expensive. (I'm not paying a gross-exaggeration of money for a console I can only play when I don't have homework)

 

Microsoft is ripping you off. (Having to buy a separate hard-drive. Having to pay monthly for every one of their services. Paying out the butt for a game you can get for half the cost on PC.)

 

Nintendo has really been my company of choice here. Sure they've been a bit behind on technology; but they've been innovating, rather than focusing on 'let's get the best graphics and screw over our customers.' Motion Control? Touch Screens? Three-FREAKING-Dimension? Kinect and PSMove (or whatever it was called) are indeed motion-based, but they followed (and in my opinions didn't follow very well either.) And I expect to see the "Controller with a screen" adapted into Microsoft and Sony's next systems as well. Of course blowing everything out of proportion with "SUPER HD" "SCREEN ON THE BACK TOO" "INSANE PROCESSOR" "NANOBOTS WITH SCREENS INSIDE THE SCREENS" "YOU CAN FREAKING EAT YOUR TELEVISION." Also, at a higher price tag as always. Call me a fanboy if you want, but as an owner of a Wii, 3DS, 360, and a frequent player of my friends' sony stuff...I love my Nintendo stuff far more than any of the others. Screw HD graphics.

[silvadel 1,393]

It is specs -- in essence when there is a dual release of any game on PC and on the consoles right now the PC wins by a massive margin. The hardware in an xbox 360 or PS3 is so archaic you wouldnt want to use it for web browsing. I find it hard to believe they get as much money for them as they still do.

[Radiance64 7,053]

Next gen starts November 18th when the Wii U comes out, whether anyone likes it or not- the Directx 7 processor, GPGPU architechture, and 1 GB of RAM all put it above current gen already. I believe it will very likely be able to compete graphically with Microsoft and Sony's next consoles, it'll probably be just a little bit weaker like the PS2 was(and look how that sold anyway). I also believe it'll support Unreal Engine 4 since it's a scalable engine anyways and I believe Epic said it could.

 

And you forgot Fox engine, that looks pretty sweet, probably the most promising middleware/next gen engine imo.

Edited September 17, 2012 by (\SBB64/)

[Autumn Skies 49]

It is specs -- in essence when there is a dual release of any game on PC and on the consoles right now the PC wins by a massive margin. The hardware in an xbox 360 or PS3 is so archaic you wouldnt want to use it for web browsing. I find it hard to believe they get as much money for them as they still do.

 

Because a lot of gamers are loyal to the gaming companies they grew up with. And not a lot of console gamers want to waste time and money building a pc to play games or even waste $800 buying a computer "specifically made for gaming."

[Gone Airbourne 21,977]

Shoot to be blatantly honest with you I could care less when they come out with new ones... Idk why but I have been getting into PC gaming recently and it is always improving from year to year. Idk why but the older gen consoles ,to me, had some of the best games. Not that the current gen consoles have good games. It just seems to me like they are putting out the same stuff over and over now a days...

[Creamy Arty 6,252]

The big 3 want their systems to be the best out of this generation, so they try to perfect a great console that can withstand at least 6 years (since that's the average generation gap) for the public to be interested in.

 

Sony and Microsoft are actually smart though. They aren't quickly releasing info on their next projects yet because they know that the PS3 and 360 are still going massively strong amongst their audiences, and the audience themselves probably don't want to switch to an entirely new system just yet. Give or take 2 more years, then the next phase really begins.

Some four or five months ago I saw a thread about the 720 allegedly being six times more powerful than the 360, but upon reviewing the specifications sheet (which may have been revised since then, I don't know) I found that the 720 would still be only half as powerful as my computer was when I rebuilt it last year. The next generation of consoles sure is taking its time getting here, and the biggest problem with that is the fact that the "next generation" of visuals has been here for a long time, and by the time the new consoles arrive they'll still be languishing several generations behind of what I've had for a while now. It's inevitable that consoles will be very archaic within a year of their release, at most, regardless of how much foresight is put into their design, but the spec sheets show them using hardware that's already several generations old. Six years might be a stretch if they don't make some updates to their planned hardware. It would appear they aren't trying to make a modern system, just something better than what we have now. I don't know, but it really seems like Microsoft and Sony aren't doing much besides churning out gimmicks these days. As a PC guy, I'm currently fighting the impending release of Windows 8, which may not be the worst gimmick Microsoft has ever made but it'll be the one with the most widespread and bad repercussions.

 

Maybe word has spread since E3, but many people at the time didn't seem to realize that most of the jaw-droppingly gorgeous games they saw coming out for the PS3, 360, and possibly PC were in fact running on development PCs, not the consoles, so what they saw is not what they will get. That may kill some enthusiasm for the current gen and increase people's desire for the next's arrival.

 

so I won't really be surprised if they just started releasing system update discs or whatever that internally boosts up a system's capabilities for better graphics and more storage.

Software and firmware updates are already pushed out online, which does help a little bit with those things. The problem is mostly with hardware limitations, which can't be changed. What you bought is pretty much what you're stuck with, aside from being able to upgrade a hard drive. That is, unless Sony and Microsoft decide to get even more proprietary with their form factors and make it impossible to put a standard hard drive in their consoles like you can now.

 

Because a lot of gamers are loyal to the gaming companies they grew up with.

That's understandable, but they have to draw the line somewhere. One can use a company's past achievements to get an idea of what to expect from them, and one may start looking for them to lead the way as a new generation dawns, but each new thing they put out should be carefully scrutinized or else you're sure to get burned for your complacency.

 

And not a lot of console gamers want to waste time and money building a pc to play games or even waste $800 buying a computer "specifically made for gaming."

True. But I'd just like to put it out there that I've built one for around $400, and I suppose the best thing about a computer designed specifically with gaming in mind is that it'll also do anything else you throw at it better than a cookie-cutter machine. And it's not really a "waste," it just depends on where your personal priorities are.

[silvadel 1,393]

In a lot of ways the current games do not hold a candle to some of the simple games that came out for the Atari 5200 way back in the day.

[Cranium Tyranus 216]

I'm not too crazy about the Next-Gen consoles really. I'm a Nintendo fan, so I will probably pick up the wii U, but this gen kinda disappointed me a bit. I am an older school of gamer, so please don't take offense, but the major games of this generation have had the major focus of "leveling" your character so that he'll be strong enough to face a basic enemy of a different area. Either that or the main focus was shooting.

 

I'm not saying all games were like this, ninja gaiden two is an example of skill over grinding, although it gave you the illusion of beefing your sword up, it was really just expanding you combo tree, the weapon could do more damage, if you could exploit enemy defenses and go in for an, "Oh Sweet Merciful Celestia!" combo. Most of the Xbox arcade games and PSN games were like this too, but those are significantly smaller games and I feel like they could've done more if they had more storage space then a download title typically offers, that and more manpower....

 

So, as far as the "Xbox 720" and "PS4" goes, we'll see. I've already resigned to get a wii U, and I'll be happy enough with that I suppose, I held off buying arkham city this long just so I'll have something to play when it comes out.

[ScottishUnicorn 284]

I'll be honest here, I want the Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 to go jump in a lake. It's holding back technology and developer's creativity now, and we need new hardware. All these games being ported to PC from console look terrible, Darksiders 2 could have been gorgeous looking, but we're stuck with terrible looking textures.

[Ice Storm 1,020]

Honestly, with the general costs of production and the way the marketing of the current consoles are, I know for a fact, through several, reliable in-town sources, (one of which being a local gamestop), that both Mircosoft and Sony lose about 300$ for every console sold because of the technology they have put in it and the price of which they have to sell it for. that being said, consoles in general because of the advances in technology are getting harder and harder to program for from a development side of things.

 

As much as I love my Xbox, with the way things are heading for console gaming, I think one of the primary reasons that Both Sony and Microsoft are taking as long as they are on their new consoles is because it will be the last console gaming platform that they are going to make. The PC has already achieved a level of advancement to where the developers can easily program for, and it's a lot easier for a gaming company to program for one set of programming, rather than 4 different sets between PC, Xbox, Sony, and Nintendo. And yes, the argument can be made that they have to program for Mac users as well. Personally, I'm a console gamer. I own an Xbox 360 and I've never really consider doing anything else until I realized something. At least with shooters, PCs are more responsive, RPGs can be a lot more open and dynamic and PCs can run graphics that a console can't without inhibiting gameplay. Not only that, but the PC version of games are on average a full 10$ cheaper than a PS3, 360 or a wii game.

 

So with that being said, considering that the two major gaming companies at the moment are actually losing money on every new console sold, I have a feeling they are going to wait to announce their final console until it's absolutely perfect, as I don't see another console coming before technology goes almost completely digital.

[OkBuddy 586]

In a lot of ways the current games do not hold a candle to some of the simple games that came out for the Atari 5200 way back in the day.

 

I'm thinking of the Atari 2600 when games were simple. Just looking at the games available for the system... they seem so ancient to us these days.

[Midnightive 458]

Most the next gen consoles we're going to come out soon. I say soon in the next few years or so. But then the wii, bought out wii U. So what sony and Microsoft, are trying to make the wii U go dry before putting there cards up so there competing with the wii u. They did this last time, they let Nintendo be the first to lay there cards down. Wait for the wii to die down abit and announce the next gen at the next E3.

 

Though ice is wrong, most games go for consonels and just try to port it to pc. The port from xbox to Pc is a lot easy then Pc to ps3. Thats why you see a lot of titles being xbox and pc only. So most games you'll see it hidden somewhere 'port made from the xbox game' and it's normaly a good port. While if it say 'port made from ps3 game' well then it's normaly not as good. CoD aims at consonels gamers as for black ops they didn't get there servers running right till about 3 months down the line.

Edited September 17, 2012 by Midnightive

[Kyoshi Frost Wolf 41,534]

It is obvious that they are going to announce the new consoles soon, like next year I assume. Personally, I am not ready for the next gen plunge but I guess many other gamers are. The PS3 and 360 have much, much, much longer legs than their last gen counterparts so I see them sticking around for a while, so I will not be so quick to jump ship this time around.

 

So yeah, I expect an announcement from either Sony or MS next year, but I can wait, for a while.

[Ice Storm 1,020]

Though ice is wrong, most games go for consonels and just try to port it to pc. The port from xbox to Pc is a lot easy then Pc to ps3. Thats why you see a lot of titles being xbox and pc only. So most games you'll see it hidden somewhere 'port made from the xbox game' and it's normaly a good port. While if it say 'port made from ps3 game' well then it's normaly not as good. CoD aims at consonels gamers as for black ops they didn't get there servers running right till about 3 months down the line.

 

Documentation showing that Microsoft is losing money per Xbox:

 

http://www.gamespot.com/news/microsoft-taking-126-hit-per-xbox-360-6140383

 

Documentation showing that Sony is losing Money on Console gaming in general:

 

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118856-Sony-Losing-Money-on-PSP-PS3

 

yes, that's correct, Sony's Gaming industry loses 45 million dollars per quarter for gaming units as a whole.

 

Evidence that PC gaming is excelling and out profiting all three consoles combined.

 

http://www.extremetech.com/gaming/97705-pc-gaming-vs-consoles-the-infographic

 

CoD aims at consonels gamers as for black ops they didn't get there servers running right till about 3 months down the line.

This is also a false statement. Microsoft once did a study on this exact topic because they wanted PC users and Xbox users to be able to play on the same servers as one another. This was immediately shut down because the PC Gamers outright slaughtered because the point & Click system is much more accurate than the two stick system.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2010/jul/22/pc-gamers-versus-console-gamers

 

The port from xbox to Pc is a lot easy then Pc to ps3.

This only further proves my point. The fact that it has become increasingly harder to program for consoles, especially considering that the 720 is rumored to be switching to bluray as well, making it even harder to program for. Granted Microsoft has modules in place to make it easier to program across PCs and the 360, but with the new console coming, that won't be the case anymore. It will be vastly easier using the system that Microsoft already has in place to program for the PC than it would be for 3 entirely new consoles that are coming out. Which is why sadly, after this next release of consoles, I don't see another generation afterwards. There is just simply too much that you can do with a PC that a console can't do.

[AegisReflector 886]

Sony lost a lot of profit in the last 3 years or so, but I don't think it was due to the whole PC field. If anything, I know quite a few friends who are PC freaks, but would still turn on the PS3 and go online, because basically, you're connecting to the cyber-world either way lol.

 

I think it's the Tablet industries doing.

[FoxyCryptid 4,330]

If anything I think their coming too quick, we're only like 6 years into this generation. I wish that they would at least hold off until 2015. Look at how long the PS2 lasted.