FlashStash

With the Big N's announcement that they're working on the next system for 2005-2006, I've been thinking about what this new system will do that the current ones can't? Are we reaching a point of diminishing returns? Are there things that game developers WANT to do on the current systems but CAN'T do due to technology constraints? If the videogame industry ever enters a dark period again...I think this will be the cause; companies putting out new systems just for the sake of having a new system, and consumers not seeing any benefits to the new system.

So what do you think these new systems will offer that the current ones can't do?

FS

sniper308

holographic porn...

Lampei

Interactive pr0n would be better

Groucho

I think the big thing on the next systems will be full support for HDTV (1080i) in all games.

I think the big leap was last generation (2d to 3d). From now on, it's pretty much baby steps.

DARTH GAMER

A friend of mine that is going to school right now for computers in NYC told me the other day that a couple of developers came to one of his classes to give a lecture on the video game field. Somebody from EA sports was there and one more that I can't remember where from. anyway, They had a few interesting things to tell. First off, they said that PS3 is due out in 2004. ( I don't really know how acurate that really is) Next, they said that now, character models for games have something like 1500 polygons each which to us look pretty amazing for the most part. The models for the new games will have over 15,000 polygons. At this point, they said that they are not working on whether a character looks good or not, but they are more concerned with does it look real or not. As far as the type of games, I imagine that they will be the same only with the far better grafics.

DARTH GAMER

Joshic

You bet! I want DD5.1 or 6.1 sound on all my games. I also want all of them to run in 720p or 1080i.

duz

forget 1080i, I want games to be piped into my subcortex for full immersive gaming.

fujishig

Well, seeing as how computer gaming continues to drive the computer hardware market to produce better graphics cards and processors and the like, I see console gaming going the same way. But I think there are already diminishing returns.

A surprising amount of old-school gamers are already disappointed that nearly every single new game is in 3D, leaving traditional 2D gaming by the wayside. Also, we've seen an overall drop in the depth of games, with a more pronounced emphasis on graphics.

Not to say that I dislike the latest generation of gaming, and that there aren't some true gems in this era. It is truly amazing how far console graphics have come in such a short time.

In the end, people will upgrade their consoles because developers stop developing for the old ones, forcing consumers who want new product to upgrade.

tanman

I think that we will soon get to the point of diminishing returns. I am one of those that really wish the lifespan of a game console would last a lot longer than it does. I already have to spend time researching and money upgrading everything else (digital cameras, computer, video etc) I like how video games are a refuge for at least a few years from all the upgrading.

The top games right now graphically ie Splinter Cell, Metroid Prime most racing games; it is really hard to imagine something that will look that much better. but I know it will. remember when we thought that Mario bros. graphics looked spectacular?

Hey I'm one of those that thought that digital photography would never match film quality but now it has surpassed 35mm and is quickly overtaking medium format.

We live in a very amazing time.

menaz

The time will come when we look at Splinter Cell, and think "i thought this crap was impressive?" I remember how impressed I was with Final Fantasy 8 and Parasite Eve, I look at those now and cant imagine being impressed.

finbogg

I'll echo what others have said here and call for full HD and widescreen support. Better anti-aliasing would be a big plus too.

I can't really see how there will be a big step up this generation. The companies are pretty much admitting that by trying to package their next generation systems as set-top "entertainment centers" with TIVO-like features built in.

Trigger

MS and recently Nintendo announced that they were going to replace the current consoles with their next gen by 2005... this came off the heels of Sony's announcement that they were going to release the PS3 in 2005. Nobody wants to get caught with their pants down this time. MS doesn't want to be 2nd place. Nintendo originally had no plans to compete in that race, but apparently it looks like they're going to now. They're abandoning formula to enter into this race - thus the Xbox won't have a full life and neither will the Gamecube. Being backwards compatible will have to be something adopted by all 3 companies in order to compete. I am starting to question Microsoft's strategy with this release date. If the PS3 indeed does come out in 2004, then it'll be competing with the Xbox. MS can then wait until 2006 to release the Xbox successor rather than come out a year early in 2005 and tick off and confuse people who just got used to the first one.

BigDave

High definition resolution along with photorealism will be nice.

Hopefully gameplay won't completely go to the wayside with these improvements, but that looks to be the case in some instances.

Sloth911

the jump from 2d to 3d was huge, is there another step that will be that great? doubt it.

the graphics will continue to improve, but aftering playing a buttload of ghost recon on the xbox, it is understandable to think "how can they get better?" but they will.

you could say that things like bump mapping (on gc, xbox, but not PS2) will be the type of grapically progress we will see in a 3d world.

it does seems that games have gotten shorter.

Joshic

Recently I had a chance to try out Tony Hawk 4 on Xbox in 720p (converted to 1080i by my TV). It looks great! Now I look at all my games that I used to think looked great - like Halo, DOA3, Splinter Cell, and they look bad in comparison. I can't wait for the new HD games! Bring it on!

duy37

bring on voice command games
i also want to be able to play more choose your own adventures type games
photorealistic graphics
5.1 audio
High Definition

Oh yeah

mr.snowmizer

Everybody here is just talking about diminishing returns based on graphics. That's only one area of a game.

Until you get games that look identical to real life with natural human- (or animal-) like computer controlled behavior, thanks to vastly upgraded Artficial Intelligence/Artificial Life, there's hardly a shortage of areas that can't be upgraded.

This thread sounds like the reports in '91 that 32-bit consoles can't be on televisons because they can't show a difference.

Josh H

Of course everyone's talking about graphics. Until virtual reality is a reality graphics and sound are the only areas where hardware can change games.

Going from 2D to 3D changed gameplay because it enabled whole new types of gameplay, movements etc.

All they can do now is make better looking 3D games.

Pretty much any improvements in 3D gameplay could be made on current systems.

Ralph Wiggum

I wish that devs would put some significant work on the in-game cameras if they are going to abandon 2D.

There are certain genres that just do not work as well in 3D. Arcade games like shooters and those with more "twitch" gameplay are not going to translate to 3D.

If everything turns to cinematic and exploration types of experiences, I'll probably just stop gaming. I love these games, but only in moderation.

sniper308

Now that would be amazing...

personally I'm waiting for "smell-o-vision"...

Seriously, better AI, shorter load times, basically more of the same just done better... along with HD, better sound, etc. Increased on-line capabilities, and content. Again, all the same just done better. Hopefully wireless controllers like the wavebird will be pretty much standard, including rumble as some people like it, with better battery life. Maybe utilizing USB thumbdrives as memory cards. With so many $$$ on the line, you can bet competition will bring out some good things, some bad things and a lot of hype.

Derrich

I remember when the Genesis came out and I thought 'It doesn't get any better than this'.

Get my point?

D

mr.snowmizer

What? Better hardware can only change games through graphics and sound?!?

I specifically mentioned better AI/Artificial Life implementation, which obviously could benefit from greater horsepower. Unless everybody here thinks computer AI matches the complexity of humans or everybody believes better AI can't change gameplay, this is one really silly statement.

Deftones

there's alot of areas that can still be improved in games/systems:

graphics
AI
sound (DD EX, DTS ES)
online play (wireless 2.4 GHz networking)
wireless controls (Wavebird is pretty damn close to perfect, though)
video output for HD

lesterlong

Graphics can be made a lot better, but I don't see that happening on the next gen consoles. I see it, many years down the road.

Michael Corvin

baby steps is right.

I am just hoping for wireless controller standard with the system. Wavebird and the Logitech XBox are very nice. . But widescreen and 5.1 are definites. Backwards compatibility.