The one and only nex gen hype thread
 

All posts about next gen machines go in here. This thread will be watched closely, so behave. Consider this a preemptive warning for threadcraps, attacks, snide or rude posts, whatever. That crap results in suspensions. Otherwise have fun!

If you are going to do a "One and Only" thread, don't you think you should sticky it so as it doesn't slip away from the main page? Otherwise, you are going to have a lot of duplicate threads.

Edit: Thank you.

Oddly enough, I expect them to be a letdown. I don't think the graphics jump will be near what we had in the last generation. Though I do expect that we will have a lot more wireless controllers for all systems (1st party), which will be :cool:

I think the bigger letdown will be the price.

I imagine we'll be paying an arm and a leg for components that we're not really looking for in a gaming machine. These "All-in-one" consoles are not for me.

The graphics jump will be meaninful if they bump the resolutions up to 720p or 1080i AND improve the graphics levels.

Spanky, they shouldn't cross the magic $300 threshold.

Thoughts on technical features; these are made with the knowledge that these consoles won't be out until (late) 2005, and will be what we are playing until 2009 or so:

I am hoping that all consoles will support 720p and possibly 1080i. I would also expect in-game Dolby Digital to become standard.

Everyone expects wireless controllers to become standard. I wonder if this means that controller rumble will go away? Do we care?

All consoles should have built-in ethernet. The feature I'm hoping for is built-in wireless ethernet.

The next generation of games ought to be designed with much more thought given to widescreen options. It has been something of an afterthought during this generation; a feature that few games support.

Most of the improvements in graphics will be evolutionary rather than revolutionary. Expect smaller features like pixel shading to show their value. This is not to say that the machines won't be more powerful; just that the immediate benefits of the power will come in the form of widescreen, 720p, DD support.

I agree, and hope Lint's ideas come to fruition. Design games for widescreen.

I think its too early to tell anything.. If Xbox 2 is backwards compatable, I will be there night one to get one whatever the cost. If it isnt, then I may also consider the PS3...

Also hoping for more than just graphical upgrades, but sound (7.1) and internet upgrades.. (IE: better Xbox Live 2.0 and Sony Online)... I think Xbox Live 2.0 will finally complete what they were hoping for.. with features such as those found PGR 2 on all games, and more/better/larger expansion packs for games as premium content.. as well as more multimedia functions.

I'm hoping for FSAA. Some of these games are jagerrific, and playing on an HDTV just brings out the flaws. 720p or 1080i would definately help, but if they could implement FSAA as well without any effect on the framerate then I'm all for it.

i couldn't imagine a next gen console not having full support for at either 720p or 1080i with an HDMI connection. high definition and widescreen are the future. 5.1 audio should be standard as well. 7.1 is not necessary imo as i don't ever see more than a small % of the population embracing it. obviously they will all be ethernet or wireless ethernet ready. as for wireless controllers that would be a great feature...and i don't see why they can't come with rechargeable batteries and/or some kind of charging station. native support for 4 controllers should be included.

do we really have to wait 2 years for this?

what are some sites taling about the next gens. I havent seen anything yet.

http://www.ps3insider.com

http://www.pspinsider.com

so who are the contenders ?

As others have said, that's more of an evolution than a revolution.

It won't be a major change in graphics, just higher resolutions to go with the more detailed polygon models and textures will get. It won't be anywhere near the jump from the PSX/N64 to this gen IMO.

Plus, the HD resolutions will only be accessible to a minority of gamers.

Same as this gen. Sony, MS and Nintendo have all announced that their next systems are in development.

No comeback from Sega ?

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content...e=dev&aid=2706

Microsoft planning non-standard media for Xbox Next?

Rob Fahey 16:09 12/12/2003

Job advertisement gives another hint about Xenon

A job advertisement which has appeared on Microsoft's careers website suggests that the company may be considering moving to a proprietary disc format for its next console, in an effort to make piracy on the device more difficult.

According to the ad, Microsoft's Xbox team is seeking an engineer "to manage the design and development of the Xbox Game Disc for the next generation Xbox console," with the job description going on to mention anti-piracy as the first in a list of key factors for the new game disc specification.

Although it's possible that the role will simply involve devising a copy protection mechanism for games on existing DVD media, similar to that used by the current generation Xbox and the PS2, the description of the role hints strongly at the company developing a more proprietary format.

Microsoft may be planning to follow in the footsteps of Nintendo, whose mini-DVD format which has been highly successful in preventing piracy on the GameCube. It's widely expected, however, that whatever media the next Xbox console (codenamed Xenon, apparently) uses will be the same size as DVD media, since the system will be expected to play back DVD movies and provide backwards compatibility with Xbox games.

Although preventing piracy which results from the copying of game discs is obviously an important consideration, Microsoft will also be thinking very hard about how to prevent piracy which uses the hard drive on the system. Many mod chips for the current generation of Xbox allow users to copy games to their hard drives and then play them without the original game disc, or simply download copies off the Internet directly onto their console - a new avenue for piracy which has potential to be hugely damaging if it becomes popular.


Chris

Nope. I'd be shocked if we ever see another comeback by sega. The Sega CD, 32X, Saturn and Dreamcast all bombed, and they're not even doing that well as a third party company. Games like Shenmue II, Jet Grind Radio Future, Panzer Dragoon, etc. all sold poorly and their sports line is getting killed by EA's.

They have had some hits though, like Sonic Adventure 2 on the GC.

MS is facing bigger issues like backward capability which is not simple in the least bit when you change disc mediums. Of course, most the people who I have talked to who pirate are only pirating the Xbox games and buying the PS2 games. Is it easier to do on the Xbox?

since I do not own an xbox I can not speak from personal experience ;however, I think ripping to a hard drive is the most used method as was mentioned earlier.

since the PS2 does not have a hard drive this would be hard to do on a PS2 :)

I don't think wireless controllers are going to be standard for a while, if ever. Manufacturers look to keep the costs of building the consoles as low as possible, and having all wireless controllers would make each console more expensive to produce. A wireless controller is simply a luxury that doesn't affect game development the way that a built-in hard drive or ethernet connection does.

I just hope everyone puts out a third party wireless controller for $30 or so ala the wavebird. I've never cared for third party controllers, and the current third party wireless controllers (at around $50) are way to expensive considering the cost of the first party wavebird.

I don't really care if the systems come with one, as I'm going to buy at least one extra controller anyway. Plus it's nice to have a corded back up incase your batteries die and you don't have any laying around.

I have a lazy man's dream feature.

Have you ever been sprawled out in the easy chair with your Wavebird or whatever, and decided to turn off the game... and been like "Man, the console's clear across the room!" ?

I'd like to be able to power the console down directly from the controls.

Minor, yes. Convenient... hell yeah!

I'd like to see them ditch mp3 and DVD player functions in exchange for a price break. When the PS2 first came out, I thought it would be neat to be able to play DVDs. Then, I got a DVD player, and haven't used the PS2 for a DVD yet.

I agree on the multifunctionality thing. I don't want to pay for that crap. If Sony and MS want to put out set top boxes with DVD, MP3, Tivo etc., I really hope they put out cheaper, gaming only options.

I don't want to pay extra for features I either have no interest in, or already own in superior single purpose, stand alone components. I'm not a big fan of all in one type of electronic components. The old axiom of "jack of many trades, master of none" usually rings true on this type of stuff. There really just convenient options for Joe Six Pack who doesn't know any better, or those that just want whatever experience for cheap and don't care about a/v quality.