So you're "not ready" for next-gen consoles? Here's why you should be

“The current generation isn’t maxed-out,” say fans. Others chime in with the common, “fancy graphics don’t make games better, gameplay does,” argument.

Are these assertions true? Absolutely. Do they offer up a reasonable argument to delay the next inevitable generation of consoles? No, and here is why.

[NYC_Gamer]

Many gamers are stuck with the illusion that new hardware only brings better graphics

[Controversy]

That's a great point. Many seem to forget that new hardware will bring vastly improved phsyics, AI, and new ways to play and tell a story.

It's not the visuals that make a new generation of gaming exciting after seven years of this current gen, it's the new experiences and ways to play only possible with better tools.

Cheers.

[sphinct]

This is a well-argued piece. Nice to see something with points to make about the value of another generation rather than yet more rumors.

I, for one, would love to get me some next-gen consoles ASAP. (If my wallet can handle it, haha.)

[Army_of_Darkness]

Too much exciting new games coming out on the PS3 still to even care about next Gen. lol! well, for me anyway:D

[FunAndGun]

I don't play PC games so this question is honest and serious. Since PC's are years ahead of consoles and a window into the future of consoles.

Can you give me some examples of games currently on PC that vastly improve on physics, AI, and new ways to play and tell a story that can't be done on current consoles?

Not graphically, but gameplay wise.

[HeartDisease]

no one will answer your question funandgun. truth is there is only better physics since it is tied to graphics. stories and how they are presented are opinions. ai and gameplay are mostly stagnant.

more horsepower will not improve on anything but graphics since that is what people buy. expect beautifully tesellated chest high walls with million polygon heads popin out from them for you to shoot at next gen.

[sjaakiejj]

@HeartDisease
Guess you were wrong..

@FunAndGun
The reason for that is really quite simple: Piracy. Due to the insane amount of piracy on the PC platform, it is not seen as a profitable end-goal for games. Most games exclusive to the platform end up making a loss, without even considering the larger investment required to make a game that's able to utilise the new hardware appropriately.

PC will get games, but they will not be exclusive. Instead, the PC gets games at the same technical level as consoles, with perhaps some cheap Dx11 features such as Tessellation. That means that we'll see a significant improvement in game quality for PC when new consoles release.

[Sithlord-Gamble]

@sjaa ...

PC is held back by consoles???

Battlefield 3 disagrees with u!

Where was all the AI advancement ur talking about on a title developed especially for PC as the lead platform?

So consider ur theory busted.

[TekoIie]

@funandgun

There's a reason why these games were awesome this gen:

Uncharted trilogy
Mass effect trilogy
Alan wake
Assassins creed franchise

These are some of the games with brilliant scripting and storyline which was near absent last gen (well on the level those games are on) and would be possible if PC's hadn't advanced. Also the animations in uncharted are amazing and there's nothing that can compare to it.

[megacowdung]

Yeah, i think graphics are fine the way they are now. I'm not saying an improvement in graphics is bad but it's not necessary. More RAM and a stronger processor would be much better than improved graphics.

[JOHN_DOH]

have you seen planetside2 footage? I think it's like 1000 vs 1000 in a persistent world. It's being made by Sony for pc only.

[Arnon]

AI can in fact be improved with better hardware. Especially with a faster, multi-core'd CPU. It will just depend on how much effort developers will put into their games.

Judging by how gaming is moving, not a lot of effort is going to be shown.

[limewax]

PC has PhysX, which is an incredible physics engine.

There may well be more, but the only game I have found outside of PC so far that utilizes PhysX is Escape Plan for the Vita.

So in short, yes there are actually games that support improved physics on PC. Including the batman arkham games and many many more

[Rhythmattic]

limewax
you do realise PhysX, is proprietary to Nvidia ... (as is DX9-10-11 to MS)

You know, the things PC gamers hate.... "Closed" & ""Not Compatible"

Open GL for the win. (hope you get the point.)

[slayorofgods]

It still seems like the biggest improvement for the next generation will only be 20 dollars worth of more memory..

* 3.2 ghz tri core to 3.2 ghz quad core won't make a big difference in gaming.

* The GPU isn't going to be that much of a upgrade, the physics will be upgraded about as much as the graphics... Marginally.

* As far as destructible environments and sandbox games and even AI, the thing that is holding back consoles is Memory. and that is pretty much it.

[morganfell]

It is completely possible to make great AI with the current hardware and yet Devs do not. Same with physics. There are plenty of great looking games this gen that are crap. Do we really want more of that?

Current systems are more than capable of providing AI that do not run backwards faster than you can run forward and the current gen can have better AI than those we too often see that have eyes in the back of their head, act like bullet sponges, never drop a weapon and run, never scream and cry when they are wounded as they realize they are really about to die, never panic, and are the most fool hardy bunch of doorknobs in the world.

I could also expound upon AI interactions that are non-kinetic in nature, all easily possible on current gen.

Most AI is dumber than a bag of hammers yet current hardware could do better. It isn't the hardware that is incapable but rather the developers or most often the producers who will not allocate the time and resources for better AI.

Plenty of real life reactions are easily capable on the current gen. But AI are not the advertisement poster for sales as are graphics. Developers are simply playing to that which gains them the most mileage - a pretty picture. That really says something about the shallow nature of gamers and our consumer demographic on the whole.

It is confounding so many believe next gen will improve the most important aspect of gaming - the gameplay. Better hardware isn't a magic bullet that suddenly engenders developers with creativity. It doesn't evolve them as developers over night or even over a year.

Better looking games that cost even more, with the same broken or tired mechanics and AI are precisely what we will get next gen with very few exceptions. I want to see some revolutionary thinking this generation.

Max Payne 3 and it's per bullet impact physics implementation prove this gen is more than able to handle a complex implementation that requires vast amounts of number crunching - because that's what's needed in that type of physics, godlike math. And the game still looks incredible.

I want to see more games like Dust 514 that are breaking the mold of the current gen thought methodology and the manner in which gamers interact with one another.

No one is denying that better more capable hardware make certain aspects of the process easier, but the fact is that hardware is not the stumbling block this generation that some think. We can't solve a problem if it cannot be honestly addressed and games like Max Payne 3 that have taken the time to do things right make fools of those that believe next gen hardware is required for next gen gaming.

[attilayavuzer]

Anyone remember those early tech demos of Alan Wake with the tornado hitting? Or the Star Wars Euphoria demo? That's what I'm excited for next generation. It might sound ridiculous, but I've always wanted a game that's a painstakingly created house that you could just go in and destroy with crazy precision, hopefully that'll be a possibility...I'm sick of ragdoll too.

[Mrmagnumman357]

@ Fun and Gun, there is a reason some of us play on PC, its not just PHYSX, and DX11. Its because of games like ARMA 3 and Planet-side 2. ARMA 3 has a 600km island to explore with near photorealistic graphics. Planetside 2 has 1000 vs 1000 matches with graphics better then Halo. And another huge reason is MODDING! I am currently making a mod for crysis 2 that is a whole game set in a open world Chicago, and the graphics on it are incredible, not to mention it's accurate to real Chicago, and looks photo-realistic at times, and features DX11 features on everything. Don't listen to what console gamers tell you, real pc gamers don't buy a gaming pc for better graphics, we buy it for all the things you can do on it that aren't possible on consoles.

[Soldierone]

Hit the nail on the head. In fact ever since this talk started all I've been wanting is better features, graphics are on the list but it isn't number 1.

[A-Glorious-Dawn]

It's all important, I am and will always be a graphic whore though..

I have said it before, I will play a shitty game if it looks really pretty.....

It's my Vice and mine alone....

[TekoIie]

Dunno why we bother asking for better graphics lol. Its guaranteed to get better every gen not matter what.

[Persistantthug]

.

[mcstorm]

I think i agree with you here i have a massive back log of games for my 360 and ps3. I have yet to finish uc2 halo cea op flahlash point point rr, lbp 2 driver, resistance 3 skyrim fifa 12 gt5 bf3 rise of knightmares and more and this is just on 2 consoles i still have uc ga mnr on the psv as well as rez mario 3ds Mario kark 3ds and zelda on my psv and 3ds. My biggest problem is i tend to get an hour or so a night and i cant get enough of forza 4 online at the mo it just keeps me going back to it but got a week off soon so going to get through as much as i can.

[christian hour]

@funandgun

Any game that utilizes physx is a good example of what could be brought to current gen games, just look at mirrors edge or arkham city with phys x enabled. I've also heard CUDA can do wonders with AI, but sadly since crysis no game devs have taken the risk of pushing the boundaries for a pc only game.

The financial gamble is too much when its much safer to develop for current gen consoles as well as PC, so really all the pc is getting these days is nice shiney versions of console games, with the odd exclusive here and there, but again due to the costs of a lengthy production schedule required to make an engine that takes full advantage of the latest CPU's and GPU's its a big risk for the devs to take, especially if they're under the umbrella of a larger publisher. This is of course all just opinion and speculation from what i've observed in the industry over many years.

I don't know why but I have this feeling when we do see the jump, it's going to be half-life 3 on a new source engine. And thats when I'll finally get around to buying myself a PC... maybe... budget permitting :P

I'm all for new consoles so PC games can truly take advantage of the hardware at their disposal, instead of being developed with current gen consoles in mind. Even if I never get a PC capable of playing these games, I still love seeing the advances in gaming that it always brings time and time again.

[theeg]

@funandgun

here's some pc games current consoles are 100% incapable of playing at anywhere near whats considered playabl;e framerate, graphics, units on screen ect.....

Shogun 2 total war

xbox360/ps3 couldnt even handle rome total war from 2004 with 1000's of units on screen

let alone empire, napoleon, medival

basically consoles cannot do large scale rts

mmo's, only garbage instance with terrible graphics like dcu online

mods, true user content, because morons would dowload something that fu%^#ed up[ their ps3 and sue.

bf3 with 64 players....lol

consoles are ancient man, they are 8 years old hardware wise, they are the vcr's of gaming

they literally cannot do ANYTHING a gaming pc can....like 1080p, 1200p, 1440p, 1600p

lol...they cannot do anti aliasing, v-sync, dx10, dx10.1, dx11,

we can go on like this forever

ps3/360 = last gen

[MysticStrummer]

"Can you give me some examples of games currently on PC that vastly improve on physics, AI, and new ways to play and tell a story that can't be done on current consoles?

Not graphically, but gameplay wise."

Congrats, you didn't answer the question at all. Almost everything you listed has to do with graphics, except for RTS, and that genre not working well on consoles has more to do with control scheme than hardware power. PS3 (and maybe 360... not sure) can use mouse and keyboard, and Move was shown to be great for RTS with RUSE, so even your RTS point is pointless. Number of units on screen... again, graphics. The only valid point you made was about mods and user created content in general.

OT - I'm still looking forward to games this year and next, so I have no need for a new console. I'll start wanting next gen to get here when Sony shows PS4 and some games I drool over. Until then, I'm fine. Anyway, I'd rather AI was improved than graphics next gen.

[extermin8or]

Most of your points are graphics and about the whole MOD's thing; I'd call the person that made the MOD that fucks up ps3's or 360's the moron not the unlucky person who downloads it....

[RevXM]

PS3 can do AA, V-sync, 1080p, 256 and prolly even 1000 + players, 1000's of onscreen characters, And ps3 for instance doesn't use DX at all, but custom OpenGL and other libraries.
And there is yet to be a standard TV aimed at private and home household consumers with the following resolutions : 1200p, 1440p, 1600p. so anything but 1080p would be stupid because TV screens doesnt suppurt it and by the time it is supported they will already support much higher res like 4-8K resoultion. (next gen)

Infact BF3 with 64 players to would be possible.

You seem very biased, but truth be told consoles are ancient compared to current high end hardware.

The thing is that developers trade away neat visual elements to gain more detail, thats why games are 720P, sometimes with jaggies, at 30FPS, with tearing and with lower amounts of objects on screen. Its called trade offs and that is what you have to do to make the games the best they can be againts the devs vision and skill level, they need to weigh, measure and optimize to make their vision come alive and be the best game they can make.

Not every console game is a GOW 3, Uncharted, Killzone or Gears, but not every PC game is a Crysis, Metro or BF either. its all up to the devs and if you ask me they have been on the lazy side since Crysis. Thats true when small devs like 4A (metro series) and CD Project RED (the withcer series) make the BEST looking games around while Crytek, Epic games etc slacks off and releases no games to push the bar.

Can't wait for Next gen!

[princejb134]

its nice to have new updated hardware but that also means developers will have to use more resources for the updated graphics which might make video game prices increase
last gen we was paying about $54 for a game after tax, this gen is $65 after tax
who knows maybe next gen ill go up to $75

[showtimefolks]

you know all these fans for both ps3/xbox360 who are so ready for next gen will be waiting a while before anything comes out. Both ps3/xbox360 are still 250 and 300 so the prices have to come around 149-99 before we will see a new console. And when both are selling well why should either MS or sony bring out a new one? just to please few fans who just want a new hardware.

gears of war 3 look at how good the game looks and new crysis we don't need new consoles just yet, if new consoles can do 15% better than current ones than that's really not next gen so here is hoping both MS and sony announce their systems at E3 2013 and being them out in fall 2014, by than both ps3 and xbox360 will be under 149 and most likely sold close to 100 or over 100 million consoles

[Horny Melon]

Yeah I mean c'mon the ps3 and xbox 360 were only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to milkin.....I mean bilkin....I mean finding new ways to add value.

[pat_11_5]

I'm still not ready for the next generation simply because I'm broke. I can't afford a new generation of consoles right now.

[GroundsKeeperJimbo]

$25/month to your savings my friend. I'd say you still have around 18 months($450) :]

[pangitkqb]

Very well said, Jimbo. Rather than moan, gamers should simply prepare. That or be content to wait a while before jumping on board each gen.

[cas85]

You could pick it up cheaper after a few years or used if it launched today. You don't necessarily have to buy on day one. The same goes for games - backlog is a good thing price and selection wise.

[AIndoria]

Some really really good points up there. Well said, mate! One thing I am concerned about though, is the question whether the new consoles will be affordable. PS3 wasn’t affordable(At least not to me) when it was released. Let’s wait and see. But hey, I don't even own 10$ right now!

[Soldierone]

I think for Sony at least it will be. It mostly depends on the gamble MS and Nintendo make if you ask me. If they price theirs high, Sony will come in at the same or just under it.

Sony learned that in the economy right now you can't sell a high quality thing at a high price, people will just jump for the cheaper stuff. I say this in regards to Sony as a whole (TV's etc) and the fact PS3 couldn't sell amazingly well when it launched.

My bet? PS3 and Xbox come in at 350 to 400 at max (If I had to pick, it'd be 300 dollars) , WiiU 200 to 250 at most.

[yabhero]

Umm WiiU is a new console... And even though people don't like to hear it, it probably sporting newer tech so I'll say. 300-350. Though if it's a real power house ( cause now its just like 3.5 according to rumor. But if it ends being 5-6 times ( its probably not) I'll pay 400-450.
One thing we do know is that WiiU is using a Power7 chip. At the very lowest level. It can run 16 threads. 360 and ps3 do 6. Threads go to AI physics sound and stuff. Those things on the WiiU have th potential to be 2-2.7 times better.

[Horny Melon]

I'm amazed at the number of people that get suckered by Nintendos bs every generation. The Wii-U is not going to be a power house. It is only a couple times more powerful than the 360 or ps4.....both of which will be getting replaced next year. Making buying the Wii-U because it will be more powerful than the ps3 and 360 pure folly.

[Soldierone]

Edit I meant PS4 and Next Xbox, not the current ones lol

[NastyLeftHook0]

im ready cuz i want to see how draw dropping uncharted "4?" looks on ps4.

[Controversy]

Hard to argue against wanting to see that!

[NastyLeftHook0]

HEHEHE (. ) ( . )

[Cryptcuzz]

What you meant to say is jaw-dropping hehe, but you can't go wrong with a comment like that.

I too am ready for next-gen, bring it on!

[jthamind]

and here's why i shouldn't be:

i have a PC that will likely put the specs of next-gen consoles to shame. and i can upgrade it whenever i want/need to.

[NastyLeftHook0]

good for you.

[SignifiedSix]

Its just too bad you wont be able to fully utilize those "specs" as they do in consoles.

Put a 7970 or 680 in a console and it would run the PC counterpart right over.

Why? Because they could utilize all its power!

Why do you think consoles output pretty amazing graphics for their ages?

Go play your "powerhouse". Too bad you're not getting the full potential of it...

[cedaridge]

i welcome the ps4 and xbox 720 in 2013! 1080p at 60fps? come on. There is NOTHING more u can do with games such as Madden, NBA 2K, COD games. I fine with the latest God of War prequel but I DON'T WANT God of War 4 on ps3. i don't want Gears 4 on xbox 360 and so on, and so on. u can tweek the parts on a car engine but after a certain time U GOTTA GIVE IT UP and get yourself a NEW ride. or keep your current ride and get a 2nd one. the point is KEEP IT MOVE'IN BUDDY!!!!! LOL

[pangitkqb]

I completely agree with you.

[CYBERHATER]

Sorry I have gone back to the PC. Consoles are limited. Even Microsoft is going back to the PC with windows 8.

[GamingPerson]

lol they are going to tablets more than pc with windows 8.
but look! This from a game called PLA. I hope the game play will be good.
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[JOHN_DOH]

ms don't really make games on pc. there's flight sim and age of empires, not much else.

[SegataShanshiro]

Starcraft 1.....that game is like crack to me, i just love seeing those little soldier sprites blowing up when they die....and age of empires is awesome, dont diss

[deletingthis34675334]

Uhh, Starcraft is from Blizzard not MS. Just saying.

[sandman224]

I love this article. Im ready for next gen consoles right now. I think for all the broke ass cry babies out there who don't want a new console to release can go fuc_ themselves. I want to see the future of gaming not the past. If anything they should release a console that can be upgraded like a pc. That way we always stay current in the years to come. Also if the release an over priced console. I will be the first to buy it. Why you ask? Because I like giving my money to anything that involves gaming. As long as it helps the gaming industry.

[BattleTorn]

Tell me about it brother.

I would also be willing to buy a next-gen console day 1!

I don't get why people are so vocal about it not being necessary yet.
If *you guys* don't want to spend money on a new console, then go ahead and play old games.
(there's is nothing stopping anyone from playing on old+cheap hardware)

So the main reason must be their too cheap, and can't live with being left behind.
Why else would anyone advocate against others receiving an upgrade?

The obviously solution would be switch to PC; but I did without much enjoyment. The community was extremely unfriendly, the performance of games varied from impressive to studdery. (and my specs are no where near of concern)

I want a new Xbox or Playstation.

And everyone else saying they aren't ready, CAN KEEP PLAYING THE 360/PS3, if thats' what their still enjoying. Let everyone else upgrade!

[JOHN_DOH]

I always thought pc had the best community. If you are having studder problems it could be your graphic driver. If you're running sli of xfire it's a common problem, try updating the sli profile. you could also try to get the latest dx and visual C++ redist and run the dxdiag

[SegataShanshiro]

This guy tells the truth LIKE A BOSS

[DW74]

To cheap? Maybe some people don't have their moms and dads buying their stuff anymore, and have rent, and food, and the like. Don't automatically assume things.

The problem with what you are saying is that if a large enough portion of the gaming community is already tired of high prices and isn't ready to move on to another $500 console and games that will likely now cost $70, companies like MS and Sony aren't going to be in a very big hurry to push out a new console to a crowd half the size they want it to be. That's not good business sense.

They go to message boards and do research and see that nearly a third of posters on some thread or message board say they are happy with current gen, then that's what's going to stick. People just don't understand how the move to HD this gen really affected game devs internally. They are milking this gen because those costs were astronomical, and they would like to see that money back.

Look at how many game devs closed down in the last 2 years. This industry is in terrible shape. If I were an investor, I'd be advising caution and sticking with current gen too.

[BattleTorn]

@DW74
"To cheap? Maybe some people don't have their moms and dads buying their stuff anymore, and have rent, and food, and the like. Don't automatically assume things."

Maybe this guy should re-read his own comment.

He makes an assumption that I live off my parents' still, and tell me not to assume things. BWAHAHAHA.

Do you really think I'd make a generalization about gamers being cheap, if I don't pay for all the thing he mentioned!?

And then you even repeat what I was responding too!
If a 1/3 of the community is happy with what they have now - GREAT - but that isn't a rebuttal to why the 2/3 shouldn't receive new hardware

What if 30% still liked playing Wii? Would that mean we should go back to sub-HD?

What a *portion* of the community wants shouldn't dictate when Next-gen arrives. And those in favor are quickly becoming the majority.

[DW74]

At no time did I directly say that *you* still live at home. Don't be the typically over-sensitive poster.

My rebuttal stands. I am not looking at things from your point of view, the consumer. I am looking from the point of view of console makers. Console makers don't want to sell a new console to 2/3 of their audience. They want to sell to 3/3 of their audience. If they feel like a large chunk of their audience isn't going to buy a new console and the high-priced software to go with it, then it would be business suicide to try and sell a new console to folks that won't buy. They'd be selling at a loss for even longer than they traditionally do. And in this economy, that would just be stupid.

[MysticStrummer]

"And everyone else saying they aren't ready, CAN KEEP PLAYING THE 360/PS3, if thats' what their still enjoying. Let everyone else upgrade!"

Ok, I'll allow you to upgrade to a new console. Oh wait... you can't yet anyway. ****.

[BattleTorn]

@DW74
"At no time did I directly say that *you* still live at home."
Oh, com'on!

You did says "some people don't have their moms and dads buying their stuff"

Your usage of "some people" was inclusive to *you,* and since it was in response to something I said that would imply that I was not included - thus grouping me with those who do have their stuff paid by their parents.

[Skynetone]

i dont know where all this super ai and amazing physics is going to come from, the pc is like 10 times more powerful and all they get is battlefield 3 in hd

im not going to buy into the hype of next gen consoles until they deliver the goods

one of the first games id love to see on next gen consoles is a massive plane vs plane, flying refueling planes to support mid range fighters/ setting up landing zones / apache helicopters all over the place/ etc etc

[AIndoria]

Uh, I'm just going to re-post what @SignifiedSix posted above.

"Its just too bad you wont be able to fully utilize those "specs" as they do in consoles.

Put a 7970 or 680 in a console and it would run the PC counterpart right over.

Why? Because they could utilize all its power!

Why do you think consoles output pretty amazing graphics for their ages?

Go play your "powerhouse". Too bad you're not getting the full potential of it..."

Makes sense?

@Andree1991 I loved Age of Empires. Cheers mate! :D

[Asgaro]

Their is no super AI in PC titles, because the developers and publishers don't want to invest extra time in PC games. (which is a real shame)

How many devs take advantage of the PC platform? Not many...
Making a new AI system for only 1 platform is probably not worth it from their point of view.

[moodgamer]

I think evolution and new hardware have to come, but i still feel that i havent enjoy to the fullest my consoles. The number of games that will come this year and next will get me stuck to my screen TV for many, many time. Why do i need to spend 400€ on a new console with few games? Only for AI? For that i would bought a NEW Gaming Pc a long time ago. Dont get me wrong, but i believe that this machines still have the power to entertain us. But new things must come out. Its the business.

[2pacalypsenow]

man next gen game are gonna suck , its already begun with all these online passes and 1/2 game 1/2 DLC im glad i was around ps1-ps2 -n64 -GC xbox era to enjoy them

[cedaridge]

i been rydin with Microsoft and Sony since 2005/06. it's 2012 I'm ready for NEW console. If sony stay with there 10 year life cycle plan, E3 this year we should here an announcement for a release 2013. I hope so and i am ready to experience FULL 1080p 3D at 60fps. just imagine God of War 4, Killzone 4, Uncharted 4, Motorstorm and whatever else.

[Omega Zues]

I would love next-gen But not if games are going up in cost.

[mayberry]

IDK... Im playing kz 2/3 with true 7.1 surround sound- awesome a.i- stellar graphics- in 3d- robust online- awesome bullet hit response- big maps- lighting second to none- and a ship ton of new games that push boundries recently released and up-coming! cant wait for "starhawk", "dust514", "the last of us"' "last guardian" and on and on! im absolutely fine with my ps3 and 360 for the forseeable futre...imho!

[AIndoria]

To the people who keep saying PC is the 'way to go' :

(My personal opinion stated here) : I was a PC gamer but not anymore. Now when I buy PS3/360 games, I can rest assured they'll run at their full power, and I won't have to tone anything down and/or get laggy/choppy performance.(Yes, I do know about your PC capable of running games at 60fps with 100 times better graphics). So far, I've found PS3 and 360 community to be great and helpful. I don't have to wake up and play Battlefield and see

"Your application has suddenly stopped responding, Please send an error report to Microsoft...."

Just opinions mates, you're welcome to form your own. Cheers!

[Asgaro]

I am a PC gamer, bought a PS3 Slim (my first ever console) for exclusives like Uncharted franchise and Red Dead Redemption.
Now it is collecting dust. Apart from exclusives like Killzone, Uncharted, etc I play all my games on PC.

Steam is a gift from god. So many cheap titles, it's insane. I have about 20 games in my Wish List and as soon as there is a sale, *BAM* buy them for cheap price!

Also, I don't care about the best of the best graphics on my PC. I only upgrade parts (only parts, not everything) of my PC every 3 or 4 year.
That way I can still run all games perfectly. Yes, some maybe not on Highest settings.
But still: games on Low on 1920x1080 look still a lot better than on consoles. :D

Not to mention the mouse accuracy: if you love shooters (like I do with all Battlefield games), I need a mouse. Controllers hold gamers back with their limited capabilities.

I also need my PC for school, so it's awesome to have 1 platform for: school, entertainment, browsing, music listening, movies watching, etc.

Best regards!

But apart from that, the PS3 is still good. Because of the insane amount of good exclusives.
Xbox 360 on the other hand, I don't get why anyone would buy that these days... with their Kinect and Dashboard advertising crap. Not to mention the subscription for Xbox Live.

[cas85]

PC graphics do look better but I would class them as improved current gen graphics because well they are. Essentially the same code is running on a pc with better textures, better anti aliasing etc. When a game is built for a pc exclusively from the ground up then you have something entirely different.

[Tommykrem]

AI development has really been terrible this generation. That goes for all platforms. I mean, this was the generation when it was really set to take off. The generation started with Rainbow Six and many games that represented a huge leap in AI, but then it slowed down.

[NobleRed]

Just look how crappy Battlefield looks on consoles. I'm ready for next gen. If you are not you can play two or three years more on seven year old graphic card(ps3)

It's time to move on. Pixelated shadows, jaggies, low resolution, framerate drops.

Sony and microsoft can build easily new hardware for 499$ or less.

[n4gisatroll]

500 is a lot bro. Why do you think there hasn't been a console to hit ps2 sales yet?

[PersonMan]

Try playing Uncharted 3 and tell me where the jaggies, low resolution, pixelated shadows and framerate drops are because... I'm not seeing that.

Here's the funny thing about PC graphics. I recently played Prototype 2 on the PC and while it looked SLIGHTLY better than the PS3 version, it wasn't any better of a game in general. You get the same experience no matter what you play on.

Even GTA IV modded with Icenhancer still plays like GTA IV and it's not a better game because the graphics improved.

So if developers like Naughty Dog and Santa Monica can keep pumping out amazing games on PS3, let them.

Let's also not forget that developers have just started to get really comfortable with the PS3/360 coding and their engines are really optimized well by now. It would suck to throw that all away and start from scratch again when you get new hardware. Naughty Dog even said in an interview that they're not ready to learn a new system yet. They're content with what they have right now.

[NobleRed]

Open your eyes man.

First of all the image quality of Uncharted 3 looks worse than the image quality of uncharted 2.

Uncharted 3 has more jaggies because they used a newer rendering technology.

You don't see pixelated shoadows? I can see them clearly in the multiplayer when all characters show up in the character screen.

You don't see a low resolution? If you want to play games in 720P go on.

A lot of games have problems with the framerate not Uncharted but a lot of other games.

If you want to play on a shitty seven year old graphic card go on. You can play on the ps3 till you die. But don't write stupid comments about people who want to play on newer hardware.

[Hassassin]

I see Uncharted 3 jaggies, low res textures, pixelated shadows AND framerate drops all the time.

The game is still very good... but I found it too scripted and linear, it's like playing a good action movie.

In any case enemy AI is bad in this game, not as bad as most games. (I think RAGE's AI is better).

That said, I wont buy a PS4 (or shitbox720) but I hope it comes soon so that developers stop being lazy and say the are "not ready yo learn a new system".

If the content is better then I'm willing to pay more for next-gen games (I'll buy them for PC).

[PersonMan]

@NobleRed

I'm not looking at Multiplayer when I talk about graphics. Everyone knows that multiplayer has to be scaled back a bit.

720p from a distance looks fine. Obviously, you wouldn't want to run 720p on a computer game because your face is only inches from your monitor.

I don't know about you, but when I play Uncharted 3, I'm not thinking to myself "How can I be playing this on a 7 year old piece of hardware? This sucks!". Instead, I'm engrossed in the story, the stunning visuals, the art direction, the fun gameplay and cinematic adrenaline pumping set pieces.

I see nothing wrong with the graphics in Uncharted 3... they've really out-done themselves.

By the way, my eyes are open and they're enjoying what they're looking at. Oh, and I also play on PC occasionally but the slight graphical edge just isn't good enough for me to want to boot into Windows.

[DevilishSix]

The systems need to be significant enough upgrades to warrant their purchase. I do not want a PS3.5 or 360.5.

Do not lockout a huge part of the fanbase by locking out used games.

Do not lockout another large part of fanbase by requiring online connection to play single-player games.

If those are not met then I have tons of games not finished or have not got to yet from this generation, so I could skip next gen all together.

At the end of the day, if the console makers do away with used games and make connection a must then many of the benefits of console gaming will be lost and PC gaming becomes far more attractive.

[n4gisatroll]

I'm sorry, but I'm still not ready for the next gen. So far, this gen is going as long as it should. With the ps2 I thought we needed an upgrade but now, I feel I'm still set. Those of you hoping for another giant leap in tech, you won't get it next gen, if it starts next year.

[Saryk]

A very well written and thought out article!

[GamingTruth]

as i look at exclusives on ps3 i still cant see what your talking about his comment on uncharted 2 to uncharted 3 is so so so so ignorant hes really missing alot of points on why the jump was so 'little'

[-Gespenst-]

But why is it that the generation of the PS1 and the PS2 FEEL so much bigger? I think it's because there was so much more games. The more advanced the hardware, the longer it's going to take to develop games and therefore less games are going to get released. As well as this, more advanced hardware affords the ability to pursue more ambitious projects, which are naturally going to be in development for a longer time. Another aspect might be that games of this generation are more expensive to develop, and so developers and game companies have to put more time and effort into the game to ensure that it doesn't fail. (Doesn't always work, but the point is that more time is consumed in the process.)

The generations of the PS1 and PS2 feel so much meatier, and they have such a vaster catalogue of games.

I was REALLY excited when I first heard the PS2 was coming out, I was ready for it. I was also REALLY excited when I first heard the PS3 was coming out, with a similar sense of readiness, but I'm just not feeling that at the moment. I'm just not ready. Technology is moving way too fast these days, and individual game releases feel way too commercial and monadic.

[Gamer_of_the_Year]

What makes this article so stupid is utter contempt it has for the majority of consumers. If the majority of console owners are happy with current Gen and are not ready to upgrade then the console companies will be STUPID to rush them out to the market. Especially if they are as expensive as rumoured. It's just not smart business.

Nintendo NEEDED and upgrade. Screw want. It NEEDED to join the HD Gen. The Wii is a glorified Sixth generation console with motion controls. The Wii-U is more or less Nintendo finally JOINING the seventh Gen.

Sony and Microsoft would benefit greatly by not rushing their consoles to the Market based off the Wii-U.

Furthermore, maybe XBox 360 owners ready for a new console in larger numbers than Ps3 because the XBox 360 has little to no life left in it. And Microsoft knows it. So I guess their customers do to. There are virtually NO EXCLUSIVES for the 360 (sans crappy Kinect games and the Holy Trinity of Gears, Halo, Forza), the tech lauched inferior and obselete (RROD, no wifi, battery operated controllers, etc). Meanwhile, the PS3 is flourishing releasing countless of AAA exclusives, pushing the medium forward. Innovating, U3, GoW3 (impossible to achieve on 360 or Wii).

Sony may had been losing the sales race this Gen. But in terms of faith in Core gamers. And reputation of releasing quality. Sony still has a SUBSTANTIAL lead on it's competition. Without question.

[GamingTruth]

and anything else

[Relientk77]

I am ready give me next-gen hardware

[tigertron]

I don't know about you guys, but I want next-gen to start as soon as next year. In my opinion, this gen will have reached its life cycle by next year.

[molsen81]

I hate being forced into the nex gen of consoles. With that being said, I'll be willing to shell out the dough if Sony can finally get it right across the board (cross-game chat, a real steady internet browser, etc.).

[SnipeySnake]

If it can make devs game making cost lower, come at me next-gen. If not, gtfo.

[AceofStaves]

I'm not interested in next-gen consoles at this point, simply because the industry seems to be moving away from the types of games and gaming experiences I enjoy.

I don't play online multiplayer titles and prefer single-player games. JRPGs are some of my favourite games, and that genre has been woefully under-represented this gen with no indication that the situation will change in the next gen. I use a PC for social network gaming and Internet access, and I don't need Facebook/Twitter integration on my home console. Motion-based gaming is also an issue.

So at this point, I have no incentive to purchase the next gen consoles. That may change down the road, but I won't be buying any of the new consoles at launch.