Saaking's Blog 5: Next Generation Consoles

It's my hope that the next generation is a long a way off; however, that shouldn't stop us from speculation and discussing what we would like to see in the eighth generation of gaming. It's safe to say that the big three will once again go at it so I'll make a sort of wishlist of things I would like to see ffom each console maker.

Sony:

[RetroPietro]

agree entirely with what you have to say. What i have learnt with this generation of consoles is never to buy a Microsoft system and stick with Nintendo and Sony.

[ABizzel1]

I'm going to use your same format to comment.

Sony- I agree with everything you said except for sticking with Blu Ray. I'm sure Blu Ray is going to grow for years to come, but Sony doesn't stick with the same format (even though they have had some formats cross over). PS1 games were on CD's, PS2's games were on DVD's, and now PS3 games are on Blu Ray's. So I'm pretty sure we'll see Sony pushing another format for the PS4 whether it's USB games, Digital Downloads, or whatever.

Nintendo- Here's where I'm going to have to completely disagree with you. You're opinions are probably what most hardcore gamers want (especially Nintendo fans). But it's not going to happen. Nintendo sis what they have been trying to do since the PlayStation entered the gaming market, beat Sony. The true gamers who've been playing games forever may not consider it a win, but Nintendo does so I guarantee Nintendo is going even more casual than they were with the Wii. They may create one new franchise, we'll get 2 versions of the established franchises, and everything else will be Wii Sports and Wii Fit. They'll work on online some, but it still won't be up to PSN or XBL standards, even a generation later. Their console will probably be as powerful as a PS3. And their going to find some other way to play games like they did with the Wii mote.

Microsoft- I agree with most of your Microsoft comments. THe next system won't have a RROD epidemic. Their systems will probably come out first again, maybe 2 years ahead of Sony this time (which should be VERY INTERESTING), but their focus won't be on trying to beat Sony. It's going to be on taking market share from Nintendo. MS is going to be hardcore-casual. They'll still have all the multiplatform games, and their exclusive franchises, but their going to push a little harder towards getting that casual market as well. Their first party is in trouble now as they continue to lose more (I'm sure they hire some employees from closed studios to other ones they own). They need to acquire companies that make exclusives for them now. Stop using that XBL movie for DLC, and timed exclusives and build up your first party devs or at least make more devs. 2nd party. They missed the chance at getting Bioware, but Valve is still there (since they're pretty much exclusive to Xbox and PC which you might as well say is Microsoft). XBL won't be free, why would they give up money that gamers are willing to pay. And finally their either going to go Digital Download (most likely) or Blu Ray since it should be the new standard by then.

You make some good points, and we'll just have to wait it out and see what happens when these systems do come out.

[HolyOrangeCows]

I hope they can redeem themselves next gen.

MS needs to make a more solid console.
And they need to stop making LIVE fees intertwined with non-gaming crap and online gaming. I play GAMES online on GAME systems, not Twitter; so don't make fees for both.

Nintendo used to spit out great games by the truck load. Now they focus too much on accessibility and family. That's fine, Nintendo, but you almost COMPLETELY ignore your core fans from back in the day, and those still hopeful in the present.

[HolyOrangeCows]

MS is always talking about their non-gaming features and how they make LIVE gold such a good value. And I don't want to pay for the non-gaming features, only the online gameplay (If even that).

So I hope they make separate, cheaper fees:
Fee #1 - Strictly for Online play
Fee #2 - Access to Netflix, Twitter, etc.

And then I can only pay for the online gameplay and pay less for it.
And MAYBE that smaller fee will be closer to justified to me for the slightly better community.

[presto717]

Sometimes I think about if ninendo had gone with a real hd console instead of a wii this gen. that would have made things interesting.

I would also like the ps4 to be a massive powerhouse just like the ps3 was. With better dev support, we might be seen ps3 games that surpass their pc counterparts.

Sometimes, I find it hard to envision the next gen. Graphics look so good now (KZ, U2) I dont know what the PS4 and Xbox3 will look like.

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

Introduce the PS4 at a lower price point.

[RadientFlux]

funniest thing I've read all day, Saaking thinks he has "unbiased thoughts"

[aaronisbla]

they seemed pretty unbiased to me. Its not like he told MS to just give it up and don't come back. Most of the points he made were good points, it just seems you wanna hold his previous actions against him, kinda lame imo

[Saaking]

I've been an extreme fanboy troll around here so I get why you're calling me biased. You'll just have to take my word for it that I'm trying not to be a fanboy anymore. I'm tired of the same routine. I want to actually discuss game including those on the 360 that I like. But any ways, what would you say MS should improve?

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

when Magneto joined the X-Men.

[RadientFlux]

Alright here are my two cents:

My only issue with the Xbox 360, was RROD. Other than that I found it to be a solid console. It's been criticized for having last-gen technology due to it's DVD drive. Considering that the Bluray format wasn't ready for the 360 launch, not really a big deal.

Though I am sure that both Sony and 360 will be using Bluray next gen or maybe a modified version of it to keep piracy down. As it's getting cheaper and cheaper to burn bluray discs.

The two things I would like Sony to focus on next gen is more western developer support. Make the development tools easier and they will come. As one of the games I'm looking forward to the most next year is 'Divinity 2' and it's a shame that it's not on the PS3.

The last thing would be to tweak the controller as I don't really like the current PS controller and find the X360 controller more comfortable (but that's a personal preference).

[Narutone66]

the 360 is plagued by RROD makes it not a solid console. I want to play some of the games coming out of the 360, but the hardware is the one holding me back.

[Cajun Chicken]

I agree with most of this. But in some instances, the Wii's motion controls are great, for games such as No More Heroes. But it has proved a point, motion controlled gaming is certainly an OPTION.

Nintendo should shake off the 'fitness' vibe next console, that's the only thing which has infuriated me with Nintendo, before, Nintendo consoles were 'Toys' now they're being marketed as fitness devices and brain training systems, annoys me.

Agree with ALL MS points.

[Saaking]

Some people perhaps like the motion controls but I'd really love if Nintendo released a more traditional console. I loved the NES, SNES, N64 and even the GC, but not the Wii.

For now, the motion controls are irreversible, but perhaps next gen they can make motion controls optional and focus more on a normal controller.

[GiantEnemyCrab]

Saaking I agree with on this one. Good lists.

I would add for MS to include an HDD in every system and for both Sony and MS to cut down on the multiple SKU's.

[soxfan2005]

I pretty much agree with everything on those lists as well. Next generation should be easier and cheaper for all companies. Blu-ray technology will no longer be prohibitively expensive to include in consoles at launch, and 250gb or larger hard drives should also be pretty inexpensive to include in all consoles.

This generation was tough for both MS and Sony, and I think they each made (mostly) the right decisions. MS simply could not afford to include HD-DVD in all 360 consoles. HD-DVD was unproven technology in 2005, and would have required a retail price of at least $600 at launch. MS didn't do badly last generation, but they also didn't do well enough to convince gamers to spend $600 of more on the 360. I believe that if MS had included HD-DVD at launch, the 360 would not be around anymore. Besides, most 360 games are nearly identical to most PS3 games despite using just a single DVD, and with the exception of Forza 3 and a few multi-disc RPG's, using DVD format has not been an issue for developers.

Sony, on the other hand, built up a LOT of good will with the success of PS2, and that allowed them the flexibility to launch a console at $600. Now that Sony has proven the worth of Blu-ray for gaming, MS, and maybe Nintendo, can follow suit next generation without taking the risks that Sony had to.

[TheMART]

In your attempt not be be a fanboy you make a few fatal mistakes though Saaking. Let me point them out to you:

1. the 360 and PS3 can do about the same in output and graphics. Has been confirmed by the hardware analyst and number crunching techies.

Where Sony succeeded in with their games like Uncharted 2 is creating the most exclusive specific build engine for the PS3 hardware with many workarounds for the bottlenecks as the split memory so it can gear up in for example the graphics. Microsoft task should be getting an exclusive, not 3rd party multiplatform engine like Unreal III, to be working on one of their flagship titles. For example a 60mln. dollar game like KZ2 with an expensive specialized engine.

FOr the 360 to fix stuff I agree on the Dpad and the reliability of the LAUNCH consoles. THen you als have to be fair and say that Sony should innovate their 10 year old PS2 controller on certain stuff, like the triggers and for me getting cramp in my hands when playing long. Its ergonomical worse designed (DS3) than the 360 controller.

Your wish for Nintendo I can understand as a gamer, but it would be suicide for Nintendo. They tried to compete with first Sony and Sega and you saw the decline after the SNES/N64. Gamecube they tried but lost from SOny and Microsoft.

Where three dogs are fighting over one bone... Exactly. So they wisely chose to take the motion controls and pick the casual/nongamer targetgroup and it showed they were 'right' in the businessway. They sold the most consoles and their own 1st party software also sells like crazy.

They shouldn't change one single thing, but maybe release a HD version of the Wii that has the standard Wiimote plus included so sales will be going up again. Imagine in 2010 one, that at that moment is cheaper to produce than 3 to 4 years ago when MS and SOny brought their HD console, but as powerfull as the other consoles, even able to port over much of the 360/PS3 library?

Nintendo is smart, they now sell without competition. That is, untill MS with Natal and Sony with Wand might get back on Nintendo.

Oh and be sure, the 360 and PS3 next gen will be upgrades like the Wii was to the Gamecube. Most will be done on more RAM, but they want to be profatible in their console sales from day one, have full B.C. with last gen, even ALL gens, so sticking with about the same hardware but just overclocked makes them having to do less work with software emulation and sh!t.

It doesn't have to be bad, I must say we reached graphics that are looking great, 1080p, I just sometimes wish the machines had more RAM because you see thats where the problems are with not being able to get the texture quality because of memory shortage or extra on the PS3, the split memory bottleneck which results in the worst versions of multiplat games in 99% of all games.

[Saaking]

Sony should fix the triggers, but other than that I think The DualShock is perfect and should be used again for the PS4.

I get what you're saying about the 360's graphics which is why I want MS to really support their first party and use their own engines instead of the Unreal or other third party engine. As of right now, the PS3 is definitely ahead of the 360 in terms of graphics. The 360 has yet to prove it self; however, we shall see if it can with such titles as Alan Wake and ME2 next year.

You're right about Nintendo, but like I said this is sort of a wishlist. I'd love for them to do a more traditional console. And besides, now that Nintendo is once again household name, maybe their next console will be successful regardless. We all know the power of Mario.

[cheapndirty]

I really want Sony to abandon the dual shock and advance the design. I prefer the 360 controller by a huge margin, if Sony had one like that then I would not dread having to play my ps3. It is like they gave me this really fast sports car and stuck me in a bad seat.

[sbstncstllo]

I really think that the DS3 should be redesigned or just copy the xbox 360 controller, I'm not being a fanboy here but seriously the xbox controller feels so much comfortable, I don't care about the rest as both machines are about the same except for some exclusives.

[AliTheBrit19]

Nice Saaking

I would say

Sony: Focus on improving PSN, no seriously, put the majority of you're efforts into making PSN as good as XBL Gold, and still keep it free.

Microsoft: Hardware Hardware Hardware, for the love of god make some reliable hardware you cheap f*cks :)

[ShiNe-Box-]

Saaking, you bring up more than a few good ideas.

Great blog.

[Saaking]

Thanks man.

[LordMarius]

All I want is for the launch titles to be AAA and not wait years to see what each console is able to do.

[Digitaldude]

Great ideas,
Sony just needs a way to make PS3 owners buy its great games!
MS needs to stop relying on Halo and move on.

[kissmeimgreek]

was releasing a faulty console (theyve pretty much fixed that completely though) and not backing up HDDVD. if theyd done that and used mrketed the crap out of it, i doubt we'd all have blu ray players now. Oh well guess in a way it worked out for the better.

[superfedya]

I wanna something for a 200$. Not more. If Sony will release a 700$ console again, i'll becom a xboxboy.

[Saaking]

When the 360 launched it was also 400 bucks. For the 600 Sony charged for the original PS3 you got a LOT of value. It was the cheapest and one of the best bluray players along with the most advanced console in the market. Those who dished out the money were not disappointed.

[TenSteps]

lol

hey the PS3 and 360 are 299 each, the Wii just dropped it's price to 199 so I think the next-gen consoles will cost more than $200.

Looks like in the next generation you won't be with Nintendo, Sony, or Microsoft at all not even PC gaming.

[Chet Faliszek 360]

Saaking= wort fanboy of ps3 in n4g...

fact!

[TenSteps]

You have never heard of nas!m... Fact

[superfedya]

>PS3 you got a LOT of value.

I need a gameconsole and not PC like device. All this "value" I have in my PC.

ok, 299$ is a perfect price.

[Syaz1]

though i think nintendo don't need any change. we already know what they image they have set upon themselves, it's probably too late to change that. they should just sell of the ip's that don't suit the console's image. sony should team up with a software company, say, google maybe, too improve the software aspect. microsoft basically has to up on everything, better reliability, storage medium, price, exclusives, etc., and though not related to next-gen consoles, they should release an official xbox and xbox 360 emulator for the pc, where you can play the games from the previous consoles directly without having to waste money on bc for the successor of the xbox 360.

[sakura2009]

great blog saaking

[sbstncstllo]

Hopefully the next generation consoles will use SSD because loading times need to be LOWERED, especially with BD.
Either that or go fully digital to prevent piracy!