Are we ready for the next generation of console gaming?
The next generation of console gaming is looming large. Since E3, the buzz of speculation, criticism, excitement, and wonder has continued to grow. Aside from a couple of recent shorts, we at The Game Chair have been quiet on the subject of the next-gen consoles. We will be quiet no more. Posed to all of our writers was the question, “Are you ready for the next generation of console gaming?” Our responses are as varied as we are. In summary:
- Seth - Is a member of EAA (Early Adopter’s Anonymous), yet can’t have it all
- Jake - Is an upgrade machine himself who’s ready for the next-generation every two years
- Maggie - Is a soon-to-be-broke “not an undergrad, not yet a grad student” and therefore concerned more than anything about cost
- Atul - Is waiting for the not so “Meh” content
- Clayton - Is interested and excited but is only at the bundle purchaser stage
- Scott - Is ready when the industry is, as long as they don’t expect him for a couple of years
- Hieronymus - Is clear and direct with an answer of, “No!”
- Brinstar - Is like an ant trying to climb K2
- Paul - Is all about “shopping intelligently” and is happing to share his 5 step program (used in many an EAA meeting)
Without further ado, our musings.
Seth
It’s hard for me to not to feel ready, as I love the release of next-generation hardware. New console launches bring back all the feelings of being a kid on a holiday morning where presents are involved. The feeling of setting up a new console and loading up the first game is so exciting and fun. If that day is a launch day there is even something extra, the feeling of being an explorer, knowing you are one of a few that is experiencing something new for the first time. All that being said; the hardware will only be fun if the software designed for it is. Regarding next-gen software, I haven’t seen or read enough that gets me going yet and could easily be satisfied with the host of upcoming titles for current systems scheduled for the next year without feeling that natural and instinctive pang for wanting the next big immersive experience that a new generation of games brings. You know, a fair amount of my hesitance is caused by the fact that in a lot of ways the DS has been a next-gen platform for me.
I have a pre-order for the 360, simply to confirm an opportunity. I am anxious to get a closer look at the titles to see if there are any that I must have. In addition, Nintendo and Sony will hopefully begin opening the floodgates regarding their next-generation plans. I generally do not like to own too many consoles as I simply don’t have enough time for gaming. I find that if I own too many I miss out on niche titles like Killer 7 and Pikmin because I’m playing all the “top” and “hot” titles for each platform. This means I need to choose my next-gen console wisely if I don’t want to waste money.
I would be totally content if Microsoft wasn’t pushing for the Next Generation now, yet I can’t deny my curiosity and excitement to see what is to come and wonder what beyond a new coat of paint it will offer. I’m certainly looking forward to what will likely be a flurry of information this fall to help me chart my course.
Jake
As a PC enthusiast since there have been PC’s, upgrade cycles certainly don’t frighten me. Shelling out for a new graphics card every 2-3 years has been standard procedure for me ever since the voodoo series of cards. Those complaining that the Xbox was released a mere four years ago should be prepared for even shorter life cycles in future console iterations or perhaps a dreaded mid-generation upgrade cycle. There has also been a lot of forum fretting concerning the $400+ (for uncrippled hardware) price of entry for the upcoming consoles. This makes sense until you look at the price of the Atari 2600 adjusted for inflation. The Atari would set you back $648.83 in today’s dollars. So, from a certain point of view you can say that the price of consoles is actually dropping.
All hype aside, I am already used to the idea of owning three additional consoles over the next couple years, which will not turn out to be supercomputers or be able to render photorealistic worlds. I’m very exited about the prospect of connecting all three consoles via a standard high definition connection to my LCD projector. I can say that we’ve had amazing resolution on the PC for years now and its about time I can throw away my last low-def TV and enjoy my console experience as the developers intended. I’m also prepared for the traditional rushed out launch game suckage. I’m sure I’ll be spending much of my early Xbox 360 time on Xbox-live, with Halo 2.
Maggie
Ah, the next gen consoles: I think I may be ready, but is my wallet? As an RPG enthusiast, Sony and the PS line up really meet my gaming needs the best, so naturally, I’ve been mostly following the PS3 news. By the time the PS3 hits the market, I will be a pretty broke “not an undergrad, not yet a grad student” studying in Taiwan. That is, I probably won’t be working, and even if I am, it’s probably not going to be enough to afford the hefty price tag that it looks like the PS3 is going to come with. I am a more than a little irritated that Sony seems to be trying to follow in the ill-advised footsteps of Microsoft and tacking on a whole bunch of expensive “features” that I’m literally NEVER going to use. Nintendo seems to be the only one of the three that hasn’t gotten wrapped up in this bizarre approach to a GAMING console; unfortunately, while I appreciate the course that it sounds like Nintendo is taking on the subject of gaming in the 21st century, there are way too many Playstation-only franchises and stand-alone games that I simply cannot give up. The shelf price may make that a moot point - interviews with some involved with the PS3 have hinted at a VERY expensive price tag, and if the PS3 hits those upper limits, there’s no way my po’ self is going to be able to afford it.
I am also presented with another problem: I am not going to be on American soil for at least the first year of the next-gen consoles’ release. Assuming the PS3 isn’t going to be some overpriced monster, I am debating whether I should purchase a system set up for North America (pro: games in English; con: everything has to be shipped across the Pacific) or Taiwan (pros: I’ll be able to buy games and the like without importing them, I’ll have access to all sorts of games that are never going to see North American soil, and I can practice my Mandarin! cons: that whole “games in Chinese only” thing). It may sound like a silly issue, but after taking a big hit on buying the console, all those shipping fees are going to take a toll! I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it, but for now, my main concern is the initial price of the PS3. I am going to be bitterly disappointed if the price tag means I’m going to have wait months - or even years - to be able to afford one.
Atul
Meh. For now, I think I’ll wait, since I haven’t seen any “must-have” titles announced for any of the next-gen systems–not to mention the fact that the XBox 360, at least, will be insanely expensive (as their “budget-priced” $299 version is apparently a joke). Still, I usually only buy systems when there’s a title out there that I have a physiological need for; for the original Playstation it was Final Fantasy VII, for the Dreamcast it was Soul Calibur II, for the XBox it was Halo, and for the Nintendo DS it’s Nintendogs. Until I see that holy grail come out for any of the next-gen systems, I’m saving my money.
Clayton
I’d have to say I’m not sure if I’m ready for the Next generation or not. On one hand I would love to have some shiny new hardware on my game stand before the end of the year, but on the other hand, I don’t know that my wallet is ready for the small fortune it’s going to cost to get a Next-gen setup.
I think that the next consoles are going to offer a lot in the way of services to gamers. Nintendo is going to have back catalogue game downloads, Xbox is going to expand on the Xbox Live experience, and PS3 is going to clone goats and mow my lawn (or something like that). I am really looking forward to see how developers implement spectator mode in 360 games. I hope it makes watching video game competitions more palatable than watching them on G4. I think that is where we’re going to see the next generation of game systems take us, a more community centered approach. So far though, I have not been that impressed with what we’ve seen of next generation games. The graphics are a little nicer, there are more bad guys on the screen, and things are moving faster, but it doesn’t seem to be THAT big of a jump over current gen games to warrant spending thousands of dollars.
Thousands of dollars, I’m definitely not ready for that. It looks like the 360 is going to hit me for around $600 (or more) once I get everything I need to have a mostly full set up. That’s assuming though that I don’t get shafted with an $800 “Bundle Deal” from whichever online retailer I order from. Yup that’s how not ready I am for the next generation, I haven’t even pre-ordered a 360. I still plan on getting one as soon as possible though, but the current gen systems still have tons of life left in them.
I think that is the main reason I am not ready for the next generation. I think that by switching platforms in such a short amount of time, we’re missing out on a lot of potential for the old systems. Developers are clearly starting to pull the absolute most out of current hardware. Just look at RE4, Zelda: TP, Forza, and MGS3 (which all look like early next generation titles). It doesn’t seem to make much sense to force developers back to square one just for the sake of better hardware sooner. Why not wait a year or so and have that much better (and cheaper) hardware available for a true Next Generation experience. I guess I’m trying to say that I am looking forward to the new features that the new systems will offer, but I just don’t know if they are going to be worth the price of admission compared to what I’m already playing now.
Scott
I’m ready for the next generation whenever they’re ready to give it to me. I tend to play games on a one- to two-year lag anyway, so I’ll just catch up to the next generation a year or two after the industry decides it needs to be there. There are two main benefits to my time warp. The first is that, with the added benefit of extra time, I can be sure that the only games I play are the ones that are really good. The second benefit is that the price of both consoles and games drops pretty significantly in 12-24 months. So I end up playing only great games and saving tons of money. So yeah, bring on the next-gen whenever you want. I’ve still got some prev-gen games to work on so I’ll be along when I’m good and ready.
Hieronymus
No, I am most decidely not ready for the next generation of consoles. There are a number of reasons, and only one of them is because I’m a cheapskate and, in general, a lagging edge gamer.
The most important reason is I most certainly do not want, nor do I need, an “entertainment center”. Or whatever other newfangled label they are putting on my gaming console. I already have a high end stereo receiver, a really nice DVD player, a top end SACD player and a very powerful PC. I do not see why I should spend top dollar to get all this and more, when all I’m looking for is a console to play some games on. And at a proposed US$300 or more for a hard-diskless (oh, the horror!) box to merely play computer games is just not a reasonable thing at all.
Another reason is because I don’t see that the games themselves have grown up to match even the current graphical capabilities. So I don’t see why I would need to exponentially increase my game computing power just so my same-old same-old shooter can spew even more realistic looking buckets o’ blood at me.
In my mind, Sony and Microsoft are opening themselves up for a new player in the console market, one who concentrates on what we all really want - great games. Give me some solid horsepower, good graphics and sound, and a hard drive - surely someone can do all this for around US$150? And everyone will flock to this game machine and leave the other consoles battling it out with the home theater experts for my money.
Brinstar
Not really. Logically, I know that the next generation is coming, however, when I actually pause and think about it, I feel a little overwhelmed. Psychologically, I think I am slightly unprepared for the next generation. There are a lot of worthwhile games in the current generation that I have yet to play. Adding multiple libraries of titles to this already long list is daunting. I feel like an ant trying to climb K2.
Don’t get me wrong. I am excited about all the cool, rumoured features and the prospect of more realistic graphics, and more processing power, however I worry about the actual quality of games. While there are a lot of good games this generation, there are even more games that I wouldn’t even spend $10 on.
Despite my state of mind, the next generation of consoles is fast approaching, and I’m anticipating it with guarded enthusiasm.
Paul
Well, I suppose the real question is: do I have a choice? If I want to continue playing the latest games, I will indeed, have to purchase a new console system.
However, after going through several generations of this next-gren bruhaha I’ve learned several things that will aid me. So yes I have a choice! The choice of shopping intelligently!
1) A console at launch is way too expensive
There is no way in hell that I am going to pay close to 500 dollars to obtain a next gen system with its NECESSARY additional accessories (memory cards, additional hard drive, additional controller, GAME SOFTWARE). This time around I’ll wait a least a year after the console is released when the inevitable price drop occurs.
2) Better software at a later date
Launch title software can be excellent! Look at the launch of the SNES with Pilot Wings, Super Mario World, F-Zero and Actraiser. Within two months Super Castlevania, Contra III: The Alien Wars, and Super Ghouls and Ghosts were also released.
Nowadays this seems this isn’t the case. Look at the launch of the N64 with only Super Mario 64 and Pilot Wings 64. Look at the launch of the original Xbox with both the great Halo and Project Gotham Racing and drivel like Fusion Frenzy and Amped: Freestyle Snowboarding. Yikes!
Waiting some time allow for some sweet software to emerge. Unfortunately, I can’t name any software that I look forward to on the next gen. I’ll just cross my fingers and hope some innovative and epic titles will emerge. I’m sure there will be.
3) New Consoles have bugs
What is up with that “Disc Read Error” on your PS2? Why has your Xbox harddrive crapped out on you? I didn’t pay $250 for dead pixels on my PSP, what the…? Its because the very first line of next-gen consoles always ship with bugs.
Going back to item 1, waiting some time before purchasing a new console also gives the major console developers some breathing room when churning out their revised editions of the consoles. We may not see that the guts have been re-hauled, but we’ll be happy that we have systems that last 5-6 years instead of only a year after purchase. (I’m looking at you PS One!- My CD-ROM laser began to malfunction after a year of heavy playing. I bought the system at launch.)
4) Price Reduction on all things current gen
With the release of the next-gen consoles and software. All the great software you couldn’t afford will now be cheaper! You might want to pick up some harder to find titles like Ico and Katamari Damacy for eventual ebay slinging. Trust me you’ll be thankful!
5) I still got to finish “X” number of games on my current console
Remember, that huge game shopping spree where you picked up KOTOR, Freedom Fighters, Ninja Gaiden, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, and Beyond Good and Evil? Yeah? Well you need to beat those games! So get to work! (This is a note to myself, by the way. However, the sentiment may be univeral among gamers.) Hell, I got games on the Sega Saturn that need attention!
And with that, I plan to dive right into the next generation of consoles and software. Except, I’ll probably begin in 2007. Thankfully, I have some friends who I know will just have to get the latest and greatest in gaming. Which means, I’ll just head on over to their house on a regular basis until I can afford to buy the systems myself.
none
24. August 2005 at 07:11
Though not accross the board true, there does seem to be a relationship between having high end PC hardware and interest in the 360. That relationship being one of less interest. I’m sure if I had a high end PC and could afford to keep it so, then titles like Quake 4, Prey, TES: Oblivion to name a few would be far less appealing. As a Mac user or someone who doesn’t PC to game, I think the 360 does have some promise - though I am concerned about the lack of a standard hard drive as this could make the platform more console-like and less PC like which I think could hurt it.
My greatest concern for MS is Japan development support as I dig what rises from out there. It’s a good start to have verbal and initial commitments as MS has garnered so far; however without the right sales that intitial support and those words means nothing. I think Paul, and others who generally try to wait out the intitial launch rushes also have the benefit of seeing who’s building a strong foundation of support worldwide as well as can assess the type and sources of support - all of which helps a buyer choose the platform with the right games for him or her. I wish the hardware and games were cheaper as I’d feel less inclined to limit my purchases to one or two platforms. One of the reasons I’ve enjoyed the DS has been cost/benefit. I’m more apt to try a game I maybe wouldn’t otherwise because it’s cheaper.
Hmm… maybe what I really need is to buy all the hardware and sign up for gamefly - I’m sure that wouldn’t make the developers happy and I truly like to support the developers.
24. August 2005 at 08:21
I think the 360 is at risk of pricing itself out of the casual consumer. My previous thought was that $300 is a no brainer compared to a $1,000 PC. But $700 isn’t nearly as lacking in brain cells. That’s gonna take some thought. Someone could easily upgrade their old rig or take a chunk out of a new with that much cash … and now you’re back into the “couch versus upgrading” debate of console v PC’s.
I will definately not be picking one up on a whim on my way home, which is how I got my PS2.
24. August 2005 at 09:54
Well, the price concerns me about the PS3 (obviously!) - I read an article that stated something to the effect that the PS3 would be priced for “enthusiasts.” Has it occured to these people that even the most hardcore “enthusiasts” (except the ones who are raking in serious pay checks) are going to have issues coughing up a big chunk of cash?
It’ll be curious to see what winds up happening - Sony does seem to have the luxury of time over MS.
24. August 2005 at 10:54
I think we’re going to see a great number of consumers NOT buying any consoles due to the high price tags. These pricing numbers are straight out of the ole 3D0 handbook, and we all know what happened there. I agree with what Josh was saying. Granted, 3D0 had no clout when it came out (only among enthusiasts), the average consumer is definately going to take a double take before dropping the cash down on a barebones system. I think then the big three will continue to put out software for the current gen of systems for at least a year ot two after the release of the next gen consoles tied the non-enthsuiasts (err…not willing to shell out their lungs on the blackmarket) masses over until those prices come down. This will be an interesting fall to watch unfold, as all eyes are on Microsoft.
24. August 2005 at 11:37
I’ll be waiting a while before purchasing a next generation console. Price is definitely a factor for me, however now that I have a decent PC, new worlds of gaming have opened up to me — in addition to my above commentary on the back catalogue of games to catch up on. Like Hieronymous, I tend not to buy consoles close to the launch date. I didn’t get a PS1 until 1998. I got a GBA in 2002, a GameCube in 2003, and I got a PS2 at the beginning of 2005. I still have loads to keep me busy.
24. August 2005 at 11:46
I think that the biggest hurt the 360 is going to take is splitting its market between the hard-drive and the no hard-drive versions. Your average consumer (the market the 360 is trying to grow into) is absolutely going to buy the $300 no-disk version. There is going to be trouble when they get home, put Halo 2 in the 360 and discover that it requires the hard drive to work. This is exactly why consoles have been so much more popular than PC’s. It didn’t require a lot of research . . . aside from making sure the game and the console both said Xbox on the side. This could become even worse if Microsoft has to release a version of the 360 with a high-density DVD drive later on to accommodate data requirements of next-gen games. It could dilute the 360 brand into an unfocussed mess, leaving the field wide open for Nintendo and Sony.
24. August 2005 at 12:06
The issue of cost is really interesting. First off, I don’t think the comparison of the 360 to the 3DO is fair. The 3DO was $700 (if not more) for hardware alone. The 360 at $400 comes with a boat load more for the money. I’m not saying that $400 is cheap or anything like that, just commenting that I don’t feel it is a good comparison.
Now, back to my opening line about cost - Though I don’t know the figures (but would like to) it seems to me that the cost for developing new content and enticing hardware is increasing at a much faster rate than the size of the paying market. To continue that trend companies need to find ways to make money to make up for development costs and at the same time expand the market in order to make making a profit more likely. Balancing cost of entry and finding the right content to maintain profitability and expand what has been a niche market (albeit a growing one) has created a really interesting playing field.
Sony and Microsoft seem to be trying to say that their hardware is more than about games (though games are important) and therefore worth the cost of entry and will expand the market through expanded features. This strikes me as the PC model. People spend more money on PCs because of their multiple uses and ever expanded features for gaming, business, information access, and numerous other ways they enhance our lives. Nintendo seems to want to try another approach where the definition of games and what makes hardware “next-generation” are re-defined to be accessible and appeal to a broader market.
I don’t know who will win and survive but I do think this does make for one of the most interesting next-gen launches I’ve ever experienced. I’d venture to say that the future of the industry is at stake.
24. August 2005 at 15:22
My SO keeps drawing comparisons between the promises of what the next-gen consoles are going to do and the MS Media Center PC, which fell flat on its face. In his tech geek estimation, the jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none model has NOT worked well in the electronics industry (see those ridiculous PDA cell phones). PCs may be able to multi-task, but an AVERAGE setup that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg is going to do for the AVERAGE person who wants to do every day, run of the mill things (To me that means using the internet, basic word processing, maybe storing digital media, etc.) isn’t necessarily going to multi-task fantastically when you start getting into more specialized areas. A lot of people I know who game *seriously* on their PCs have made special modifications to run X, Y, or Z game.
I LIKE the fact that I plug my PS2 in and the damn thing works with any game I buy for it. I don’t have to worry whether or not my hardware is going to support it. The only things I really need for my computers is a full word processing program, internet, and the capability to run better than a two legged dog. I don’t expect my average computers to be great gaming machines; why would I expect a console to do everything a computer does (and better)?
And the expanded features! Who in the world needs to hook up TWO HDTVs to their PS3?! I don’t know ANYONE who has two HDTVs, and I know a lot of tech geeks who just looove the latest and greatest & have spent thousands and thousands on home entertainment. Where are the companies coming up with this stuff as being necessary, that’s my question. What’s wrong with a stripped down “plug in, put game in, play” system? Isn’t that the nice thing about consoles? It is for me.
And why do I need a gaming console to replicate aspects of what my computer can do? I already HAVE a computer, two to be exact!
I’m curious to see what’s going to be stripped from all these projected features, etc., before the systems launch. The developers have to know what the buzz around the new systems is - and much I’ve read has not been positive. Do you really want your core audience going “Well, uh, gee, I’m not so sure I’m willing to shell out that sort of cash for X system”? If people who game pretty passionately are wary, what about the average person who plays games occassionally?
24. August 2005 at 16:28
Well, I wasn’t going to add my theory on the two HD screens bullet point on the PS3 specs, but since Maggie asked ;) Imagine a add-on that offers true stereoscopic 3D by outputting separately controlled HD content to each eye. This would use some type of eyeglasses or goggles that plug directly into your PS3. Today this technology would be far too expensive, but maybe 5 or 6 years from now they’ll be giving away HD screens in cereal boxes, and Sony will be able to capitalize big-time. Besides that long-stretch theory, I can’t imagine anyone lining up two HD TV’s for extra field of view. And even less likely, parents letting there kids lug the HD around to their friends house for some 7 player action on two HD screens and one ps3. Now we’re bordering on the ridiculous.
24. August 2005 at 18:55
So, just like I thought, it’s patently ridiculous. :P I know, I know, how much could that extra HD output cost to put in a console, it’s just the THOUGHT behind it that makes my blood boil. Or lack of thought. “Let’s stick random things on that only a tiny, TINY proportion of people are going to be able to use!” I’m in favor of scrapping region coding for video games, which would also realistically affect a small number of gamers on games coming from Asia to the US, but I like to think of that as SIMPLIFYING, not tacking a bunch of crap on that no one can use.
Then again, didn’t Sony make a lot of promises about the PS2 that didn’t come true? I’m hoping the PS3 plays out the same way & I just wind up with a nice console that doesn’t cost a ridiculous amount of money.
25. August 2005 at 03:59
You know, an interesting thing I’ve noticed, in addition to the profusion of useless features, or downright annoying features, on the next gen consoles, is that there’s some functionality that I expected which appears to be missing. The most obvious example I can think of at the moment is wireless networking capability, apparently you’ll be able to connect to the PS3 via PSP, which indicates it probably has some kind of WiFi capability, but the 360 is specifically noted as wired (an ethernet cable is included in the core system) and the wireless adapter is listed in the accessories (for an eye popping hundred dollars, considering the last USB wireless adapter I bought was twenty bucks or so). This seems like such a simple and obvious thing if they’re planning on pushing online gaming as much as they appear to be that I wonder if there’s any reason other than profit that it wasn’t included.
Also, I just noticed while cruising some of the next gen rumors, that the PS3 hard drive is not going to be useable for saving games, it’ll be purely for media storage, which seems to be a recipe for ending with precisely the same situation the PS2 HDD is in, it’s a niche accessory that hardly anyone owns. Sure, the PS3 has “Tivo like features”, but hey, that’s what my TiVo’s for, this is to _play games_, at least, last I checked, I may have missed a memo or something. It’s that kind of thing that’s really, seriously turning me off on the next gen systems.
7. September 2005 at 14:09
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