What if there's no next generation?

[dataDave]

I really don't know why people say this,even in the SNES and Mega Drive days there were so many classics and great games out, that I'll be shocked it anyone played each of them to the finish and if was hard to keep up Of one looks at the amount of classics out for the PS/P2 it's next to impossible to play each of those console classic games to the finish .

If most people think like that, we'll never have moved on.



That is like saying they'll be no new GPU, or GPU or Window . If developers are making money and getting market share they'll want to hang on to that and build on it, you don't don't that by standing still. For every system they comes a time that a upgrade is needed even for your mobile.

I'm sure inthe Future though Streaming like OnLive mode will the best future in a couple of generations

The thing is, back in those days we still had so much to look forward to... Arcade perfection at home being one (which came with the DC) and I remember VR being a big buzz and how "all games would be like that one day". Nowadays the home experience has killed off arcades.

Like Charles' post, we're still striving for solid 60fps most of the time... and also we're not looking forward to better graphics because we don't really need them, those that really want 60fps/v-sync perfection opt for PC hardware.

[EvilBoris]

I don't think we'll get 60fps, we are far more likely to see Sony's consumer electronics department lay the law down on SCE and introduce 48fps as standard so we all have to buy new TVs.....again

[Team Andromeda]

Arcade perfection at home being one (which came with the DC) and I remember VR being a big buzz and how "all games would be like that one day". Nowadays the home experience has killed off arcades.

Arcade perfection started to come in to force with the PS and Saturn. Its like so many people seem to forget the amount of games that were ported perfectly over to those systems

Nowadays the home experience has killed off arcade

3D killed the Arcades imo . Far too many Arcade operators could afford to buy the Hardware and far too many punters put off paying ?1 to ?3 per credit: A far cry from the days when the local chippy could buy the latest Arcade board and it only cost 10 to 30 Pence per credit.

and also we're not looking forward to better graphics because we don't really need them, those that really want 60fps/v-sync perfection opt for PC hardware.

You may not want the latest graphics, but I do and I want in an all singing and dancing console.

[FelixofMars]

Yep, the launch was rocky, I am not sure the 3D element was a strong enough selling point either and that is what they pushed. Clearly its more powerful than the previous DS consoles which is something they should have pushed and shown games utilising the power more. Also I think that having what seems like half a dozen handhelds called DS has sort of effected sales, their main consumer base is probably thinking well what is the diffrence?

Renaming the PSP2 to NGP/Vita was a smart move, it makes it sounds separate from the other handhelds and probably a good idea after the PSP go bombed.

The 3DS should not be taken as evidence that dedicated handhelds are dead because the launch was, in many ways, entirely botched. Now if someone releases a good handheld at a decentish price with good marketing and good range of games and that too bombs, it's time to reach for your END IS NIGH boards. But the 3DS launch says more about how not to launch a handheld than it does about the actual state of the market.

[FelixofMars]

I am sure the next gen is well on its way, of course Microsoft and EA/Crytek are denying it, its what happened with the Xbox 360 and then it was oh yeah we do have a new console and developers have been on it for a year. I am sure more rumours about it are set to come and maybe more actual information now the Wii U is gathering pace (All be it only hitting this gen in power.)

In theory if there was no next gen I think it would be a bad thing, a new console helps to build new IPs and also helps to create games industry jobs as there is a rush to arms to get something on the new console by the hardware manufacturers themselves. You also get an upsurge in people taking a punt at the new games as there as so few on that console. At the moment the Xbox 360 etc is littered with old games you can get cheap and new games that are not hitting any better quality bar (apart from the obvious handful like Syrim etc) alos some of the IPs are becoming stale like Gears/COD.

I am not saying that they are terrible or trolling, just that they would do better being revitalised by having new hardware and a new engine (and possibly a new direction)

[abigsmurf]

Vita will bomb. Hardcore gamers (like people here) will buy it, but the general public won't.

/prediction

I'd rather spend money and encourage niche publishers to localise ultra niche 50,000 selling games than spend money and encourage publishers to create 1,000,000 selling dance fitness games.

[Guts]

I'd rather spend money and encourage niche publishers to localise ultra niche 50,000 selling games than spend money and encourage publishers to create 1,000,000 selling dance fitness games.

Hmmm, I'm sorry, but I don't really understand what you mean by this? Why would you rather sell 50,000 units than a million units from a financial perspective?

I think Vita will bomb because most people don't have a reason to play PS3 games on a tiny screen with worse controls and graphics and higher price if they can play the games with their friends online, with proper controls from 40" screens. I predict Vita will become a "luxury" device and create a niche market for ultra-hardcore, but fails to sell to larger audience mainly because of the price.

[Dogg Thang]

Hmmm, I'm sorry, but I don't really understand what you mean by this? Why would you rather sell 50,000 units than a million units from a financial perspective?

Unless he had shares in a games company and is only interested in bottom-line profits and nothing else, I can't imagine he's bothered about the financial perspective. Selling the latest dance fitness game does gamers like us no good. That's selling a toy.

And this is where I see no problem with the Vita, or any other machine, becoming a niche market device for what you're calling "ultra-harcore" (I'd just call them gamers). A system doesn't have to be the next big Christmas toy to hold its own and deliver something of real value to gamers.

[Guts]

And this is where I see no problem with the Vita, or any other machine, becoming a niche market device for what you're calling "ultra-harcore" (I'd just call them gamers). A system doesn't have to be the next big Christmas toy to hold its own and deliver something of real value to gamers.

By "ultra-hardcore" I mean gaming enthusiasts who buy all consoles on the market, but why would the normal consumer buy the expensive Vita if they already have a 360, PS3 or Nintendo Wii or 3DS? Or if they can buy any of those machines for less than Vita? I think there's not really room on the market for expensive handheld gaming device, but I guess we'll see after few years what happened.

[Neon Ignition]

Buying 1,000,000 dance games does do core gamers some good. It helps keep the company afloat that has other divisions running that also develop the core games we also buy in droves.

[Sketcz]

Meh, I've got more than enough now.

The history of games is rich enough that even if there were an apocalypse, and you all died and I somehow survived in a bunker with generators and a lifetime's supply of fuel, I still wouldn't run out of decent games before I died.

Right now all I can do is pick up random titles for when I have time and close my eyes to the rest.


EDIT:
I just realised I didn't even answer your question. I answered one that no one even asked:
What if they stopped making anymore videogames...

[Guts]

Buying 1,000,000 dance games does do core gamers some good. It helps keep the company afloat that has other divisions running that also develop the core games we also buy in droves.

This is true. I love Suda 51's games for example, but a platform with just his games wouldn't live for long.

[Charlie]

Maybe no next gen would hasten the likelihood of players tiring of first person shooters and racers and sports sims and see the renaissance of shoot 'em ups, platformers and 'happy' games? I'd quite like that.

[Prototype]

Maybe no next gen would hasten the likelihood of players tiring of first person shooters and racers and sports sims and see the renaissance of shoot 'em ups, platformers and 'happy' games? I'd quite like that.

Nonsense. You could say in previous gens it was overloaded with platformers. Now this generation it has changed, and it will every generation. This generation is more focused on motion controls and online gaming. Every gen, there will be a genre that is overloaded. In previous times it was platform games, and now it is FPS.

[Charlie]

You think? I get the feeling those 3 genres (FPSs, racers, sports) will only grow in popularity as hardware improves and is able to create more and more realistic physics and environments. I hope I'm wrong though.