Next Gen I'm Going Next Gen

[Neon Ignition]

The other thread has been a very interesting discussion to follow but also for some of the time depressing. Business practices are changing as we all know, the slow march towards a greater digitally delivered age is presenting a series of unpopular choices of practice and to be frank, it isn't going to change.

However, the end of the year does see the arrival in some form or other of the next gen machines which could well be serving gamers for the next seven years. Looking at the Current Gen Favez thread shows many people on here have a love of games or series that were born of this gen such as Mirrors Edge, Journey, Uncharted, Red Dead Redemption, Demons Souls, No More Heroes etc as well as games that more closely build on the previous gens efforts. My current PS2 playthrough is great fun but has also again really highlighted that whilst the current gen has faults, there is very commonly a significant quality jump between the last consoles experiences and those we've experienced this gen.

In short, this thread is to discuss which next-gen approach you like, your hopes, expectations and excitement for the new consoles.

[teddymeow]

If I can save enough for launch I'll be buying PS4.

The only reason I have an Xbox is because it was a prize from work. It isn't actually set up at the moment.

PS4, WiiU, PSVita, 3DS. That should keep me busy next gen.

[Brad]

This gen is the last gen that i'll have gone next gen.

[nakamura]

Your PS2 playthrough has been full of **** games, probably played on the wrong tv. What do you expect?

[Wools]

I can't say with any certainty where I'll be going next generation, as always, it's dependent on the games.

After buying all 3 consoles this generation, I want to reign it in a bit & only buy one this time but it'll be hard. Sony exclusives like GT, Ico & MGS have always interested me more out of all the big console players but will any new titles be shown off? Microsoft I'm not really interested in but have always focused on 3rd parties and online, so with a more powerful consoles, they might come up with something interesting. The Wii U I don't really care about as I have a 3DS XL and don't like the hardware. Valves steam box is a little redundant for me as my MacBook Pro (Bootcamped) plays the old stuff but Source 2 must be in the pipeline that makes new hardware a necessity. Half Life 3 anyone?

I'm really looking forward to E3 this year, new console feeling is the best!

[Dogg Thang]

I'm considering the possibility of going handheld and PC only from here on in. I'd miss a lot of great games but I don't know just how much I'm getting from consoles these days. It's definitely not worth me having more than one and I may not even need one.

[wakka]

I'm really excited about the next gen. If you look at how much current gen games have developed from PD Zero, Condemned and Resistance to where they are now, the difference is amazing. Launch games for PS4/XB3 will as usual fail to show much of a leap over what we've got at the moment, but I think devs will be able to do some pretty thrilling things with the new tech once they've gotten to grips with it.

Everyone hates on digital, but the idea of streaming games is actually really exciting for me too - and has tons of possibilities.

I'm also looking forward to Nintendo's usual blockbusters in HD. Considering what they squeezed out of GameCube level hardware with the Galaxy titles, whatever they do next should be absolutely mind blowing. And this time around, Zelda (which really suffered graphically on the Wii) will actually look really good! Just imagine TEH COLOURS.

EDIT: I'm also looking forward to the next generation of gaming networks being more socially enabled. Again, everyone hates this - and I'm not really a user of Facebook or Twitter personally - but the possibilities are fantastic. I guarantee that those who abhor PS4's 'share' button will end up watching many many clips of games on YouTube or forums, even if they never upload one themselves. Nintendo's Miiverse is a brilliant step in the right direction for creating dialogue among the network's users, too. The internet is social now, it's not just people choosing to post baby pics on Facebook, it's become part of its very make-up. I'm excited to see gaming systems embrace that - and it's of paramount importance that they do in order to remain relevant.

Your PS2 playthrough has been full of **** games, probably played on the wrong tv. What do you expect?

That is so harsh when CTN posts so much great content to the forum (like his Winter of PS2 thread). Who wants to read about someone playing MGS2 or GTA III or Katamari anyway, everyone already played those games to death. Better to hear about obscure games that most didn't play.

Even if you don't like current gen games, there was an undeniably huge leap in what was made possible for developers. I take it that is what he means by 'quality' - visual fidelity and the realism of elements such as large crowds of people. I very much doubt he thinks that the library of PS2 classics are poor quality!

[Pikate]

I can understand people being disillusioned with modern games but by the definition of being a "GAMER" we're in this for the games and if the next-gen games are engaging, innovative, showcase experiences then that's enough reason to go next-gen regardless of any prejudice you have against the consoles. They're not even that different anyway? At the moment the PS4 seems to be the least innovative "big three" console ever, the Wii U is about par for the competition's last gen efforts with a gimmicky controller and the next Xbox will be no great revolution either.

I'll probably go in for a Next Xbox when a killer title is released rather than Day 1. Slightly concerned about the "always online" rumours after the recent Sim City debacle but I think long-term I'd actually prefer if they killed the used game market. Wether it feeds profits or innovation and bigger game budgets I think Microsoft/Publishers/Developers are more deserving of sales than Game/Cex and I don't think either of those stores would be a great loss to the High Street.

One would hope we'd see a new pricing model. Timed rentals direct from Microsoft perhaps? Which is what I personally think the "Always Online" rumours might be with games on discs and retail games just having a code that works like the current XBLA/Games on Demand system which ties them to your console for any users in your house and your account to use on other consoles (the latter of which already requires you to be online to play the game). I certainly don't think Microsoft are going to do anything too oppressive without including sweeteners like a new pricing model but currently it's all speculation and anyone who says any console is the worst (or indeed best) thing to happen to gaming at this point is just a reactionary moron.

[speedlolita]

I buy consoles to play certain games. Buying consoles at launch is still a stupid thing to do IMO. Again, for me it's about the games, not what I'm playing them on.

[nakamura]

CTN is indeed a great member and posts a lot of great stuff. Just putting perspective into play but I am on a phone so will reply later. The best last gen games easily compete with the best on offer today. Some areas like driving have improved but others haven't.
Just look at the amount of HD classics that people buy or moan about when they are ported badly.

The combat engines of Devil May Cry 1 and 3 fo example are still magnificent today.

[originalbadboy]

A lot to potentially be excited about, just hope it doesn't all fall flat on its face come E3.

For me I have in no way made my mind up yet, which next gen console I will be getting, certainly not both that's for sure, not at launch anyway. It could be well be neither if I don't like what I see.

Sony need to show some actual hardware and launch titles, Microsoft on the other hand actually have a harder time winning me over, as they are the ones that need to get some innovation going. If they roll up at E3 with no updated version of XBL or anything that remotely seems like a step forward, then I won't be bothering.

What I want to see from both is some strong launch titles, with at least some new IP's somewhere in there. Microsoft need to bring some new stuff to the table regarding XBL, not just more adverts and video services that are only of any real use in the good ol US of Arseholes.

That leaves Nintendo fighting for the scraps, which may actually work out in their favor, because nobody is expecting them to get anywhere with the WiiU, and it may surprise in the end, but for Nintendo its all about the exclusives.

Regarding hardware itself, the PS4 will either be too expensive (?450+) or they will have to drop the memory down to 4GB which wouldn't surprise me. Microsoft will probably come in at a bit cheaper than Sony, which may work in their favor, it may not. The WiiU will obviuosly be quite a bit cheaper by then, so they will get some traction as long as the games are there.

The biggest issue for me is there are too many games coming out at the backend of this year, which is going to make buying decisions very difficult. Do you buy those games, assuming there will be no next gen version or do you wait and potentially miss out on what will potentially be end of generation gems. Its a tough one, and I doubt people like Rockstar are going to announce next gen versions of GTV V until the current gen version has at least shipped.

Therein is the issue currently with Next Gen, there are no clear boundaries like there used to be where you could say, here we go this is now the start of the next gen, not at the moment anyway.

[kryss]

Next gen I'm staying this gen. Probably.

[Golgo]

Forwards comrades, we must go back!

[originalbadboy]

Forwards comrades, we must go back!

Never look back ... never surrender (Film and year please)

[Golgo]

Ladies in Lavender (2004)