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Ah, it's that time of the half-decade again. News of new consoles is heating up to boiling point and everyone is getting quite excited. But from a UK standpoint, we probably won't see the PS3 or Nintendo Revolution until Autumn 2006, and if rumours prove true, we could be playing on our new XBOX 360's as soon as November time! But, as has been shown in the past, SONY releasing a console AFTER their competitors seems to work for them.
With regards to Microsoft, I think the pros of them launching this Christmas definitely out-weigh the cons. Sure, a lot can change in 6-12 months, technology gets better and what was the best is now cheaper and 'not the best'. According to sources, Microsoft are sticking with standard DVD's. These DVD's, that we're seeing now, can be dual layered an hold up to 7GB. Not bad, considering that you can make a game of HALO 2's quality with it. Also, the graphics card will be better. SONY are using the equivalent of 'a 6800 but faster', according to UK developers. And Microsoft, with their PC links can surely encourage ATi to produce a chip to match this. An X800 XT, perhaps. Either way, you'll be able to glide through Half-Life 2 with no problems. AND you haven't got a system that has to run an operating system at the same time!
Technically the XBOX is a safe bet for Microsoft. You've got a standard DVD player which won't cost more than £20 a piece, a fancy graphics card which, when bought in bulk, will probably reach around £120... Standard 5.1 audio and maybe some Wi-Fi stuff. on top of the usual bits and pieces. The seperate HDD is a great move. One that will cut down costs, and, if they're smart, double-up as an iPod-type Media Player meaning they can charge a fair bit for it for Xenon/Non-Xenon owners. All it needs is an extra chip in it, a screen on the front and or the top and a connector at the bottom. Still, if it's about £70 and comes with LIVE, quite a few people will snap it up.
There's even talk of Nintendo including a Hard Drive in N5. This is a smart move - especially if they're going to support Downloadable Content, etc. Although if they're not, a HDD isn't warranted - you can save just as many files as anyone would with a Smart Card / Mem stick.
Frankly, i'd be somewhat disappointed if any of the next gen systems didn't support Wi-Fi and Wireless controllers. J Allard got it right, when he said we're doing away with cables, etc. Sure you'd have a minor issue with paying for batteries, but it's be more than worth it. How many times have you got you LIVE headset lead tangled up in your controller lead. How easy would life be if BOTH controller AND headset were wireless! I hope the LIVE headset Is stronger this time around. A tip for anyone who gets a new LIVE headset. Super-glue it STRAIGHT AWAY! Even if it isn't broken... it'll save any problems!
Graphically, I think all the systems will eventually be the same. Being able to port a XBOX game to a Xenon game in 6 weeks, like Rare did, might mean that the first XBOX generation of games are a bit nicer than the first Revolution/PS3 games. But it'll all even out. Nintendo themselves said that developing for Revolution will be 'familiar'.. so it might not be that uneven to start with.
In terms of disc size, I think Nintendo and SONY are the winners. Nintendo are sticking with the HD-DVD. This could well be the format of the future as High-Definition DVD sounds familiar to consumers, but also special with the HD in the front. The good thing about HD-DVD is that the developers of it aren't straying away from the DVD formula too much, but are just improving on it. Blu-Ray is a whole new ball game. Where as a Dual Layer HD-DVD can reach a size of up to 30GB, give or take a GB, a Blu-Ray disc can reach a storage capacity of around 56GB (almost double) with rumours suggesting that SONY are in the process of developing a 8 (EIGHT) layer Blu-Ray disc capable of storing a massive 200GB of data!!
Now. Compare this (albeit rumoured) 200GB Blu-Ray disc to Microsoft's 7GB of storage on a DVD-9 and you can see why consumers might want/feel the need to wait for the PS3. it's the newest thing from SONY. It has the CELL chip which, if implemented into any other of your SONY gadgets, could connect wirelessly to them via the built-in Wi-Fi! Also, if these 200GB Blu-Ray discs, or even 120GB discs come into effect, you'll be able to watch your movies at a much better resolution - (twice as good, if not 8 times). So there are plusses on both sides of the XBOX2-PS3 war. Nintendo seem to have bucked their ideas up. They've announced 'aggressively' supported Wi-Fi/online play, connection to DS and even GameBoy Next. Also, it's conveniently time for another Smash Bros. game, another Mario game AND another big Pokemon game, so don't expect Revolutions launch to be full of Army Men games and Midway Arcade Treasures 4. We could probably expect another Mario, Smash Bros', Metroid, Pokemon AND Mario Kart by the time it's ready to come out (Summer 2006). And NOONE can complain at that! Smash Bros AND Mario Kart heading up Nintendo's new, free Nintendo ONLINE campaign?! Yes please - keep your HALO 2.5!
IN short, I think it'll be Hard-Drives and Wireless for everyone. Nintendo's Console will FINALLY be able to play DVD's and even HD-DVD, probably straight out the box. Microsoft are launching early with standard DVD (a safe bet) (at the moment) and with $20 mil in marketting, they'll do fine. SONY are always safe, and if they connect PSP to the PS3, or have a UMD slot in the PS3, then they'll have quite an arsenal to work with.
I'm most excited about Nintendo's online plans and what media format they all use.
Just think:
On your PS3 you could be playing a 250+ Hour RPG on a 200GB Blu-Ray disc, holding a wireless controller are staring at Unreal Engine 3-type graphics.
On your Nintendo Revolution, you could be playing Mario Kart wirelessly with 15-31 other players. Your friend could be tracking your lap-times (wirelessly) on their GameBoy Next and tell you, according to the uploaded stats, that you're continually going wide on the 5th corner of Mario Highway 2!
On your Xenon, you could be playing Half-Life 2 death-match with 30 other people. You can even gravity gun people to death while listening to Beethovens 6th Symphony's Pastorale. On top of this, Your friend has just sent you an invite to play Perfect Dark Online and before you leave the great room your in, you check his status and he's playing team deathmatch with 28 other people and has reserved one space just for you.
All this in around 1 years time. How exciting.
With regards to Microsoft, I think the pros of them launching this Christmas definitely out-weigh the cons. Sure, a lot can change in 6-12 months, technology gets better and what was the best is now cheaper and 'not the best'. According to sources, Microsoft are sticking with standard DVD's. These DVD's, that we're seeing now, can be dual layered an hold up to 7GB. Not bad, considering that you can make a game of HALO 2's quality with it. Also, the graphics card will be better. SONY are using the equivalent of 'a 6800 but faster', according to UK developers. And Microsoft, with their PC links can surely encourage ATi to produce a chip to match this. An X800 XT, perhaps. Either way, you'll be able to glide through Half-Life 2 with no problems. AND you haven't got a system that has to run an operating system at the same time!
Technically the XBOX is a safe bet for Microsoft. You've got a standard DVD player which won't cost more than £20 a piece, a fancy graphics card which, when bought in bulk, will probably reach around £120... Standard 5.1 audio and maybe some Wi-Fi stuff. on top of the usual bits and pieces. The seperate HDD is a great move. One that will cut down costs, and, if they're smart, double-up as an iPod-type Media Player meaning they can charge a fair bit for it for Xenon/Non-Xenon owners. All it needs is an extra chip in it, a screen on the front and or the top and a connector at the bottom. Still, if it's about £70 and comes with LIVE, quite a few people will snap it up.
There's even talk of Nintendo including a Hard Drive in N5. This is a smart move - especially if they're going to support Downloadable Content, etc. Although if they're not, a HDD isn't warranted - you can save just as many files as anyone would with a Smart Card / Mem stick.
Frankly, i'd be somewhat disappointed if any of the next gen systems didn't support Wi-Fi and Wireless controllers. J Allard got it right, when he said we're doing away with cables, etc. Sure you'd have a minor issue with paying for batteries, but it's be more than worth it. How many times have you got you LIVE headset lead tangled up in your controller lead. How easy would life be if BOTH controller AND headset were wireless! I hope the LIVE headset Is stronger this time around. A tip for anyone who gets a new LIVE headset. Super-glue it STRAIGHT AWAY! Even if it isn't broken... it'll save any problems!
Graphically, I think all the systems will eventually be the same. Being able to port a XBOX game to a Xenon game in 6 weeks, like Rare did, might mean that the first XBOX generation of games are a bit nicer than the first Revolution/PS3 games. But it'll all even out. Nintendo themselves said that developing for Revolution will be 'familiar'.. so it might not be that uneven to start with.
In terms of disc size, I think Nintendo and SONY are the winners. Nintendo are sticking with the HD-DVD. This could well be the format of the future as High-Definition DVD sounds familiar to consumers, but also special with the HD in the front. The good thing about HD-DVD is that the developers of it aren't straying away from the DVD formula too much, but are just improving on it. Blu-Ray is a whole new ball game. Where as a Dual Layer HD-DVD can reach a size of up to 30GB, give or take a GB, a Blu-Ray disc can reach a storage capacity of around 56GB (almost double) with rumours suggesting that SONY are in the process of developing a 8 (EIGHT) layer Blu-Ray disc capable of storing a massive 200GB of data!!
Now. Compare this (albeit rumoured) 200GB Blu-Ray disc to Microsoft's 7GB of storage on a DVD-9 and you can see why consumers might want/feel the need to wait for the PS3. it's the newest thing from SONY. It has the CELL chip which, if implemented into any other of your SONY gadgets, could connect wirelessly to them via the built-in Wi-Fi! Also, if these 200GB Blu-Ray discs, or even 120GB discs come into effect, you'll be able to watch your movies at a much better resolution - (twice as good, if not 8 times). So there are plusses on both sides of the XBOX2-PS3 war. Nintendo seem to have bucked their ideas up. They've announced 'aggressively' supported Wi-Fi/online play, connection to DS and even GameBoy Next. Also, it's conveniently time for another Smash Bros. game, another Mario game AND another big Pokemon game, so don't expect Revolutions launch to be full of Army Men games and Midway Arcade Treasures 4. We could probably expect another Mario, Smash Bros', Metroid, Pokemon AND Mario Kart by the time it's ready to come out (Summer 2006). And NOONE can complain at that! Smash Bros AND Mario Kart heading up Nintendo's new, free Nintendo ONLINE campaign?! Yes please - keep your HALO 2.5!
IN short, I think it'll be Hard-Drives and Wireless for everyone. Nintendo's Console will FINALLY be able to play DVD's and even HD-DVD, probably straight out the box. Microsoft are launching early with standard DVD (a safe bet) (at the moment) and with $20 mil in marketting, they'll do fine. SONY are always safe, and if they connect PSP to the PS3, or have a UMD slot in the PS3, then they'll have quite an arsenal to work with.
I'm most excited about Nintendo's online plans and what media format they all use.
Just think:
On your PS3 you could be playing a 250+ Hour RPG on a 200GB Blu-Ray disc, holding a wireless controller are staring at Unreal Engine 3-type graphics.
On your Nintendo Revolution, you could be playing Mario Kart wirelessly with 15-31 other players. Your friend could be tracking your lap-times (wirelessly) on their GameBoy Next and tell you, according to the uploaded stats, that you're continually going wide on the 5th corner of Mario Highway 2!
On your Xenon, you could be playing Half-Life 2 death-match with 30 other people. You can even gravity gun people to death while listening to Beethovens 6th Symphony's Pastorale. On top of this, Your friend has just sent you an invite to play Perfect Dark Online and before you leave the great room your in, you check his status and he's playing team deathmatch with 28 other people and has reserved one space just for you.
All this in around 1 years time. How exciting.
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I think two triggers and two PS2-Style shoulder buttons would be ideal. Switching from L2 to L1 has never been a problem using the same finger.
Exactly.
When I said the Cube triigers would be 'ok' I meant in an 'average but not brilliant way'.
ie they'd just about do the job but I wouldn't love them.
When I said the Cube triigers would be 'ok' I meant in an 'average but not brilliant way'.
ie they'd just about do the job but I wouldn't love them.
Nah.. the Shoulder Buttons on the cube weren't great. Plus, Metroid, the only game out that WOULD use them, didn't! Not for firing, anyway!
I think MS should keep the triggers. They're perfect for Car-Racing, Shooting, Strafing. Two little additions to the top in the form of shoulder buttons should be ample.
I think MS should keep the triggers. They're perfect for Car-Racing, Shooting, Strafing. Two little additions to the top in the form of shoulder buttons should be ample.
Silent Thunder wrote:
>
> May sound like a stupid question but, what is the difference between
> shoulder buttons and triggers anyway?
1) The shape (I'm assuming shoulder buttons means buttons like the PS)
2) Pulling a trigger is more satisfying than tapping a shoulder button. 3) Analogue triggers seem to be better than shoulder buttons for actual 'analogue stuff' (harder you pull the trigger the faster your car goes for instance - wouldn't work as well with PS style shoulder buttons).
I suppose a trade-off resulting in GC-like triggers would be ok, but...
>
> May sound like a stupid question but, what is the difference between
> shoulder buttons and triggers anyway?
1) The shape (I'm assuming shoulder buttons means buttons like the PS)
2) Pulling a trigger is more satisfying than tapping a shoulder button. 3) Analogue triggers seem to be better than shoulder buttons for actual 'analogue stuff' (harder you pull the trigger the faster your car goes for instance - wouldn't work as well with PS style shoulder buttons).
I suppose a trade-off resulting in GC-like triggers would be ok, but...
I think that two shoulder buttons and two triggers could be good. The triggers would naturally be slightly lower, and the shoulder buttons on the top. I'd much prefer that setup to a revisit for the Black and White buttons.
Hedfix wrote:
> If microsoft do do-away with the triggers in favour of *shudders*
> shoulder buttons I'll be a bit stuck.
May sound like a stupid question but, what is the difference between shoulder buttons and triggers anyway?
I had a look on a few sites and the best information I found was on here: [URL]http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/games/expert/peripherals.mspx[/URL] And that doesn't say much about the differences, if any at all.
> If microsoft do do-away with the triggers in favour of *shudders*
> shoulder buttons I'll be a bit stuck.
May sound like a stupid question but, what is the difference between shoulder buttons and triggers anyway?
I had a look on a few sites and the best information I found was on here: [URL]http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/games/expert/peripherals.mspx[/URL] And that doesn't say much about the differences, if any at all.
A hardrive is very useful but ultimately for me it'll be the one that is the best for FPS games.
If microsoft do do-away with the triggers in favour of *shudders* shoulder buttons I'll be a bit stuck. Hopefully you'll be able to use the old xbox controllers on xbox next or they'll have 2 variations of the controller, one of which has full-on triggers.
If microsoft do do-away with the triggers in favour of *shudders* shoulder buttons I'll be a bit stuck. Hopefully you'll be able to use the old xbox controllers on xbox next or they'll have 2 variations of the controller, one of which has full-on triggers.
The G man wrote:
> I just hope that all this power isn't used to try and make
> older games better. I am not saying remakes are a bad thing, but it
> always happens when new consoles are released.
I think they can be a bad thing, often remakes change games; taking away the classic elements of the title. Upgrading the graphics, sound etc. wouldn't be a bad thing at all as long as they don't feel the need to change the parts of game that made it good and try and improve on them and put them in the modern scene. It never seems to work out well, not for me anyway.
Top post, Game and as G man said very informative.
> I just hope that all this power isn't used to try and make
> older games better. I am not saying remakes are a bad thing, but it
> always happens when new consoles are released.
I think they can be a bad thing, often remakes change games; taking away the classic elements of the title. Upgrading the graphics, sound etc. wouldn't be a bad thing at all as long as they don't feel the need to change the parts of game that made it good and try and improve on them and put them in the modern scene. It never seems to work out well, not for me anyway.
Top post, Game and as G man said very informative.
Yeah. Most developers tend to rush games for launch. That is if they had originally planned the game for launch.
I'm actually getting quite excited about Perfect Dark 0. I didn't like the story of the first one, but I played around with bots and Laptop guns for AGES! And those Fly-By-Wire rockets. Hahaha... mint.
I'll have to try and get that back. The problem is, my fancy new TV makes N64 graphics look awful...
....not such a fancy TV, then!
I'm actually getting quite excited about Perfect Dark 0. I didn't like the story of the first one, but I played around with bots and Laptop guns for AGES! And those Fly-By-Wire rockets. Hahaha... mint.
I'll have to try and get that back. The problem is, my fancy new TV makes N64 graphics look awful...
....not such a fancy TV, then!
First off, Game, that is one almighty post, and a very informative one.
Yes, we have reached that time once again. Three new consoles on the horizon, and rumours floating around about each of them. Yes, the specs, or rumoured specs, look mighty impressive, and the future is definately looking bright for gamers all over the world.
But, I never really worry too much about the specs. The PS2 has already proven that you don't have to be the most powerful to be the most popular. At the end of the day, it's the games that I worry about. If these consoles are going to be as powerful as they say they are, then I hope that developers can make good use of that power to make some truly awe-inspiring, original games.
I think we can expect a host of re-makes for these new consoles, as well as several sequels. More FIFA's that are even better than before, more Halo, more Gran Turismo, more Sonic and Mario. Games, will become more realistic, be bigger, with graphics that will be hard to tell the difference between the real world and the game world. I just hope that all this power isn't used to try and make older games better. I am not saying remakes are a bad thing, but it always happens when new consoles are released.
And I also hope that same doesn't happen with the PS3 that happened with the PS2, developers rushing on games to get them released for launch.
With great power comes great responsibility!
Yes, we have reached that time once again. Three new consoles on the horizon, and rumours floating around about each of them. Yes, the specs, or rumoured specs, look mighty impressive, and the future is definately looking bright for gamers all over the world.
But, I never really worry too much about the specs. The PS2 has already proven that you don't have to be the most powerful to be the most popular. At the end of the day, it's the games that I worry about. If these consoles are going to be as powerful as they say they are, then I hope that developers can make good use of that power to make some truly awe-inspiring, original games.
I think we can expect a host of re-makes for these new consoles, as well as several sequels. More FIFA's that are even better than before, more Halo, more Gran Turismo, more Sonic and Mario. Games, will become more realistic, be bigger, with graphics that will be hard to tell the difference between the real world and the game world. I just hope that all this power isn't used to try and make older games better. I am not saying remakes are a bad thing, but it always happens when new consoles are released.
And I also hope that same doesn't happen with the PS3 that happened with the PS2, developers rushing on games to get them released for launch.
With great power comes great responsibility!
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