What equals "Next Gen"?

[Blzer]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

IMO to define "next-gen", we have to lengthen the term to "next-generation", and we have to define generation. In electronics, a generation is defined as a form, type, class, etc., of objects existing at the same time and having many similarities or developed from a common model or ancestor. In this sense, this "generation" of consoles is no longer next-gen. The PS2, Xbox, and GameCube are now the past generation. The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and the Wii are the current generation.

There aren't any opinions as to determine what is the next generation of consoles, nor is something considered "next-gen" by graphical power. If SEGA decided to sign on again and create a new Dreamcast, no matter how good/bad it is, it is still part of the same generation as the PS3, Xbox 360, and the Wii.

That said, what equals next-gen? Well... the Sony PlayStation 4, the Microsoft Xbox 720, and the Nintendo WiiWii (otherwise known as the Nintendo Penis).


I think the question in the title should be "What equals 'technologically advanced'?"

[CaliBuck]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

IMO:
Next Gen is whatever each INDIVIDUAL gamer says it is. To THIS gamer the Wii is the most Next Gen system of the 3. They are all next gen to me but it isn't next gen if you the gamer dont acccept it as such.


That is all....

LMAO at your sig. With Longhorn, AuburnAlumni, and myself roaming around, you can't trust anyone :wink:

[EZ Snappin]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

the Nintendo WiiWii (otherwise known as the Nintendo Penis).

I believe the codename is "The Kok"

[Blzer]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

I believe the codename is "The Kok"

Well... there you go. We have our names for next year.

[HMcCoy]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

For me, Next Gen is defined by increased levels of immersion and suspension of belief. Newer technology should give us deeper, more realistic experiences...more moments of "being there" IE. Any given racing game would be alot better with photo-realistic visuals seen through a detailed cockpit view, realistic physics and next-gen control options like FF wheels, the Wii-mote, or the sixaxis. This can also apply to even the simplest 2d platformer. Next-gen should allow for sharper controls, more moves and better sound effects and scores...more things to pull you into the experience.

Developers should be constantly working to capture us within their worlds, and the most obvious way is to blur the difference what we see in reality with what we see within their game, meaning enhanced visuals..but thats not the only way. Its not just about textures and normal mapping. Look at how much better 2k7 was because of the sig animations...or how we loved Oblivion for its expansiveness. Thats next gen.

Nintendo has went a different route in grabbing our imagination by trying to tie our movements and motions to the actions taking place on the screen and IMO, the concept is no less "next-gen" as its competitors. Physical interaction with our games is the future...the obvious evolution. We will see virtual helmets and motion detecting body suits in our lifetime. I personally like the decisions Nintendo have made. I only worry that as we become more and more accustomed to a certain level of visual immersion, that the Wii's weak grafx will really have trouble "capturing" us.

[Admiral50]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

The Wii is next gen, pure and simple. Those who say it's controls have been done before obviously haven't tried it because it's a lot different and a lot better than anything certain posters here say it is. Games like COD and Red Steel aren't 1/4 of the graphics of 360 games yet blow anything out of the water as far as gameplay goes. And these are two slightly above average games, so that's saying something.

Either haven't played, is a graphics whore, or are a fat slob who wants nothing to do with it.

[HMcCoy]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

The Wii is next gen, pure and simple. Those who say it's controls have been done before obviously haven't tried it because it's a lot different and a lot better than anything certain posters here say it is. Games like COD and Red Steel aren't 1/4 of the graphics of 360 games yet blow anything out of the water as far as gameplay goes. And these are two slightly above average games, so that's saying something.

Either haven't played, is a graphics whore, or are a fat slob who wants nothing to do with it.

"Blow anything out of the water as far as gameplay goes?" LOL..slow down bruh. Wii is nice, but Oblivion, GOW, Viva, NBA2k7, DR...etc all take their collective Wii-Wii out and pisses all over and Red Steel visually AND gameplay-wise. You should have went with Wii Sports in your rant there, mate. Thats next-gen goodness.

[jmood88]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

The Wii is next gen, pure and simple. Those who say it's controls have been done before obviously haven't tried it because it's a lot different and a lot better than anything certain posters here say it is. Games like COD and Red Steel aren't 1/4 of the graphics of 360 games yet blow anything out of the water as far as gameplay goes. And these are two slightly above average games, so that's saying something.

Either haven't played, is a graphics whore, or are a fat slob who wants nothing to do with it.

How exactly is the wii a lot different from the arcade games that do exactly what the wii does? The only different thing about it is that it's portable.

[pk500]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

Games like COD and Red Steel aren't 1/4 of the graphics of 360 games yet blow anything out of the water as far as gameplay goes.

Explain how the gameplay of COD is so much more revolutionary than the 360, Xbox or PS2 versions, considering it's a port with a different and unique control scheme.

COD has a unique control scheme, no doubt. But explain how the gameplay is revolutionary compared to its port cousins on consoles with more conventional controllers.

Take care,
PK

[EZ Snappin]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

Explain how the gameplay of COD is so much more revolutionary than the 360, Xbox or PS2 versions, considering it's a port with a different and unique control scheme.

COD has a unique control scheme, no doubt. But explain how the gameplay is revolutionary compared to its port cousins on consoles with more conventional controllers.

Take care,
PK

Immersion. It doesn't seem like much - point to shoot, use both controllers to row, setting charges with motions for placing, turning & pulling the pin, etc - but it is. I found myself literally on the edge of my seat in COD; leaning as I tilted the controller to pear around cover (that simple control is worth the drop in graphics, IMO), bracing my arm across my knee when I pulled up the sights to steady myself for a long-range shot. Changing how you play changed my investment in the task at hand. The first-person perspective changed gaming from "I control a character doing X" to "I am a character doing X"; the Wii amplifies that change to "I am doing X".

Is it perfect? No. In fact, based on what I've read about Red Steel and Far Cry, I would say it is much easier to screw it up than with conventional controls (not that there aren't plenty of crappy, poorly controlled FPS on other consoles as well). Would I like a little more graphical oomph? Yes, because to be honest sniping was very hard in COD because it was designed for systems that could pump more pixels (enemies are shooting from some pretty good distances), and the physicality of aiming the remote added extra difficulty (I can steady my thumb much better than my hand/wrist/arm).

The basic tenants of gameplay were identical across platforms (you shoot stuff, set bombs, drive vehicles that make the original Halo warthog a precise emulation of physics and handling), but the Wii controls made it more involved. As simple as that.

The same is true of Madden, by the way. I don't like videogame football, but damn if I didn't enjoy Madden, from actually putting touch on a throw to jabbing my controller to the right and pushing Ray Lewis' self-congratulatory accessory-to-a-murder face into the dirt with a stiff arm.

[DaveDQ]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

What I expect from next-gen is more emotional stimulation. I want to become so invovled with the characters that I feel what they are experiencing. Just like readin a great book, I want to be emotionally stirred. Here's where I feel this can happen:

Facial expressions: Lip syncing and eye movement needs to be overhauled in many games. Even the much praised Mass Effect videos suffer from the actual character being removed from what they are saying in conversation.

Better Framerate: I feel when a game pops, doesn't get choppy or sluggish, it really helps in the overall development of a scene or event.

Wider Variation in Vocabulary: I'd like to hear more phrases used in situations than a set number of 3 or so. After a while, the same phrases, used throughout the game, creates this idea that your character isn't immersed.

Musical Score: I think GRAW did an excellent job with this. Gears did too. Both of those games really got my emotions going and I think the music had a lot to do with it. I still would like to play COD3 as I have read the Jerry Goldsmith's son did the score for it. (Jerry did the music for First Blood).

So that would be it for me, and this is why Peter Moore's announcement of Peter Jackson coming on board to do games gets me excited.

[pk500]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

E:

The control scheme is creating that very cool immersion, not any change in the gameplay. It's still a linear first-person WWII shooter, just as it is on the 360, Xbox and PS2.

I think the control scheme is the innovation, not some change in the game's format to enhance the gameplay.

Take care,
PK

[EZ Snappin]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

E:

The control scheme is creating that very cool immersion, not any change in the gameplay. It's still a linear first-person WWII shooter, just as it is on the 360, Xbox and PS2.

I think the control scheme is the innovation, not some change in the game's format to enhance the gameplay.

Take care,
PK

The style of game is "same old same old", but changing the control is a bigger change to gameplay than changing the genre conventions. Think of it like a racing wheel - you can play a game like TOCA with a controller but the person with the racing rig is playing a different game. It is at least apples and oranges, even though the gameplay (as you define it) is no different.

I would like more innovative and inventive games - but it seems only a handful are released each generation. Every innovation is copied until it isn't interesting anymore, and each gameplay evolution or revolutionary change refined until a new bar for that "style" is set. By changing how we approach the "same old same old", there is a chance that we will get innovation in terms of gameplay like we have seen with the DS. I think the next Mario may be a title to watch for in that regard.

[DaveDQ]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

COD has a unique control scheme, no doubt. But explain how the gameplay is revolutionary compared to its port cousins on consoles with more conventional controllers.

Take care,
PK

There is a myth that says in order for something to be next-gen, the controller scheme has to be new and not like anything before.

Nintendo did a great job with the Wii, but why is that next-gen?

It's something with a twist, but I don't think it's really that revolutionary.

Give me a game that's so emotionally immersive it makes me cry, that's next-gen.

[Chrono]

Re: What equals "Next Gen"?

The "Gen" in "Next Gen" is short for Generation. Each company has come out with their latest machines, thus this latest generation of consoles is now available. To me personally, that is all Next Gen means... the fact that they have new and improved graphics, controls, etc is just a byproduct of technology and ideas advancing.

Also, I really don't get why people get so worked up about the Wii? You either enjoy something or you don't... you think it's innovative or you don't... it seems to bother folks that everyone doesn't feel the same way about it!

On that note, I freaking LOVE the Wii... it's the most fun i've had with a console in a long time. I'll admit, when I first saw the new controller I laughed my butt off. But the more I looked into it, it just looked fun to me... and to me that what gaming is all about. Wii sports is the most immersed i've been in a video game since I was a kid. Nothing better then having a tennis rally that goes on for 5 minutes, or being able to play boxing with my 45 year old uncle who usually NEVER plays video games... not to mention both of us out of sweating to death when it's all over. I could care less if anyone else thinks it's "Next Gen" or not... I love it!