What is 'next-gen'?

[carocat]

This is a question that comes up all the time, what is next-gen'? I'm sure all of you remember when the 360 launched and the year after that everything was suddenly next gen, the graphics, the games, everything.

But what really is next gen?

Is it the graphics?
The power?
The same old shooter in it's 3rd version? [Halo et al]
Another remake? [various sports games]
An original game? [Bioshock]
A new way of playing games? [Wii]
Removing things everyone is used to from games? [rumble]
Allowing people to play cross platform [360/Vista PC]

ETC.

This artical (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6937058.stm) seems to touch up on a few things, but as with most gaming related articles from the BBC [IMO] it feels unfinished.

What are your thoughts on 'next-gen' now that all the consoles are established?

[Joe]

Next Gen = Next Generation, dear.

[carocat]

Joe, what would I do without you? You're a star!

[linkofhyrule]

I think it's about putting the player more into the experience. Splinter Cell Double Agent did it well by giving you options as to how to complete missions, as did a few other games like Oblivion. Also they need to work on making characters more lifelike.

That's my problem with the Wii. While it does take a step in getting people into the game one way, it takes another one back in making the graphics horrible. It's sort of like being in a non-living world really, which isn't what I want from a game. And even with motion sensing, it's still just a remote.. When you pull something, it's pulling air, not pulling a door handle.

I think by the end of this generation we'll be closer to being ready for something like the Wii pushing us forward in realism. Now it's just for fun. Which is good with mates, but alone it's kind of boring.

[Joe]

cant i be a moon rock?Joe, what would I do without you? You're a star!

[Fleeboi]

I think next gen is focused around community.

With the Wii, they brought back games that can be experienced by the whole family together, making the control system simple yet innovative so any one can pick up and play. While Xbox and PS3 is more on the lines of social networking online, take Home for example, Sony are pushing the online identity through gaming to the point of being able to sit in your virtual apartment with friends, watch tv, go play pool etc whilst being surrounded by people from all over the world doing the same thing. Microsoft on the other hand is letting you play games, watch movies etc with the ability to talk to people around the world while they are doing their own thing.

In the past, gaming's been much more of a solo experience than a gathering of friends, and now that's changing. Sure, Xbox Live on the original xbox was a step forward, but todays online system is much more than that.

[Joe]

I think it's all down to the power :geek:
















LAME

[just Jam Man]

why not all of it?
if all of those things were perfect on any one console it would win easily,
but seeing as though different consoles have different pros and cons.
it's hard to define next gen
wouldn't life just be simple if we had a Wii60Station
but no,
they have to compete

[mjmaskrey]

A technological advancement from its predecessors...nothing more, nothing less.

:)

[WACCOE]

Better graphics.

That's the only distinct improvement i've noticed.

[samo8076]

A think next gen is putting the user into a more realistic opened ended world i.e oblivion where they can go anywhere and do anything. Basically playing the game how that want to play it. Of course graphics play a huge part.

The wii got the next gen right in regards to a new way to play, but the games are so simple and imo the wii is only good for party games (apart from zelda/mario galaxy).

[charliebrown]

Xbox360,ps3 and wii are out now, so the next gen would be the new machines that havent come out yet.
We will never own a next gen console only the current one.

[TBS Trojan]

i would say an overall new gaming experience which would include(to me) graphics, community, power, and gameplay. plus a new sleek look isnt bad.

[Uriel Septim]

I would say Next Gen in my view is the New Technology Developers are useing to make games.

[Truplaya83]

all about online console games for me, that is next gen