What do you want in a new console?

[Aswald]

I was intrigued by the replies to an earlier question I'd asked: what are modern arcades like (I haven't set foot in one in over 7 years)?

Apparently, not much. The genres seem to be the same.

This made me wonder: just what will a company do to make you want to buy a new console...those are surely going to be here one day.

In my day, ANY console would do, as long as it had cartridges- WOW, THIS WILL NEVER BE OBSOLETE!!!

In the CV/5200 era, arcade games had advanced greatly, and the old 2600 could no longer keep up. Thus, the CV and 5200.

As for the NES era, well, that was a resurrection of a dead thing.

But overall, it was the same idea- arcade games kept advancing, as did the genres- I don't think the 16-Bit consoles could have managed Mario 64 or Spiro the Dragon. Hence, the 32-Bit/CD era.

But what I don't know- help me here, I plead ignorance!- is this: what now? Are there new genres that even today's consoles cannot handle? Or is it just some flashier looking and sounding versions of what's been around for years?

For the first time ever in video gaming, I'm just not sure what's going on.

Thanks.

[GCarlinite]

For the most part, video games are just going to get flashier, so to speak. Once they start to really change, I imagine they won't be anything like what we call video games right now. However any progress in game design will need to have significant financial backing and/or popular support from the people playing them in order to be successful.

The games we regularly see being put out are primarily determined by market demands. Usually, a company won't fund a project if they don't think it will have some sort of appeal to a current market-base. If they don't already have certainty of an audience waiting for that particular game, then the project is often considered too risky.

People who are currently playing games generally don't like things that are way out there and too different, and I must say that I fall into this crowd. The guys developing the hardware and software are, for the most part, trying to make a product that will sell to you and me. Just remember that in the end, it's all about the money!

[backguard]

3D TVs are going to completely revolutionize gaming. Can't wait.

[Arkhan]

having it be geared towards gaming and not "personal media entertainment center" is mostly all I care about.

I end up getting them all, and follow my standard gang of developers, and anything else that catches my eye.


I think all it boils down to anymore is graphics + price. and then all the feature whoring comes in.

All you need is console + internet connectivity. The rest is bleh. who cares.

[Baloo]

I want to see games to back to 2D.

Course it probably won't happen (although there are a lot of remakes being made), but I'm just sayin'.

[Clownzilla]

I won't be happy until I can plug the system into a jack in my head and play games in my MIIINNND!

[Arkhan]

I want to see games to back to 2D.

Course it probably won't happen (although there are a lot of remakes being made), but I'm just sayin'.

the online stores for home consoles are getting the 2D treatment.

[retroman]

good games...f...all this online crap. Dont get me wrong i play it, but i would rather have a single player experince over online any day.

[chrisbid]

i dont want a new console

[Lerxstnj]

I'm not sure how I feel about all these new revolutionary gaming enhancers.
Take Project Natal for example. I think Microsoft will have second thoughts when they realize that they are losing all that money people had spent for accessories in the past. And with Natal if you break your controller, you have to go to the hospital!

What I want in a new console... Good games.

[goldenegg]

good games...f...all this online crap. Dont get me wrong i play it, but i would rather have a single player experince over online any day.

AMEN! It's all about the games. I don't care about fancy graphics and sound only gets your so far. There's a very good reason I play my Atari VCS and Sega Genesis systems more than my PS3 or 360. Games are just lacking nowadays.

P.S. Still loving the Wii though.

[Richter Belmount]

Instant usage basically no interuptions when I simply want to start a game right away. Also no fucking attachments to services , I think I should be allowed to play games that I paid for without having to be connected online to xbox live.