Words of Wisdom pointed out that we used to think 5mb of memory would be more than enough, and that tech inside our console will undoubtedly get way better and we will find use for it. This I do not disagree with. My point is more about the speed in which this happens in any meaningful way.
let me frame it this way. Right now there is a huge topic of screenshots trying to show that the wii makes better looking games than the Xbox. Not a big deal really, it was a high end system from last gen compared to a low end (tech wise) system of this gen. But imagine if it was the same topic but comparing the PS3 to the PS4, and you had to shell out 400-500 dollars for a PS4. Would that be worth it?
We're getting to a point of diminishing returns where alot more power is only going to have small meaningful demonstration on screen. I think that generations will become more drawn out as the big three don't want to take any big risks putting out something expensive that doesn't make any drastic improvement over their current profitable product, and people will be less willing to shell out big money for something that looks and plays very close to what they already have. Which means that there will have to be a longer wait time to produce something that is noticeably better that will be marketable and justify the price.
Alot of people have already said that the jump from Xbox to Xbox 360 was a much smaller jump than from PS1 to PS2, or whatever generational example you want to use. And I would have to agree. And if the PS4 launches in 2011 or 2012 then I think that will be an even smaller jump. The generation will have to last longer to produce a more meaningful jump from generation to generation.
You can find me on facebook as Markus Van Rijn, if you friend me just mention you're from VGchartz and who you are here.
