I really want to say crystal data-spheres, but that's probably not until the decade when I die (2070-80 if I'm lucky). In reality, the next generation of consoles will probably still use spinning disks, most probably blu-ray. That's both boring, and nothing new. What really interests me is the next-next generation of consoles. By that time, I imagine we'll already have switched to solid-state memory. It only makes sense; we already have a 256 GB USB memory stick available, and by the time the next cycle of consoles comes around (after the next), flash drive technology will have developed far enough that these large capacity sticks will be available for around the same price as a standard DVD is today. Any of us who carry around a USB stick know that it is possible to store games on there (I can happily say that I can play Fallouts 1&2 and Homeworld from nearly any computer in the world. Starcraft would also be on that list if I could find a no-disc crack), so I don't think it is too far-fetched to imagine buying game sticks around ten-twenty years from now.
Or, I could be completely off my rocker, and digital distribution could completely take over, resulting in a generation waxing nostalgic about the hardships endured in the era of physical-medium data distribution.
"You actually had to take the game out of the box and put it in the console if you wanted to play; and each disc only held one game! So if you wanted to play another game, you had to open the console, take the disc out, and then put another one back in!"
"Wow Grandpa, Times sure were tough in your day!"
"They sure were Billy."
"My Name's Johnny."
"Of course it is Billy... Hey, what are those two robots doing out there?"
The next-next generation of consoles will probably also get power wirelessly. I wonder how that system will interact with my titanium re-enforced spine; or with other metal implants that other people might have.
