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Forums - Gaming - What makes a console "next-gen"...?

 

What makes a console "next-gen"...?

Significant power improvement 38 24.20%
 
Release date 17 10.83%
 
Successor to existing console 61 38.85%
 
Significant change in controller interface 0 0%
 
Mix of the above 39 24.84%
 
Total:155
MDMAlliance on 05 February 2013
Mazty said:
MDMAlliance said:
Mazty said:
gigantor21 said:

To me, the main determining factors are release date, and increase in power relative to the preceding console from the SAME company. Comparing the console with it's competitors to make this determination makes no sense. In the Wii U's case, especially, when we don't even know what the other two consoles even look like.

A console being underpowered =/= not being next gen.

The issue with that is the xbox wouldn't be part of any generation. Same goes for the first console made by any company. 


Xbox would be 1st generation of Microsoft consoles and born within the 6th generation timeframe of console gaming.

But to determine it's within the 6th generation you have to look at hardware, no? Or would it be 6th gen even if it was 1khz cpu and 12 bit RAM?

Yes, it would.  It would have been irrelevant to the peoples' interest if it were like that, but it still takes the title of being within the 6th generation.



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Mazty on 05 February 2013
MDMAlliance said:
Mazty said:
MDMAlliance said:

Xbox would be 1st generation of Microsoft consoles and born within the 6th generation timeframe of console gaming.

But to determine it's within the 6th generation you have to look at hardware, no? Or would it be 6th gen even if it was 1khz cpu and 12 bit RAM?

Yes, it would.  It would have been irrelevant to the peoples' interest if it were like that, but it still takes the title of being within the 6th generation.

Okay then what stops the 360 elite being next gen compared to the 360?



Mazty on 05 February 2013
ROBOTECHHEAVEN said:
the wii u is a next-gen system, because it does indeed do things that the other 2 current systems cant do. can either the xbox 360 or ps3 do co-op with each player having there own screen while playing black ops2 on the same console, besides the wii u. the answer is no... the wii u as well, has a controller that is truly a next-gen experience and only ppl who really put time into the system, can actually understand what i mean by that.
i am sure the next xbox and ps4, will have graphics that are truly impressive and other cool ideas, but they also need more than a in your face showcase of power in graphics, for me to be impressed or call them anything but a graphically upgrade and not a true catch your eye experience. i also dont want the ps4 or next xbox controller's to have a screen on them, because it wont feel fresh at all, but a copied idea.
i want cool new ideas on a console, i think all 3 can and will bring those to the plate. if all 3 dont do that, then i wont buy all 3 systems with my money. or will i develop for them either down the road.


If the Wii U is next gen because it does things the other 2 systems cant do, then the PS3 was in a gen of it's own as it was the only console to have bluray. And for that matter the 360 could play DVD and the Wii couldn't so that would have been in it's own gen...



MDMAlliance on 05 February 2013
Mazty said:
MDMAlliance said:

Yes, it would.  It would have been irrelevant to the peoples' interest if it were like that, but it still takes the title of being within the 6th generation.

Okay then what stops the 360 elite being next gen compared to the 360?


I think you'll need to explain to me what exactly the 360 elite is, because from what it sounds like it is just a redesign of the same hardware.



Gamerace on 05 February 2013

I believe history defines generations as sets of consoles that competed against one another in comparable time frames. It's not common for two systems from the same console manufacturer to be out at the same time such as Atari 2600 & 5200, NES and SNES and PS2 and PS3.

If the first case, both the 2600, and 5200 ended production at the same time so are considered one generation. In the other cases, despite being on the market simultaneously for 5 years, the NES and PS2 ceased production long before the SNES (and we presume the PS3).

Whether WiiU will be considered 7th or 8th will depend on if it lasts comparible to PS4/720 or if it dwindles and ends about the same time as Wii/PS3/360 prompting Nintendo to release another system to compete more directly with PS4/720.



 

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Mazty on 05 February 2013
MDMAlliance said:
Mazty said:
MDMAlliance said:

Yes, it would.  It would have been irrelevant to the peoples' interest if it were like that, but it still takes the title of being within the 6th generation.

Okay then what stops the 360 elite being next gen compared to the 360?


I think you'll need to explain to me what exactly the 360 elite is, because from what it sounds like it is just a redesign of the same hardware.

Yep it is, but to classify it as just a redesign you have to look at the hardware. Why should that not be done over all existing consoles?



kain_kusanagi on 05 February 2013
TheBardsSong said:

Kain_Kusanagi said: "Back in the 80's the generational leaps were all 2D and difficult for many to tell the difference."

Odd, I have no trouble whatsoever telling the difference.

I agree what you said about the PC Engine delivering results, but I don't agree whatsoever with graphical output defining a generation leap, or having to be successor to an existing console. That simplifies things far too much, I think. It's about that too sure, but it's also about the timing, what new it brings to the table, and a factor of many other things.

I am not a fan of the Ouya, or Smartphones, Tablets whatever. I do believe they're the start of things to come though and therefore earn a spot in the generation of gaming, whether they are in direct competition to the big platforms is completely irrelevant.

I shouldn't have said it that way. What I meant was that the difference between NES and SNES is less stark as Playstation to PS2 to PS3. Have you ever played the later NES Disney games or TMNT 3? Those look almost as good as 16bit games. Sure there are telltell signs that we as hardcore gamers notice, but it's not nearly as big of a change as we have seen in the last few gens.



VGKing on 05 February 2013

Let me just answer the question, YES The Wii U is next-gen but it is not powerful like a next-gen console should be. Wii U is part of the 8th generation of consoles, the real question is if it deserves to be.



MDMAlliance on 05 February 2013
Mazty said:
MDMAlliance said:
Mazty said:
MDMAlliance said:

Yes, it would.  It would have been irrelevant to the peoples' interest if it were like that, but it still takes the title of being within the 6th generation.

Okay then what stops the 360 elite being next gen compared to the 360?


I think you'll need to explain to me what exactly the 360 elite is, because from what it sounds like it is just a redesign of the same hardware.

Yep it is, but to classify it as just a redesign you have to look at the hardware. Why should that not be done over all existing consoles?

Let me put it this way...

Let's say you are a third generation American, your parents are second generation Americans, and your grand parents are first generation Americans (they were the ones who moved to America).  You can look like your parents but you still will be considered third generation.  You can be less capable than your parents, but you are still third generation.  A redesign would be like your grand parents getting plastic surgery to change how they look.  They will generally perform the same, they are the same person, but look different.  They are still first generation.  



Mazty on 05 February 2013
MDMAlliance said:
Mazty said:
MDMAlliance said:
Mazty said:
MDMAlliance said:

Yes, it would.  It would have been irrelevant to the peoples' interest if it were like that, but it still takes the title of being within the 6th generation.

Okay then what stops the 360 elite being next gen compared to the 360?


I think you'll need to explain to me what exactly the 360 elite is, because from what it sounds like it is just a redesign of the same hardware.

Yep it is, but to classify it as just a redesign you have to look at the hardware. Why should that not be done over all existing consoles?

Let me put it this way...

Let's say you are a third generation American, your parents are second generation Americans, and your grand parents are first generation Americans (they were the ones who moved to America).  You can look like your parents but you still will be considered third generation.  You can be less capable than your parents, but you are still third generation.  A redesign would be like your grand parents getting plastic surgery to change how they look.  They will generally perform the same, they are the same person, but look different.  They are still first generation.  


Biology works on a genetic level to improve the child every time...So in fact if you want to use people as a comparison then you are saying performance is everything. Your comparison is an oversimplification of multiple factors e.g. diet, exercise, upbringing.