Wait... is the current Console-Gen already coming to an end?

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

I kinda hope this generation is coming to an end, the current consoles keep getting these damn upgrades and peripherals, etc. etc. - yet the hardware is just the same so it's like it's arbitrarily padding out it's life expectancy, but if a 360 has all these RTS games coming out for it, and it can hardly run them, then God Damnit get me the Xbox 540 already!

-but I'll probably just upgrade my PC's card while everyone pays 500 bucks for either a PS4 or NeXbox so I'll be hesitant.

Still, I feel like the consoles are a little "underpowered" and are having trouble running games because they don't want to sacrifice graphical quality - and hardly any developers know how to make anything for the PS3 to utilize it's full power (it's getting there though) - and the Wii is cheap and all, but it's starting to age very quickly.

My $0.02

 

[lowlymarine]

People talk about how the PS3 "hasn't been used to it's full potential" and such because they don't really understand the core technologies. The Cell, for one, isn't appreciably better and general CPU tasks than any modern desktop processor (EG Phenom 9850, C2Q 9450), because it doesn't really have 7 cores - only the "central" core is a full core, and the others are stripped back and depend on the central core to tell them what to do. It's great at what it does - decoding HD video (and, apparently, folding proteins) but in terms of advanced physics calculations and the like it's not appreciably better than the 360's true-triple-core processor.

And here's the clincher folks: even if the Cell was the most amazingly advanced piece of computer equipment ever developed by man, the PS3 would still be bottlenecked by the crippled GeForce 7800 that is the RSX. It's a GeForce 7800GTX with the memory bandwidth cut in half: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS3_GPU . That's not exactly "high-end" any more. And the 360's GPU is, quite simply, at least as powerful if not more so, being a prototype R600 (HD 2900 et al.): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenos .

So no, the current generation isn't going anywhere. And no, the 360 is not being utilized to it's limit any more than the PS3 is. The Wii on the other hand...

 

[Devil's Due]

Nextbox? I'm falling behind on these titles that people make up these days.

 

[ElArabDeMagnifico]

The 360 has a triple core? I thought it just had 3 single cores.

Anyway, I was thinking that maybe the next console generation wouldn't be so awesome...

"
EA Console : $599 U.S. Dollars and it would be a portable satalite that destroys all games and consoles that do not bear the E.A. Logo. Also, suffers from a lack of innovative third party games. (NIS, Platnium Games, Grasshopper, and Level 5 included in the exclusion)

Power Cord: $100

HDMI/Video Input: $3000

EA Console compatible HDMI/Video Input Cord: $400

EA Live: $100 a year (hey you get QUALITY when you pay to play though!)

Controller: $30

Rumble attachment for controller:$30

Ability to play: $10 a year.

Power Button: $5

Hey quit your whining! At least the sticker price is lower than the PS4!"

 

[Graustein]

what I'm saying is.

they're not going to release a new system

when they're already releasing a new system

and it's different - they took out the GBA port.

Why in the hell did they do that?

I think the DSi is a little smaller than the DS, but mostly it's to make room for the cameras (they're throwing in two) and an SD slot. It's a bit of a kick in the balls, but I'll reserve my judgement until the question of "can it run GBA ROMs off the SD card" gets answered.

 

[milomalo]

what I'm saying is.

they're not going to release a new system

when they're already releasing a new system

and it's different - they took out the GBA port.

Why in the hell did they do that?

I think the DSi is a little smaller than the DS, but mostly it's to make room for the cameras (they're throwing in two) and an SD slot. It's a bit of a kick in the balls, but I'll reserve my judgement until the question of "can it run GBA ROMs off the SD card" gets answered.

nope its only for the photos... at least now...

 

[Graustein]

what I'm saying is.

they're not going to release a new system

when they're already releasing a new system

and it's different - they took out the GBA port.

Why in the hell did they do that?

I think the DSi is a little smaller than the DS, but mostly it's to make room for the cameras (they're throwing in two) and an SD slot. It's a bit of a kick in the balls, but I'll reserve my judgement until the question of "can it run GBA ROMs off the SD card" gets answered.

nope its only for the photos... at least now...

Well that's a nice plate of bullshit and chips.

 

[CTU_Agent24]

The PS3 was supposed to have a 10 year life span. It's more or less squandered 3 of them so far but it's just hitting it's stride now. Depending on whether sales pick up or not it will probably go till 2016-ish.

Considering it was released in the end of 2006, and this year has been excellent for it, doesn't that mean it wasted one year, not three?

Wait, was the PS3 relesed in 2006?
It wasn't that long ago was it?

 

[Kirosilence]

I'm thinking there won't be a new xBox for another two years, at least. PS3 is just getting started at the moment, and won't be replaced for half a decade at least in my opinion. The average consol generation lasts 5-7 years, we have time to burn yet.

We're getting to the good part of this generation, for the xBox at least. People are reaching the graphical limitations of the 360, which means more power will be put into gameplay and deapth than graphics and technology. We have a pretty spectacular chrismas this year with very few let-downs so far in terms of big name games, I don't think Microsoft will pump out another console until the games stop selling and that seems a bit far from happening.

 

[milomalo]

what I'm saying is.

they're not going to release a new system

when they're already releasing a new system

and it's different - they took out the GBA port.

Why in the hell did they do that?

I think the DSi is a little smaller than the DS, but mostly it's to make room for the cameras (they're throwing in two) and an SD slot. It's a bit of a kick in the balls, but I'll reserve my judgement until the question of "can it run GBA ROMs off the SD card" gets answered.

nope its only for the photos... at least now...

Well that's a nice plate of bullshit and chips.

at least now you can put your dsi pictures into your wii in a more easy way... XD

 

[dukethepcdr]

360 was supposed to have a 5 year life span. It's approaching its' end based on the time frame given when it was announced. We may see it continue on if sales remain high. I imagine it will last until 2010 or 2011.

The PS3 was supposed to have a 10 year life span. It's more or less squandered 3 of them so far but it's just hitting it's stride now. Depending on whether sales pick up or not it will probably go till 2016-ish.

Those are just rough estimates on my part based on company policy, their previous systems, etc.

Wii is harder to tell. Sales are so good there's no reason to replace it and they haven't really reached their promise land of motion controlled games yet, but if they feel the system get stagnant, which has been complaint for awhile now, they may cut and run.

As far as the Wii goes, Nintendo may have found their answer to the complaint about motion controlled games with their new and improved sensor bar. Now all they need are more games tha support the new sensor bar.

 

[Limos]

Xbox seems to be having trouble deciding what to do. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried releasing a Nextbox.

But also I could see an HD Wii coming out sometime in the future. It seems like that is the only real objection people have to the Wii, that and the fact developers can't seem to wrap their minds around using subtle motion controls. Hell the ability to use the wiimote as a pointer already gives a mechanic that is so easy and versatile. But Nooooooooo, everything has to be big dorky arm motions.