Just like when the PS2 first came out, the latest console graphics will be superior to PC when it came out for one or two years, then it became on-par with PC after another year and probably become outdated in another year or two later. That's the nature of consoles.

This post has been edited by Hangmen: Mar 12 2005, 03:18 PM

Probably after two years of the next-gen console's life, newer and more powerful PC hardware will appear. There will probably be like a 5.2Ghz CPU and 1GB RAM is becoming a minimum, with newer mobos supporting more than 16GB of RAM, as well as new 80GB HD being available for as low as RM150 (or even lower!). Heck who knows, perhaps there will be the likes of nVidia Geforce 8800 Ultra or ATI Radeon X1850XT with 512MB or more video memory. At that point, it is likely standard for most mid-range graphic cards to run Doom 3 at 60fps on 1280 x 1024 and for low-end ones to run at 40+fps on 1024 x 768. The possibilities of the future is many and awesome.

This post has been edited by Hangmen: Mar 12 2005, 03:57 PM

...which makes me think? What will the likes of PS4 and XBOX 3 be? Only future trends in the upcoming consoles of PS3 and XBOX 2 will tell.

Sony seemed obsessed with the number three. I remember that the PS1 CPU is 33Mhz. When the PS2 came out, the CPU is 333Mhz. So, do you think that the next console, the PS3 will have a 3.3Ghz (3333Mhz) CPU?

The 25GB Blu-Ray discs makes me think, do we really need that much of a storage? I mean, 10GB sounds reasonable. I'm worried that the trend of putting cheap, generic extras (galleries, interviews, scene viewer, etc) just to fill in the freespace will become all too common. How will console ports to the PC be? Perhaps that is why high capacity HDs of 200GB and above are slowly becoming affordable to mid-range users. Heck, add in maybe another three years and low-end users may be able to enjoy that luxury for a third or less of the price three years before.

Perhaps the 21st century trend in games is better graphics. I mean, new skoolers nowadays prefer eye-busting graphics more than new gameplay mechanics. Otherwise, they'll whine crap like:
- "OMG, game is RoXXorz but gfx so SuXXorz!"
- "Why the hell did [insert reviewer here] gave [insert title here] a 9 out of 10? With the graphics as ugly as a 6-year-old drawing, it must've suck, and the strange thing is, I never even own or played that game!"
^Trust me, I met someone like that before, really piss me off!
Yup, its new engine and an old chassis. I guess for us old skoolers who had been on the scene for quite some time, the era of gameplay revolution is over. Maybe it isn't, but its my opinion anyway.

Well, I don't think console-makers should overemphasize design. What matters is whats on the inside, not the outside.

But I think that the X-Box is bulky because it needs to fit in all its hardwares and internal components and stuff. Instead of just the design, they should also focus on what materials are they using. That way, maybe it can reduce cost and weight.

Well, if it doesn't transform into a giant robot in which whiny 12~14 year olds can ride on, then its not a PS3.

Seriously, is it just me or the next-gen features are incredibly predictable? Example: will feature better online play, a hell lot more stuff to download, ability to render sharply complex and power-hungry graphics, etc. Console-makers should try to come up with something that the consumers wont expect if they want to gain momentum in the upcoming next-gen console wars. What should they come up with? hmm... I give up.

Well, if they want to make an upgradeable console, that'll be a great idea IMO.
Advantage:
- Will make that particular console live possibly twice longer than others.
- Harder to ditch that particular console due to upgradeability.
- Console modding anyone?

But...
Disadvantage:
- ...if they come up with cheapo useless upgrades just like the Sega CD or Sega 32X.
^ Seriously, if you remember the ol' console race of Genesis VS SNES, you know what those are and how it went.

Another feature that I hope future console games should have: visual tweaks. Turn off or on neccessary or unneccessary features to make the game run faster or better, like body counts, decals, anti-aliasing, etc.

Sigh, alright, that ain't cool then.
Well, if they give console the ability to download Torrents, that'll be a good thing, until the RIAA and MPAA bust your house with MP5s and...

Ok, seriously, I don't think downloadable paid games will be popular either. Sooner or later, something like what I mentioned above will appear: a site which hosts illegally downloadable games for nothing at all.

This post has been edited by Hangmen: Mar 30 2005, 07:51 PM

Yeah, I knew that already, that's why I mentioned: