Next Generation Gaming: What are you looking for?

I know the time is getting very close to "next generation" gaming. Not sure when that will begin. Maybe within the next year or two there will begin the hype, confusion, and official announcements. Rumors have already started.

What has caught your attention in this present Generation of gaming? Have you come to the conclusion that the game companies have become addicted to mediocrity? Or have you had the time of your life? How has it shaped your expectation for the next?

What would get you excited for the next Gaming Generation? What are you looking for to shake your gaming world? Has gaming become a smaller part of your life now? Are the gaming companies responsible for this? Do we actually need bigger and better gaming hardware?

Presently this Generation of gaming was disappointing in the fact that my financial situation kept me from getting too involved. Couldn't purchase all the systems that I wanted. I hope the next generation will be more affordable. (I won't hold my breath on that one.) I am still waiting for a PS3 to drop into my price range. Presently the DSi XL has been my biggest thrill. Love everything about this little system. Liking the Wii but I do prefer traditional controllers over the waggle.

I'm presently in the market for a 3DS. But I am not too thrilled over the size of the screen after being used to a DSi XL. The 3D is not a draw for me, but I do see a lot of titles in the line up that do interest me. Lack of two analog sticks do limit the system when looking at what we have become accustom to. I am thinking that it is time for Nintendo to come out with a 3DS 2, should I wait or jump in now?

I am expecting that motion gaming is here to stay in one form or the other. It just needs to be integrated into the front of the system or in the controllers, or both. No separate purchase. I expect it to become a standard feature. I wouldn't be surprised if Sony has the Vita touch innovation in the next PS4 controllers. Or the Vita as a controller, move over Nintendo.
I want a new mascot or character to get excited over. I want innovations in 2D gaming, surprise me. I do not want a multi media system, more of a dedicated game machine, will never happen again, I know. I expect the next systems will be even more integrated into the Net. I am ready to roll with the punches.
I want a modern day Gradius or R-Type thrill ride type of shooter that is up to date and geared for the next generation of gaming. And I want an RPG that has a story which will keep me glued to the game and would cause me to sell everything and purchase that gaming system.

What say you?

I feel the current generation has all but proven that new, better, and different hardware doesn't mean anything anymore. The most interesting games to come out of this generation have been downloadable ones, and most of them have originated where they always classically have: the PC. I definitely feel like games (in general) have become stale, and the reason for this is not limited memory/graphics processing/etc., it's poor game design.

I also don't really blame game designers for this (stick with me here). The business of games has escalated so much (due primarily to increases in production costs, competition, and overall risk) that designers are forced - either through corporate policies and processes, or through fiscal limitations - to make games they think will sell instead of games they think are worth making whether or not they sell. The result has been games that are a product of tired and contrived ideas, but ideas that are proven to sell. Creating new hardware that is expensive and ramps up production difficulty and time even more will only perpetuate this cycle.

Also, all the supposed "anti-piracy protection" stuff is really making the whole gaming experience something undesirable and frustrating. Constant online connectivity, online passes, and to a lesser extent dlc and publisher specific accounts and so forth... like, the whole appeal of consoles used to be that they were simple. Put in a game. Turn it on. Play. But nowadays (old grandpa voice) it seems like everyone (mostly Microsoft at the beginning, now all three) talk more about the console "experience" than they do the games. They mention stuff like turning it into a media hub, connecting with other devices, paying for subscriptions services, and so on, it's just like... exhausting. :lol

Anyways, I'm not particularly happy with where things seem to be going. Having said that, the new generation could be anything, so I could be wrong about all of this. But I really think that if it was going to be different, it would already have started on current devices.

Simplicity! Enough of the gimmicks and high priced hardware. Go back to $200-300 consoles and $50 games and watch gaming thrive again like the good old days. I think the industry has really lost sight of what gaming should be, which is just a simple and fun hobby. It seems all too serious these days.

I'd really like to see more original IPs. Or even just developers taking more chances with known franchises. Maybe more interesting crossovers, like Pokemon Conquest, and the rumored Starfox/Metroid. Less FPS saturation would be good. I also want less of an emphasis on motion control. For the 3DS I want to see better use of StreetPass and SpotPass.

For me what I look for the next gen console is how they could carry the new game engines and also other innovative stuff like for example kinect like or a move like games ... and also I would like for the next gen console to carry a much higher resolution like that of their PC gaming counterpart ... I hope they will have a re-make of the powerglove lol ...

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/video-game-industry-dying-175530304.html

Somehow I think this read misses the point. Especially if this is the way the big three and game developers see the reason we play. We don't need a bigger and more powerful game system to get interested in playing games. All we need is great games that we can pick up and play with fun and enjoyment. True that the economical downturn has pulled the industry into a slump. But the gaming industry should have adjusted, or corrected itself, to that problem. Hopefully with the next Generation at least this will happen. People just do not have the extra cash to put into $60+ games or $600 systems that are slow and hesitant to drop in price. And the ipad - smart phone gaming generation has proven a point. Simple convenient inexpensive addictive gaming on the go satisfies the hunger. Is the gaming industry out of touch with the gamer? Sure it is great to have fantastic graphical and audio environments to put the game into, but I have got to want to play the game.

I want something that won't nickle and dime me to death. If I have to pay 500 + for the console thats fine (when you break it down / year it's kinda cheap, especially when compared to computer) but I'm tired of having to spend more on perripherals, subscription services, and dlcs than what my console is worth. More importantly I'm tired of being punished for buying launch consoles. xbox 360 - rrod, tiny hard drive, no kinect wii - no wii motion plus, ps3 - smaller hdds (althought 1 of the models had ps2 backward cap) and no motion control, not to mention insane sticker shock.

Live should be free and psn should take notes on how online should work, playstation has such a horrible os / browser to start with. Nintendo needs to revamp online totally. Friend codes are a joke, take the screen name concept (name it some snappy nintendoish name) attach the mii concept to it, and wrap it up in a nice neat user interface.

Motion control is awesome but it isn't something that should be in every single game manufactured. I'm sorry, most sports games SUCK on the wii. the gimmicky games made for the wii mote worked great, but the ea titles were horrible on wii. A thumb blistering two handed controller is a must.

3d is awesome, add it, just dont revolve the console around it. 3d movies are cool but when the whole movie was shot for the sole purpose of being 3d it just doesn't work, don't sacrifice game play or story for the newest gimmick, but do take advantage of it.

I want game play that looks like cgi rendering (won't happen this gen but something to shoot for)

I also wanna see more story telling a la mass effect. Stop cranking out BIG NAME GAME #43 make an epic, span it through a few games and then finish it. Eventually I lose interest in the GTA's, CODs, Halos, Civs, ect. when you play the same basic game every year. Mario and Zelda are exceptions

Stop building games around gimmicks, make the games build the gimmick.

retro junkie said:

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/video-game-industry-dying-175530304.html

Somehow I think this read misses the point. Especially if this is the way the big three and game developers see the reason we play. We don't need a bigger and more powerful game system to get interested in playing games. All we need is great games that we can pick up and play with fun and enjoyment. True that the economical downturn has pulled the industry into a slump. But the gaming industry should have adjusted, or corrected itself, to that problem. Hopefully with the next Generation at least this will happen. People just do not have the extra cash to put into $60+ games or $600 systems that are slow and hesitant to drop in price. And the ipad - smart phone gaming generation has proven a point. Simple convenient inexpensive addictive gaming on the go satisfies the hunger. Is the gaming industry out of touch with the gamer? Sure it is great to have fantastic graphical and audio environments to put the game into, but I have got to want to play the game.

Click to expand...

Totally agree. With few exceptions, games haven't changed in 20 years. Better graphics doesn't mean much when it's the same game it always was with a nicer coat of paint

I also don't think the industry is lagging as the author of that article indicated. Here's the problem:

Now that demand for Nintendo's system has effectively dried up, the numbers can't compete.

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The numbers won't compete because the Wii was a blip in the radar, a statistical anomaly, and we need to adjust our expectations accordingly, not look down upon the industry because it's returning to normal.

targetrasp said:

I want something that won't nickle and dime me to death. If I have to pay 500 + for the console thats fine (when you break it down / year it's kinda cheap, especially when compared to computer) but I'm tired of having to spend more on perripherals, subscription services, and dlcs than what my console is worth.

Click to expand...

Yes! If I could change one thing about the industry it would be that. Tell me what the prices of the console and the games are up front, and don't make me pay for anything else after the fact. If you have a bunch of great ideas you didn't have time to incorporate in one game, then make a new game that has all those things, or better yet: don't sell an incomplete product. Finish it or don't, but don't half finish it and expect me to pay twice for it.