User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 17

Thread: Do We Even Need New Game Systems?

  1. #1
    Points: 100,746, Level: 77
    Level completed: 31%, Points required for next Level: 1,804
    Overall activity: 9.0%
    Achievements:
    SocialYour first Group50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    IMPress Polly's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    156220
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Vermont, USA
    Posts
    8,575
    Points
    100,746
    Level
    77
    Thanks Given
    10,232
    Thanked 7,643x in 4,358 Posts
    Mentioned
    634 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Do We Even Need New Game Systems?

    I've been thinking about this for some time, but the poor sales of the 8th generation gaming systems and the lackluster reaction that Microsoft's big reveal of their upcoming machine, the terribly-named Xbox One X (previously codenamed Project Scorpio), got at the recent Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 for short) has really brought home to me the question of whether we even need new video game consoles anymore. Let me briefly make my case on that:

    If you think about it, there are two main reasons why people buy game systems: for 1) bigger games, and 2) better graphics. Let's face it, everything else -- motion controls, virtual reality, etc. -- is a gimmick. None of it ever winds up changing the way the average gamer plays or experiences video games. The two most substantive, permanent reasons why people buy new game systems are for bigger games and better graphics. But do we actually benefit from either of those things anymore? I don't think we do! Here's what I mean:

    1) BIGGER GAMES

    The interactive world of the average AAA adventure video game is already getting too large. So large, in fact, that it can't be navigated without the player being given some disingenuous form of detective vision (perhaps a special superpower or technological wonder device that lets you see arrows on the screen pointing you to your next destination) just to find your way around because you can no longer memorize the in-game landscape with enough traversals.

    Furthermore, the focus on increasing world size is starting to negatively impact the quality of storytelling. The ultimate example I would point to in this connection is the largest video game world that has ever been made: that of last year's No Man's Sky. How intimate an experience would say that was, traversing a universe with literally trillions of nearly identical planets just for the purpose of cataloguing more species? All emotional capacity and frankly diversity was lost to the game's sheer scale. When you make games that enormous, character development becomes impossible: the individual is inevitably swallowed up by the vastness of the universe they occupy. Do we really want all our major video games to become No Man's Sky?

    2) BETTER GRAPHICS

    For a staggering price tag of $500, the upcoming Xbox One X will offer players an improved visual experience...that you can't even see without a 4K television! The vast majority of gamers (myself included), however, are still using 1080p TVs. You see what I'm saying? When the average gamer has to buy a new TV ($500) just to see the graphical improvements that a new console (also $500) offers them, I think it's safe to say that such an upgrade is no longer worth the astronomical cost, even if state-of-the-art realism is a relatively big deal to you.

    What do you think? Are we actually, substantively benefiting from new gaming machines anymore?
    Last edited by IMPress Polly; 06-20-2017 at 06:09 AM.

  2. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to IMPress Polly For This Useful Post:

    Brett Nortje (07-09-2017),Green Arrow (06-20-2017)

  3. #2
    Points: 158,710, Level: 95
    Level completed: 23%, Points required for next Level: 2,940
    Overall activity: 0.1%
    Achievements:
    SocialOverdrive50000 Experience PointsRecommendation Second ClassYour first GroupVeteran
    Green Arrow's Avatar Overlord
    Karma
    620067
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Baton Rouge, LA
    Posts
    47,841
    Points
    158,710
    Level
    95
    Thanks Given
    54,414
    Thanked 24,816x in 16,297 Posts
    Mentioned
    1674 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)
    The answer is, of course, no. If I was a developer I would take a Nicola Tesla approach to it all. Put out one console, and then instead of making new consoles every so often, just update the software/firmware to take on newer, better games. You'd still be able to play old games on it, too. The new updates would be maybe $5 tops, depending on how often they were.
    "Those who produce should have, but we know that those who produce the most — that is, those who work hardest, and at the most difficult and most menial tasks, have the least."
    - Eugene V. Debs (1855-1926), five-time Socialist Party candidate for U.S. President

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to Green Arrow For This Useful Post:

    IMPress Polly (06-20-2017)

  5. #3
    Points: 64,730, Level: 62
    Level completed: 14%, Points required for next Level: 1,820
    Overall activity: 0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    The Xl's Avatar Advisor
    Karma
    196597
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    27,967
    Points
    64,730
    Level
    62
    Thanks Given
    6,255
    Thanked 19,792x in 11,974 Posts
    Mentioned
    433 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I doubt the limits of the Xbox one and ps4 hardware have been pushed yet anyway.

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to The Xl For This Useful Post:

    IMPress Polly (06-20-2017)

  7. #4
    Points: 6,603, Level: 19
    Level completed: 37%, Points required for next Level: 447
    Overall activity: 0.0%
    Achievements:
    Veteran5000 Experience Points
    Meh's Avatar Junior Member
    Karma
    30
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Posts
    54
    Points
    6,603
    Level
    19
    Thanks Given
    4
    Thanked 20x in 17 Posts
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Green Arrow View Post
    The answer is, of course, no. If I was a developer I would take a Nicola Tesla approach to it all. Put out one console, and then instead of making new consoles every so often, just update the software/firmware to take on newer, better games. You'd still be able to play old games on it, too. The new updates would be maybe $5 tops, depending on how often they were.
    They do update the software but the hardware at a certain point wouldn't be able to keep up. PC gaming is the way to go.

  8. #5
    Points: 6,603, Level: 19
    Level completed: 37%, Points required for next Level: 447
    Overall activity: 0.0%
    Achievements:
    Veteran5000 Experience Points
    Meh's Avatar Junior Member
    Karma
    30
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Posts
    54
    Points
    6,603
    Level
    19
    Thanks Given
    4
    Thanked 20x in 17 Posts
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by The Xl View Post
    I doubt the limits of the Xbox one and ps4 hardware have been pushed yet anyway.
    It's all about that 4k res... The current hardware can't do it.

  9. #6
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by IMPress Polly View Post
    I've been thinking about this for some time, but the poor sales of the 8th generation gaming systems and the lackluster reaction that Microsoft's big reveal of their upcoming machine, the terribly-named Xbox One X (previously codenamed Project Scorpio), got at the recent Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3 for short) has really brought home to me the question of whether we even need new video game consoles anymore. Let me briefly make my case on that:

    If you think about it, there are two main reasons why people buy game systems: for 1) bigger games, and 2) better graphics. Let's face it, everything else -- motion controls, virtual reality, etc. -- is a gimmick. None of it ever winds up changing the way the average gamer plays or experiences video games. The two most substantive, permanent reasons why people buy new game systems are for bigger games and better graphics. But do we actually benefit from either of those things anymore? I don't think we do! Here's what I mean:

    1) BIGGER GAMES

    The interactive world of the average AAA adventure video game is already getting too large. So large, in fact, that it can't be navigated without the player being given some disingenuous form of detective vision (perhaps a special superpower or technological wonder device that lets you see arrows on the screen pointing you to your next destination) just to find your way around because you can no longer memorize the in-game landscape with enough traversals.

    Furthermore, the focus on increasing world size is starting to negatively impact the quality of storytelling. The ultimate example I would point to in this connection is the largest video game world that has ever been made: that of last year's No Man's Sky. How intimate an experience would say that was, traversing a universe with literally trillions of nearly identical planets just for the purpose of cataloguing more species? All emotional capacity and frankly diversity was lost to the game's sheer scale. When you make games that enormous, character development becomes impossible: the individual is inevitably swallowed up by the vastness of the universe they occupy. Do we really want all our major video games to become No Man's Sky?

    2) BETTER GRAPHICS

    For a staggering price tag of $500, the upcoming Xbox One X will offer players an improved visual experience...that you can't even see without a 4K television! The vast majority of gamers (myself included), however, are still using 1080p TVs. You see what I'm saying? When the average gamer has to buy a new TV ($500) just to see the graphical improvements that a new console (also $500) offers them, I think it's safe to say that such an upgrade is no longer worth the astronomical cost, even if state-of-the-art realism is a relatively big deal to you.

    What do you think? Are we actually, substantively benefiting from new gaming machines anymore?
    It's not only the size of the environment or better graphics that we benefit from. We benefit from more features, more content, more realistic physics, better performance, etc. And the cost of 4K TV will come down (as will the cost of the new consoles) significantly in the coming years. For the people who have the money and the willingness to spend it, the premium they pay during the early release will be worth it for them. Conversely, for the people who are willing to wait for the price to come down, they can just continue to play the previous generation consoles until it does. In short, as long as games can benefit from increased complexity and better visuals, they should keep coming out with new consoles, just like they always have. Granted, this may result in premature releases from time-to-time, but that will work itself out in the long run.
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to Ethereal For This Useful Post:

    IMPress Polly (06-30-2017)

  11. #7
    Points: 222,626, Level: 100
    Level completed: 0%, Points required for next Level: 0
    Overall activity: 32.0%
    Achievements:
    Social50000 Experience PointsVeteranYour first Group
    Ethereal's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    468804
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Posts
    67,628
    Points
    222,626
    Level
    100
    Thanks Given
    14,219
    Thanked 41,536x in 26,005 Posts
    Mentioned
    1169 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Green Arrow View Post
    The answer is, of course, no. If I was a developer I would take a Nicola Tesla approach to it all. Put out one console, and then instead of making new consoles every so often, just update the software/firmware to take on newer, better games. You'd still be able to play old games on it, too. The new updates would be maybe $5 tops, depending on how often they were.
    Without better hardware, updated software and firmware won't make much difference.
    Power always thinks it has a great soul, and vast views, beyond the comprehension of the weak. And that it is doing God service when it is violating all His laws.
    --John Adams

  12. #8
    Points: 12,465, Level: 26
    Level completed: 80%, Points required for next Level: 185
    Overall activity: 0.1%
    Achievements:
    50000 Experience PointsVeteran
    Doublejack's Avatar Senior Member
    Karma
    81128
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Posts
    2,210
    Points
    12,465
    Level
    26
    Thanks Given
    558
    Thanked 1,273x in 864 Posts
    Mentioned
    18 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    I purposefully stay 2-5 years behind on gaming.
    Same $#@!, half the price.

  13. The Following User Says Thank You to Doublejack For This Useful Post:

    Captain Obvious (06-30-2017)

  14. #9
    Points: 6,603, Level: 19
    Level completed: 37%, Points required for next Level: 447
    Overall activity: 0.0%
    Achievements:
    Veteran5000 Experience Points
    Meh's Avatar Junior Member
    Karma
    30
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Posts
    54
    Points
    6,603
    Level
    19
    Thanks Given
    4
    Thanked 20x in 17 Posts
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Doublejack View Post
    I purposefully stay 2-5 years behind on gaming.
    Same $#@!, half the price.
    My PC parts are like 5years old probably put it together for like 300 today still runs good enough for my needs.

  15. The Following User Says Thank You to Meh For This Useful Post:

    Doublejack (06-30-2017)

  16. #10
    Points: 4,773, Level: 16
    Level completed: 38%, Points required for next Level: 377
    Overall activity: 0.0%
    Achievements:
    Veteran1000 Experience Points
    Your Star's Avatar Junior Member
    Karma
    15
    Join Date
    Jun 2017
    Posts
    4
    Points
    4,773
    Level
    16
    Thanks Given
    1
    Thanked 5x in 3 Posts
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Eventually, yes. Until cloud computing becomes a viable thing.

+ Reply to Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts