What features do you expect in next-gen consoles (Xbox2, PS3 etc.?)

[UNCjigga]

Can't really do a poll because I don't think you can choose multiple answers...but which of the following features would you expect STANDARD (i.e. included in the system bundle) when the next crop of game consoles arrives in 2005/2006???

Graphics:
- Fully programmable shaders (i.e. true 'GPU')
- HDTV resolutions to 1080i/720p or beyond--(not just capability, but actual use of high-res textures in games)
- > 32-bit color
- dual-display support allowing hookup to two TVs with only one console

Sound:
- Dolby Digital encoding
- THX-certified sound?
- DTS or DTS-ES sound output
- voice-command headset included
- support for DVD-Audio

Media:
- Hard disk
- DVD-writer
- Blu-Ray disc
- edit: standardized memory cards (SD/MMC, memory stick etc.) rather than proprietary cards

Communications:
- 10/100 Ethernet
- Gigabit Ethernet
- 802.11a/802.11g WiFi
- USB2 or FireWire
- Bluetooth

Controller:
- wireless controllers/headsets (via Bluetooth)
- support for more than 4 controllers
- edit: gyroscopic controllers for full 3D movement or any new gamepad that pwns keyboard+mouse

Home Theater:
- edit: progressive-scan DVD
- HDTV tuner
- PVR (digital video recorder ala TiVo or ReplayTV)
- Remote control (bundled)

Of course I realize that these are all capabilities our PCs have now (even blu-ray)...just trying to figure out what will filter down to the consoles! Seems like the next generation of game machines will have to be capable of more than just gaming in order to justify higher costs. Example--I wouldn't ever pay $499 for a game console, but I'd pay $499 if it was a game console, HDTV tuner, PVR, DVD player/writer, and MP3 jukebox (with ultracool 3D visualizations! ) all-in-one...

Feel free to write-in anything I missed!!

 

[ElFenix]

no point to gigabit ethernet. still mostly gonna be modem access to the internet, i figure. dvd burner, probably not. only 4 controllers because more than 4 is too hard to see on most tvs. wireless controllers would be sold as an add on, batteries would be prohibitive. remote control probably not, as many people won't be using them, so it'll keep the cost down. dvr i think yeah because its cheap to implement if you already have the hard disk. internal 64 bit color probably, still output at 32. price won't be over $299 at intro. gyro controllers would be too weird to use, i doubt it.

 

[bolsen]

lol if you made everything you just asked for into an xbox, it'd be $1,000!!!!!

LOL THX certified??!!! LOL....

 

[MattCo]

Dual TV outs would be cool. I would love to be able to have two or more players playing without having to do split screen. I know you can do it by linking two boxes together but wouldn't it be sweet to not have to buy the second PS3 or Xbox2?

-MC

 

[UNCjigga]

Originally posted by: bolsen
lol if you made everything you just asked for into an xbox, it'd be $1,000!!!!!

No, that stuff will be a bit cheaper by the time these consoles come out. And consoles are always sold at a loss...costs are recuperated through game licenses/game sales. I would expect a price around $500 for most of what I listed...

Originally posted by: bolsen
LOL THX certified??!!! LOL....

hehe, yeah I guess that's mainly for speakers...

 

[StageLeft]

Consoles have to shave money off on every corner so just because they can offer something doesn't mean they will. I'd expect at least the Xbox 2 to have a PVR. DVD recorder though for the average person I don't think they'd get enough use out of it to make it worth MS's money (even considering prices being lower in 2-3 years on dvd recorders).

MORE than 4 controllers? You just can't split the tv up that much - plus as online gaming is more and more a part of these there is less of a need to crowd around a console with your friends. I'd say the majority of Xbox/PS2 owners have never needed more than 2 people playing at once, let alone 4 and especially not more than 4!

They have not bothered with standard memory cards yet so I'm not sure they will in the future.

 

[notfred]

What the hell would you record onto DVD from a game console? It's not like they'd allow you to make copies of the games.

 

[TheeeChosenOne]

Online porn surfing.

 

[Yossarian]

standardized memory cards, bwahaha that will be the day.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Originally posted by: PipBoy
standardized memory cards, bwahaha that will be the day.

DexDrive?

 

[UNCjigga]

Skoorb...I agree with you on the DVD writer (copyright issues, not important for gaming, etc.) but figured MS or Sony might put it in so they could sell some sort of "home movie maker kit" that would use the FireWire/hard drive/DVD-writer for movie editing.

I would only expect support for more than 4 controllers through wireless technology--wouldn't expect 8-ports on the console!! Also this would tie in nicely with dual display support. Or you might be able to use it effectively on a 60"+ widescreen setup with 1080i resolution...

Memory cards--they would probably find a way to take SD format and make it proprietary so only officially licensed memory will work...I just figured they'd stick to as many standardized interfaces as possible to keep costs down...

 

[neutralizer]

dah super duper 1337 processor pentium132 with 239028423 MB of RAM

Seriously, just something that is fast enough to render the best graphics ever.

 

[StageLeft]

I predict Xbox2 will pwn PS3

 

[SportSC4]

Wow... sorry, but most of that is overkill and would be lucky to see it under 2000$

Personally, I wouldn't care about DVD playing ability. I have a nice expensive DVD player already. I really wouldn't have cared if there was tape playing capabilities in the original NES (it came close to happening!). Isn't 720p higher resolution (1080i has scanlines, right?)? PVR would be neat but the technology and capabilities are changing so much that it would be a waste of money. bluetooth would be horrible since you need to be at least 3 feet or so within the box.

Here's what I would care about
graphical:
NURB surface acceleration
real time lighting, shading, texture, etc

Storage:
a hard drive and removeable media (MMC or CF)

Communications:
10/100 ethernet (modem for gameplay is too slow, might as well incorporate online play into the new system)

That's what I think will be necessary for a next gen system.

I'd rather pay 299$ for a gaming system then pay 399$ for a gaming system with inferior home theater sound, inferior home theater video, technologies that would be prone to errors which would reducee the gaming experience

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: uncJIGGA
Skoorb...I agree with you on the DVD writer (copyright issues, not important for gaming, etc.) but figured MS or Sony might put it in so they could sell some sort of "home movie maker kit" that would use the FireWire/hard drive/DVD-writer for movie editing.

I would only expect support for more than 4 controllers through wireless technology--wouldn't expect 8-ports on the console!! Also this would tie in nicely with dual display support. Or you might be able to use it effectively on a 60"+ widescreen setup with 1080i resolution...

Memory cards--they would probably find a way to take SD format and make it proprietary so only officially licensed memory will work...I just figured they'd stick to as many standardized interfaces as possible to keep costs down...

the only thing thats different is the proprietary form factor of the memory card. those things are big money. nintendo somewhere has an adapter that uses standard SD cards for the GC, though i've never seen it marketed for sale.

8 controllers but 4 of them have to be $$ wireless ones, support for 2 tvs... that might be something they'd do.

 

[Hammer]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I predict Xbox2 will pwn PS3

I predict PS4 will pwn Xbox2 then

 

[UNCjigga]

Originally posted by: notfred
What the hell would you record onto DVD from a game console? It's not like they'd allow you to make copies of the games.

I dunno, I figured an RPG might be able to make use of it...think of an online game like Asheron's Call. All the monthly updates would be downloaded straight to the disc, so that you can play it on another console and not have to go through the update process. They might figure out a way to include a writeable area on game media and restrict the burner so that it doesn't write below a certain physical location on the disc, though this would of course make it useless for video editing...

 

[MrBond]

the only thing thats different is the proprietary form factor of the memory card. those things are big money. nintendo somewhere has an adapter that uses standard SD cards for the GC, though i've never seen it marketed for sale.

Lik-Sang has it. I think they're keeping it out of the North American market so consumers aren't confused, but that's just my theory.

Standardized memory will NEVER happen. Look at the PS2. Sony had the Memory stick when they released the ps2, they could have easily stuck a memory stick slot on it and had it use that.

No, sony knew memory prices would drop and the memory card would go from a small profit accessory to an accessory that's almost all profit.

 

[BeauJangles]

How about good games. There have been a few this past console war, but overall they seemed rather lackluster.