Will the next gen consoles have mutiple versions?

[RandomFool]

It seems like there has been a ton of confusion with all the different versions of the systems floating around. Between backwards compatibility disappearing and reappearing on the PS3 and the lack of a hard drive in core/arcade 360. It wouldn't be so bad if they stuck to the original models and didn't keep adding and removing versions.

I'd like to seem them get rid of multiple versions all together but that's probably not going to happen. At the very least they need to find a way to make some better differences between the two. Perhaps a regular console version and a high end more media focused version with TIVO features, more inputs/outputs, more entertainment center focused case design, whatever.

Do you guys thing Sony and MS will stick with the idea of multiple versions?

 

[mugs]

Yes, especially since hard drives are now pretty much standard, hard drive capacities increase quickly over time, and hard drives can be changed without altering the performance of the system. I think we'll see more hard drive size changes this generation, and it'll be more of the same next generation.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be so quick to say that we'll see features being added after release, like MS did with HDMI.

 

[CasioTech]

who cares about making constant hard drive upgrades. I'm waiting for there to be CPU and Video card upgrades like they wanted to do with the Dreamcast 2.

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: CasioTech
who cares about making constant hard drive upgrades. I'm waiting for there to be CPU and Video card upgrades like they wanted to do with the Dreamcast 2.

buy a PC then.

 

[AstroManLuca]

I think MS finally got their SKUs right with the introduction of the Elite. Except I still think the HD-less Core/Arcade version is dumb.

I don't have any problem with console makers having a "premium" version, but it shouldn't actually be different in terms of capabilities. The Xbox 360 Elite, for instance, has exactly the same functionality as the Pro. The only advantages are more hard drive space (but both have a hard drive), an included HDMI cable (but both have HDMI ports), and the color. So they can continue to offer things like bigger hard drives and more included accessories, but I think it's dumb to have a hard drive on some models and no hard drive on others. The core functionality needs to remain constant.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: CasioTech
who cares about making constant hard drive upgrades. I'm waiting for there to be CPU and Video card upgrades like they wanted to do with the Dreamcast 2.

Sega tried that with the genesis. Sega-CD add-on, 32x add-on, master system add-on. And look at them now. We all wanted that over ten years ago, and when Sega was the only one to listen it pratically killed them. The saturn came out WAY too soon after they launched all the Genesis upgrades and died a miserable death, then people were too leery about the Dreamcast even though it was a great product. Now sega just does SW. The only add-on I want for my 360 is a BR player.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I think MS finally got their SKUs right with the introduction of the Elite. Except I still think the HD-less Core/Arcade version is dumb.

People always say that here, but I think you're missing the fact that we here aren't really "typical" gamers. You only really need the hard drive on the 360 if you're going to use it online, and there are still a ton of people in this country who have no broadband Internet. For those people, it makes more sense to buy the Arcade.

The only downside is that developers can't rely on the fact that there will be a hard drive like they can with the PS3. I don't think that's really hurting 360 games though. Load times are fine with the faster DVD drive.

 

[ShawnD1]

Originally posted by: RandomFool
lack of a hard drive in core/arcade 360. It wouldn't be so bad if they stuck to the original models and didn't keep adding and removing versions.

You're looking at it the wrong way.

The base Xbox is just a console with a memory card and a controller; it plays all Xbox games and is fully compatible for online play. The other versions that include hard drives and microphones are just bundles that give a discount for buying all of them.

If MS only sold 1 version of the Xbox, the majority of Xbox users would end up paying more for their consoles.

edit:

people were too leery about the Dreamcast even though it was a great product

This will blow your mind: Dreamcast was basically the first Xbox. link
"Microsoft will provide an optimized version of the Microsoft® Windows® CE operating system with integrated DirectX® services as the operating system for use with Dreamcast."

The dream is still alive

 

[BladeVenom]

Will the next gen consoles have mutiple versions?

Not if they have any sense.

It just makes things more complicated and less noob friendly. Wii had only one version, and I think it is at least a small part of the reason why it's the most successful console out right now.

If you want multiple versions, and multiple add ons, get a PC. Too many choices and upgrades kill the simplicity of consoles which make them appealing to many people, especially new gamers, children, and casual gamers.

 

[RandomFool]

Originally posted by: CasioTech
who cares about making constant hard drive upgrades. I'm waiting for there to be CPU and Video card upgrades like they wanted to do with the Dreamcast 2.

Blah, that's the sort of stuff that pushed me away from PC gaming.

 

[Imaginer]

Originally posted by: randomlinh

Originally posted by: CasioTech
who cares about making constant hard drive upgrades. I'm waiting for there to be CPU and Video card upgrades like they wanted to do with the Dreamcast 2.

buy a PC then.

:thumbsup:

 

[oogabooga]

I think the multiple versions is a pretty good idea, they just need to make it easier to know what you're getting and not make it so that you have to have the most expensive version to take advantage of the console. Sure confer some bonus but make it so that the average gamer isn't totally SOL for not having the top of the line.

I think the Xbox actually has it pretty close

The regular Console and the Elite version.
I don't think there is anything you can do on elite you can't do on a regular console now. At first they had HDMI (I think premium didn't) but they do now.

It'd be nice if there wasn't an 'arcade' version that way all consoles had the HD or didn't. But *shrugs*.

 

[Modeps]

Yes

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I think MS finally got their SKUs right with the introduction of the Elite. Except I still think the HD-less Core/Arcade version is dumb.

People always say that here, but I think you're missing the fact that we here aren't really "typical" gamers. You only really need the hard drive on the 360 if you're going to use it online, and there are still a ton of people in this country who have no broadband Internet. For those people, it makes more sense to buy the Arcade.

The only downside is that developers can't rely on the fact that there will be a hard drive like they can with the PS3. I don't think that's really hurting 360 games though. Load times are fine with the faster DVD drive.

I only meant that with regards to providing a guaranteed HD for game developers to use. Next generation, hard drives should be cheap enough that they'll be able to include one as standard equipment even on the cheapest version. Or maybe they'll have flash memory as the main storage, and the hard drive will be supplemental for storing DLC, movies, music, etc. Like the Wii, but with a better implementation.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Probably even more versions than this generation if the current thread continues. IMO, Microsoft should have included at least a small hard drive on every model of xbox 360 so that developers could utilize it and not have to worry about if the system had one or not.

Each console (per generation) should have a single version (with revisions that have the same functionality).

 

[randomlinh]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I only meant that with regards to providing a guaranteed HD for game developers to use. Next generation, hard drives should be cheap enough that they'll be able to include one as standard equipment even on the cheapest version. Or maybe they'll have flash memory as the main storage, and the hard drive will be supplemental for storing DLC, movies, music, etc. Like the Wii, but with a better implementation.

This is what I was thinking. Flash memory should come down quite a bit by the time the "next generation" comes out. run it w/ a base 20GB SSD (maybe more, since the base PS3 is 40GB now.. and ppl care about numbers) and sell the optional HDD for not an insane price.. or *gasp* just let us use whatever USB HDD (I suspect this would cause support nightmares though).

 

[dlock13]

It doesn't make sense that after having a built in HDD in their original Xbox, they decide to completely remove it and offer only a tiny memory card in place for the Arcade/Core version. They should have included it so they don't have to have limitations on their games/system such as the ability to install for the game to run smoothly and such. I don't very much care for that feature, it was just the only one I could think of at the time.