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[Liabe Brave]

MS has a slew of features that make it's console a worthwhile choice, especially after price reductions (if they happen). The Kinect gives differentiation and the software offers so many features we'll never see on Sony's platform such as smart matchmaking, voice activation, instant switching, multi tasking, reputation system, Skype, HDMI IN and a few others.

Instant switching and multi-tasking are both officially announced for the PS4. Smart matchmaking and a reputation system are inevitable, though probably implemented in different ways. Voice activation and video chat aren't currently announced, but there's no reason at all to think they'd be impossible (though MS owns Skype so it won't be that).

So from your list of features we'll "never see" the only certain one is HDMI in. That's a very real differentiator, and something MS will lean on. But it's disingenuous to pretend there's a giant heap of MS-only features...especially since some of what you called out is definitely coming to PS4.

 

[Game Guru]

If history is any indication, Sony gave the PS2 lots of legs while Microsoft immediately abandoned the first XBox when the 360 launched. If history repeats, I expect to see the PS3 get much longer support than the 360.

To be fair on MS, the OG Xbox was still costing them money even by the launch of the 360. At that point, it was wiser to drop support of it. Sony makes consoles that they will make money on even as far as the PS2 having a 12 year lifespan, literally only being discontinued because Sony's planned release of the PS4. Even PS1 was only really discontinued to make room for the PS3.

 

[Toki767]

If history is any indication, Sony gave the PS2 lots of legs while Microsoft immediately abandoned the first XBox when the 360 launched. If history repeats, I expect to see the PS3 get much longer support than the 360.

It feels like Microsoft already abandoned the 70+ million 360 owners.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

I really don't think Microsoft is trying to win this gen. They're settling to be a regional console. And to be honest, what's the point? Japan is never going to accept the XB1 and Europe will be lucky to be luke warm towards the console. So why spend a bunch of time and effort marketing to lost markets?

Developer support depends on install base. See Wii U for more information.

XB1 is really going to take some lumps this gen. It's not going to be pretty, but I definately do not want to see it die. I still think the absolute worse thing that could happen to the gaming industry is to have one company dominate a gen. I'm not having a lot of confidence for the WiiU either, so the XB1 needs to at least have some regional success.

The last time a company dominated a gen, we had the golden age of the PS2. So many amazing games were released during that generation. So, I'm okay with one company dominating a gen. It means that developers will focus on one machine primarily and that means more quirky, experimental, creative, unusual games will be released because there will be one machine with enough install base to support such risky projects.

 

[CaptainCPR]

It means that developers will focus on one machine primarily and that means more quirky, experimental, creative, unusual games will be released because there will be one machine with enough install base to support such risky projects.

Truth. I feel it's important to point out as well that Sony did not solve it's hubris crisis by watching the sales start piling up for the 360 in the early years, they did it by responding to the market.

 

[beast786]

Sony gave Sly 4, God of War Ascension, GT 6, Puppeteer, The Last of US, Rain etc. from their first party output this year. As far as I know, there's only locoCycle from Microsoft side and that's a multiplatform release together with Xbox One.

beyond:two souls still yet to come

 

[neojubei]

If history is any indication, Sony gave the PS2 lots of legs while Microsoft immediately abandoned the first XBox when the 360 launched. If history repeats, I expect to see the PS3 get much longer support than the 360.

I doubt Microsoft would drop support for the 360. The reason they did it to the original Xbox is because no one really bought it. The 360 is a different story, especially given that Microsoft just released a new smaller version of the 360.

 

[EightBitNate]

Sony gave Sly 4, God of War Ascension, GT 6, Puppeteer, The Last of US, Rain etc. from their first party output this year. As far as I know, there's only locoCycle from Microsoft side and that's a multiplatform release together with Xbox One.

Gears of War Judgement was pretty big,

 

[neojubei]

Gears of War Judgement was pretty big,

It was?

 

[PROOP]

I doubt Microsoft would drop support for the 360. The reason they did it to the original Xbox is because no one really bought it. The 360 is a different story, especially given that Microsoft just released a new smaller version of the 360.

Logic would make you think that...

 

[CouldBeWorse]

Why do people say this? PS3 hasn't even reached mass market price yet ($199 US). There are GTA and Gran Turismo sequels on the way. It will command shelf space for years to come.

Everything you just said is true for the 360 (minus GT6), but Microsoft can likely go even cheaper.

It's not like the handful of exclusives will even matter from a system sales perspective. Who in the world is waiting for GT6 or Beyond to finally us a PS3? No one!!! People buying it this late are either super price conscious, replacing a broken system, or are buying for the strength of the catalog, which is 95% similar between the two systems.

The sales will keep doing what they're doing. Sony will sell slightly more worldwide each year and will end up ~5 million ahead when it's all said and done. And no one will care because we'll be 3 years in to next gen.

 

[M°°nblade]

I doubt Microsoft would drop support for the 360. The reason they did it to the original Xbox is because no one really bought it. The 360 is a different story, especially given that Microsoft just released a new smaller version of the 360.

Wasn't it also because they were bleeding money because of it?

 

[Cirekiller]

I doubt Microsoft would drop support for the 360. The reason they did it to the original Xbox is because no one really bought it. The 360 is a different story, especially given that Microsoft just released a new smaller version of the 360.

I can't really think of a big 360 release in the near future besides TitanFall, and I am sure it's only on the system because EA wanted the guarenteed playerbase for giving up potential sales on PS4. I am pretty sure if Microsoft got their way the game would be Xbone only. As many have said in this thread, Sony has a proven track record of supporting their older consoles, even to the detriment of their newer ones (PS2 having great releases even as PS3 struggled), while Microsoft definitely does not.

 

[Coulomb_Barrier]

I wouldn't say that, the PS2 era was divine.

Good point, PS1 era was really good too.

 

[CouldBeWorse]

Wasn't it also because they were bleeding money because of it?

Yes. I don't think they ever got profitable on the hardware.

 

[M°°nblade]

It's not like the handful of exclusives will even matter from a system sales perspective. Who in the world is waiting for GT6 or Beyond to finally us a PS3? No one!!! People buying it this late are either super price conscious, replacing a broken system, or are buying for the strength of the catalog, which is 95% similar between the two systems.

I think you're forgetting an important group of people. Lot's of young gamers can't or aren't allowed to spend more than $199 - 299 on a gaming console.
It will take a couple of years for next-gen consoles to hit that price. Untill then, for those people, new PS3 / X360 releases will continue to matter.

 

[Magic Mushroom]

Everything you just said is true for the 360 (minus GT6), but Microsoft can likely go even cheaper.

It's not like the handful of exclusives will even matter from a system sales perspective. Who in the world is waiting for GT6 or Beyond to finally us a PS3? No one!!! People buying it this late are either super price conscious, replacing a broken system, or are buying for the strength of the catalog, which is 95% similar between the two systems.

The sales will keep doing what they're doing. Sony will sell slightly more worldwide each year and will end up ~5 million ahead when it's all said and done. And no one will care because we'll be 3 years in to next gen.

I know people who bought a PS3 for The Last of Us though. That and PS+ seems to pull people in.

 

[DieH@rd]

Anyway, at the end of this, people can say what they want about EDGE, but the central truth behind all this is that Microsoft made their bed and now they're lying on it. If anyone else was to blame but them for this situation, I'd maybe feel a little bad, but everything was on their shoulders, they pushed this DRM situation, they subverted many of the best qualities of 360 at the feet of an anti-consumer blood bath paradise, and now they think everyone is supposed to neatly forget about it when they took a few step backs after they realized people weren't going to take that shit. And after that chip away at their confidence for a little longer, maybe $$ their way to a few really important exclusives to blind people from what is behind the curtain, and then when the time is right, use some of the money people spent on their products to re-invest in a anti-consumer nightmare machine once more.

Or maybe they won't. But they can't blame anyone but themselves for being in a position to be the least desirable platform.

Truth.

Again, as Jim Sterling said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=QOxRxyv6TFs#t=596s

 

[Biker19]

Edge says that in order for an indie to get on Xbox One you need an approved pub and guaranteed (timed or otherwise) exclusivity to the platform, while Sony will let you release simultaneously or even earlier on PC (and self-publish, obviously).

And this is one of the reasons why most indie publishers/developers jumped ship from Microsoft to Nintendo &/or Sony.

They are also open to the possibility of adding back DRM too.

That entire part of the interview you quoted says nothing.

This. Just because it's "gone" for now, doesn't mean that it's "gone" forever, especially since the DRM is built around it's entire hardware.

 

[madmackem]

Truth.

Again, as Jim Sterling said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=QOxRxyv6TFs#t=596s

People are also looking past edge is a uk magazine xboxone has a rrp of £429 which just boggles the mind and was one of the main reasons ps3 struggled for so long. Also we dont give a fuck about all the services they annouced for the us market they wont make it across to the uk even more so in the mainland. Its a box they announced that is very american centric, has a huge buy in price and WAS the most restrictive games machine we had ever seen. It was on a hiding to nothing here and still might be if they dont market it right do deals and some how do something about that price tag. The og xbox had a real bad start here, it fumbled out of the traps with a massive price cut coming weeks later, they dont want to have the same thing happen again, price is king in the uk.

 

[mrklaw]

Developer support depends on install base. See Wii U for more information.



The last time a company dominated a gen, we had the golden age of the PS2. So many amazing games were released during that generation. So, I'm okay with one company dominating a gen. It means that developers will focus on one machine primarily and that means more quirky, experimental, creative, unusual games will be released because there will be one machine with enough install base to support such risky projects.

interesting point. I don't think one company dominating continuously is good - hence the third console curse, they tend to get arrogant. But occasional, single gen domination can be a good thing. Focus for developers on one main platform so they can get the most out of it (although perhaps more relevant in the days of PSone/2 with quirks to deal with) which can lead to more experimental games.

Also it means that the competition are likely to try different things to be more competitive in the following generation.

 

[immortal-joe]

I hate overcomplicating the Xbone's turnaround with the reasoning that MS were incompetent and didn't know what they were doing.

They knew exactly what they were doing. They heard what people were saying well before E3.

Their play? Go through with this bullshit, announce it publicly right before E3, then hope that a big showing of "games games games" at their conference will make everyone forgive and forget.

But people didn't. The preorder numbers, polls, and media pieces all showed that.

Then, AND ONLY THEN, did they fold. So they can go fuck themselves.

 

[twobear]

I think there's some serious bias goggles going into the statement that '360 only did well because of Sony's mistakes'. 360 did well because it was a good console. Much better than PS3 for most of the early years of PS3's life. Not because of Sony's mistakes but because of MS's good decisions.

I've seen this weird narrative a lot on GAF recently where Sony did badly because the PS3 was bad, and then they improved it off their own back, and now they've learned from their mistakes with PS4; what hobbled them was not having competition that was much, much better than them, but rather they were trying to provide too much value and that made the price too high. Microsoft had nothing to do with it; I guess it's coincidence that all of the features Sony added to PS3 were features that MS supported on 360 back in like 2007. Actually, PS4 is basically a carbon copy of the 360's design goals. Everything about it is designed to ape what make the 360 good. They've learned from MS's success as much if not moreso than from their own failures.

That's what makes Xbone disappointing, I think. It's the fact that instead of concentrating on what made the 360 great, they tried to pull an Apple and design a product that nobody knew they wanted until they saw it. But MS are not Apple and they can't do that kind of thing. They've designed a product that nobody wanted even after they saw it. Then they saddled it with horrible DRM too, so it was a product for a niche that doesn't exist with features that ensure nobody will buy it.

So thanks MS for resigning us to a one-console future because you failed to learn from your success. The blood is as much on your hands for the mess that PS5 will be as much as it is on Sony's.

 

[Anticitizen One]

I hate overcomplicating the Xbone's turnaround with the reasoning that MS were incompetent and didn't know what they were doing.

They knew exactly what they were doing. They heard what people were saying well before E3.

Their play? Go through with this bullshit, announce it publicly right before E3, then hope that a big showing of "games games games" at their conference will make everyone forgive and forget.

But people didn't. The preorder numbers, polls, and media pieces all showed that.

Then, AND ONLY THEN, did they fold. So they can go fuck themselves.

Yup. That should be obvious to everyone.

 

[Into]

I hate overcomplicating the Xbone's turnaround with the reasoning that MS were incompetent and didn't know what they were doing.

They knew exactly what they were doing. They heard what people were saying well before E3.

Their play? Go through with this bullshit, announce it publicly right before E3, then hope that a big showing of "games games games" at their conference will make everyone forgive and forget.

But people didn't. The preorder numbers, polls, and media pieces all showed that.

Then, AND ONLY THEN, did they fold. So they can go fuck themselves.

Well said

I am glad they turned around, but they still attempted to significantly change gaming, they wanted to go from ownership to service, to great detriment to their consumers in order to make more money.

They still have the issue of the forced Kinect, which in turn spikes the price to 499, a big problem that is still preventing me from seriously consider the Xbox One. At least it is a problem that will go away in a few years when they do a price cut.

This is why it is great to have competition, i do not have to give my money to them, there are competitors who did not try to outright rob me of my ownership of games, both Nintendo and Sony so far have not attempted that, so they naturally right now look much better in my eyes.

The recent resignation/firing of Mattrick just further shows how the entire division over there has no clue what they are doing, insane policies, change them around, talk about TV TV TV!? Mattrick leaves, it is just a giant mess and makes them look unprepared and that spills onto their console, there is so much uncertainty in regards to Microsoft and Xbox One, they absolutely do not have their shit together, anyone claiming that is in straight up in denial. To many chefs in the kitchen over there is my best guess as to why there are so many conflicting reports and so much turmoil.

They have a console to launch in November, they got a competitor who will launch for 100 dollars less and might launch before them, they better get their shit together now, this is not a time for all this turmoil

 

[LeBoef]

sony - money hat - edge

 

[Biker19]

I think there's some serious bias goggles going into the statement that '360 only did well because of Sony's mistakes'. 360 did well because it was a good console. Much better than PS3 for most of the early years of PS3's life. Not because of Sony's mistakes but because of MS's good decisions.

I've seen this weird narrative a lot on GAF recently where Sony did badly because the PS3 was bad, and then they improved it off their own back, and now they've learned from their mistakes with PS4; what hobbled them was not having competition that was much, much better than them, but rather they were trying to provide too much value and that made the price too high. Microsoft had nothing to do with it; I guess it's coincidence that all of the features Sony added to PS3 were features that MS supported on 360 back in like 2007. Actually, PS4 is basically a carbon copy of the 360's design goals. Everything about it is designed to ape what make the 360 good. They've learned from MS's success as much if not moreso than from their own failures.

That's what makes Xbone disappointing, I think. It's the fact that instead of concentrating on what made the 360 great, they tried to pull an Apple and design a product that nobody knew they wanted until they saw it. But MS are not Apple and they can't do that kind of thing. They've designed a product that nobody wanted even after they saw it. Then they saddled it with horrible DRM too, so it was a product for a niche that doesn't exist with features that ensure nobody will buy it.

So thanks MS for resigning us to a one-console future because you failed to learn from your success. The blood is as much on your hands for the mess that PS5 will be as much as it is on Sony's.

I agree with what you said, but disagree with you on your last paragraph. I don't think Sony will do something crazy like DRM, especially when they just saw how Microsoft went through with it, as well as the used gaming market being very huge in Japan.

I hate overcomplicating the Xbone's turnaround with the reasoning that MS were incompetent and didn't know what they were doing.

They knew exactly what they were doing. They heard what people were saying well before E3.

Their play? Go through with this bullshit, announce it publicly right before E3, then hope that a big showing of "games games games" at their conference will make everyone forgive and forget.

But people didn't. The preorder numbers, polls, and media pieces all showed that.

Then, AND ONLY THEN, did they fold. So they can go fuck themselves.

Amen to this post. I wasn't fooled by them, either.

 

[dead monkey uk]

People are also looking past edge is a uk magazine xboxone has a rrp of £429 which just boggles the mind and was one of the main reasons ps3 struggled for so long. Also we dont give a fuck about all the services they annouced for the us market they wont make it across to the uk even more so in the mainland. Its a box they announced that is very american centric, has a huge buy in price and WAS the most restrictive games machine we had ever seen. It was on a hiding to nothing here and still might be if they dont market it right do deals and some how do something about that price tag. The og xbox had a real bad start here, it fumbled out of the traps with a massive price cut coming weeks later, they dont want to have the same thing happen again, price is king in the uk.

Totally agree with this, £429 is $643, this will rule out many of the casual family buyers MS is aiming for.

The reason the 360 has such a large market share in the UK is it released the year before the PS3 and Sony pricing of the PS3 was insane.

 

[twobear]

I agree with what you said, but disagree with you on your last paragraph. I don't think Sony's crazy enough to go through with DRM, especially when the used gaming market is very huge in Japan.

I don't think that PS5 will be loaded with DRM, but I do think we'll see it either loaded down with crap a la PS3 or otherwise extremely conservative.

 

[Kaako]

I hate overcomplicating the Xbone's turnaround with the reasoning that MS were incompetent and didn't know what they were doing.

They knew exactly what they were doing. They heard what people were saying well before E3.

Their play? Go through with this bullshit, announce it publicly right before E3, then hope that a big showing of "games games games" at their conference will make everyone forgive and forget.

But people didn't. The preorder numbers, polls, and media pieces all showed that.

Then, AND ONLY THEN, did they fold. So they can go fuck themselves.

On fucking point. I'm just glad that the preorder numbers reflected that because that's the ONLY think imo that made them change their minds in the end. All about them numbers and dolla dolla bill ya'll. Voting with our wallet is the greatest power we have in the end.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Totally agree with this, £429 is $643, this will rule out many of the casual family buyers MS is aiming for.

The reason the 360 has such a large market share in the UK is it released the year before the PS3 and Sony pricing of the PS3 was insane.

Not to mention it had better games, a new gaming experience in online gaming (before everyone jumps on me, I'm talking about easy to use online multiplayer, which before the 360 wasn't that big of deal in the console market, regardless of who went online first with what peripheral . MS made it easy to use and brought it to the forefront and that's the important element) and generally was the better package in comparison to the PS3 at the time.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

I don't think that PS5 will be loaded with DRM, but I do think we'll see it either loaded down with crap a la PS3 or otherwise extremely conservative.

PS5 is a decade or more away, I think by that point digital distribution will have taken over from physical. In fact, I expect to see a transition to digital during the next generation, perhaps by 2016-2017, we'll see a strong push to encourage digital over physical.

 

[dead monkey uk]

Not to mention it had better games, a new gaming experience in online gaming (before everyone jumps on me, I'm talking about easy to use online multiplayer, which before the 360 wasn't that big of deal in the console market, regardless of who went online first with what peripheral . MS made it easy to use and brought it to the forefront and that's the important element) and generally was the better package in comparison to the PS3 at the time.

Yeah the 360 actually turned me into a far more social gamer, in the early days of the 360, most players would use the supplied headset, but as the console matured the player abuse changed that side of it. I only communicate in party chat now.

Have loved gaming on the 360 and will most likely pickup a One in a couple of years, but its a PS4 for me this year.

 

[TacticalFox88]

PS5 is a decade or more away, I think by that point digital distribution will have taken over from physical. In fact, I expect to see a transition to digital during the next generation, perhaps by 2016-2017, we'll see a strong push to encourage digital over physical.

Nope.

You won't ever see fully digital over physical media (in the same vein as DVD outright annihilated VHS) until Politicians in various country's get their heads out of their asses and implement future-proofed internet fiber-optics.

 

[DeFiBkIlLeR]

PS5 is a decade or more away.

No, we won't have a 7yr console cycle this time, not if they stick to the x86 'PC in a box' route they've taken with PS4.

Sticking to that will ensure PS5 will be relatively inexpensive to bring to market in late 2018...I simply cannot see them going down the exotic, custom chip console design ever again.

..remember, Dev's won't need 3yrs to learn the hardware this time, PC commonality will ensure we hit the PS4's limits much sooner than it took them on the PS3.

 

[unholyrevenger72]

It was, but the Gamecube and Xbox did reasonable sales so I'm not sure I'd call that gen complete domination for Sony that crushed the competition.

There are people who want the XB1 to completely crash and burn. I don't think that would benefit the gaming industry at all.

By the Million
PS2- 153
Xbox-24
Gamecube- 22

3 out of every 4 consoles bought between the three were PS2's. If that isn't domination i don't know what is.

 

[M°°nblade]

I hate overcomplicating the Xbone's turnaround with the reasoning that MS were incompetent and didn't know what they were doing.

They knew exactly what they were doing. They heard what people were saying well before E3.

Their play? Go through with this bullshit, announce it publicly right before E3, then hope that a big showing of "games games games" at their conference will make everyone forgive and forget.

But people didn't. The preorder numbers, polls, and media pieces all showed that.

Then, AND ONLY THEN, did they fold. So they can go fuck themselves.

Exactly. Why would people want to invest their money in a product where they actively have to fight and negotiate for their consumer and privacy rights using polls, twitter and facebook when they can just buy a PS4 as well and have none of that?

 

[Miles Quaritch]

Yeah the 360 actually turned me into a far more social gamer, in the early days of the 360, most players would use the supplied headset, but as the console matured the player abuse changed that side of it. I only communicate in party chat now.

Have loved gaming on the 360 and will most likely pickup a One in a couple of years, but its a PS4 for me this year.

Yeah, the early days were great but now it's almost pointless entering into a random chat with anyone. It's such a shame too as the early days saw people genuinely interacting, recommending games, sharing tactics, shooting the shit and eventually becoming friends. It was great, really one of the best times I've had in gaming.

Nope.

You won't ever see fully digital over physical media (in the same vein as DVD outright annihilated VHS) until Politicians in various country's get their heads out of their asses and implement future-proofed internet fiber-optics.

This is certainly true and something I didn't factor into my post. Good point.

Although I do hope we'll see some movement on bettering broadband, I know in the UK we're slowly moving towards offering everyone high speed internet, so if there's a will (and money), there's hope.

Not sure what the situation is like across Europe or the US though.

 

[Skunkers]

Because it's easier to quit early and call yourself a winner than it is to fight on to the finishing line.

'Aaaa ... we let them pass.'

Well, for reference, my local Gamestops *just* cleared out all their PS2 game inventory a couple months ago. Pretty sure they were still stocking systems until recently too.

 

[Miles Quaritch]

No, we won't have a 7yr console cycle this time, not if they stick to the x86 'PC in a box' route they've taken with PS4.

Sticking to that will ensure PS5 will be relatively inexpensive to bring to market in late 2018...I simply cannot see them going down the exotic, custom chip console design ever again.

..remember, Dev's won't need 3yrs to learn the hardware this time, PC commonality will ensure we hit the PS4's limits much sooner than it took them on the PS3.

You really think so? I'd have thought Sony/MS would be looking towards having the next generation last at least as long as this one has, but you do make a good point in that with developers won't take as long to learn the hardware or hit the performance ceiling.

Will be interesting to see how it plays out, but I do believe we'll see a generation that's just as long as this one has been, but then it really does depend on where the market goes in the future. Who could have known mobile and tablet gaming would be as big it is back on 2005?

 

[dead monkey uk]

Yeah, the early days were great but now it's almost pointless entering into a random chat with anyone. It's such a shame too as the early days saw people genuinely interacting, recommending games, sharing tactics, shooting the shit and eventually becoming friends. It was great, really one of the best times I've had in gaming.

Everyone worth talking to is probably now in party chat, those who are in public chat seem to all be children with Tourette's

A lot of the early games I played on 360 were bought from recommendations from chatting with other players, a few of them are still on my friends list years later. Also you got messages from random players thanking you for a good game. Oh the good old days all those years ago

 

[CouldBeWorse]

I think you're forgetting an important group of people. Lot's of young gamers can't or aren't allowed to spend more than $199 - 299 on a gaming console.
It will take a couple of years for next-gen consoles to hit that price. Untill then, for those people, new PS3 / X360 releases will continue to matter.

The first group I mentioned was "super price conscious" and the third was "catalog."

 

[zomgbbqftw]

Just got the mag when I was out getting my lunch. Reading the article now. Well balanced and sourced, very compelling argument from Edge, though I suppose it is preaching to the choir at this point for them. It does sum up every negative issue I have with Xbone pretty will and every positive thing about PS4 also.

It also digs deep into how they think the differing cultures at MS/Sony will affect the console over the generation which I think is a point well made by them.

Good job Edge, if they can keep this level of quality going I might even think about subscribing again after a 3 year break!

 

[mrklaw]

No, we won't have a 7yr console cycle this time, not if they stick to the x86 'PC in a box' route they've taken with PS4.

Sticking to that will ensure PS5 will be relatively inexpensive to bring to market in late 2018...I simply cannot see them going down the exotic, custom chip console design ever again.

..remember, Dev's won't need 3yrs to learn the hardware this time, PC commonality will ensure we hit the PS4's limits much sooner than it took them on the PS3.

I disagree about how long it'll take devs to bottom out the power in PS4/Xbox one. Yes they have a PC like architecture,but it will take time to take advantage of the amount of ram on offer, properly leverage GPU computing which isn't really used on PC much. I think there is still a lot to be dragged out of these machines that we haven't seen yet.

as for the generation timing, I think it depends on a couple of things

1) what happens to MS. If they do really badly and don't show signs of catching up, will they shortcut the generation like they did with xbox ..er...1?

2) tech. With stacked ram around the corner offering great bandwidth benefits, possible increases in storage with the likes of memristor tech, there might be a potential breakthrough in tech in the next 2-3 years that could herald a shorter than usual generation this time around, especially if one of the companies like MS or Nintendo feel the need to press the reset button

 

[Ushae]

I disagree about how long it'll take devs to bottom out the power in PS4/Xbox one. Yes they have a PC like architecture,but it will take time to take advantage of the amount of ram on offer, properly leverage GPU computing which isn't really used on PC much. I think there is still a lot to be dragged out of these machines that we haven't seen yet.

as for the generation timing, I think it depends on a couple of things

1) what happens to MS. If they do really badly and don't show signs of catching up, will they shortcut the generation like they did with xbox ..er...1?

2) tech. With stacked ram around the corner offering great bandwidth benefits, possible increases in storage with the likes of memristor tech, there might be a potential breakthrough in tech in the next 2-3 years that could herald a shorter than usual generation this time around, especially if one of the companies like MS or Nintendo feel the need to press the reset button

Totally agree, the tech is much simpler for devs to work with, but there's so much RAM in there. Even at a cap of 5-6 GB (X1) there is a whole lot devs can do with that.

Manufacturers will want to maximise the lifecycle of their console, devs will want to create the best experiences possible and pubs will want the most possible revenue from them. Longer cycle will benefit everyone.

 

[Clockwork5]

Nope.

You won't ever see fully digital over physical media (in the same vein as DVD outright annihilated VHS) until Politicians in various country's get their heads out of their asses and implement future-proofed internet fiber-optics.

Fiber-optic internet is a private-market matter. I live in the Kansas City area and will have Google Fiber in a few months. It will be years before the entire nation is hooked up and the politicians (Local, State, Federal governments) are only involved in so far as they allow Google to use utility easements, which is a municipal issue. I work for a suburb that is currently engaged in talks with Google (who, by the way, believes that they should have the right to do anything they want in our city and is extremely difficult to deal with) and I know first hand this has absolutely nothing to do with politicians. Did politicians have anything to do with DVDs making VHS obsolete?

 

[daveo42]

Fiber-optic internet is a private-market matter. I live in the Kansas City area and will have Google Fiber in a few months. It will be years before the entire nation is hooked up and the politicians (Local, State, Federal governments) are only involved in so far as they allow Google to use utility easements, which is a municipal issue. I work for a suburb that is currently engaged in talks with Google (who, by the way, believes that they should have the right to do anything they want in our city and is extremely difficult to deal with) and I know first hand this has absolutely nothing to do with politicians. Did politicians have anything to do with DVDs making VHS obsolete?

The issue comes down to whether or not internet is/will be considered by the government something that everyone should have access to similar to access to radio, TV, electricity, and phone access.

Right now, it hangs in the balance of private companies since it has yet to be subsidized by the government like other services. Politicians didn't have anything to do with the change in video formats, but they will in making physical formats obsolete if they decided that internet access is a service that every person should have access to either create subsidies for it or outright take control of it over from individual companies.

 

[bishopcruz]

Comparisons to Sega are so dumb. Sega never enjoyed the success that the 360 has now and the financial positions (respective to the timing of system launches) of the two companies could not be more different. Plus, Sega never had the 3rd party support that Microsoft has.

Ok, nice to know you weren't around for the Genesis/Mega Drive. Sega went from a 4% Merket share in the 8-bit era to a 55% market share in the Genesis era. It dominated in Europe and Brazil, and had a weak presence in Japan.

Less numbers sure. But similarity != everything has to be the same.

 

[JohnnySasaki86]

It was, but the Gamecube and Xbox did reasonable sales so I'm not sure I'd call that gen complete domination for Sony that crushed the competition.

There are people who want the XB1 to completely crash and burn. I don't think that would benefit the gaming industry at all.

No, it was an absolute domination. GC/Xbox sold around 25million, GC a little less. PS2 ended up selling 155million, that's six times more! If that's not domination I don't know what is, and I wouldn't considered 25m lifetime sales reasonable. I don't know what PS2 was at when Xbox retired, think it was around 100-120m, but 4-5x is still domination.

 

[borghe]

No, we won't have a 7yr console cycle this time, not if they stick to the x86 'PC in a box' route they've taken with PS4.

Sticking to that will ensure PS5 will be relatively inexpensive to bring to market in late 2018...I simply cannot see them going down the exotic, custom chip console design ever again.

..remember, Dev's won't need 3yrs to learn the hardware this time, PC commonality will ensure we hit the PS4's limits much sooner than it took them on the PS3.

not agreeing with this.. we'll have to see what MS does.... but I honestly believe this may be the last Playstation we see.. especially once Gaikai starts streaming 1080p gaming with minimal latency (5 years? 8 years?)

Ok, nice to know you weren't around for the Genesis/Mega Drive. Sega went from a 4% Merket share in the 8-bit era to a 55% market share in the Genesis era. It dominated in Europe and Brazil, and had a weak presence in Japan.

Less numbers sure. But similarity != everything has to be the same.

yeah, uninformed gamers reading from blogs need to stop with the "there is no comparison of MS to Sega". the comparisons between XBONE and Saturn are so accurate it's scary. Obviously there are some differences.. third parties, size of respective companies and available cash.. even if XBONE repeats all of the worst mistakes of Saturn, it probably can't be bad enough to cause any sort of major restructuring of MS. but yeah... almost every mistake MS is making can be directly compared to a mistake Sega made around the launch and lifespan of the Saturn. if MS doesn't turn things around more.. it will drastically affect their market share from this gen (PS360) to next (PS4BONE)