How would you like your next-gen console? Rare? Well-done?

[[PhiberOpticks]]

So what would you like for your next-gen console? This can range from hardware to software. Accessories to networks. Doesn't matter. Hell, you could even mention which company you would like to do it, if you're a fanboy like that.

Personally, I think Sony's headed in my direction. Free and tangible network. Not that Nintendo mullarkey of friend codes. And it's free, unlike Xbox.

Here's a list of the things I'd want in my console:

• Bluetooth (keyboards, mice, and other controllers and such)
• Solid-State Drive (standard form factor, like the PS3 with HDDs)
• Same network (free, fun, and functional)
• Dualshock controller (possibly a bit more ergonomic, no SixAxis, decrease L2/R2 resistance)
• A powerful GPU from ATi (multi-GPU only if the parallel processing is efficient)
• Console brand, bluetooth keyboard, mouse, and headset
• Blu-ray drive (we aren't to the point where digital downloading would work, since SSDs are so small at the moment)

Any comments about things like what CPU and how many you'd like? I know many here are very astute when it comes to architectures and upcoming hardware.

[Ariel]

The Current ps3 CPU pwns hard O.o
But yea all that you said i agree with.

[Celestin]

• Bluetooth would be nice. It's not too big on my list of priorities.
• Solidstate drives will probably still be too expensive and a console should be cheaper than a PC, not more expensive. That said, there needs to be some kind of internal adapter inside to accept a SATA2 harddrive. They can package one if they want, pref. a 10k rpm Raptor, but if they don't, that's fine too. I'm afraid they'll take it as an opportunity to unproportionally jack up the price.
• Network is preferrable.
• I honestly prefer the 360 controller over the Dualshock 3. I just really don't like the L2 / R2 buttons on the Dualshock 3. The 360's trigger shaped L2 and R2 is much more intuitive with pressure sensitivity. With that said, both the current PS3 and Dualshock 3 controllers need to be thrown out the window and completely redesigned. Both controllers put way too much emphasis on the thumbs. I would like to see the other fingers get more in on the action. At the moment, controllers will never pass keyboard in efficiency because with a controller, you only use two of your fingers, maybe three whereas on a keyboard, you can use all your fingers.
• MXM motherboard for standardized and interchangeable GPUs. Sure the company can make it propriety if they want as long as I can upgrade my GPU without having to wait for the next generation of consoles. The current consoles GPUs just aren't comparable anymore. With MXM, companies could release multiple levels of consoles too. Instead of the elite version just having a bigger harddrive, the elite version can also now feature a better GPU. Now that I would pay for.
• BluRay would be preferrable.
• I would really like to see the Broadband CPU by IBM / Sony get more in on the action. It's an incredibly powerful design very well suited toward driving graphics. Unfortunately it's very tough to program for, almost requiring custom written code to have run smoothly. But I have no doubt in my mind that when it's potential is revealed, it will be a beast. Hopefully, Sony's new devkit will let this happen.
• Watercooling or some kind of improved cooling device. Sony really deserves kudos on the PS3 here. The PS3 has far superior design to the 360 in that it sucks air out from the bottom and lets hot air, that rises, naturally escape from the top of the machine. So a constant flow of fresh, cool air is being driven into the PS3, as long as your PS3 isn't in an enclosed space, by taking advantage of room dynamics. The 360 on the other hand, is just designed like ****. If you don't stand it up vertically, hot air is trapped inside the console, frying your components. If you do stand it up vertically, the drive evidently sucks and destroys your disks. Half the people I know who own 360s have reported having game disks destroyed when playing upright.

[[PhiberOpticks]]

Originally Posted by Celestin

Solidstate drives will probably still be too expensive and a console should be cheaper than a PC, not more expensive. That said, there needs to be some kind of internal adapter inside to accept a SATA2 harddrive. They can package one if they want, pref. a 10k rpm Raptor, but if they don't, that's fine too. I'm afraid they'll take it as an opportunity to unproportionally jack up the price.

True, but I don't think we'll see the next-gen for the few years. Hell, back last generation, we heard about the PS3 and 360 a couple years after the release of the previous generation. Right now, we haven't heard anything. And all three companies have made it clear they want to ride it out. Sony went so far as to say they want a 10-year cycle. I don't think it will be that long though.

Regardless, I'm sure we'll have some good MLC and SLC SSDs by the time the next gen comes around. Dell's already in the process of getting 80GB and 160GB SSDs for their PCs.

Originally Posted by Celestin

I honestly prefer the 360 controller over the Dualshock 3. I just really don't like the L2 / R2 buttons on the Dualshock 3. The 360's trigger shaped L2 and R2 is much more intuitive with pressure sensitivity. With that said, both the current PS3 and Dualshock 3 controllers need to be thrown out the window and completely redesigned. Both controllers put way too much emphasis on the thumbs. I would like to see the other fingers get more in on the action. At the moment, controllers will never pass keyboard in efficiency because with a controller, you only use two of your fingers, maybe three whereas on a keyboard, you can use all your fingers.

I like the DualShock. It's practically a Sony trademark. And I do agree about the shape of the controller. It's not ergonomic at all. The 360 was good because it had an analog stick in the upper left portion and the directional pad below it. The L2/R2 buttons I hate. I had my worst experience playing FEAR on the PS3. It just didn't work very well at all. Maybe if they oriented the L and R buttons more towards the back on the controller and contoured it to your fingers. The L2/R2 buttons could be more like push-down buttons as opposed to triggers that way. And the L1/R1 could still be plain bumper buttons. The fact that the DualShock3 was Bluetooth and rechargeable just made me a happy person though. There is a lot I liked about it.

MXM motherboard for standardized and interchangeable GPUs. Sure the company can make it propriety if they want as long as I can upgrade my GPU without having to wait for the next generation of consoles. The current consoles GPUs just aren't comparable anymore. With MXM, companies could release multiple levels of consoles too. Instead of the elite version just having a bigger harddrive, the elite version can also now feature a better GPU. Now that I would pay for.

I don't know if that would be a good idea. Maybe there could be, hypothetically, 3 models. A low-end, midrange, and high-end model. The GPU and SSD size and power would be relative to that. Perhaps other features could be left out or added in depending on the model. And you could either order the upgrade parts from the console company, or send it in an have them upgrade certain parts. It's similar to how Apple does business, 'cept more handy people could order the parts for a little less of the cost and put it in themselves.

But that would essentially make it a dedicated gaming PC. In order for the companies to really embrace it, I think they would want to control the hardware that is used.

I would really like to see the Broadband CPU by IBM / Sony get more in on the action. It's an incredibly powerful design very well suited toward driving graphics. Unfortunately it's very tough to program for, almost requiring custom written code to have run smoothly. But I have no doubt in my mind that when it's potential is revealed, it will be a beast. Hopefully, Sony's new devkit will let this happen.

Given the success of the Cell CPU, I would like to see a progression of it for the next console. I don't understand what in the hardware makes it different to code for, but I know that the PS3 required totally different coding because of its unique hardware. For the second generation of the CPU, I think the kind of coding should remain the same.

Watercooling or some kind of improved cooling device. Sony really deserves kudos on the PS3 here. The PS3 has far superior design to the 360 in that it sucks air out from the bottom and lets hot air, that rises, naturally escape from the top of the machine. So a constant flow of fresh, cool air is being driven into the PS3, as long as your PS3 isn't in an enclosed space, by taking advantage of room dynamics. The 360 on the other hand, is just designed like ****. If you don't stand it up vertically, hot air is trapped inside the console, frying your components. If you do stand it up vertically, the drive evidently sucks and destroys your disks. Half the people I know who own 360s have reported having game disks destroyed when playing upright.

I definitely agree. And the feeder disk drive allows the PS3 to stand vertically and not destroy the disks. Something like the LCLC would be great for a console. It's tried and true. It doesn't require replacing the liquid. And it's cheap by today's standards.

But I do think that the PS3 is kinda ugly. I mean...it does look better than the PS2, but it needs a better aesthetic touch. It reminds me of a George Foreman grill, honestly.

Realistically, I think Sony is going to make a cheaper console. They aren't going to push the hardware anymore than they already have. If anything, we'll probably see all the same features, but not much more. Microsoft will probably go with a midrange console again. And Nintendo will make a cheap console. That's basically been their formula for success to this point.

[Calindor]

i dont care, i havent had a desire for a console since SNES

[Howling]

I only desire whatever the next FF game is out on... Beyond that I don't really care ;D

[Celestin]

Originally Posted by [PhiberOpticks]

I don't know if that would be a good idea. Maybe there could be, hypothetically, 3 models. A low-end, midrange, and high-end model. The GPU and SSD size and power would be relative to that. Perhaps other features could be left out or added in depending on the model. And you could either order the upgrade parts from the console company, or send it in an have them upgrade certain parts. It's similar to how Apple does business, 'cept more handy people could order the parts for a little less of the cost and put it in themselves.

Regarding power, there are already three or four PS3s grades I think. There are the original PS3s with the 90nm GPUs and CPUs ( release PS3s, MGS4 80GB bundle PS3s ) ( the numbers are liable to be off ), the 40GB and 60GB models with the 45nm CPUs, 90nm GPUs and the new 45nm CPU / GPUs on the new 80GBs. So the die sizes have been changing.

And with the different versions, I don't forsee the problem being multiple models, but now developers will adapt to it. I think one of the reasons why it can be argued that console games still can hold their own against PCs is that developers know what they can do and what they can't do because all consoles are the same. They don't have to worry about quality settings because there aren't different consoles. But with different level consoles with actual significant hardware differences, they will, and most importantly, no matter what, all games must look good on the lowest end model. Otherwise, the point of having a console would be defeated. So the only real differences they could probably apply is how much memory the system has for improved textures and the max level of AA / FSAA appliable.

Personally, I love the way the PS3 looks. That piano black lacquer with silver highlights is sexy. Though I would kill for the all around silver PS3.

[Shade]

SSD would be overkill for next gen. MS and Sony are doing pretty much the same thing, so I think Microsoft should buy Sony's game division. Blu-ray disk drives in all consoles, but with the option to just download the game. Online multiplayer should be based on servers, not P2P, and should be cross compatible (PC, and consoles players on the same server).

[BahamutKaiser]

I think the next generation system simple needs to be an optomized and standardized computer, SSD may be too expensive, but maybe they should wait til it is affordable, that way just enough content can be loaded quickly to cut out loading times, wile the main memory could run on something less expensive.

I would also perfer sony over microsoft, microsoft is a software developer, sony is a hardware developer, let the hardware developer develop the hardware, maybe they could work together.... oh wait, microsoft is so reliable and I want a red ring of death... Sony just needs to design their next system with equal parts of cost efficiency and advancement, leave the blueray player as an internal attachable accessory, add on, their better off selling us the stock version with the essential advancements which are required for gaming and leaving the optional upgrades as interchangable attachments. Blueray will probably be a stardard and neccessary medium by the time the next gen console comes out though, more per say for whatever else is brand new and optional.

I don't think console prices will go down, they arn't in the business of releasing less powerful systems, and as technology advances, they will want to add the best of the next generation to the system, I think the real selling point is that the standardized console add on that extra 2 or 3 hundred dollars for the addition of a fully functional computer, as a computer console, it will be a bargain to get a high end game design synchronized system which will perform high level functionality and operate your basic computer needs, with high end computers costing in the 2 thru 4k margin, it will instead turn out to be a bargain for a 1000 dollar gameplay computer.

[Howling]

Originally Posted by BahamutKaiser

I think the next generation system simple needs to be an optomized and standardized computer

What do you class consoles as currently, If not simply Standardized PC's? lol

The next gen of GAMING consoles should focus LESS on all this "media centre" crap that they do right now, storing music, videos and tv on a gaming console is ****ed up to say the least. Leave the games machines to the games, focus on the gaming, and produce better games.

Sure there are people that like all that added functionality, but 99.5% of people have a PC that will happily do all the added crap that consoles do now. I'm quite happy using my PC for videos, music, tv, email, MSN, browsing .. why the heck do I want my games console to do it all aswel? it's just millions of dollars of developement wasted on something utterly useless, when they could have spent it - like people keep bringing up time and time again, in microsoft's case - air cirrculation for the 360? Actually FINISHING the console before releasing it (PS3)? Having more than just a clichè controller (Wii)?

Ok, some people like to be able to watch their downloaded movies on the 50 inch HDTV's which is where PS3 and 360 multi-functioning comes in handy.. But instead of all the crap on the console itself, why not just enable streaming from PC's for any media type - be it music or video. A simple stream opposed to all the stand alone bits, and the wasted time/space/money on the Xbox Market Place which they could spend on games...

Really, I don't see any benefit in turning all the consoles into multi-tools.

[Celestin]

Originally Posted by Howling

Ok, some people like to be able to watch their downloaded movies on the 50 inch HDTV's which is where PS3 and 360 multi-functioning comes in handy...

Lol @ idea of watching a DVD on a 360. The 360 is one of the worst machines possible for DVD playback, scoring well below what most $50 DVD players manage to score.

[Howling]

I knew someone would have to throw a 360 flame in there somewhere, it's just the anti-fanboy law to flame 360's at every opertunity... and I don't believe I even mentioned DvDs - but thanks for adding that to the list of useless things our gaming consoles do

[[PhiberOpticks]]

Originally Posted by Celestin

Regarding power, there are already three or four PS3s grades I think. There are the original PS3s with the 90nm GPUs and CPUs ( release PS3s, MGS4 80GB bundle PS3s ) ( the numbers are liable to be off ), the 40GB and 60GB models with the 45nm CPUs, 90nm GPUs and the new 45nm CPU / GPUs on the new 80GBs. So the die sizes have been changing.

I figured that just changed power consumption. What else does it change, exactly?

And with the different versions, I don't forsee the problem being multiple models, but now developers will adapt to it. I think one of the reasons why it can be argued that console games still can hold their own against PCs is that developers know what they can do and wha