As the next generation of video game systems is currently being developed by all 3 companies, (Microsoft,Nintendo,Sony) I can’t help but imagine what might be included in these machines to separate one another from their competitor. So I started to think of what would be the ideal gaming machine on the horizon and what would be included in this machine. Here are some ideas of what I would like to see in the next generation of video game consoles….
1. Standard wireless Controller.
The last time we saw a wireless controller, it was the wave bird on the Nintendo Gamecube and it was a huge hit with consumers. The other two companies followed with their versions of a wireless controller, but nothing could compare to Nintendo’s model. Unfortunately, the Nintendo controller wasn’t originally designed to be apart of the system and was more like a neat addition to the system as Nintendo still had the typical wired controller as their mainstay for all of their systems. It has come to the point where technology is making huge strides in wireless technology and we shouldn’t have to deal with wires anymore. So with that being said, I hope for the next generation of consoles, we dump the wired concept completely and have all video game controllers to be made wireless when you buy a system.
2. Increased Controller Ports.
This may seem odd but only 2 of the 4 systems have 4 controller ports. Sony’s Playstation 2 opted for only 2 controller ports and the option of buying a multi-tap accessory to add additional controllers for game play purposes. This was merely a way of Sony being able to get consumers to shell out more money out of their pockets and hopefully the ps3 will include 4 controller ports when it comes out.
3. The DVD Aspect
One of the major influences of 2 of the systems was that they included DVD playback in their systems. While the DVD player may have not been the greatest piece of hardware manufactured on the planet, it offered consumers an additional reason to buy the game console and gave the consumer a cheap way to be able to watch DVD movies who otherwise couldn’t afford it. The rumours around the internet insist that companies like Microsoft will create different versions of their console that include both DVD support and lighter versions of the system that only include the game console itself.
While a nice idea in theory, if given the opportunity, most consumers would go for the cheapest console and then spend their money on a decent DVD player as opposed to buying a cheap version of a DVD player included with the Xbox for more money. Sony’s addition of their DVD player was a huge part of why they were the most successful company out of the 3 and when the new systems come out, they should stick with having DVD support included with their system.
4. The Tivo/PVR Influence
Another cool feature to be added would be the addition of a Tivo or in Canada; it’s simply called a PVR. While still pretty expensive in most consumer electronic stores, a PVR allows the consumer to easily record television shows on a hard drive like device, pause live television or even create your own instant replay of something that you just witnessed a few seconds before. While the playstation 2 was a pioneer in bringing a cheap, affordable DVD player to the market while DVD players were still expensive at the time, the same can be said for a cheap affordable PVR-like device for this generation of gaming systems. It would do for the playstation 3 what the DVD player did before for the playstation 2 and offer consumers a cheap alternative and also help real PVRs to drop in price in the marketplace.
5. Better Online Support.
The truth of the matter is that online gaming isn’t going anywhere and if anything, the current bunch of game consoles proved that there is an expanding market for online gaming for the next bunch of game consoles. While all 3 systems included networking adapters for their game consoles, only two out of the 3 systems truly supported online gaming and those 2 were Microsoft and Sony. Sony decided to let the game publishers decide online gaming for them while Microsoft revolutionized online gaming by creating a completely online world for almost of its games with the Xbox Live service. Both systems had their advantages. The playstation 2 gave the opportunity for most gamers to go online for free and play games while the Xbox Live gave gamers a free subscription for a few months and then a recurring monthly fee soon afterwards.
The one console that dropped the ball completely was obviously Nintendo. Nintendo did include a network adapter for their system but it only included support for one single game, Phantasy Star Online. The Executives at Nintendo believed that online gaming wasn’t yet a profitable business move and opted to staying out of the online arena at that time. Well, if the success of online gaming is anything, it has showed Nintendo that it is a profitable business and that it would be sheer suicide not to come out with some sort of an online plan this time around. The sad part about Nintendo is that they probably would have the biggest audience for online gaming as their main titles are all about cooperation and teamwork. Games like Mario Tennis, Star Fox, Mario Kart,Mario Party, F Zero, Metroid Prime and Super Smash Brothers would be huge hits online but Nintendo failed to see this at the time.
If their new system code named Revolution is any indication, the revolution should be one in online gaming for Nintendo. Now with that all being said, let’s look at some other elements to include helping improve online gaming for the future systems as online gaming has the most room to improve as we step into the next generation of gaming. First off, there should be better server support for any game being launched on to a system. If the failure of World of Warcraft due to server problems is any indication, online gaming should be as easy as possible for the average consumer to join up and not experience any problems while going online. Also, the time of online gaming in a menu format is over as well. For gaming to be fun online, you don’t want to be flipping through different rooms for half an hour reading messages and trying to create a game by typing commands.
Mech Assault 2 for the Xbox did some stuff right when they had gamers actually walk around online in the lobby and look for players to play with through their headset. While maybe not a huge innovation, it at least offered some hope of getting gamers out of the message board menu screen lobbies from before. If I were in a sports game online, why not have an open rink to skate around while waiting for people to join me for a game or in an RPG, a cool looking castle for people to assemble before they begin their journey. I’m sure people can think of better ideas than me but I think you get the point. Online Gaming should be more open ended and get out of the computer menu screens of before. Also, with the improved server issues, games would be able to expand online to include bigger battles.
If I’m playing a war game online, I want epic battles that can take 60-100 people playing online and not 10-12 people. It would be more exciting and give the war game a better sense of realism. Also, every aspect of regular gaming should be captured in online gaming. I was playing a hockey game and was only able to use a regular ice rink online as opposed to the International Ice which I prefer much more. If it’s in the regular game, it should be included online as well as there’s no excuse why it shouldn’t be online if it’s playable offline. And while we’re on the topic of online gaming, the wireless issue comes up again as online gaming should include a wireless experience as well. I shouldn’t have to buy a 50 foot network cable from one room to another room like I had to do for my playstation 2 system.
While I know that most people including myself don’t have wireless routers and wouldn’t be able to connect wirelessly unless we buy a new router, it should at least be included for anyone that does have a wireless adapter and doesn’t wish to have to string wires across the floor. My final solution is probably my most controversial one, but online gaming needs to improve only for better connections. It’s time to eliminate dial up users online and focus on the broadband people. I don’t know how many times I’ve played someone online and had tremendous lag due to a poor ping or having someone using a dial-up connection online. While I realize that a good portion of people still use dial-up connections, dial-up was created to get people online and to be able to surf the web, not to play video games with.
In order to have better functionality online, we need to eliminate the weaker connections and include support for only those who are able to handle it. For technology to improve, sometimes you need to leave the weaker ones behind and focus on the future which is a broadband future, not a dial-up one. This may sound mean but if you look at other countries like South Korea, North America has to make significant progress to catch up to countries like these that have a majority of their country with broadband already while North America seems to be progressing at a much slower pace.
6. More online functionality
What this means as opposed to before is to include browsing capabilities/better download support/better rankings for online gaming. Online browsing should be included with consoles as well as better statistics online for certain video games. Games should also be able to interact more with consumers after they’re purchased by having developers constantly adding additional content to their games through online updates after they’re created or to help improve a service due to consumer feedback.
7. Better handheld/Console connectivity
Nintendo tried this function out with their GBA-Game cube connectivity which in my mind was a huge failure. Both Nintendo and Sony should learn from this mistake and create better support between the game console and handheld systems. For instance, if I’m going to be shelling out lots of money for a Sony PSP, I should have the option of wirelessly connecting my PSP to the PS3 and being able to play those games from my PSP on my PS3 on a much bigger television screen then simply using my PSP all of the time. The ps3/PSP connectivity could also include wireless updates for games like mentioned above and the ability to move other content such as mp3s from the console to the handheld.
8. Backwards Compatibility
If I’m going to buy a new system, I expect to able to use it to play my old games as well as my new ones without needing to have 6 different systems all hooked up in the same room. Adding backwards functionality allows the consumer to play old as well as new games. This should be included if you expect me to make the switch from my old system to my new one.
9. Improved bundle packs for gaming
Ok,so you’ve decided to buy a new system? Well instead of buying the system and then buying an extra controller 1 month later and a new memory card 2 months later, let’s try to improve this. One way is to make the upgrade happen right away. This would help online gaming right off the bat and avoid people getting this stuff like 1 month before the system ends because it’s the cheapest at that moment. In order for people to have an improved gaming experience, you need to give it to them straight from the beginning and not near the end.
What this means is the time to shell out extra bucks for features that should be included straight from the start is over. You want a bundle pack? This is the new bundle pack for the next generation.
1. The system,duh.
2. 2 controllers,. If you want us to buy additional controllers after two then that’s how you’ll get your money but 2 controllers should be standard for both you and a buddy cause you know if you only add 1 the consumer will buy a second one right away anyways so just include the damn thing in the bundle pack right away.
3. Online adapter included. If you want to improve the experience, it should be a standard and no need to have to buy one separately and screw the damn thing in yourself.
4. Online headset. You want better online play? You make this standard right away as well and get your FPS fans on your side from the beginning.
5. 1 memory card for when you go to a friend’s house, and make it big. I should be able to put a bunch of stuff from different games on it and not only room for a single game which would surely suck.
6. Hard Drive support. I want one of these right away in the machine to add additional stuff like game updates etc. to be stored on my system for good use.
7. Free Subscription to online service. If you’re going to charge money for online gaming, at least throw in a online starter kit right from the beginning so that people can start online gaming right away.
10. HDTV/Progressive Scan/Dolby Digital Support
I don’t know how many times in forums or online mailbags that I see questions being asked about one of these 3 things. Does this game support progressive scan? Dolby Digital? etc. Let’s start to standardize this across the board. If no support from the game publisher than from the 3 big companies themselves. While not everyone has the ability for HDTV or other 2 formats, those who do should be able to enjoy these 3 great standards for their respective gaming machines.
11. New innovative gaming accessories straight from launch.
Sony introduced the Eye Toy which to many was a good success story for Sony while Nintendo tried their hand at the E-Reader and Dance Dance Revolution got gamers some well deserved exercise. If you want something like the 3 just mentioned to be successful, you need to start bright and early. Don’t create an accessory midway or near the end of a system’s lifespan. Get gamers interested right from the system launch and your add-on might be successful. If Dance Dance revolution taught us anything it’s that gamers enjoy things that are different or that gets them up and moving. Nintendo could have huge success if they brought back that gun and perhaps duck hunt or if other companies created games that promoted movement or exercise and were fun at the same time. The key is often and early though and not midway is too late.
12. Finally, and probably the most important: Game Software drives Game Hardware
While all of these bells and whistles sound nice in theory, nobody will care if there are no good games to play on your machine. The truth is that no real money is made from gaming hardware and it’s the software that makes the majority of the profit. So if you spend too much time on the system and have no games for it, then you will start to lose money and will fail miserably. Nintendo has had this problem with having less than stellar third party support and needs to gain ground in the next generation of gaming machines. Microsoft needs to create another hit besides only Halo and Sony needs to actually improve their hardware so that good games don’t look crappy on their system.
Well I hope you liked my article on some of the future bits of gaming and look forward to seeing more great articles on gaming in the future.
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