anything in the works for next gen systems yet?

[black mamba DSO]

Hello,

Does anyone know if anything has been announced on next gen consoles? I'm sure it's going to be a long time before these are even close to finished.... BUT i'm interested to know what's next... what do you hope to see in the future of gaming consoles?

I would definitely love to see disc changers on the systems. I'm tired of getting up and changing the games out when I want to play something different. LOL. Us americans are so lazy.

[Uteena PMS]

Why not just cut the whole disk system, and either you bring some kind of portable HDD to a store and buy and store games that way, or just download directly to the HDD? Would save the enviroment, time and money. :)

And I don't think much has been announced yet, at least not to my knowing.

[H2O Raiden]

I don't see portable media (ie: DVD, etc.) being killed off yet. It is entirely possible that SD cards (micro or otherwise) could be used down the line, but I don't really see that happening either. I think DVD and the newer amazing 400gb or something DVD's will be used in the next-gen systems.

Downloadable games (full games), etc. Is also not only a possibility, but an inevitability. We are seeing expansions and map packs, game modes and patches, all done by downloading, so it is only a matter of time. Furthermore, apparently around this time (Q4 2007) there is supposed to be media for download and such on Live.. it's been pushed back to Q4 2008 I believe. It would mean seamless viewing/streaming/downloading of media, whilst watching LIVE TV over your Xbox 360. Even Picture in Picture, rendered by the Xbox 360 itself, so it would work on almost any viewing hardware.

I've heard rumors of a next gen Xbox type system, purportedly boasting an early tech demo(nstration) with in game graphics comparable to the 60 second Halo 3 ad.

[black mamba DSO]

Yeah, that's a good idea. No discs. I like that a lot. I can see downloading games as a big feature in the future. I'm sure discs will still be available though for those that live in the middle of nowhere and have no internet access.
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I've heard rumors of a next gen Xbox type system, purportedly boasting an early tech demo(nstration) with in game graphics comparable to the 60 second Halo 3 ad.

any idea when?

[H2O Raiden]

No clue, as of yet I haven't had any confirmation of said rumor, but the person I heard it from as always been right when it comes to Microsoft related things.. always.

Edit: Oh, and I just realized I was right about the downloadable games thing. The birthday of Xbox Live brought in a new feature which allows users to download original Xbox games for MS points. :)

[Nokarot]

They'll never get rid of discs, or solid copies. While there is a hardcore online gaming community, i'd guess that 90% of people who buy games are casual people looking for single player. A majority of those probably dont have high speed internet (maybe 56k or something).

Until theres high speed internet standard in every home, downloadable games is no way going to be the only way to get games.

Maybe something smaller, though. We've already got 4GB Thumb Drives. If bigger, cheaper ones come out, I could imagine buying games on a thumb drive.

[H2O TankBusta]

Especially with USB3 technology coming out...It could easily open up the possibility of playing games on one of these flash drives. It will also be a lot faster than a CD/DVD Drive @ 4.8GB/sec

http://hardware.slashdot.org/hardware/07/09/19/120235.shtml

[H2O Raiden]

4GB? Hell, we've got 16gb and soon 32gb thumb drives. I have a 16gb just for storing OS backups on.

[ToX1C]

I honestly dont see any next gen systems comnig out until at least 2012. Right now the systems are still really early in their lifes (they are still making ps2 games for example) The develepors are still learning how to make games with everything the system offers. Also well the systems are still pretty much up to date with the current technology. (to my knowledge)

[H2O Raiden]

2012? Are you insane? o.o

The current systems are nowhere NEAR being "up to date" with current tech. The Xbox 360 only has 512 megs of ram, and doesnt even have a separate board for the video rendering. The wii.. well the wii isn't meant for "up to date" stuff. The PS3? Well we all know that was a horrible failure on Sony's part. Multiplayer is everything in gaming these days, without a strong multiplayer fan-base, no amount of godlike singleplayer games will save your system.

I see new systems at the LATEST 2010. If not new, then "upgraded".

[DantesInferno5]

2012? Are you insane? o.o

The current systems are nowhere NEAR being "up to date" with current tech. The Xbox 360 only has 512 megs of ram, and doesnt even have a separate board for the video rendering. The wii.. well the wii isn't meant for "up to date" stuff. The PS3? Well we all know that was a horrible failure on Sony's part. Multiplayer is everything in gaming these days, without a strong multiplayer fan-base, no amount of godlike singleplayer games will save your system.

I see new systems at the LATEST 2010. If not new, then "upgraded".

actualy he's right. When 360 and PS3 came out they originaly wanted to keep the console with a 10 year life span. Now they're saying that may slightly decrease, but still they want to keep it going for a long time.
Honestly the console's are still very capable of doing so much more. Look at the progression with games. Call of Duty 2 - Mass Effect. Graphicaly they've come along way, and can still pull out alot more, so there's no need for a new console yet.
As for speculation's on what the new console's will have, I'd love a disc changer as well haha.