Next Generation (TM) - speculation, hype and whinging thread

myp · **Posted:** Thu Jul 12, 2012 13:58

Craster wrote:

The Last Salmon Man wrote:

Craster wrote:

unlike the 360, which stops downloads if you're running a game

Incorrect. It stops downloads if you're playing online - if you're in single player it'll continue to download in the background.

The game decides that. Plenty of SP games stop the downloads.

I think Microsoft decides it. If it's constantly checking the internet for something (say football scores to run in the ticker along the bottom) then it won't. If it's a purely single player it doesn't tend to, in my experience.

MaliA · **Posted:** Thu Jul 12, 2012 14:17

Craster wrote:

MaliA wrote:

Multiple hardware configurations: Do I have A,B and C, or A,C and D? Which one have I bought? Do all games un the same? Ambiguity on "platform features". Does this mean better graphics, sounds, bigger levels in the games it runs?

The article was all about the idea of separating the games from the platform features. So the games experience is consistent, the platform features are not. Platform features are not the games. Platform features probably extends to certain things that run on top of games, eg parties and voice chat.

I'm software, not hardware. Send a call ticket in.

Plissken · **Posted:** Fri Jul 13, 2012 10:07

Can someone explain to me how the hell this is a patent?

"We've made a thing, onto which we can bolt additional things."

I mean, that patent describes the trim level for a car.

metalangel · **Posted:** Fri Jul 13, 2012 11:51

So not like discovering missing graphic effects like in GTA3 on a iPhone 4 instead of a 4S.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49233

Plissken wrote:

Can someone explain to me how the hell this is a patent?

"We've made a thing, onto which we can bolt additional things."

I mean, that patent describes the trim level for a car.

It's not a patent. It's a selectively quoted abstract of a patent.

This is the patent:
http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Pars ... 0120159090

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

http://www.vg247.com/2012/11/01/ps4_det ... station_4/

Quote:

PS4: new kits shipping now, AMD A10 used as base

Developers are currently taking receipt of a new PlayStation 4 dev kit, VG247 has been told today, with a final version slated to appear in January. Yes, it’ll have Blu-ray. No, it isn’t being made in Japan.

Multiple sources have confirmed to VG247 today that a new version of the Orbis kit is now shipping to developers, and that it’s housed in a normal PC case.

There are to be four versions of the dev kit, we were told. A previous version was essentially just a graphics card. The version shipping now is a “modified PC,” and the third version, appearing in January, will be close to final spec. A final version will be delivered to developers “next summer”.

Some US developers attended a “disclosure meeting” at Sony’s offices this week, with a further meeting to take place in the coming weeks. The purpose of the meeting is for Sony to tell studios what the machine is designed to do, to detail hardware and to show a set of presentations.

Our source told us that Sony is only calling the machine Orbis, and is not using the words “PlayStation 4″ in these meetings at all.

Orbis, we were told today, is based on the AMD’s A10 APU series. An APU (Accelerated Processing Unit) is a combined CPU and GPU.

PS4′s APU was described today as a “derivative” of existing A10 hardware. The hardware is “based on A10 system and base platform”.

The “ultimate goal” for the hardware, we were told, is for it to be able to run 1080p60 games in 3D with “no problem,” to create a machine that’s powerful enough for “today and tomorrow’s market”.

The dev kits have “either 8Gb or 16Gb of RAM. Deduce from that what you will.”

The hardware is not being made in Japan, it was said.

When asked if PS4 will have an optical drive, specifically Blu-ray, our source responded: “Of course it has.” We’ve been told the hard drive will be 256Gb “as standard,” but it’s not clear if it’ll be a normal HDD or a solid state drive.

We were told that Sony’s aim with Orbis is to avoid problems involved in launching PS3 by creating something “very affordable” but that “isn’t a slouch”.

The machine has WiFi and Ethernet connectivity and HDMI out. Our source said the was “no difference” between PlayStation 3 and Orbis input/output.

The UI, however, has been revamped. It was said today that players will now be able to press the PS button mid-game and travel “anywhere” on the system. An example given was buying DLC from the PS Store mid-game then seamlessly returning to play.

“They’re trying to make it as fluid as possible,” our source said.

We were also told that the machine will be designed to accept system and product updates in the background, and that it’ll “always be standby mode”. When you set the console up, we were told, you’ll be asked if you want to allow background downloads. You can, of course, disallow them.

No details have been given on the pad as yet. Confirmation is expected this month.

Orbis is expected to be announced at an event “just before E3″ next year.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49233

Have we seen this yet? 720 spec rumours

http://www.techinvestornews.com/Gaming/ ... es-8-cores

Quote:

The website, TGFC (via GameChup), purports to have information about the upcoming device, with a post from someone claiming to be a former employee of Ubisoft in China. The individual disclosed a set of hardware specifications about the next-gen console, which he says the studio had in-house to work on as-yet-undisclosed next-gen games.

According to the poster, the Xbox 720 will feature a CPU with 8 cores, an AMD 8000-series GPU, 8GB RAM, and the Windows 8 kernel. The dev kit at the studio is also purported to contain a 640gb hard drive, which would make sense for a console heavily dependent on digital downloads. ...

Totally unsubstantiated, as far as I'm aware.

TheVision · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:54

Craster wrote:

Have we seen this yet? 720 spec rumours

http://www.techinvestornews.com/Gaming/ ... es-8-cores

Quote:

The website, TGFC (via GameChup), purports to have information about the upcoming device, with a post from someone claiming to be a former employee of Ubisoft in China. The individual disclosed a set of hardware specifications about the next-gen console, which he says the studio had in-house to work on as-yet-undisclosed next-gen games.

According to the poster, the Xbox 720 will feature a CPU with 8 cores, an AMD 8000-series GPU, 8GB RAM, and the Windows 8 kernel. The dev kit at the studio is also purported to contain a 640gb hard drive, which would make sense for a console heavily dependent on digital downloads. ...

Totally unsubstantiated, as far as I'm aware.

So I imagine it will be all over the internet as FACT by lunch time.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 10:59

Bernie Winters with Sony Orbis.

Morte · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:16

Are any of you actually clawing at the walls, demanding the next generation of consoles? I read all this stuff and think of my large pile of games and it just makes me feel slightly depressed...but hey ho, it might be a symptom of getting old.

Grim... · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:17

I am. The 360 is getting properly tired now, and I want more digital stuffs.

MaliA · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:19

MrsA said she would buy me a 720 if I am good little hobbitses.

TheVision · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:19

I'm exactly the same as you Morte. I'm perfectly happy with the Xbox as is currently stands. There's still loads of games I want to play on it but I just don't have the time and the thought of starting again with a new console just doesn't excite me at the moment.

markg · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 16580

I'm not excited at the thought of a new console either, why would I be? It's just a plasticky lump that sits under the telly. I might very well get excited once they start showing off some games, though.

Zardoz · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:22

I'm still enjoying my 360 but I'd like a new console with a BluRay drive. I'd sooner put my money towards a 720 now rather than a PS3.

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49233

I want a 360 that's a much better media device than the current one. And I want it to do [AS YET UNDEFINED] cool stuff.

Morte · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:55

Hmmm, looks like it's just me and Mr TheVision then in the grumpy corner.

TheVision · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 11:59

I'm like this with every console launch though. It's my retro inspired lifestyle I think.. There's still so many games that I haven't played that I'd be happy with a SNES and Megadrive and their back catalogue.

devilman · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:11

Morte wrote:

Hmmm, looks like it's just me and Mr TheVision then in the grumpy corner.

Nah, me too. I'm at that stage where I'm cynical about new consoles. Until proven otherwise, I'll assume that any new console will provide a means to shoot people/play football in shinier ways and for companies to dust off worn-out franchises to bring them out for the next generation of machines.

More than happy with my 360, although I may be in danger of actually wearing it out.

Grim... · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:22

devilman wrote:

Until proven otherwise, I'll assume that any new console will provide a means to shoot people/play football in shinier ways and for companies to dust off worn-out franchises to bring them out for the next generation of machines.

Like they need a new console to do that.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14382

I feel like my 360 is running itself into the ground but the PS3 is a sturdy beast and shows no sign of feeling tired. I reckon the devs could have got a lot more out of it had it been the winning platform this gen so it's a bit of a shame that we're about to leave it behind.

Still, more shiny shiny.

Curiosity · **Posted:** Wed Jan 09, 2013 12:35

My 360 sounds a bit ill, so a new console could be cool.

That said, I don't really play enough games to justify buying one at the moment, but know I would struggle to resist.

Gah!

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13386

Can't come soon enough for me, the 360 is absolutely clapped out and just not up to the job any more.

Bring it on, proper 1080p@60FPS console gaming, now that really would be nice.

throughsilver · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6197

Morte wrote:

Are any of you actually clawing at the walls, demanding the next generation of consoles? I read all this stuff and think of my large pile of games and it just makes me feel slightly depressed...but hey ho, it might be a symptom of getting old.

Not only do I have a list of good unplayed stuff from this gen (Bayonetta, Dark Souls, Demons Souls, Deus Ex: thingy, Xenoblade, No More Heroes, Mario Galaxy 2 etc), but I also have some prime PS2 games I haven't played (Bully, Okami, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus...).

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14382

throughsilver wrote:

Morte wrote:

Are any of you actually clawing at the walls, demanding the next generation of consoles? I read all this stuff and think of my large pile of games and it just makes me feel slightly depressed...but hey ho, it might be a symptom of getting old.

Not only do I have a list of good unplayed stuff from this gen (Bayonetta, Dark Souls, Demons Souls, Deus Ex: thingy, Xenoblade, No More Heroes, Mario Galaxy 2 etc), but I also have some prime PS2 games I haven't played (Bully, Okami, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus...).

Man alive, that's most of the best games from the last 5-odd years!

Dimrill · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 13:09

Apart from Bayonetta and Dark Souls, which are dogshit.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14382

What have you got against Bayonetta?

Dimrill · **Posted:** Sat Jan 12, 2013 13:10

Find the thread. Can't be arsed to repeat it all.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14382

Says here you only played the demo and don't like DmC-esq games. Nevermind.

Anyway, Throughsilver, Bayonetta is great. Except Non-Stop Climax mode.

Yes, that's a real thing.

Bamba · **Joined:** 25th Jul, 2010 **Posts:** 11128

Bayonetta is excellent, weird and cool and a spectacle of a game. Play it on easy if you don't do well with brawlers but it's well worth the price of admission.

throughsilver · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 6197

Saturnalian wrote:

Says here you only played the demo and don't like DmC-esq games. Nevermind.

Anyway, Throughsilver, Bayonetta is great. Except Non-Stop Climax mode.

Yes, that's a real thing.

Aye, I bought it because I know I will like it in theory. Just need to put it into practice!

Dimrill · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 17:04

Xbox and Playstation 4 to be announced in March, apparently.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Dimrill wrote:

Xbox and Playstation 4 to be announced in March, apparently.

It does sorta make sense to do it just before E3 and then have the big E3 announcements about the games - part of the idea being that the announcement is at E3 it will be swamped by everything else thats going on then.

TheVision · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 17:10

Dimrill wrote:

Xbox and Playstation 4 to be announced in March, apparently.

There's nothing I like more than an announcement about an announcement.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 17:14

I announced the announcement about an announcement.

zaphod79 · **Joined:** 16th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Dimrill wrote:

I announced the announcement about an announcement.

No , you went too soon , you should have announced you were going to do that - and before that you should have just had a mystery timer on a strange website

Cras · **Joined:** 30th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 49233

New consoles coming in March

metalangel · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 17:17

PS: NSFW DEAR GOD NO

Dimrill · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 17:17

Craster wrote:

New consoles coming in March

Nice announcement.

TheVision · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 17:18

Dimrill wrote:

I announced the announcement about an announcement.

Now this... This I like!

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

I've been thinking a bit about the new Xbox. Speculation time:

Looking at a few different aspects of MS's current wider strategy, and just thinking about how they usually act, here's some of what I think the next Xbox will do.

Clearly it's going to be have some sort of Windows 8 component to it. For my money, it won't be running vanilla Windows 8, but it will have the Windows app store on it, and part of the pitch will be the idea that you can buy a game on your desktop/laptop/tablet, and automatically be able to run it on your Xbox. I can't think of any better way for MS to get Windows into people's living rooms.

This presents a couple of technical problems though, the entire contents of the Windows Store so far are not designed to be controlled by an Xbox controller. I gather some win8 apps/games support the Xbox pad, but only touchscreen input is mandated. Now no doubt there will be the next gen version of kinect bundled with the next Xbox, but even if it is precise enough to offer decent pointer functionality, there's no way it'll work effectively with apps designed for touchscreens.

The solution? I think there's a variety of solutions, and MS will use a mix of them.

They could either go the Nintendo route and include a touchscreen in the standard controller. I think that's unlikely, but it's a possibility.

More likely? They've already got smartglass up and running on the 360, so no doubt that'll be in the next Xbox too. My theory is that they'll let you use any android/iOS/Win8 device as a second screen for the next Xbox, and mirror what it's displaying on the TV screen. Essentially letting you play games with high end graphics on any touch device. I suspect they might even make a console bundle that comes with a tablet, but maybe not. I bet they'll also do the screen streaming thing that the Wii U does too, letting you use a tablet/phone as a display for playing any other games.

If I'm right, the next Xbox could be a way of encouraging consumers to get a foot in the door of the windows app store, but even still it will clearly be mostly about games designed specifically for the console. Disc games aren't going anywhere any time soon, but perhaps they'll can XBLIGs in favour of the app store (I hope no devs are still working in XNA!).

Also, I bet it will have a controller that is backwards compatible, as in it retains all the functionality of the current Xbox controller.

What do you reckon?

Zardoz · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 18:17

Yeah, maybe.

Satsuma · **Joined:** 20th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 14382

I'm sick to death of touch screens but they seem here to stay now. Some sort of touchy feely shit is bound to be announced.

Dimrill · **Posted:** Mon Jan 14, 2013 23:11

My predictions:

1- Adverts. Lots and lots more adverts. Appearing in game, while loading and on an mini-LCD screen built into the front of the box even when it's turned off.

2- More flailing around shit which will continue to attract bucket scraping mini game collections.

3- A dashboard that's even slower to load. Minutes maybe, accompanied by adverts while its doing it.

4- Needless control schemes that incorporate other senses. Smell maybe. Smell shit? That's CoD loading. Brought to you by Starbucks.

5- A smaller amount of storage space than what's available if you fitted your own HD. Probably 500gb or something.

6- Bing. Lots more Bing built into everything. Having trouble in a game? It'd detect that and bring up sponsored Bing results.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

1, 2 & 6 seem like dead certs to me too. 5 too probably if you're saying they'll stick with proprietary hard drives.

metalangel · **Posted:** Tue Jan 15, 2013 0:47

Dimrill wrote:

My predictions

All of which don't exactly enthuse me. I'm not really bothered, not now I can plug my laptop into the TV and play Borderlands 2 or Skyrim on it with a 360 controller. That's what they're competing with, and I'm not sure if they'll win.

WTB · **Joined:** 27th Mar, 2008 **Posts:** 14497

Christ I'm depressed. Please be good, new Xbox.

Hero of Excellence · **Joined:** 23rd Nov, 2008 **Posts:** 674

Microsoft are so going to blow it with the Xbox 720. It'll make the Sega Saturn and Sony PlayStation 3 seem like minor hiccups in comparison.

Hearthly · **Joined:** 11th May, 2008 **Posts:** 13386

metalangel wrote:

Dimrill wrote:

My predictions

All of which don't exactly enthuse me. I'm not really bothered, not now I can plug my laptop into the TV and play Borderlands 2 or Skyrim on it with a 360 controller. That's what they're competing with, and I'm not sure if they'll win.

Custom PC ran a decent feature on gaming laptops this month. Now admittedly these aren't at console prices by a long stretch, but £1000 gets you a genuine gaming laptop (will chuck BF3 around at 1080p completely ULTRAed out with 4xAA) that can indeed just be plugged into a telly and used as a games machine with a wireless 360 controller.

Plus it's a PC, and a laptop.

A bit cheaper, £700 gets you a gaming-capable laptop, not top end gaming but certainly way beyond anything the current-gen consoles can do and probably not a million miles off where the next-gen will end up performance wise.

They also had a £700 'ultrabook' form factor laptop on test that made a surprisingly decent fist of running games.

In any case of course, you get the freedom of a Windows install, and the mega-cheapness of Steam/Origin/GOG for games, plus you don't get Microsoft fucking around with your gaming interface on a regular basis and daubing it with advertisements.

All this pretty much applies to Macbooks too of course, either through the native Mac OS and Steam client, or doing that thing where you get Windows running on it - you do of course pay far more for the hardware though.

I'll see where it goes with the 720, if it's just going to be a locked-down closed-OS PC with very expensive games, it'll be hard for me to see much of a point to it.

LewieP · **Joined:** 29th Apr, 2008 **Posts:** 7600

Ahahaha

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Next Generation (TM) - speculation, hype and whinging thread
Xbox 3, PS4, WiiU

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Be Excellent To Each Other

Next Generation (TM) - speculation, hype and whinging thread Xbox 3, PS4, WiiU

Who is online

Next Generation (TM) - speculation, hype and whinging thread
Xbox 3, PS4, WiiU