With E3 just days away the idea of a new console always pops into my head and in a year where no one is expecting a new console announcement I started thinking about what would make a new generation of consoles and games really next gen. The jump from the last generation to this generation is probably the most significant in all of gaming. The jump from 2D to 3D was also huge but the huge leap in graphics, the robust online services, and even the ability to constantly patch games have changed gaming for the better. We are getting games more often, the quality is at levels never seen before and the addition of digital distribution with XBLA, PSN, and Wiiware has given even the smallest voices a chance to get heard. Gaming this generation has really been the best it has ever been. It’s been so good in fact that even 6 years into the Xbox 360’s life and 5 years into the lives of the PS3 and Wii no one is really calling for a new system. Right when we think that we have reached the pinnacle of this generation another game comes out and completely changes all of that. So what will it take to wow gamers after a generation that has brought us as much as this generation has? I’ll give my opinion and see what everyone else thinks.

First and foremost the first thing in everyone’s mind is graphics, this one is a little tricky because this is the first generation where one of the big three falls behind in that category. The Wii while being the highest selling of the three consoles is also the weakest of the consoles. Nintendo decided that motion controls would be their main focus and that most households didn’t own HD televisions so they didn’t really see the need for high definition graphics in their games. As I mentioned it has worked out amazingly for them, they have been cashing in this generation on the fact that their system still outsells the other two consoles and that their games are cheaper to make, so along with making profit on their consoles from day one they have also had a higher profit margin on not only their console but also their games. While this is working out great for Nintendo their fans have not been so happy about the fact their games look like they are from the previous generation. Which brings me to the issue at hand, when we do enter a new generation of consoles will Nintendo’s console be up to par with what Microsoft and Sony are bringing to the table or will they forever be a generation back on this front.

Microsoft and Sony are leading the way when it come to graphics on consoles, but what will they need to do to better this generation? The obvious answer of making things look better is a given, the next generation of console will be powerful and the graphics will be the proof of that, but along with looking nice I feel that they should also get more detailed in how the characters in the game live by adding internal systems to their characters. This was brought up on an episode of the giant bomb podcast and an example is in a shooter the characters in the game have organs and bones that can be affected by being shot or injured. I also feel that the environment should also play a big role in all games next gen. We have games such as GTA 4 and Red Dead Redemption that have such lively environments that are constantly going that would have to be the norm in the next generation. If Rockstar could create those two now imagine what they could do with more.

PCs are always the latest and greatest in tech for the simple fact that they can always be upgraded, what if we brought that to home consoles? Imagine if we had the ability to increase the ram memory of our current systems, we would be experiencing next generation type changes in one console. I think this should be considered and its completely possible and even attempted with the N64 but the problem with the N64 is that some games required the upgrade or it wouldn’t play. We have seen with PC games for years now, that one game can have multiple settings for different strengths of PCs. This isn’t perfect and of all the potential upgrades to a new generation this is most likely the most complex but giving how fast tech changes and how it seems like every 6 months there is something out there that kills everything before it. It seems to me that this may become a necessary just to enjoy what we love without having to worry about the next big upgrade. This year has been kept alive mainly by software. Upgrades to Xbox Live and PSN have kept things fresh but the hardware is starting to show its age. This also solves a major issue early adopters have and that’s the price for day one new hardware. Companies like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo will have an option to start at a lower price knowing that the life of that console will continue to bring in the money. The companies also get a new revenue source with being able to constantly reiterate their console preassembled with the upgrade as they are release while also selling the upgrades alone so the owners can install it themselves. The consoles will of course need to be pre-built for this accommodation but as we have seen with the aforementioned N64 and as recently as the PS2 and PS3 with the removable hard drives, it can be done and as gamers we win in the end because we get to constantly play the latest and greatest game without having to worry about making a huge investment in a new console.

The last thing I will bring up will be the online system, Nintendo once again brings up the question will it be up to date or still one generation behind. While it is up for debate who’s online service of the consoles is the best the majority is usually on the side of Xbox live and to be honest it better be the best seeing that it is the only one charging people for its online service. It is rumored that PSN will announce a Xbox live gold member style addition to their service. The next generation of online services must first and foremost have a cloud system at least with game saves and profiles the same way steam has it now. Now what would really make it stand out is a cloud network big enough to play games from and it doesn’t necessarily need to play full game but imagine signing in and seeing a game your interested in and being able to try a demo right away, then if you like it you can buy it and download it to your hard drive. One thing both companies attempted to do was create a social network type of environment for the gamers using their systems, this can become a reality now that they can start from scratch. Xbox Live has come the closest to this with their system but it can always get better, for one making a Natal/Playstation Eye camera and a reliable headset standard with every console will greatly increase the number of people that want to get online and interact, also incorporating popular online services like Facebook, Twitter, and others like them, Xbox live is trying but until it is incorporated in a way where it is always available and only a button press away. Imagine pressing the guide button and being able to control Pandora while in the middle of a game, then pausing it to video chat with someone while continuing to play the game your playing.

Those are just a few on my ideas on what I would like to see in a next generation console. I know if your reading this your probably saying that all I should do is just go buy a PC and move on but the fact of the matter is I like gaming on a console. I like a machine who’s job it is to entertain me and only entertain me. When I play games on my PC all the other things I could be doing come into mind, like surfing the web, working on an assignment, looking at whats new in gaming, ect. While consoles are growing to do so much more than their previous generations I still think the most important feature is games, and with these additions we can continue to enjoy our games with better ease and comfort.