Do we really need next gen?
Do we really need another console generation? From where I’m sitting the answer is no. Now don’t get me wrong I’m just as excited for what the next gen has to offer with regards to the PS4’s streaming capabilities and Wii U, which is more current gen (sorry Xbox One show me games first and then we’ll talk), but then in the other hand I’m just not.
To begin with I think the question should be “do I really need next gen?” As a gamer I have amassed quite a collection of consoles, and the games to go with those consoles. Each game was bought because of my deeper need to play “that new game”. It has reached the point where I have tons of games that I have never played sitting on my shelf and online accounts (steam). Some of the games are triple-A titles like the recent Bioshock infinite while others are more of the indie variety, I have become a hoarder. Many gamers have started suffering from this same sickness of buying tons of new gamers, and having tons of old games that we may never be able to complete in our lifetime.
I am at the point now where when I see a new game I’m like; “oh god I need to have this, I must own it now”. Then the game comes out and I get it only to remember that I’m still playing the same old game for 3 years (Tales of Vesperia), and my new toy just joins the pile of titles I may never get around to playing. With my hoarding practice getting out of hand and the large amount of new titles turning out to be shallower than a pretty person with no substance, I don’t see a reason why a gamer like me should be getting any new consoles. I would have considered the Xbox One if it had backwards compatibility because I could just use all the Xbox 360 games I’ve collected over the years and probably sell or give away the old box, sadly I cannot do that, and the same goes for the PS4.
When a New console generations comes out the first few months turn out to be a major borefest as this is the time when developers are getting to know that system. The games don’t generally start flowing until about a 15 months after the systems release, and the first titles also more often than not turn out to be shovelware or are either broken or just plain unfinished.
With this extremely long console cycle (which I must say I enjoyed) we gamers have all had the time to raise a large collection of games no matter the platform we own. Some gamers may just outright sell their consoles when the next 2 consoles are released later this year while others like me will just wait till I see that one game I can’t do without. So in closing I don’t think we need a next generation, more so i don’t think I need a next generation. I think we need more games. With our long current console cycle it has allowed developers to get familiar with the current hardware to the level that some games wow us by how good they look on 6 year old platforms. This is just my opinion nothing more, leave yours in a comment and join the conversation, whether you agree or disagree with me.
As a PC gamer yes we need the next gen consoles. Current Gen ones have been holding back game development for so long it’s rediculas. With the new gen we’ll finally see games start to take a leap forward, which means good stuff for PC gamers. That said the Xbox is going to have problems, especially since MS have said they’re planning to support the 360 for the next 5 years. so the question becomes why early adopt to the new console when the old one is still going to be valid and built for. As you said, the first year and half of a new console very rarely sees anything worth while
it is true that consoles hold back the mainstream pc games but the cult classics that we both enjoy like jrpg are never really supported on pc because the developers that make those games have strong ties with both sony and Nintendo. the games with will get the boost from the next gen may be titles that have more glam than substance.
I agree completely. I have amased quite a collection of 360 games both disc and download. From what I understand the new Xbox will make all that money a waste if I get the new council on top of all the accessorys like mics and controlers and stuff. I may have gone through 4 360’s during my 4 year tenure but I think it was worth all the rage quitting and all the freinds I made, oh and the over 20,000 gamerscore I have. (I think its more but I dont remember off the top of my head)
As a gamer that’s what’s important the games. and quite frankly current gen has a wider selection of titles to choose from. who want to loose their huge collection over a promise? not me.
Nice gamer score btw, mine sucks in comparison i think it’s 14,625, and i’m on my second 360 (feeling lucky) 😀
My gt is deathtself if you want to check : p
oh sure that’s not a problem. i’ll add u in a few my tag is “lp0gardian”
I’m not on right now but I might hop on later tonight before work
Ok I have 43,236 exactly. Wow I have no life
I’m with you for the most part on this. I have always been far behind in the purchase of the latest and greatest console and its games. I blame this on price and quality really. New consoles are ridiculously priced and the games are just getting pricier with each new console. Are they worth it? Maybe. But I’m the type to wait until the latest and greatest comes out to get the current. The prices drop and by then, I have a ton of great games to choose from. Then I can decide for myself if its worth the money. Not to mention, by being able to review all the games I can properly decide which console I want since some are exclusive. This is my console purchasing strategy. 🙂
– Britney
That is a very effective strategy. I used that when I got the ps3.
As consumers it only smart for us to use strategies like yours or we’ll all end up broke with a ton of shovelware on our shelves. As you said prices are getting higher, and publishers are not going to drop them anytime soon, because the majority of consumers still keep buying their products. I think that trend could change with this generation. due to the large amount of news and information available at our fingertips. consumers have no excuse to make bad buys anymore.
We can only hope that they smarten up and realize how much money they are so easily blowing. 😉 It’s simple really. Do your research, make sure the price is right, and that you cannot live with that game.
– Britney