Nov 22 2008
Top 11 most desired features of the next console generation
Whether you like this generation (so far) or not, it’s pretty much undeniable that it has brought plenty of new features, as well as some brand new problems. With this list, we’ll look at some of the things that could be fixed, refined, or even introduced with the next generation of consoles.
1. Backwards Compatibility
The first thing on this list looking forward is actually looking backward. Neat - this is something Nintendo isn’t that bad at. The Wii can play GameCube games flawlessly (thanks to the Wii being technologically similar to the GameCube). The Nintendo DS and DS Lite can play Game Boy Advance games. The DSi doesn’t play GBA games, and that’s a problem for some people, but hopefully Nintendo’s next generation handheld will return to backwards compatibility.
Really, this is more of a problem with Sony and Microsoft. The PSP has nothing to be backwards compatible with, but most PlayStation 3’s don’t play PlayStation 2 games, and I’ve found that mine doesn’t even play half of my PlayStation 1 games (e.g., once I reach a certain part of Chrono Cross, the game freezes). Original Xbox games needed patches in order to play on the Xbox 360, so that was never full backwards compatibility. Microsoft has stopped releasing these patches, so there are plenty of Xbox games left that will never work on an Xbox 360. I think if console manufacturers are going to advertise their consoles as backwards compatible, they should be fully (or at least reasonably) backwards compatible from the start. If I need to have my old consoles hooked up to my TV to play some of my last generation games, current gen backwards compatibility isn’t going to do me much good.
2. More Power! *grunt*
The Wii is cheap because it’s less powerful than its competitors. That’s fine. It’s nice to have a console I don’t have to save up for months to buy. It’s also nice to be able to buy a Wii and then save up enough for a second console, because two different consoles are better than one. However, I hope the Wii 2 is more powerful, or at least as powerful as a PS3 or 360. As technology becomes cheaper, this has a good chance of happening. But then there’s the other side of that coin….
3. No More Jumping the Gun
This generation feels like it started too early, and maybe it was a bit too ambitious. Consoles are either really expensive or made of low quality hardware. While better graphics and sound are nice things to have, they’ve been taken to a level we may not be ready ready for. PS3 and 360 games are difficult and expensive to develop. They’re so expensive that many developers are afraid to take risks because they have too much to lose, and many games are forced to be made as multiplatform games just to recoup development costs. Multiplatform games are nice in the short term, but the main thing that differentiates consoles from each other is their library of exclusives. Exclusive games are very important for competition, and I think anything we can do to bring them back would be a step worth taking.
13 Responses to “Top 11 most desired features of the next console generation”
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For fairness, the Wii remote.. Is rechargeable. Granted, you need rechargeable batteries, but even so.
Other than that, nice article! There’s nothing I can really add.
if anyone got that consulting job, it’d be you. you’re my favorite tanooki writer :D
Oh my, you’re making me all warm and tingly!
That’s true, Larke, but I would rather have recharable batteries WITH my purchase. You know, so I wouldn’t have to worry about them screwing up my Classic Controller. I heard something about that with Mario Kart Wii.
@ Helper187: I’m assuming you’re referring to someone using the wrong kind of batteries? Well Nintendo states on their website what kind to use, so. *shrug*
Anyways I’m dragging this way offtopic. ^_^’
Not really. :P It’s a point in the article. It’s perfectly on-topic to discuss it.
@helper187, I have the NYKO rechargeable batteries for my wii remote and use the classic controller all the time for Mario Kart…I have not yet experienced any problems. (also, I have found that these batteries hold their charge very well, I don’t put them on the charger all the time, maybe once a week, and they last quite a long time)
Yeah, Nintendo really dropped the ball with friend codes. As in REALLY dropped the ball. I don’t play my Wii online much anyways, so whatever. Another thing I would add to this list would be free online play. XBox Live makes you pay for online play, which I find pretty ridiculous. If you even plug your XBox into the internet, you get ads sent to you. Why can’t ad space pay for microsoft’s bandwidth?
I think you make a good point. Xbox Live is better than the PlayStation Network, but I don’t think it’s $50-a-year better.
I think I’m one of the few that actually likes the fact that the Wii Remote takes AA batteries. That way I can use regular rechargeable batteries, and when they die, I can just pop them out and insert another pair of rechargeable batteries (It also helps that my charger charges 4 AA in 15 minutes). This way I won’t be out of gaming commission while I put the controller on a docking station, or transforming my wireless controller into a wired controller by charging internal batteries with a cable.
Good point, Ryan.
I dunno $50 a year is about $4.17 a month for the service of Xbox Live and it trounches over the PSN (I have both and use both regularly). I’d gladly pay that fee for a superior online system on the Wii.