Today there’s been a rumor circulating across the internet that states that the Wii U is “twice as powerful as the Xbox 360“. There have also been recent rumors that the next Xbox console will contain a new chip up to six times more powerful than the Xbox 360. While most of this is just speculation without a real explanation to what “power” means, it definitely led me with a question to explore today: how much more “powerful” does the next console generation really need to be?
The Wii U specs aren't known yet, but speculation leaves high expectations.
Games have evolved a long way within the past two decades: from sprite art where you can clearly identify individual pixels, to sprawling worlds that rival the technological budgets of Hollywood’s CGI effects. We’re not quite at the level where videogame graphics match human behavior enough to be confused with actual human beings, but the technology is definitely developing (just look at the facial motion capture in L.A. Noire). And when it comes to visuals outside of actual gameplay in the form of cutscene cinematics, the production value can rival any computer graphic film out on the market to date (just watch a few cutscenes from Final Fantasy XIII to see what I’m talking about).
This is just my personal opinion, but I don’t really know how much farther games can reasonably push the limit. Most triple-A titles right now for the PS3, Xbox 360, and the PC have the ability to create visuals that are near-flawless over an entire gameplay experience. As someone who now completes a game every single week for modern-day consoles, I just don’t personally desire a greater graphical display. I guess I can’t really say anything until I’ve actually seen the visuals for a new console beyond the 7th generation, but I don’t think that visuals or processing power alone is enough to need to push out a new generation of consoles.
If there’s anything Nintendo understood, it’s this very concept. After pushing a system that could graphically hold its own, and even sometimes exceed its competition (the Gamecube during the 6th generation), Nintendo still found themselves in last place for sales against the PS2 and Xbox. Determined not to make the same mistake twice, they sacrificed processing power for innovation when they released the Nintendo Wii, which has since far surpassed sales of the PS3 and Xbox 360 consoles. I’m not saying that the Wii motion controls were as revolutionary as everyone was expecting (they still have a long way to go to reach perfection), but doing something different at least was able to attract a considerable amount of sales.
I’m seeing the same thing play out right now on the handheld market right now. The 3DS, which was admittedly off to a fairly slow start until its price cut, has been selling fairly well. It recently hit the 4 million units sold mark in Japan, followed shortly by that same stat in the US. Do I think the “no glasses 3D” effect is as groundbreaking as it sounds? No, but it’s still interesting enough to hold public interest and increase sales.
Sony’s PS Vita, on the other hand, is struggling to get to a good start with its Japan launch. Could it be different once it hits the US in February, once more titles have been developed? I’m sure it could, but at the moment it seems like the Japanese market isn’t nearly as interested in having the most powerful handheld system on the market.
Despite greater power, the PS Vita isn't selling that hot in Japan right now.
My final problem is simply cost. Videogames are expensive, especially for a brand new console release (remember paying $500-600 for a brand-new PS3?). Currently, I’m actually very happy with the state that were in at nearly six years into the 7th generation. New games still have that same heavy $60 launch price tag, but fall much quicker now due to how competitive the market has been. At the same time, we’re still developing games that are more and more advanced, despite that they’ve been releasing on the same platforms for six years. Bigger, more advanced systems are just going to increase that price hike again.
I get that Nintendo wants to produce an HD console that can provide something for its hardcore fans as well, but I just don’t see how pushing things even farther than what we have now is financially feasible. If they can do it in a way that doesn’t cost substantially more, then I’m on board, but I just don’t see it happening.
All in all, I don’t care about better consoles all that much. I just want better games. What do you guys think? Are you itching for newer and more powerful consoles, or are you happy with the way things are right now?
-Josh
