Xbox720/Durango - 2013?

[Masterz1337]

Ugh.... sorry but I almost face palmed at this. I'm sure others here can point out the specifics better than I can, but the current generation consoles' graphics are utter shit compared to current gen PC. But still, I guess it is possible for Microsoft to write off future consoles after the next one. This would effectively stonewall any future graphical advancements, since the major research and development branches of nVidia and AMD would likely go out of business. If all game developers were told that the current generation of consoles is to be the last in terms of hardware, then they would only develop within that hardware's limitations from that point on. Effectively, all games would be able to run on the crappy console hardware, and eventually all games would hit the same limit to their graphics. Demand for superior video cards on PC would drastically drop if none of the games coming out ever required them. Sure there would still be some PC exclusive titles, but we all know where that market is headed... Besides, I thought making new consoles would create profit? Forcing consumers to dish out $400+ on a new console to be able to keep up with the latest games seems like a pretty solid business strategy.

TL;DR, if xbox 720 is going to be Microsoft's last console, it would be an utter nightmare. Think about how CoD has used the same engine for the past decade. Now imagine if every game studio did that too.

What I am saying is that there is no longer as much of a need to pump out a new console every 4-5 years. For 90% of the people, the current consoles are still impressing people with their graphics. It use to be that people would upgrade their console because new games with better graphics and more capabilities would be available,but with the X360/PS3, the graphics and scope improve significantly on current hardware. If they can tap the X360 for 8-9 years (its will be on year 7 now, probably will be a year or 2 before the next one is out) and still haven't fully exploited the console (look at h4 and Gears for example, those are 2 franchises who continuously one up their preceding games in graphics), theres no reason to think the next console will have any shorter lifespan. If the next console can do 14-17 years on the market, Xbox:Infinity may not be a bad name after all.

Sure PC's will eventually overtake them, but it matters to a small minority of gamers. Companies like Nvidia are already evolving to suit other markets and manufactures, their income does not only depend on high powered GPU's for PC gamers. Like Korn said, consoles are sold at a loss, and the games make up for the price (as there is an increase in loss on the console, game prices go up every generation)

Tl;DR, If the x360 can last almost 10 years, and they can make the next one last longer, calling it Xbox Infinity isn't a bad name at all.

[Masterz1337]

You must forgive masterz, he's a Mac user and knows not what gaming on a machine that's actually capable feels like.

I have a gaming PC for the few PC games I want to play. My Mac is far better for day to day tasks than any windows machine, plus unlike windows I can actually upgrade to the latest OS and not regret it. coughcoughW8coughcough. Oh and Vista, and ME.

[Donut]

so upgrade to every other os and not regret it

[DarkHalo003]

Or just don't care that much about how an OS is unless it seriously impacts your ability to use the computer (lol Vista). I swear, people are too proud about their OS. It's a fucking computer. Is there really that much of a fucking difference to say a Mac OS is superior to a PC OS or visaversa? I just like PC because it's cheaper for better capabilties, I'm used to Windows, Windows has more options in terms of programs and easier to program on, and not to mention a lot of people I know who own Macs are stereotypically douchebaggy about the FACT that they own a Mac. The OS is the last part that's important.

And Masters, I think you're right in saying it's okay the new Xbox is labeled Xbox Infinity. We've had the Xbox 360 for more than half a decade and it's showing some pretty spectacular graphics/processing for such old tech. Look at Halo 4 for instance. Who knows how long the new Xbox will last with today's CPU/GPU/Processor/Graphics technology?

[Masterz1337]

Not to get to off topic, but W8 is an abomination of any desktop OS. I like OSX, but there's only 2 OS's I would invest in for my own personal use, and that would be Linux and OSX, and I don't want to deal with the headache that is Linux.

[JackalStomper]

And Masters, I think you're right in saying it's okay the new Xbox is labeled Xbox Infinity. We've had the Xbox 360 for more than half a decade and it's showing some pretty spectacular graphics/processing for such old tech. Look at Halo 4 for instance. Who knows how long the new Xbox will last with today's CPU/GPU/Processor/Graphics technology?

That depends entirely on if Microsoft wants to take another huge hit like they did with the 360, or be conservative with the hardware.

And the graphics only appear somewhat impressive today because they cut severe corners (loading screens every 10 minutes of gameplay?) and prioritize on areas that get a lot of focus (I need no better example of this than the MC's halo 4 texture.)

And of course everyone with a decent display has probably already gotten sick of the aliasing and shitty texture filtering long ago.

And remember this is all so it can barely hit 30 fps with a 720p native render.

[Kornman00]

Well, I for one look forward to the time when studios will have no excuse to NOT use DX11.

And GFX doesn't make a game by itself.

[Pooky]

Like Korn said, consoles are sold at a loss, and the games make up for the price (as there is an increase in loss on the console, game prices go up every generation)

uh, I'm pretty sure it was me who said that.

[Kornman00]

We have become One, Pooky.

We are Pookman00

[DarkHalo003]

We have become One, Pooky.

We are Pookman00