5 Reasons Why “Next-Gen” Is a Myth & Deceptive
All three of the big console gaming companies - Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have in some way or another hyped to no end the huge revolution in gameplay, graphics, and more for the so-called “next-gen” consoles: 360, PS3, Wii. They were hardly alone is perpetuating this fiction, as game developers jumped on board the hype train in press interviews. The problem is that the current generation of hardware has not made any sort of revolutionary change in any of the developing areas of video games (i.e. graphics, sound, A.I., story, gameplay, etc.) All we have with the 360, Wii, and PS3 is an incremental advancement in technology from the previous generation. In the case of the PS3 and 360 we have an all around improvement in every gaming area from graphics to gameplay. While the Wii has improved very little in graphics but has focused on controller modification. The problem is that people are constantly waiting for “that one game” that will be the penultimate, zenith of next-gen gaming. It will never arrive - sure games will be improved upon, A.I. will improve, graphics will be shinier, and sound will become richer. However, the hype does not equal the subsequent performance.
1) Each new gaming generation has utilized similar terms to express that that particular generation is the ultimate experience and tremendously advanced over the previous when in reality we see a steady incremental increase in video game technology between generations. It may seem a tremendous advancement when one has become used to the current generation - however your eyes deceive you. Comparing PS1-PS2-PS3, Xbox-Xbox 360, N64-Gamecube-Wii; we see a very steady and incremental development which do not constitute tremendous leaps nor live up to the hyped “next-gen” concept.
2) The myth of the “next-gen” leads people to wait for that perfect game which shows off all that was promised. [this reminds me of those viral videos that Sony released online with narration by the actor from Aliens [”Bishop”].] However, that perfect game never arrives. Sure we can push the technology to its limit at the end of perhaps the 5 year gen cycle, but this is different from the often practical under-delivery on the hype. I die at the though of Gears of War being brought up as the perfect example of this generation. Sure its a fine game, looks great, and uses a lot of new technology. It, however, fails to perform at the level created by the hype “next-gen” mythos.
3) Often years before the current generation of gaming is over, the console companies begin hyping and marketing their “next-generation” of console hardware and how IT will be the ultimate in gaming. It is patently obvious how this is a self-repeating cycle with an empty promise at the end. Before the promises from the previous generation may be fulfilled, the companies direct consumers’ attention to the next piece of hardware.
4) Let’s not forget this whole video gaming business all really just comes down to money. It is the stratagem of many companies to over-promise but under-deliver. Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are likely not immune. It is blatantly obvious when viewing old press interviews the extreme amount of promising and you realize, watching it years later, that none of it came true. Not to harp on Sony - but this reminds me of the “Toy Story Graphics” comment for PS2. This advances the idea that the “next-gen” hype is really a marketing ploy.
5) The “next-gen” ploy is extremely deceptive in that it promises something unreachable to reach a sales goal. The deception becomes even darker when we realize number 3 (above). People forget the previous generation, those old promises, and move on - gobbling up the hype for the next generation.
Sure, not everyone relies on hype nor cares. However, it is an extremely deceptive marketing device that many video gamers are spoon fed. Perhaps it is time for everyone to wake up to the harsh realities of this “business”.
Source:
5 Reasons Why “Next-Gen” Is a Myth & Deceptive | gamingmirror.com
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