Pc Evolution great but still not fair

[branz_mf]

Please, don't take it as an insult

Before we begin to discuss about pc engine I just ask you all to be polite
to answear my questions. Think over a bit.

I'm looking foward to seeing games like Ps3 games running on my machine, but I'm really concerned about this situation, when Ps3 is out what will happen to pc, how long will pc survive with the Ps3 arrival? (I mean "When they decide to port ps3 games onto pc, will they reduce graphics quality?
From the Emulators I found out something I'd never really expected to see, I was happy as I knew that pc can handle graphics like Resident Evil 4 (GC), Final Fantasy X (PS2) or whichever is it. And I wonder when/if there'll be games like that for pc (Many games like Prey, X3 Reunion are similar to Final Fantasy VII (Ps3). I'm just posting out this subject to show it to the public (so they can straight it up), I really want to know if pc will own ps3 games at all. I just think that pc is growing up fast and it's about to take out any consoles of the century. Pc is growing up fast along the consoles uprising.

See these screenshots below

Prey on the Pc

http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/...0_screen002.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/129/198340_20050510_screen002.jpg)
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/...0_screen001.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/129/198340_20050510_screen001.jpg)
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/...1_screen002.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/130/reviews/198340_20050511_screen002.jpg)

X3 Reunion on the PC
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/...3_screen001.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/163/927012_20050613_screen001.jpg)
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/...3_screen005.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/163/927012_20050613_screen005.jpg)
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/...3_screen004.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/163/927012_20050613_screen004.jpg)

Heroes of the Pacific on the PC
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/...0_screen007.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen_e3/920406_20040510_screen007.jpg)
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/...p_screen007.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/news/04/19/hotp/hotp_screen007.jpg)
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/...0_screen003.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2004/screen_e3/920406_20040510_screen003.jpg)

I-8 on the PlayStation 3
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/...6_screen002.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/135/928399_20050516_screen002.jpg)
http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/...6_screen003.jpg (http://image.com.com/gamespot/images/2005/135/928399_20050516_screen003.jpg)

Final Fantasy VII on the PlayStation 3
http://www.ngemu.com/forums/attachment.php...tid=93963&stc=1 (http://www.ngemu.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=93963&stc=1)
http://www.ngemu.com/forums/attachment.php...tid=93964&stc=1 (http://www.ngemu.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=93964&stc=1)
http://www.ngemu.com/forums/attachment.php...tid=93965&stc=1 (http://www.ngemu.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=93965&stc=1)


So here's my question!
Is pc capable to handle ps3 graphics at all? (Graphics are even better when you crank up resolutions)
Just don't tell me that ps3 has a powerfull videocard, twice better than Geforce Fx 6800, I already know that.

[Akherousin]

I'm still waiting to see non-CGI screens from PS3 "games". :D
When this happens, we can compare.

[JMS]

i agree

[KamisoriX]

Originally posted by branz_mf@Jun 15 2005, 03:13 AM
I'm looking foward to seeing games like Ps3 games running on my machine, but I'm really concerned about this situation, when Ps3 is out what will happen to pc, how long will pc survive with the Ps3 arrival?


LOL, Most consoles that came out outbeats or was on pare with the top end PC and was
so for about a half till it gets throwen back to "just a consol". Why would you compare a
Console, which is a closed architecture and will stay like it is till it dies with a PC which is
constantly advancing in technology? Games looks and runs great on a consol is because
it is cut down to that specific specs that the console offer while on PC you have to make
it compatible to multible hardware possibilities. Still, in the end the PC will always hold t
he upper hand since it's more flexible and you can tune it to a certain performance area.
I didn't read the other part of your post because after I reached the end of the line of the
"Quote" I didn't think there is anything worth to keep reading. :D

[Sarafan Lord]

Some things never change. Every time a new console is announced, the fan boys of the console will crawl out of the woodwork, and proclaim that the PC is going to die the moment the new console hits the market. It's a tradition that started with the PSX, and it's still running strong today. Why? Because manufacturers saturate the internet with rendered images and movies driving the fan boys into a frenzy (anyone remember the CGI clip from Killzone 2?), and because people have a tendency to forget that the PC is NOT a static piece of hardware. Any advantage that a console has over the PC is temporary at best, assuming it still has it once it's actually launched. Will the PC be on par with the PS3 in terms of graphics? Maybe not at first, but eventually it will not only be on par but surpass it by miles. Just look at the PS2 and Xbox. Both were heralded as PC killers. Both are inferior to the PC. The same fate awaits the PS3 and Xbox360.

[branz_mf]

Will the PC be on par with the PS3 in terms of graphics? Maybe not at first, but eventually it will not only be on par but surpass it by miles. Just look at the PS2 and Xbox. Both were heralded as PC killers. Both are inferior to the PC. The same fate awaits the PS3 and Xbox360. .
I agree, but for ps3 and xbox360, I think pc is inferior at the moment.
I hope you're dam right.

[pr0cs]

you're going about it all wrong. the problem will not be that the PC hardware is more advanced, more flexible or superior/inferior to the consoles but the fact that most developers will (and already have) avoiding releasing their software on the PC. More and more games are developed for the console and if they're a big seller they *may* then port the game to the PC 6months to a year later.

As time goes on it will become less important for developers to even support the PC, it costs them a lot more time to troubleshoot 4000 pc configurations than support 2-3 different consoles.

You can have the fastest PC in the world but it really doesn't matter if there is no gaming software to utilize that speed.

[Choupolo]

Yea certainly, as living room consoles become more popular and mainstream, more developers will choose to write for consoles first and port to PC second. But there will always still be that niche PC market tho for people who dont want mass produced/popularised/living room games.

As far as gfx hardware is concerned, dont they say the RSX for the PS3 is only a bit more powerful than 2 6800Us in SLI or as good as the upcoming R520? And multicore CPUs for PC are already here. By the time PS3 comes out, it'll pretty much be as good as the top end PC. (theoretically!) Only thing is a top end gfx card and CPU will be a bit more expensive. Just depends what style you like your games...we'll have to wait and see what the games will be like tho!

After that its downhill for consoles as PCs continue to get more powerful, whereas PS3 is stuck where it is for the next 5 years or so... B)

[pr0cs]

Yea certainly, as living room consoles become more popular and mainstream, more developers will choose to write for consoles first and port to PC second. But there will always still be that niche PC market tho for people who dont want mass produced/popularised/living room games.

Agreed, but how many games do you think will be developed for this niche market? How many good quality games? Why would a developer want to spend the millions of dollars to develop a game for a dying market (PC) that is prone to piracy and potentially end up losing money when they could write the same game or something similar for a console and probably outsell the PC version 10:1, even if the title sucks?

I have no doubt that PC gaming will always be around but in the end it will probably become more of a 'novelty' and attract a lot less good titles.



As far as gfx hardware is concerned, dont they say the RSX for the PS3 is only a bit more powerful than 2 6800Us in SLI or as good as the upcoming R520? And multicore CPUs for PC are already here. By the time PS3 comes out, it'll pretty much be as good as the top end PC. (theoretically!) Only thing is a top end gfx card and CPU will be a bit more expensive. Just depends what style you like your games...we'll have to wait and see what the games will be like tho!

After that its downhill for consoles as PCs continue to get more powerful, whereas PS3 is stuck where it is for the next 5 years or so... B)
Again, you assume that someone is going to make games for the PC, it's true that by the time the PS3 is released PCs will destroy the computing power of the PS3, not to mention be a lot more flexible, upgradable, etc. But the fact is that that is irrelevant when it comes to developing games. Its a business like any other and it just simply wouldn't make sense to develop a game for the PC when if developed on the console (which is 10x easier to develop games for) will outsell just it's PC version significantly.

[Akherousin]

Well, pr0cs, it didn't make sense for the last 20 years and still, they did it? Doubt it very much that they'll change just because of the PS3 (lol) or XBox 360. :rolleyes:

[Sarafan Lord]

The PC gaming market is dying? What is your basis for that conclusion? Last i checked Blizzard was recently unable to produce enough copies of World Of Warcraft cover the demand, while most stores had sold all their copies of GTA: San Andreas within hours. I suspect Battlefield 2 will also achieve complete sell out status a few hours after stores place it on the shelves. Granted, these are exceptional games, but "regular" titles sell more than enough to cover development expenses as well as generate a healthy income, something which actually HELPS gaming in general since developers can then focus on pushing boundaries and taking risks with regards to gameplay, rather than worrying about selling 1 million+ copies.

Another factor to consider is the fact that today's crop of console kiddies are going to grow up. Some of them will abandon gaming, others will retain it as a mindless way to kill time, and some will join the ranks of hardcore gamers. Do you really believe that those hardcore gamers will be interested playing Counter Crap and Soul Calibur? Much like the generation that grew up with Pong and the original Doom, these gamers are going to be looking for games that feature new and exciting gameplay elements, something the console market is ill equipped to deliver given it's obsession with generating revenue by catering to the mass market.

My own prediction for the future of the PC/Console relationship is that it will continue much as it always has, barring any revolutionary advances in technology which render both obsolete. The PC will continue to be "the frontier", where barriers are broken and new ideas are put to the test, a place where developers can challenge themselves and harcore gamers can find the level of entertainment they demand. The console market will be the safe spot, where developers can cater to the whims of the mass market while working within the parameters of the console hardware. They won't be breaking any new ground, but they won't be breaking their bank accounts either. The same applies to the console players. In short, PC and consoles are not really in competition with one another, because they each cater to different markets. Granted, there is some overlapping but not enough for one to weaken the other, atleast not for the time being or in the near future. Just my 2 cents on the issue.

[KamisoriX]

you just can't bring real RTS/ Tactical games to consol. There will never be a Hard Core Sims (like IL2 and its kind) for a consol.
Why? The answer is simple: You consol kids are all n00bs...hrhrhr.... :D

[Akherousin]

Originally posted by Sarafan Lord@Jun 15 2005, 09:12 PM
The PC gaming market is dying? What is your basis for that conclusion? Last i checked Blizzard was recently unable to produce enough copies of World Of Warcraft cover the demand, while most stores had sold all their copies of GTA: San Andreas within hours. I suspect Battlefield 2 will also achieve complete sell out status a few hours after stores place it on the shelves. Granted, these are exceptional games, but "regular" titles sell more than enough to cover development expenses as well as generate a healthy income, something which actually HELPS gaming in general since developers can then focus on pushing boundaries and taking risks with regards to gameplay, rather than worrying about selling 1 million+ copies.

Another factor to consider is the fact that today's crop of console kiddies are going to grow up. Some of them will abandon gaming, others will retain it as a mindless way to kill time, and some will join the ranks of hardcore gamers. Do you really believe that those hardcore gamers will be interested playing Counter Crap and Soul Calibur? Much like the generation that grew up with Pong and the original Doom, these gamers are going to be looking for games that feature new and exciting gameplay elements, something the console market is ill equipped to deliver given it's obsession with generating revenue by catering to the mass market.

My own prediction for the future of the PC/Console relationship is that it will continue much as it always has, barring any revolutionary advances in technology which render both obsolete. The PC will continue to be "the frontier", where barriers are broken and new ideas are put to the test, a place where developers can challenge themselves and harcore gamers can find the level of entertainment they demand. The console market will be the safe spot, where developers can cater to the whims of the mass market while working within the parameters of the console hardware. They won't be breaking any new ground, but they won't be breaking their bank accounts either. The same applies to the console players. In short, PC and consoles are not really in competition with one another, because they each cater to different markets. Granted, there is some overlapping but not enough for one to weaken the other, atleast not for the time being or in the near future. Just my 2 cents on the issue.
This hits the nail on the head. :thumbup:

[Fycus]

When the xbox was released, it was superior to the PC only for a few months. Much like the Xbox, the new Mac G5's were considered outdated compared to a PC in a few months also. Its pretty much a pattern: new system is released, pc beats it in weeks or months, new system is released, PC beats it again. Im sure the PC wont be as powerful as the PS3 or Xbox when they're released, but soon after the PC will be more powerful like always...

[Hasse]

Originally posted by Sarafan Lord@Jun 15 2005, 10:12 PM
The PC gaming market is dying? What is your basis for that conclusion? Last i checked Blizzard was recently unable to produce enough copies of World Of Warcraft cover the demand, while most stores had sold all their copies of GTA: San Andreas within hours. I suspect Battlefield 2 will also achieve complete sell out status a few hours after stores place it on the shelves. Granted, these are exceptional games, but "regular" titles sell more than enough to cover development expenses as well as generate a healthy income, something which actually HELPS gaming in general since developers can then focus on pushing boundaries and taking risks with regards to gameplay, rather than worrying about selling 1 million+ copies.

Another factor to consider is the fact that today's crop of console kiddies are going to grow up. Some of them will abandon gaming, others will retain it as a mindless way to kill time, and some will join the ranks of hardcore gamers. Do you really believe that those hardcore gamers will be interested playing Counter Crap and Soul Calibur? Much like the generation that grew up with Pong and the original Doom, these gamers are going to be looking for games that feature new and exciting gameplay elements, something the console market is ill equipped to deliver given it's obsession with generating revenue by catering to the mass market.

My own prediction for the future of the PC/Console relationship is that it will continue much as it always has, barring any revolutionary advances in technology which render both obsolete. The PC will continue to be "the frontier", where barriers are broken and new ideas are put to the test, a place where developers can challenge themselves and harcore gamers can find the level of entertainment they demand. The console market will be the safe spot, where developers can cater to the whims of the mass market while working within the parameters of the console hardware. They won't be breaking any new ground, but they won't be breaking their bank accounts either. The same applies to the console players. In short, PC and consoles are not really in competition with one another, because they each cater to different markets. Granted, there is some overlapping but not enough for one to weaken the other, atleast not for the time being or in the near future. Just my 2 cents on the issue.

When the xbox was released, it was superior to the PC only for a few months. Much like the Xbox, the new Mac G5's were considered outdated compared to a PC in a few months also. Its pretty much a pattern: new system is released, pc beats it in weeks or months, new system is released, PC beats it again. Im sure the PC wont be as powerful as the PS3 or Xbox when they're released, but soon after the PC will be more powerful like always...

You guys are so right! :D

[branz_mf]

It's good to hear that from you guys!!
Consoles will not be that powerfull for too long, pc will be beaten in the beging and then within few mounths it'll come back more powerfull :thumbup:

[Kacperski]

What really hit me (and what you haven't pointed out enough...imho :dennis: ) is the instant rising of pc's to the new next-gens at the last e3, psx was killed when graphic accelerators hit the markets, and ps2 was also supreme for some time (I've seen some sony fanbios claiming ps2 is more powerfull just a few months back :lol: ). But now, knowing that when x360 and ps3 will hit the market they will ALREADY be on par with high-end pc's, x360 game makers have already said some of their titles will reach pc, some ps3 (as ps2's) titles will certainly follow.
What's my point? Next gens will not only not have the technological advantage, but they will only become more and more outdated from day one. Instead of pc killers, we've got a big chance for pc to ground it's already strong position (sarafan said it all)


Damn after reading it I sound like a pc fanboi :D
But to piss off console fanbois a bit, at least I've played on the consoles :P

[pr0cs]

The PC gaming market is dying? What is your basis for that conclusion? Last i checked Blizzard was recently unable to produce enough copies of World Of Warcraft cover the demand, while most stores had sold all their copies of GTA: San Andreas within hours. I suspect Battlefield 2 will also achieve complete sell out status a few hours after stores place it on the shelves. Granted, these are exceptional games, but "regular" titles sell more than enough to cover development expenses as well as generate a healthy income, something which actually HELPS gaming in general since developers can then focus on pushing boundaries and taking risks with regards to gameplay, rather than worrying about selling 1 million+ copies.
GTA:SA has been out on the console for how long? I guess it doesn't bother you that the game is a direct port from a console game, and compared to the graphics available on the PC now the graphics of GTA:SA sucks. Where is this power that people keep spouting off about in regards to the superior graphics of the PC in GTA:SA? They don't exist because the developer threw together a half-assed port of the console game in hopes to make a few more bucks off of their now aging title. If you think the PC title is selling well you need to compare the sales of the PC version to that of the PS2. I would think that the PS2 version sold more copies in a month than the PC version will probably sell in total.
WoW is a niche title, MMPOGs will always be niche titles and again the sales of WoW won't be ANYWHERE the sales of AAA console titles like GT4 or Halo.



Another factor to consider is the fact that today's crop of console kiddies are going to grow up. Some of them will abandon gaming, others will retain it as a mindless way to kill time, and some will join the ranks of hardcore gamers. Do you really believe that those hardcore gamers will be interested playing Counter Crap and Soul Calibur? Much like the generation that grew up with Pong and the original Doom, these gamers are going to be looking for games that feature new and exciting gameplay elements, something the console market is ill equipped to deliver given it's obsession with generating revenue by catering to the mass market.

You're totally wrong here, console gaming is going "MAINSTREAM" that means that games are no longer becoming the domain of the 'computer nerd'. People are much more open about spending 2-3 hours in front of the TV drinking beer and playing a game with their friends than spending hours infront of their PC like the solo troll PC gamer in his moms basement. Console gaming is what is growing the gaming industry, not PC gaming.



My own prediction for the future of the PC/Console relationship is that it will continue much as it always has, barring any revolutionary advances in technology which render both obsolete. The PC will continue to be "the frontier", where barriers are broken and new ideas are put to the test, a place where developers can challenge themselves and harcore gamers can find the level of entertainment they demand. The console market will be the safe spot, where developers can cater to the whims of the mass market while working within the parameters of the console hardware. They won't be breaking any new ground, but they won't be breaking their bank accounts either. The same applies to the console players. In short, PC and consoles are not really in competition with one another, because they each cater to different markets. Granted, there is some overlapping but not enough for one to weaken the other, atleast not for the time being or in the near future. Just my 2 cents on the issue.

As time goes on we'll see the PC market become more of a niche market, for those types of games that don't port or play well to the consoles (MMPOGs, RTS, FPS genres). I will agree that for a while the PC market will be where the advances in new technology will come from but that will only last so long when new software to drive this technology slowly disappears. Console gaming does cater to the mainstream but sadly the mainstream is where the money is. Only seriously independently weathly developers will continue to support the PC market.

Mark my words, at the release of the PS3 you will see a huge drop of any AAA titles for the PC. The significant source of PC titles witll be those that used cross-platform engines like the Unreal3 engine where porting back to the PC is still feasible. Those titles will not bother to leverage today's PC technology because it would require too much work to change the engine to take advantage of the extra PC features. Couple the time and money to develop a AA title with the fact the PC is and always will be prone to piracy and it's obvious that PC gaming is going to go through a huge change.

[pr0cs]

Originally posted by Kacperski@Jun 16 2005, 10:11 AM
What really hit me (and what you haven't pointed out enough...imho :dennis: ) is the instant rising of pc's to the new next-gens at the last e3, psx was killed when graphic accelerators hit the markets, and ps2 was also supreme for some time (I've seen some sony fanbios claiming ps2 is more powerfull just a few months back :lol: ). But now, knowing that when x360 and ps3 will hit the market they will ALREADY be on par with high-end pc's, x360 game makers have already said some of their titles will reach pc, some ps3 (as ps2's) titles will certainly follow.
What's my point? Next gens will not only not have the technological advantage, but they will only become more and more outdated from day one. Instead of pc killers, we've got a big chance for pc to ground it's already strong position (sarafan said it all)


Damn after reading it I sound like a pc fanboi :D
But to piss off console fanbois a bit, at least I've played on the consoles :P
again you assume that someone is going to write software for that "uber powerful pc".

why bother when they can develop it for a console and sell 100x more copies and take significantly less time to develop it since everyone's console is the same.

[pr0cs]

Think I'll back my opinion up.

GTA:SA was released this week for the Xbox and PC

The following chart shows the current best sellers for the PC:
http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p...t.jsp&ct=110022 (http://www.chart-track.co.uk/index.jsp?c=p/software/uk/latest/index_test.jsp&ct=110022)

*notice how GTA:SA is the current #1 seller and niche specific titles like all the RTS and WoW are only midway through the list

Then read the comments here regarding the sales from:
http://www.gtasanandreas.net/news/index.php


The first sales numbers for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas in the UK have been announced by Chart Track. Surprisingly (or not) the Xbox version has outsold the PC version almost two-fold. Needless to say, San Andreas shot to the top position after release.



To put the console sales into perspective GTA:SA was the best selling 2004 title on the PS2:
1. Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (PS2) - 5.1 million copies sold

Add up the fact that XBOX version outsells the PC version almost 2:1 and the fact that GTA:SA on the PS2 sold 5.1 million copies last year and you can see that consoles have a huge advantage in generating revenue for developers in comparison to *ANY* PC title.

[branz_mf]

E3 is doing a good job developing games for pc, ps3, xbox 360, or whichever hits the market. I think many fans doesn't really care about pc relationship with consoles, or if ps3 is a freakin' console that will breakthrought pc gamin' and put it to a end. Nowadays, pc will not need to use that power to run more games. (not in this year) Where Ps3 goes pc follows and keeps going on and on (that's what I hear the most)
I don't think pc will die after freakin' consoles get released. Pc will always find a way to get in ps3 position.

[Sarafan Lord]

Originally posted by pr0cs@Jun 16 2005, 09:46 AM
Add up the fact that XBOX version outsells the PC version almost 2:1 and the fact that GTA:SA on the PS2 sold 5.1 million copies last year and you can see that consoles have a huge advantage in generating revenue for developers in comparison to *ANY* PC title.
There is little doubt that the average console title rakes in significant more cash than the average PC title. This has been the case since the launch of the PSX when the console market shifted it's focus from the kiddies to the casual gamer. But this is hardly news, or relevant for that matter. If the sole desire of developers was to achieve the highest possible income, they would have dropped the gaming industry and gone off to make corporate applications. Most positions in game companies list a "passion for gaming" as a job requirement. This is not just fluff, as they know what they're asking prospective candidates to give up when applying for the job. If high wages, regular hours and some semblance of a normal life is important to you, then game development is not the way to go. Why am i mentioning this? To illustrate the fact that money is not the driving force behind most game developers. Most are in the business because they want to (are you all ready for this?) create games. Consoles put limitations on this with their hardware as well as the fact that any game for a console must pass inspection by either Microsoft, Sony or Nintendo. Would Battlefield 2 sell more if it was a console title? Almost certain. Would it look or play as well as the demo currently does on the PC? Not a chance. They would have to wait for the PS3/Xbox360, or scale back the graphics and player limit. In short, developing for a console could mean that developers need to compromise their vision, and if money is not the driving force behind them, that could be a deal breaker for them.

I think an appropriate comparison to the console/PC gaming markets would be the pop/black metal music markets. Pop(consoles) is where the big money is, but it's a market that works by cloning successful products while being apprehensive around anything that deviates too far from the established standards. Black metal (PCs) sells less, but is comprised of bands that are far more interested in making music that is uniquely their own, and customers that are less prone to buying whatever happens to be on the shelves. As mentioned in my previous post, these two markets are not really in competition with one another, since they both work with different standards, and cater to different groups. I fail to see why the PS3 or Xbox360 will upset this balance between PCs and consoles. Developers are already aware of the revenue gap between PC games and console games so there is no reason to expect an exodus of developers based on financial grounds, and any graphical superiority that either console might have upon launch will be temporary at best so that's not really a deal breaker either. So i stand by my original prediction, the launch of these consoles will change nothing with regards to PC gaming or its market. It will not be relegated to a niche market, because compared to the sale of console titles after the launch of the PSX, it has always been a niche market. Add in the fact that a good PC costs about 3-5 times more than the average console, as well as requiring atleast some basic knowledge of hardware and software in order to keep it running, and it further reinforces the fact that the PC was never intended as a mainstream entertainment system, and this makes any comparison to a console a bit like comparing apples to oranges, or pop music to black metal. :D

[pr0cs]

The gaming industry is going through a shift in general, every publishing company is threatened of being swallowed up by the huge conglomerates (UBI, EA, ETC) and once inside those huge companies there is a push for profits, if you're not profitable then you better have your own revenue stream to support yourself because UBI and EA don't just lightly hand over millions of dollars to write software for a market that typically doesn't sell well.
The sad part about all this is that the focus because less on innovation and more on "what sells".
Within the next 3 years or so we'll see if my predictions are correct. I hope I'm wrong but I can honestly say that this next generation will probably be the first console I buy since the Intellivision.