[DSc]

Interesting comment from THQ's Brian Farrell about how new business models and opportunities presented by online seem to be the focus of next-gen, rather than a graphical push.

Sad if so, but I guess it links back with Cliff Bleszinki's comments about pushing Microsoft and Sony not to 'phone in' the next consoles.

THQ: 'Humongous change' in graphics not the focus for next-gen consoles Next-generation consoles won't provide as much of a graphical leap as previous generations have, THQ suggests. THQ's CEO Brian Farrell has suggested that next-generation consoles won't provide as much of a graphical leap as previous generations have, saying that the focus of next-generation hardware is to develop "opportunities in different types of business... rather than a humongous change in the foundation of 3D graphics". "I think if you look at what's been happening on the PC, the generational change, if you will, as we've moved from DX10 to DX11 hasn't been, to a certain extent, the same impact that previous ones had," said Farrell, replying to a question about rising development costs on next-generation hardware. "Certainly, when you went from 2D to 3D many, many years ago at the beginning of the PlayStation era, that was a major leap and costs went up significantly. As processors got extremely complex to try to get more and more graphics prowess out of the hardware, the PlayStation 2 jumped with also a massive change. "I think the transition we're looking at in hardware right now is somewhat different. I think the transition is much more kind of focused around opportunities in different types of business -- different types of distribution, different types of business models, a lot more online, a lot more ability to track and relate to the consumer and things like that rather than a humongous change in the foundation of 3D graphics. So I don't expect costs to jump like they have in the past as we move forward." Farrell's comments follow those of Mark Rein, who told VideoGamer.com last month that Epic was happy to wait for a 'massive leap' in next-generation console performance. "[Next gen] is going to come out whenever it comes out," he told us, "and again, the whole do it right versus right now thing, I'd much rather get a massive leap in performance and capabilities than get something today." Neither Sony or Microsoft have announced their plans for the next-generation. Microsoft confirmed last night that it was developing a "new Xbox".

http://www.videogamer.com/news/thq_h..._consoles.html

[Eideka]

As long as the graphical jump is there, I don't mind.

[CaptainAhab]

It's going to crack me up when next gen console games are still 30fps with no anti-aliasing.

[Jackpot]

I remeber the same kind of wild but plausible predictions from the run-up to the previous generation. None of them really know what changes in gaming there'll ultimately be.

[Sid]

Should be obvious from the wiiu

[shinobi602]

Shieet, I'm content with SW 1313 and Watch Dogs as the base of next gen visuals.

[Horse Armour]

Lol, no one is looking forward to any of those things he listed. Seriously, how out of touch with the gaming community can you get? No wonder you're going under.

[DieH@rd]

As long they continue to make good games, I will be OK.

Sony is currently making phenomenal games for PS3, and ~15 of their internal studios will continue doing great work in the next genration.


Bring it on E3, i want to see the megatons.

[mugurumakensei]

Lol, no one is looking forward to any of those things he listed. Seriously, how out of touch with the gaming community can you get? No wonder you're going under.

Eh, publishers and developers are certainly looking for better distribution methods and different business models such as F2P.

[Mafro]

Good.

[TucoBenedictoPacifico]

In other words: "It's mostly the same shit".

[atomico]

Kinda like going from 720p medium detail to 1080p ultra...?

[Commanche Raisin Toast]

It's going to crack me up when next gen console games are still 30fps with no anti-aliasing.

This.

And we won't even notice the overall graphics look better because of leaving out the AA either, but the devs will swear its there.

[metalslimer]

Before everyone freaks out he's not suggesting there won't be a nice jump, it just won't be as big as the jump into this generation (which was pretty obvious with how big this gen's jump was) and it won't be the focus (graphics are not going to be the focus going forward in generations).

[Nirolak]

Honestly I expect THQ to have worse visuals given the switch to downloadable games and f2p titles.

[mugurumakensei]

Kinda like going from 720p medium detail to 1080p ultra...?

Nah, like going from 720p medium to 720p ultra.

[S1kkZ]

It's going to crack me up when next gen console games are still 30fps with no anti-aliasing.

of course they will be 30 fps. everyone who thinks that next-gen will bring 1080p and/or 60 fps is a dreamer.

[Meisadragon]

We should still see a lot of improvements if the rumoured specs are correct. He's right in the sense that there won't be a massive leap like we saw this gen. Microsoft and Sony are probably designing their consoles with developers' interests in mind along with a lot of emphasis on services. Hopefully, we won't see a lot of studios close shop next-gen.

of course they will be 30 fps. everyone who thinks that next-gen will bring 1080p and/or 60 fps is a dreamer.

Based on the rumoured specs, 720p/60fps should be very easily attainable. And we will probably see first-party titles pushing the bar again.

[Acidote]

Not the focus. Right. Tell me that again the next time I play a new gen ps4 or xbox game under 60 fps just to show fancier graphics.

[TucoBenedictoPacifico]

Before everyone freaks out he's not suggesting there won't be a nice jump, it just won't be as big as the jump into this generation (which was pretty obvious with how big this gen's jump was) and it won't be the focus (graphics are not going to be the focus going forward in generations).

I'm not freaking out. I'm simply planning to buy a new PC, instead.

[Mihael Mello Keehl]

A humongous jump would be avatar graphics... Im not expecting that either THQ. Or you just mad you wont have budgets to work on next gen. sorry.

[2&2]

of course they will be 30 fps. everyone who thinks that next-gen will bring 1080p and/or 60 fps is a dreamer.

I'm not expecting much change in the 30/60 fps area, but not having a 1080p baseline would be a joke.

[mugurumakensei]

I'm not freaking out. I'm simply planning to buy a new PC, instead.

You should be doing that regardless. These consoles would never match a box with triple 690s , an overclocked i7, 16 GB of Ram, 200 GB SSD for boot and 1 TB HD for data.

[subversus]

fuck graphics, all I want is freemium on my console.

[metalslimer]

I'm not expecting much change in the 30/60 fps area, but not having a 1080p baseline would be a joke.

Get ready to laugh

[2&2]

Get ready to laugh

Sadly I expect no change in the 720p/1080p baseline, but I still think it's unacceptable.

[MMaRsu]

Sounds really great. NOT

[SapientWolf]

of course they will be 30 fps. everyone who thinks that next-gen will bring 1080p and/or 60 fps is a dreamer.

I don't think some devs can afford to push graphics farther than they already have. A lot of those games will be 60fps. If UE 3.0 level games don't run at 60fps then next gen consoles will be a tough sell for me.

[Pranay_]

That what i basically expected.

And i think 1080p will be the standard.

[Labadal]

I don't think all studios should try to aim for graphics that competes with CryEngine/Unreal Engine 4. I want next gen to have amazing graphics, but if some games don't, I don't really care. Many studios would probably have to be closed down, just like this generation if development costs rise further.

[+Aliken+]

Obvious move.
Eventually the whole industry will wake up to this.

No cutting edge graphics = more freedom to innovate

[MadeInBeats]

PS4 & Durango not next-gen - confirmed.

What some people had going on in their head these consoles were going to do, I have no idea.

[TheExodu5]

A change to business is exciting to me. As I see it, PC is ahead of the curve, with low budget titles such as Amnesia, top tier games such as The Witcher 2, \extremely popular titles with no graphical focus whatsoever such as Minecraft, free to play MMOs such as LOTRO. The console games business model is simply no longer viable for the majority of projects. The console gaming infrastructure cannot sustain several dozen 30+ million dollar projects per year...it's a money losing proposition for the vast majority of development houses.

Short summary of my feelings: the PC gaming business model is much more attractive to me, as a consumer, than it was 5 years ago, and I hope that the console business model follows suite.

[Eideka]

And i think 1080p will be the standard.

That would be hilarious if this is not the case.

[Derrick01]

Everything is going to be F2P isn't it? Next gen is going to make this one look great.

[Gueras]

So next gen graphics only on PC? Ok i will buy a PC!

[Pranay_]

A change to business is exciting to me. As I see it, PC is ahead of the curve, with low budget titles such as Amnesia, top tier games such as The Witcher 2, \extremely popular titles with no graphical focus whatsoever such as Minecraft, free to play MMOs such as LOTRO. The console games business model is simply no longer viable for the majority of projects. The console gaming infrastructure cannot sustain several dozen 30+ million dollar projects per year...it's a money losing proposition for the vast majority of development houses. Short summary of my feelings: the PC gaming business model is much more attractive to me, as a consumer, than it was 5 years ago, and I hope that the console business model follows suite.

This ^

[TucoBenedictoPacifico]

No cutting edge graphics = more freedom to innovate

Which is an absolute myth.

What's most likely, on the other hand...
More constraint in hardware power = less room to experimentation and more focus (and efforts) invested in the attempt of topping visuals of previous games.

[navanman]

A change to business is exciting to me. As I see it, PC is ahead of the curve, with low budget titles such as Amnesia, top tier games such as The Witcher 2, \extremely popular titles with no graphical focus whatsoever such as Minecraft, free to play MMOs such as LOTRO. The console games business model is simply no longer viable for the majority of projects. The console gaming infrastructure cannot sustain several dozen 30+ million dollar projects per year...it's a money losing proposition for the vast majority of development houses. Short summary of my feelings: the PC gaming business model is much more attractive to me, as a consumer, than it was 5 years ago, and I hope that the console business model follows suite.

This man gets it. PSN and XBLA have dipped a toe in this but next-gen should see this developed even more.

[BHZ Mayor]

Everything is going to be F2P isn't it? Next gen is going to make this one look great.

I wouldn't go that far at the bolded, but I agree that next gen will probably be worse than this one. I'd advise GAF to rein in their expectations. It's gonna be a lot of disappointment if you're expecting some of the stuff I've been reading.

[RedSwirl]

I thought that was the main change we had this generation.

[Loghorn150]

It's going to crack me up when next gen console games are still 30fps with no anti-aliasing.

Heh, I'm just going to laugh at those that think that PS4 & the next Xbox will be seeing much more greater graphics than PS3 & 360 would.

Before everyone freaks out he's not suggesting there won't be a nice jump, it just won't be as big as the jump into this generation (which was pretty obvious with how big this gen's jump was) and it won't be the focus (graphics are not going to be the focus going forward in generations).

I say, good. Focusing on graphics is the main reason why we've gotten so many shallow games this gen. They need to bring the talent back of making games fun & enjoyable.

[Pranay_]

Heh, I'm just going to laugh at those that think that PS4 & the next Xbox will be seeing much more greater graphics than PS3 & 360 would.

lol

[specialguy]

He's just saying it's more of the same, but prettier. Rather than something huge like the shift from 2D to 3D or something like raytracing.

Overblown comment is overblown.

[Loghorn150]

lol

You're being unrealistic. If you think that Microsoft &/or Sony are going to give their next gen consoles another huge jump in power & graphics like they did with PS3 & 360, & risk taking more huge losses off of their systems each year, you're going to be disappointed.

[electricpirate]

A change to business is exciting to me. As I see it, PC is ahead of the curve, with low budget titles such as Amnesia, top tier games such as The Witcher 2, \extremely popular titles with no graphical focus whatsoever such as Minecraft, free to play MMOs such as LOTRO. The console games business model is simply no longer viable for the majority of projects. The console gaming infrastructure cannot sustain several dozen 30+ million dollar projects per year...it's a money losing proposition for the vast majority of development houses. Short summary of my feelings: the PC gaming business model is much more attractive to me, as a consumer, than it was 5 years ago, and I hope that the console business model follows suite.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

[Rayge]

So 720p at a solid 30 FPS will be the standard for next gen consoles then? There are hardly any games this gen that even do that... Unless the games have simplistic graphics.

[Delusibeta]

He's right in the sense that there won't be a massive leap like we saw this gen.

To be frank, I would be hesitant to call the graphical improvement between late PS2 games and early 360 games a "leap". It was more of a "step". I expect early Xbox 3/PS4 games to look similar to their PS360 equivalents and people getting pissed off about it.

[MadeInBeats]

He's just saying it's more of the same, but prettier.

Exactly

Overblown comment is overblown.

Not really. Someone had to come out and say it. Not that it matters; 24 hours from now Gaf NextBox will go back to being a better than current top end PCs with Avatar graphics.

[metalslimer]

So 720p at a solid 30 FPS will be the standard for next gen consoles then? There are hardly any games this gen that even do that... Unless the games have simplistic graphics.

What games have you been playing?