"Next gen gameplay" to me sounds like a game playing better than its predecessor to the point where it makes it feel outdated. Like SMW compared to SMB, or GTA5 compared to GTA3. The core is familiar, but so many changes (usually for the better) have been implemented beyond just the graphics. Some of the SS reviews make it sound like SP didn't do much to change the gameplay or structure of the game at all. That can be a double-edged sword.
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What does "next gen gameplay" mean to you?
- Thread starter Servbot24
- Start date
I want new ideas that were not POSSIBLE with old hardware due to ram/processor limitations. I want incredibly smart AI, I want worlds that feel real because of the level of detail, and more. I want things that were not POSSIBLE before. That's what next gen gameplay means. If it was possible before, it's just a new creative idea. If it was not possible before, that's a next gen gameplay idea.
Virtual Reality.
Next-gen has always been used to refer to time periods technologically, but in relation to game design, if you look at the innovations that have resulted in notable shifts in that field, they're technology but in relation to input advances.
The very earliest commercial video game products were things like Computer Space and Pong, but really the first systems that fall inline with what we currently think of as game systems were things like the Fairchild, or the 2600, essentially single hand input 2D spec machines. I'd say that was the first generation of game design.
The second was when we got two handed input along with frame scrolling.
The third was when we got analog input and 3D rendering.
VR is the fourth.
Next-gen has always been used to refer to time periods technologically, but in relation to game design, if you look at the innovations that have resulted in notable shifts in that field, they're technology but in relation to input advances.
The very earliest commercial video game products were things like Computer Space and Pong, but really the first systems that fall inline with what we currently think of as game systems were things like the Fairchild, or the 2600, essentially single hand input 2D spec machines. I'd say that was the first generation of game design.
The second was when we got two handed input along with frame scrolling.
The third was when we got analog input and 3D rendering.
VR is the fourth.
dat post history.
Deified Data
Banned
Whatever was going on in Ryse, I guess. Highly cinematic, ultimately shallow.
fredrancour
Member
I don't think it really means anything. "Game mechanics fundamentally impossible on old hardware," if I had to pick.
One reason that I'm not all that hyped for next-gen as a whole is that I feel like ideas are holding developers back more than hardware. The lone exception would seem to be Everquest Next style stuff.
One reason that I'm not all that hyped for next-gen as a whole is that I feel like ideas are holding developers back more than hardware. The lone exception would seem to be Everquest Next style stuff.
rakkadakka
Member
Something beyond better graphics.
That's just stagnation by another name.
What I'd like is more complex MP experiences. Whether it's something like the demo for The Division.. give me new ways to interact with other people online.
That's just stagnation by another name.
What I'd like is more complex MP experiences. Whether it's something like the demo for The Division.. give me new ways to interact with other people online.
DidntKnowJack
Member
It doesn't mean anything to me, other than being a characteristic of a lazy argument, whether it's argued as a pro or con.
It's a buzz word. Or phrase, I guess would be more accurate.
It's a buzz word. Or phrase, I guess would be more accurate.
Next-gen gameplay for me are actually "last gen gameplay". Games that have great gameplay mechanics that I can constantly play. Urban Reigns, Bleach: Dark Souls (the DS game), Smash Bros melee, Bushido Blade, Tekken 5 Dark Resurrection, Tom & Jerry War of the Whiskers, and the real Devil May Cry games.
If any of those games were released today, they would better gameplay than majority of the games on the market. Although they wouldn't be considered "next gen gameplay" according to reviewers. Adding something new just to add something new is pointless to me. Games shouldn't be marked down if it doesn't do that.
If any of those games were released today, they would better gameplay than majority of the games on the market. Although they wouldn't be considered "next gen gameplay" according to reviewers. Adding something new just to add something new is pointless to me. Games shouldn't be marked down if it doesn't do that.
CassidyIzABeast
Member
Dead Space took the over the shoulder gameplay of RE4 and added a awesome HUD and a great way to take out enemies by shooting off their arms and in DS2 you could shoot off arms and impale enemies. That would be my definition of "next gen gameplay".
Definitely next-gen: A game that introduces new or novel gameplay that would have been impossible to achieve on previous systems.
Maybe next-gen: A game that introduces refined gameplay that would have been difficult on previous systems.
Probably not next-gen: A game that keeps more or less the same gameplay as games released on older systems.
I don't view it as strictly about hardware power, as system infrastructure and input methods can make a pretty big difference as well.
Maybe next-gen: A game that introduces refined gameplay that would have been difficult on previous systems.
Probably not next-gen: A game that keeps more or less the same gameplay as games released on older systems.
I don't view it as strictly about hardware power, as system infrastructure and input methods can make a pretty big difference as well.
Whiskeymatt
Member
I think "next-gen gameplay" is a lazy phrase that oversimplifies a number of things, but dammit if this isn't the perfect explanation for the "feel" of it I don't know what is.
"works as advertised" is going to go farther and farther away from reach as games get more complicated, unfortunately.
Very immersive, high quality graphics coupled with VR (Oculus Rift) that takes character control and environmental interaction to a whole new level.
I just finished playing Tomb Raider on PC with everything maxed out. It looked fantastic but the game controlled and played exactly the same as games from 10 years ago. Games getting a lot prettier, but clunky old controls becoming more glaring. The stiff, mechanical way these life-like characters under our control move, jump and maneuver is looking goofy and not so good.
I'm eagerly awaiting the next few leaps in the coming decade or two that will allow us to interact with a game environment in a way that's more nuanced and sophisticated than "go up to big square computer panel and press X button to open door down hallway."
I just finished playing Tomb Raider on PC with everything maxed out. It looked fantastic but the game controlled and played exactly the same as games from 10 years ago. Games getting a lot prettier, but clunky old controls becoming more glaring. The stiff, mechanical way these life-like characters under our control move, jump and maneuver is looking goofy and not so good.
I'm eagerly awaiting the next few leaps in the coming decade or two that will allow us to interact with a game environment in a way that's more nuanced and sophisticated than "go up to big square computer panel and press X button to open door down hallway."
geordiemp
Member
Its a stupid phase, similar to not innovative used to mark a game down for reason only known to the reviewer.
Nearly ever game has similar mechanics to something before.
Heck, mechs and traversal was done with transformers war cybetron multiplayer. Nothing I see is genuinely new.
However, for something to be fun its got to be a good version of the genre...
Next gen gameplay not possible on last gen will only probably come with VR
Nearly ever game has similar mechanics to something before.
Heck, mechs and traversal was done with transformers war cybetron multiplayer. Nothing I see is genuinely new.
However, for something to be fun its got to be a good version of the genre...
Next gen gameplay not possible on last gen will only probably come with VR
K
kittens
Unconfirmed Member
Nothing. It's a pretty meaningless phrase. Just say what you mean and get to the point.
Depends on the implementation. If either of those things were the keystone of a new, interesting, and important game mechanic that couldn't have been done without them, I'd consider that a case of them enabling "next-gen gameplay."
Gameplay that cannot be done on last gen. It's an evolution of what came before it. I find it funny that pretty next gen games that don't use the extra horse power to deliver new gameplay experiences can seemingly get a pass among some gamers.
If publishers are trying to sell you on a game that's next gen, why are we only paying attention to visuals, frame rate, and resolution?
I guess it's harder to sell a game on its mechanics than on its graphics.
If publishers are trying to sell you on a game that's next gen, why are we only paying attention to visuals, frame rate, and resolution?
I guess it's harder to sell a game on its mechanics than on its graphics.
In the Division demo back at the reveal they were playing a co-op game and exploring the police station etc. at the end of the demo they got fired upon by a small group of real players that just happened across them. At that point the game turned into a kind of team deathmatch.
This seems like an example of 'Next Gen Gameplay' to me I suppose.
This seems like an example of 'Next Gen Gameplay' to me I suppose.
This. I don't see what else it can mean. Certain genre's will pretty much always play the same with little variation. Next gen gameplay is simply gameplay on a next gen console.
depends entirely on the game.
if we're talking about open world games, i'm not sure running around a vast, pretty and barely interactive environment is going to cut it with critics like it used to.
consequences, social systems, aspects of the environment reacting to your actions will be crucial going forward. games have been scaling up with their budgets but the resolution of the players' agency has remained the same.
scale way down and increase the complexity and nuance of environment-based player agency, and you'll have something that feels more NEXT GEN than even the most expansive open world fetch quest fiesta.
if we're talking about open world games, i'm not sure running around a vast, pretty and barely interactive environment is going to cut it with critics like it used to.
consequences, social systems, aspects of the environment reacting to your actions will be crucial going forward. games have been scaling up with their budgets but the resolution of the players' agency has remained the same.
scale way down and increase the complexity and nuance of environment-based player agency, and you'll have something that feels more NEXT GEN than even the most expansive open world fetch quest fiesta.
Jawmuncher
Member
Better graphics and more stuff on the screen is all I need to have a next gen gameplay. Since usually just those 2 things alone result in new types of experiences.
Ol No Bones
Banned
I think this has to do with people just wanting more creativity out of their AAA games. People are tired of the same big titles every year. I understand that lots of people like COD but the lack of creativity is shameful. But then again I get pissed everytime Bungie or 343 messed with the Halo formula which I didn't want to change much. That's why Halo 2 anniversary is more appealing than Halo 5 to me at this point. It seems like games used to bring new ideas to the table and they are no longer.
To bring this closer to the topic I think the innovations that make Next Gen game play will be based on physics or the large amounts of memory in consoles will allow some pretty cool massive scale battles or massive detailed worlds to explore. I think most games will be the same with a new coat of paint however.
To bring this closer to the topic I think the innovations that make Next Gen game play will be based on physics or the large amounts of memory in consoles will allow some pretty cool massive scale battles or massive detailed worlds to explore. I think most games will be the same with a new coat of paint however.
When used in reviews, 'Next-gen gameplay' is a bullshit phrase made up by lazy game reviewers that can't be bothered to properly describe how they feel a game played. I didn't enjoy this game because it didn't have 'next-gen' gameplay. I think this is a great game because it has 'next-gen' gameplay. It doesn't mean anything. It also makes the reviewed game seem much worse / better than it actually is.
A game should not be judged on how 'next-gen' its gameplay is or how much the gameplay elements feel like something that's been done before, it should be judged on how fun/enjoyable/good the game is. I don't care how 'next-gen' the gameplay in Titanfall or inFamous is, I just want to know if it is fun.
By using this phrase, you are no longer judging the game on it's own, but rather the platform it's released on.
A game should not be judged on how 'next-gen' its gameplay is or how much the gameplay elements feel like something that's been done before, it should be judged on how fun/enjoyable/good the game is. I don't care how 'next-gen' the gameplay in Titanfall or inFamous is, I just want to know if it is fun.
By using this phrase, you are no longer judging the game on it's own, but rather the platform it's released on.
Twenty7KVN
Member
I want to play a vr metroid prime
So it's ok to expect nothing new on the gameplay side of things? Especially with the the horsepower of these new machines?
And many others examples says to me that "Next Gen gameplay" is just something meaningless in the grand scheme of things, or something I couldn't use to describe a thing since it means nothing to the people Im saying it to.
Scoring lower a game or something similar because it doesn't have "next gen gameplay" is even more stupid taking that into account.
LiLSnorpSnorp
Member
I don't understand why an upgrade in hardware leads to some people expecting quote unquote next gen gameplay. PCs have had better hardware for years, and always will, and PC exclusive games much like console games utilize core gameplay that is not "new" but rather refined.
A new generation, at least to me, merely means games will be able to expand upon the past generation in technical aspects (bigger worlds, better visuals, etc.): not an expectation of gameplay mechanisms never before used.
That was possible last generation (new gameplay mechanics), but for the most part when developers try something new it isn't very successful, hence you see similar core gameplay mechanics in games of similar genres.
Edit: its not too say that new gameplay is bad, but merely that you don't need a new generation for new innovative gameplay mechanics
A new generation, at least to me, merely means games will be able to expand upon the past generation in technical aspects (bigger worlds, better visuals, etc.): not an expectation of gameplay mechanisms never before used.
That was possible last generation (new gameplay mechanics), but for the most part when developers try something new it isn't very successful, hence you see similar core gameplay mechanics in games of similar genres.
Edit: its not too say that new gameplay is bad, but merely that you don't need a new generation for new innovative gameplay mechanics
Baroquemantic
Member
Nothing, because it's not a real thing. If a game is fun to play, I couldn't care less about whether or not it does anything new, and as I said in the review thread, there's not a single game out on either system that does anything new. There are, however, a bunch of very fun games on both.
KoopaTheCasual
Junior Member
Hardware is rarely the limiting factor in innovative base gameplay mechanics. If you honestly were waiting for this new generation of hardware to "change" the way games play, I have a bridge to sell you.
Innovation happens spontaneously, be it something like Shadow of the Colossus, RE4, or even a small title like Fez. It's the same silly way people think having new hardware will "magically make A.I. better!" Crafting mechanics, A.I., story, etc. is an investment made by the developer, not a dial you can set on a fancy computer/console.
Innovation happens spontaneously, be it something like Shadow of the Colossus, RE4, or even a small title like Fez. It's the same silly way people think having new hardware will "magically make A.I. better!" Crafting mechanics, A.I., story, etc. is an investment made by the developer, not a dial you can set on a fancy computer/console.
This.
josecitoxnyo
Member
This post nails it perfectly.
Stratostar
Member
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It doesn't mean a damn thing. It is little more than a term that critics use at the start of a generation in an effort to show how deep they think they are when analyzing a game. This same kind of crap happened last time around as well, and just like then it will fade away within a year or so, and nobody will be talking about whether or not gameplay is "next gen". A few years from now people aren't going to be looking at reviews of this first batch of games in order to find out if a game has next gen gameplay, they simply want to know if a game is fun or not. Nobody gives a shit if a game plays like an older game if it is fun to play.
In short, "next gen gameplay" is nothing more than a made up term that critics use as an attention grab.
In short, "next gen gameplay" is nothing more than a made up term that critics use as an attention grab.
BlackBuzzard
Banned
Tennis/Golf and Stripclubs.
It means improving and adding new stuff. It's mostly a console term though. I think the future is in voxel customization (prettier Minecraft), seamless travel (No Man's Sky where you can travel from the sea to the stars), and virtual reality.
When it comes to Titanfall vs Infamous...let's see:
Titanfall: Mecha's and movement sets it apart from other FPS. No single player is a letdown along with small player count, no mods, and not being able to host your own server.
Infamous: Graphics and character sets it apart from other open world games. But no multiplayer is a letdown along with having a relatively dead and shallow world (can't go in vehicles even in LEGO games you can do this, fraction of the content seen in Skyrim or GTA, etc)
When it comes to Titanfall vs Infamous...let's see:
Titanfall: Mecha's and movement sets it apart from other FPS. No single player is a letdown along with small player count, no mods, and not being able to host your own server.
Infamous: Graphics and character sets it apart from other open world games. But no multiplayer is a letdown along with having a relatively dead and shallow world (can't go in vehicles even in LEGO games you can do this, fraction of the content seen in Skyrim or GTA, etc)