I'd actually be curious to see how many of those claiming Wii/Wii U belong to prior generations are the more tech obsessed, versus the general stances of those who think the opposite. Sure, powerwise something like the Wii is "last gen", but that feels wrong as a classification because it helped shape this generation of video games and many of the games are synonymous with this period, so it seems absurd to say otherwise. Just as I consider the DS and PSP to be of "this" generation and the 3DS/Vita of the upcoming generation (assuming the Vita doesn't die before anything other than Wii U launches anyway).
The definition of "last generation"
- Thread starter LonelyGreyWolf
- Start date
The last sentence of mine happened to be sarcasm but we're on the Internet.
sorry then...
No, it would be a turd in a box, and everyone would call it exactly that.
When we define generations, we do so in terms of our age.
I first played in the NES generation, which was followed by the SNES/Genesis generation, then the PS1/N64 generation, the PS2/XB/GCN generation, and now the 360/Wii/PS3 generation.
If Sony closed tomorrow, and Microsoft decided it was losing too much money to invest in a significantly more advanced processor, we might get an Xbox 720 that wasn't too powerful.
Stepping back from the gaming industry, let's say I make some other technology-related product.
In one year, studies reveal that consumers desire a product that is feature-rich and powerful, running demanding applications. So our company makes one, and our sales increase.
Years pass, and consumers demand something simpler, more streamlined, fitting both with tough economic times and their busy lifestyles. So our company makes one, and our sales increase.
It doesn't matter whether the first product is more powerful than the second one. If I made vacuum cleaners, I could make one that sucks up more dirt while being heavier, or I could make one that's lighter and more compact, while being less effective than the first one.
The point is that we have already passed the point where any great leap in graphics is going to make an impression on us. Graphics are just a feature, like any other product feature, that can come and go depending on the demand.
When Nintendo announces a new system, it is a next generation system because the company has entered the next phase of its existence. Its development philosophy has evolved, and (they believe), consumer demand has shifted toward what they're offering.
That's a generation.
I first played in the NES generation, which was followed by the SNES/Genesis generation, then the PS1/N64 generation, the PS2/XB/GCN generation, and now the 360/Wii/PS3 generation.
If Sony closed tomorrow, and Microsoft decided it was losing too much money to invest in a significantly more advanced processor, we might get an Xbox 720 that wasn't too powerful.
Stepping back from the gaming industry, let's say I make some other technology-related product.
In one year, studies reveal that consumers desire a product that is feature-rich and powerful, running demanding applications. So our company makes one, and our sales increase.
Years pass, and consumers demand something simpler, more streamlined, fitting both with tough economic times and their busy lifestyles. So our company makes one, and our sales increase.
It doesn't matter whether the first product is more powerful than the second one. If I made vacuum cleaners, I could make one that sucks up more dirt while being heavier, or I could make one that's lighter and more compact, while being less effective than the first one.
The point is that we have already passed the point where any great leap in graphics is going to make an impression on us. Graphics are just a feature, like any other product feature, that can come and go depending on the demand.
When Nintendo announces a new system, it is a next generation system because the company has entered the next phase of its existence. Its development philosophy has evolved, and (they believe), consumer demand has shifted toward what they're offering.
That's a generation.
I see you are new to GAF. Welcome and enjoy your stay.
That has the potential to be extraordinarily messy, considering the PSP and Vita are best described as being in between. At least the GB(C)/GBA/DS/3DS neatly correspond with NES/SNES/N64(PS1/Saturn)/GC(PS2), but even then they're far too strongly synonymous with certain time periods to me that it's just wrong to say otherwise. At best I can see arguing handhelds as being on a separate parallel line, generation switches don't always match up cleanly with console shifts. Closest we got was probably the GBA coming in between the PS2 and GC/Xbox.
5.5. Ha!
Yeah yeah, for all intents and purposes it's a 6th generation one that just died before the race really began.
axisofweevils
Holy crap! Today's real megaton is that more than two people can have the same first name.
Last gen: PS2, Xbox, Gamecube
Current gen: PS3, 360, Wii
Next gen: PS4, 720, Wii U
It's that simple, folks.
Current gen: PS3, 360, Wii
Next gen: PS4, 720, Wii U
It's that simple, folks.
I personally think "generation" has nothing to do with tech specs.
Wii was in same gen with PS3 and xbox360, even though technically it was in same line with PS2, gamecube, xbox gen.
Wii U will be next gen, in same line with PS4 and next xbox.
with handheld, psp=NDS gen, Vita=3DS gen.
Wii was in same gen with PS3 and xbox360, even though technically it was in same line with PS2, gamecube, xbox gen.
Wii U will be next gen, in same line with PS4 and next xbox.
with handheld, psp=NDS gen, Vita=3DS gen.
chertipros
Member
I find It almost hilarious that almost nobody answered/bothered to read the op. Some people here are so eager to call out the wii u for being "last gen" at whatever chance they get
yeah, They're on different release schedules and they don't even share the same market.
/fixed
So do you have some sort of comprehension impediment that disallows you from understanding the simplicity of this concept?
Mama Robotnik
Member
Getting increasingly childish over this AOC83.
Good points.
Overall, yes, it would be appropriate to consider the 360 & PS3 as "last gen" once the Wii U comes out. The term is for a time period, not hardware power.
I wouldn't count portable systems since they are in their own market/world.
I don't think the term "generation" will disappear. It makes things easier to talk about when it comes to time periods in gaming.
If I've learned anything from the gaming press (God help me) it's that whatever Sony and MS has out currently = Next Gen, and whatever Nintendo brings out = Last Gen. You guys already forgot that the 360 was still a "next gen system" in 2008? There's no such thing as a current gen system apparently. 
gutter_trash
Banned
it's old tech, Nintendo has been sticking with cheap old tech and trying to sell it as new.
Get tiresome when current tech has already surpassed what they are trying to sell you.
No.
What does that even mean?
lunchwithyuzo
Banned
lol. It really is "Xbox 1.5" all over again.
Wii U will be the next generation in Nintendo home hardware.
NextBox will be the next generation in Xbox hardware.
PS4 will be the next generation in Playstation hardware.
Wii U will be the 7th gen of Nintendo home hardware(With the color TV)
NextBox will be the 3th gen of Xbox hardware.
PS4 will be the 4th gen of Playstation hardware.
All will be the next gen of their respective ancestor.
NextBox will be the next generation in Xbox hardware.
PS4 will be the next generation in Playstation hardware.
Wii U will be the 7th gen of Nintendo home hardware(With the color TV)
NextBox will be the 3th gen of Xbox hardware.
PS4 will be the 4th gen of Playstation hardware.
All will be the next gen of their respective ancestor.
GuessMyUserName
Member
The argument is that resistive touch isn't behind capacitive. They're different, each have better uses than the other. Capacitive is absolutely important for a smartphone, but that doesn't mean it's good for gaming.
Well, I'm sure there's significant overlap (mainly with Nintendo though), but more often they're synonymous with a generation without really following the release patterns fully, yeah.
Seems like just trying to muddy things for the sake of avoiding to call Wii U next-gen to me.
Surpass depends on the function. Does capacitive surpass resistive on a lot of things? Yes. Does resistive surpass capacitive in other things? Yes. So we can't say in an absolute sense that one surpasses the other, it depends on the purpose of the tech
In my opinion, for gaming purposes precision is king, so it follows that in this specific area resistive surpasses capacitive. Same for drawing apps (the point is that surpass and superiority are inseparable from function)
I used the D-Pad/Analog comparison, though perhaps trackpads and mice work too. This isn't like a more precise version of the same thing being disregarded, or deliberately sticking with a slow processor when a new one fits within the budget and is much faster, it's a different technology with unique pros/cons, and even if you argue about games it's definitely more clearcut for drawing/painting programs unless you're going for finger painting. Seriously, some games like VLR really do highlight why a stylus is good, a finger's just too tiring on that.
OldJadedGamer
Banned
If I've learned anything from the gaming press (God help me) it's that whatever Sony and MS has out currently = Next Gen, and whatever Nintendo brings out = Last Gen. You guys already forgot that the 360 was still a "next gen system" in 2008? There's no such thing as a current gen system apparently.
What systems this gen did third parties base the majority of their "next gen" game engines on?
OldJadedGamer
Banned
If we're going by power, PC's change generations daily. The "next gen" PC you build today is "last gen" tomorrow.
BibiMaghoo
Member
Yes, it would be a garbage system.
It would still be a next gen system.
I am baffled that people cannot understand this.
Eh, you could break it down into parts, IE this generation of CPUs or that generation of GPUs...
... which also highlights why it's idiotic to seriously argue about consoles being in generations based on power alone, because that is more appropriately the domain of computer parts that easily break into that. Even the PS2, GC, and Xbox are plausibly in three separate generations, but they managed to be close enough to get many of the same games, albeit not all due to the PS2 being weaker, the GC lacking full DVD, and the Xbox lacking the insane userbase of the PS2.
Yep.
People are taking a term of classification and using it as an indicator of quality.
It's more that they don't want to understand. I'm pretty sure they understand the arguments presented to them.
Mama Robotnik
Member
Yeah. When they've already established a conclusion that Nintendo's next offering cannot possibly, under any circumstances, described as next-gen, it simply becomes a case of filtering out the logical arguments that conclude otherwise.
Its kind of the same thought process, of conclusion first arguments later, that results in creationist museums.
You don't if you're using generational leap right in the correct context.
OldJadedGamer
Banned
The WiiU is next gen when I think about first party games and last gen when I think about third party games. But, the fact that this even has to be debated says a whole lot.
Maybe we need to disregard the bad arguments against systems like the Wii U not counting.
GuessMyUserName
Member
... Wii U?.............. Aren't you kinda ahead of yourself?
BocoDragon
or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Realize This Assgrab is Delicious
It's funny how much Moore's Law twists our perception of whats supposed to be "new" in this industry.
No one in the auto industry assumes new generations of cars have to be more powerful.
In fact the biggest differentiators for new seasons of car are design, efficiency, and bells and whistles (much like a Wii U)
No one in the auto industry assumes new generations of cars have to be more powerful.
In fact the biggest differentiators for new seasons of car are design, efficiency, and bells and whistles (much like a Wii U)
As i said earlier, the term "Next-Gen" for gaming consoles was, since the dawn of time, used to describe hardware that provided a massive leap in technology. It was always used in that context and it will always be used in that context. Releasing a slightly modernized 360 7 years after the original doesn´t change that. The WiiU may be Nintendos new/next/whatever gen, but it´s not "Next-Gen" in the sense of the term we use in the console sector for decades.
Please stop using the term then.
Maybe we need a high profile educational game that teaches people definitions of common words. This thread isn't infuriating to me as a Nintendo fan, but rather as someone who takes pride in language and reason.
This isn't even a subjective topic. Wii U is objectively not a past or current gen device; it isn't even out yet.