BioShock, Halo 3 not "next-gen"

Frontier Developments boss David Braben believes BioShock and Halo 3 are not examples of "next-gen" games. He was speaking exclusively to Eurogamer about his new project The Outsider, which he still believes will be one of the first proper examples of fifth generation gaming on the market.

"I loved the 1930s-1950s atmosphere of BioShock: the lovely Art Deco visuals and the audio that worked especially well," Braben told Eurogamer. "Overall the whole game was beautifully executed, but the gameplay itself was not 'next-gen'."

"I found Halo 3 great fun, too, but also a little disappointing - as although there were a few nice touches and improved graphical fidelity, it hadn't really moved on much from Halo 2 in terms of the gameplay."

[RadientFlux]

Funny thing is that both Bioshock and Halo3 are from the some of top game developers in the world.

While Frontier Developments has an unproven track record with a few roller coaster games and a game based on a movie (Curse of the WereRabbit). So sorry if I think that Frontier Developments is one of the last companies to state what is and what isn't a next-gen game.

[DethWish]

David Braben is the creator of Elite, I think he knows his stuff.
Google it if you want to know more about it

[HowarthsNJ]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[kewlkat007]

is so loosely tossed around, I'm not really sure what is next-gen anymore.

1. Developers have their own term/meaning. Even those, that have never made a "HIT" game or you have never heard of; coming out the woodworks.

2. Fanboys have their own terms/meaning, as long as the game is for their console of choice it way beyond anything else.

3. Then you have those gamers that can take a step back and really take a look at a game, and see that some games have "next-gen" qualities but not necessarily means it's something totally different from what we got "LAST-GEN".

I think "NEXT-GEN" encompasses every aspect of a game(physics..A.I..etc) that could not be done on a previous console.

Of course "INNOVATION" is something different and is much harder to get that title.

Well that is Nintendo for ya, having gamers play games in a whole different way. But just like "next-gen" Nintendo has certain "innovation" qualities, since it is not pushing cutting-edge hardware. A function on how the "hardware" is used is what is different here, which coincides with the games. Could those games be done on a GAMECUBE..sure, so to me that is not "NEXT-GEN".

If you look at certain games, you'll see, not that much have changed besides prettier graphics, and sometimes the use of better A.I. A lot of FPS's fall into that category.

One game that was truly "NEXT-GEN" to me, was playing "Final Fantasy" on a SNES then playing "Final Fantasy VII" for the first time on a PS1, now thats a great example. Could FFVII be done on the SNES..No way.

Now we just have prettier graphics and battle schemes.

@Laexerias BELOW ME: Not every Developer will become BIG HOUSE game making machines like you describe. Some developers make a one hit wonder game and we wonder, can they make anything else. The fact is they really don't have to. You can milk that franchise for all it's worth and it's not like Bungie has 6 + development TEAMS like those companies you have mentioned. Everyone started small at some point and not all will become HUGE POWER HOUSE DEVELOPERS. Plenty of Devs that stick to what they know best and some have made great games.

[Laexerias]

Cause they made 1 good game!
Dude where do you live? To be on the Top u need to make bunch of Legendary Games like Square Enix with: Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, Epic with: Unreal Tournament, Gears of War, Nintendo with: Zelda, Metroid, Mario, Capcom with: Resident Evil, Megaman, Streetfighter, Konami: Metal Gear, Castlevania etc.
Bungie got Halo...
Nya nevermind, havok is okay. But Bungie only got Halo, nothing else, and that is lame, they just make this game where other devs make another games. O_O

[Mainman]

Next-gen is:

Real rendered shadows:
Like when you move the light source (the sun for example), the shadows of everything you see on the screen (including buildings) move.
When weapons are fired, stuff around it get temporary shadows because of the muzzle flash.

Real day-night:
The game mimics real day and night. Morning, afternoon, evening, night. With real shadows included. If the game is set outside.

Fully destructible envirnment:
Everything you see can be fully destroyed (buildings etc.).

Time:
Textures and maybe even characters aging real-time, while you play the game. If you would stand and look, you would actually see stuff age.

And probably some other stuff too, that I forgot to mention.

[risk]

@ the person above me.

one word: Crysis.

[TheDietzofLegends]

You forget the whole Marathon series for mac, and the freeware support it has now. I still find myself playing that game sometimes.

[Shin_Akakage]

I agree with RadientFlux on this one....who the heck is Frontier Developments? They're track record is virtually non-exsistent. Elite? Really?? He's the man because he made Elite? Really?? Elite was released over 23years ago. He hasn't made anything really worth noting in 23years. Roller-Coaster Tychoon, Frontier, Wallace and Gromit? Puh-lease! No before I listen to anything this guy has to say...I want to see/play his "NEXT-GEN" game first.

[UnasFortuna]

Doesn't matter what the company/developer has done in the past... you can still put out a crappy game... Wait wait... not saying Bioshock and Halo 3 was crappy. I quite enjoyed Bioshock and I must say Halo 3 was fun (but disappointing). Bioshock was different in its atmosphere, but can we truly call it next gen??? Probably.. after all...it is a loose term right now. The graphics were very good, gameplay was good, story was okay (hoping for more..but sure they will be another). I still play it. Halo on the other hand... probably shouldn't go there with all the MS fans... but what the heck... You can't say the graphics were a gigantic leap from Halo 2. The major draw for Halo for me was the Multiplayer... but there are better out there which is why I haven't played Halo after beating it (unfortunately very quickly). Don't know why Heavenly Sword got such dings for being "short" when no one mentions this about Halo.... Anyway, will leave Halo alone... you can't argue about its merits and its flaws to a MS/Halo fan. I happen to partly agree with this article... Could they have done either of these games on the previous Xbox console..? I doubt it... Does that make it a next-gen game? No.

[Jinxstar]

@ Skin.

I agree b ut at the same time. Imagine how many doors that opened for other dev's. Seriously things like that kind of innovation in that time frame are astounding. 1984... Its like a George Orwell novel. Timeframe a little skewed and all but seriously. Games that open that kind of potential. FF7 showed something to the world. As did Elite, SM64, Ultima Online, SSF2, These games opened so many doors for people to go "Wow, we need to do more of this" For a true next gen game you need that as well. Bungie hasn't offered that and neither has anything yet to be released for any system. Crysis has hopes as does possibly Aqua? The whole 4d thing and all that.

Bringing an astounding change in an industry is huge. Being able to open more doors in potential is what truely matters. and makes something "Next gen" Graphics aside. Innovation can be seen everywhere. Halo's "Gravity" changing ability is cool... Look at Mario Galaxies though... Its all just innovative. Doing 1 or 2 things different or new is good. Making something nobody has ever seen before or cant understand until they play it. Thats Amazing.

Upcoming games with the potential, Fallout, Aqua, Flower, Assassins Creed(Maybe), Borderlands, Crysis... There are some others but these games seem to be truely pushing boundries... Killing the little girls in Bioshock wasn't that terribly... against morals. It was just a choice of survival in most cases many people would have done so.

Edit: Possibly Prototype too. I'm sure I missed some but you get the point I think. =P

[Jinxstar]

KK007 seems to have the right idea.

However I do not think that with PS3 claiming to be the "Big Push in next gen" Most dev's dont have the time or money for it. Look at Heavenly Sword. Its a really good game with some "Next Gen" Qualities. But most people, As proven by sales, Dont want that. They only want innovation i.e. Wii. SSBB and MG along with wii sports and other titles are what people are looking for.
Right now I am enjoying the hell out of Super Stardust HD, Heavenly Sword and Folklore. Nothing truely "Next Gen" But innovative and fun. For the 360 I enjoy Gears, Bioshock and Carcasonne. Same deal. Do gamers really want to deal with the whole 4D thing. We'll see when Aqua and afrika are released and other games like it. For now though people want the classics. Halo, God of War, Final Fantasy... Thats the way the market is. Pushing people into something new is hard and that is where sony is failing atm. Not marketing and not "Showing" what it truly means. I believe in the potential but with only talk who else will believe them... MAKE GOD OF WAR 3 ALREADY!!!!

There is nothing wrong with innovation. Its a good thing and also opens doors. I want to see a "drama" game or a "American McGee's Alice" game or something that will truly make people go "WTF?" and say "Hey sure, I'll give it a shot" First party dev's can only do so much. I really dont believe that anything released to date is truly NEXTGEN but hopefully we will see it soon.

Things that they are doing with the Eye Toy and other stuff looks like it has real potential to be next gen. The one where some guy was moving his arms and making patterns.... If they make that somehow into a game that actually requires you to do something it could be next gen. Kinda like in "Minority report" where he was messing with his computer at work with the classical music and such. If you could play a game like that. OMFG Bad ass Next Gen hands down cool.

[Niedermayer_20]

IF ALL U FANBOYS THINK MICRO IS GONNA WIN UR NUTS 2 REASONS ONE APPLE WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE OVER THE COMPUTER WORLD BY DESTROYING GARBAGE LIKE MICROSOFT AND SONY WILL NOT TAKE NO FOR AN AWNSER I LOVE MY WII BETTER THAN NETHING ALL I GOTA SAY IS SHUT THE F*** UP STUPIDE 360 FANS 4 RED LIGHTS OF DEATH

[laryforlife]

whatever can't be played on last-gen, these games surely can't, so it is by definition next-gen and it feels next gen to anyone who plays it, so article is technically wrong.

[MADGameR]

I saw Bioshock and graphically it looks amazing. Halo 3 looks pretty good. But Bioshock looks graphically better than Halo 3.

[pandabear]

He was tricked by eurogamer. after talking about Halo & Bioshock he said 'so to answer your question' but eurogamer never posted the question that was asked of him which would have been something along the lines of ' Do you really think that titles like Halo 3 are true next gen and showing the full capabilities of the system'

So you see Eurogamer have been fly just to get a controversial answer that they can post and generate traffic - thats all it is a traffic generator.

[reaperxciv]

they are great games nonetheless.

[Mr Murda]

Yeah, if "Saved Games", "Forge", Online Co-op, Advanced Matchmaking, and HD Graphics AREN'T next gen. Then what is?

[funkysolo]

Halo3 is not next gen, just because you can make a video of you playing a game doesn't make it Nextgen. Halo3 doesn't even run in HD 640p is still consider SDTV. Halo3 to me looks like an expansion pack for Halo2. What is so great about the Halo3 campaign, too linear, graphics suck, A.I. is dumb, The scale of the game is smoke and mirrors you can't go anywhere but straight no exporation, no bosses, feels like you are playing the same Halo2 game with different textures. Halo3 has the worst framerate of any Nextgen game. Halo3 campaign is garbage. The multiplayer is Halo2 and guess what I stop playing Halo2 over a year 1/2 ago, so a few new maps and some stupid features supposed to keep gamers playing for months, I don't think so. If you got bored of Halo2, You will be bored of Halo3. Gears of War is nextgen and Resistance is next gen..Play more than one console to get the green out of your eyes

Now for bioshock I have to disagree with him. Bioshock is a great game even though I only played the demo and might be a little overrated because it's a FPS but it still looks like alot fun.

[Wii60_FTW]

Halo 3 screenshots I took the other day. get owned, fanboy

http://img72.imageshack.us/...

http://img178.imageshack.us...

Some nice shots of my buddy and I in the beutiful map, Guardian:

http://img210.imageshack.us...

http://img210.imageshack.us...

http://img223.imageshack.us...

Check out the insane ammount of detail on MC's glove and shotgun, and also on the back of his knee.

Make sure to click the images for full-rez, fanboy-pwning glory:

http://img512.imageshack.us...

http://img512.imageshack.us...

http://img256.imageshack.us...

http://img292.imageshack.us...

http://img267.imageshack.us...

http://img267.imageshack.us...

http://img50.imageshack.us/...

Fanboys? Get f*cking OWNED. That's right. And this isn't even of any of the single-player which looks even better. Killzone 2? Good luck. LMAO. That game looks like major ass up close. I've seen the HD vids. Besides motion blur (which H3 also has), it has nothing. The game seriously is lacking in the shader department (same with resistance). And don't get me started on gameplay LOL. Nothing on ps3 will ever touch any Halo game. owned.

[wallace1000]

How can 640p be SDTV if 480p is considered EDTV. Halo 3 looks sweet, i have heard the 640p thing so many times but show me the difference between 640p and 720p under normal conditions. Hell on a set smaller than 32 inches it is hard to notice the difference between 1080i and 1080p under normal viewing conditions, so how are you going to notice the difference between 640p and 720p?

[ktchong]

"... but mine upcoming Xbox 360 title The Outsider will be!

So get it when it comes out on Xbox 360 next year!"

LOL. He's basically saying Xbox 360 has not reached its full potential yet because BioShock and Halo 3 have not reached the limits, and his own game will do better.

[power091999]

Although it seems that this will be a 360 game, from what he is saying. There has not been a console confirmed yet. So it could go to PS3, PC, 360, or ... Wii... well maybe not the Wii.

So who knows.

I say put up or shut up. Give us a "true" next gen game, and leave names like Halo, and Bioshock out of it, because right now it's just BS as far as I am concerned.

[jmoneezie]

This guy is saying that these games are not nextgen, however he is not giving an example of what game out there "is" nextgen.

Perhaps he's saying to this date no game is nextgen, not just halo3 and bioshock. Can't wait to his game comes out so that I can finally see what "Nextgen" really is...

[Wile]

"So to answer your question, if anything I am reassured; I think Outsider more than stands up to them, and I still think Outsider will be one of the first 'next-gen' games," he added.

So boss of dev company doesn't believe those games are "next gen" but believes his companies game will be. WOW Anyone surprised? Me neither.

[PS360WII]

nothing like shooting down two big games in order for people to look at you. Then say oh by the way my game that I have coming out will be awesome. The man knows marketing.

[Maldread]

Yeah, i was thinking the same thing.

It could seriously backfire though, especially when people (well, me at least) hasn`t even heard of the developer before. Not usually a good sign.

[VirusE]

Yawn, this what is and isn't next gen BS is getting so old.

IS it to much to ask for people to just play games and have fun without having to constantly try and undercut someone else?

[Kleptic]

absolutely...

[AnalFace]

Here we go... But what is a next gen game?

[goodganja]

Heavenly Sword
Metal Gear Solid
Warhawk
Resistance

All are examples of Next Gen games. Especially resistance, Why play Halo 3 with only 16 ppl and Resistance is the ONLY console FPS that allows 40 players online. No one has done this since. Especially on lol360.

So the dev isnt lying Halo 3 isnt next gen. No more than Halo 2 in 1/2 ass HD. 360 not even capable of running 720p for halo. Next gen it is NOT. Bioshock is a good game and would have really benefited from a PS3 upgrade but Micro$hit knew this early and bought em out before PS3 could get it's superior version.

With 9GB of space, what more can you do?
Jump Out & P L A Y B 3 Y O N D

[steviebomb]

Holy crap you make Sony fans look like tards, gg44!

[HowarthsNJ]

Whatever "next gen" means - you can be sure internet game critics will sh!t on it in their reviews and praise games that are more like what they're used to.

No innovative control schemes or new ideas allowed.

[KingJames1906]

Maybe people just don't want 'Next Gen'. Could this be why the Wii's eating the 360's and PS3's lunch by selling more consoles? Surly if you think Halo 3 and BioShock are not 'Next Gen' none of the Wii games are as well and by the way if:

Heavenly Sword
Metal Gear Solid
Warhawk
Resistance

Are so 'Next Gen' why did Halo 3 sell more copies in one day in one region, than all those games globally combined? Maybe 'Past Gen' is here to stay. Actually I define 'Next Gen' as the current generation of consoles and games playing on them. It's up to the game developers to introduce the game playing innovation on all three consoles, not the manufacture of a gaming console unless they have a game development studio that they own which would include all three. My point is Games Drive the industry, not some goofs comments on successful franchises. Basically what he's saying is the consumer doesn't know what they want when they clearly do with the current money making sales of both BioShock and Halo 3. I'd like to see how his game sales compared to these two.

[Cuddlefish]

@goodganja44
Never heard of a last gen game called Delta Force: Black Hawk Down have you? It came out for Xbox in July of 2005 and had multiplayer for up to 50 players.
http://xbox.ign.com/objects...
"Delta Force: Multiplayer
Enough about the campaign, the real meat of Delta Force resides in the multiplayer experience. The game contains four player split screen co-op, deathmatch, and best of all: up to 50 people can go head-to-head on Xbox Live on Novalogic servers. Individual players can host up to 32 people, which is still quite the party."

Isn't it funny how the "next gen" Resistance has less players than a last gen game.

[RealityCheck]

I think what he says has some truth, gameplay-wise both the excellent Bioshock and Halo 3 did not innovate much on last-gen. Graphics and physics were improved though to match next-gen.

In the end though, both have very fun gameplay. I still play last-gen games and Arcade\PSN\VC games, old and current style of gameplay are still very fun. When you add next-gen effects and capabilities it still makes great fun games.

Now, as far as what is truly next-gen gameplay, I don't think we have seen anything really new yet. Even what he describes does not seem the qualify. What he describes is just like KOTOR and Oblivion. Great? Yes. New and next-gen? No.

[JIN KAZAMA]

of course those are not next-gen. Bioshock is ATLEAST trying to be next-gen, but HALO 3 is just HALO 2 with a little polish. Its not even Halo 2.5, its HALO 2.

PLAY B3YOND

[RBlaze]

Play Beyond, on all of those 'next gen' titles you have on your PS3 that can only take one person per console. Real Next Gen experience for you! Don't you get bored of going on threads that you arent interested in? If you really think we're listening to you, then think again. Only reason im responding to you is because im bored of your constant uneducated blabber. Consider yourself ignored.

Back to the matter though: I reckon Halo and Bioshock are both Next Gen titles in their own way. A game developer is hardly going to say to everyone 'those games are better then mine'll be' is he?

[JIN KAZAMA]

this is what RBlaze wrote me.
And I quote(unless he goes back and edits it)

"If you really think we're listening to you, then think again."

Well, I guess you werent listening to me, when you wrote a response to my post huh? LOL, that is too funny. Dumb xbots.

PLAY B3YOND

[VirusE]

Well for being just halo 2 it sure has sold well and gotten reviewed well. Last time i checked metacritic it was rated higher than any ps 3 game. Maybe sony should focus less on graphics and more on gameplay. Jin it must be killing you to see halo 3 selling so well and getting 10s from so many high profile mags.

Play beyond? Are you that much of a drone that you are repeating marketing babble?

[InMyOpinion]

People who end their comments with "P L A Y B 3 Y O N D" all seem to have something in common. I'm starting to see a pattern here.

Is the "P L A Y B 3 Y O N D" some kind of sign that you use to alert others that you are mentally challenged, and should not be held responsible for what you are writing?

I HOPE...YOU GET...BETT-ER...SOON.

[funkysolo]

Halo3 made 300 million and M$ probably spent $200 million on buying reveiws and marketing. Halo3 sucks and I'm not just saying it, I played the game and finish it. Go play resistance and see what a real nextgen FPS game should be. Halo3 is selling because of the bought hype and anyone that plays games on different console will tell you Halo3 is garbage. You haven't even played and finish resistance but you're quick to say negative crap about it when Resistance blows Halo3 out of the water....Stop being a stupid xbot and try different games before you say bad things about them, because then you look like an idiot. If you play the games then I can respect your opinion if you don't like them.

[TheZippo]

What does that mean if your not playing anything? Does that mean play beyond the PS3 cause that's what it's looking like.

"Play B3yond the PS3 by using the Wii, 360 or our own PS2." We will eventually have games, if they don't keep getting delayed due to our difficult to program hardware."

[jmoneezie]

PATHETIC
LOSERS
ANNOYING
YOU
BECAUSE
3 QTRS OUT OF THE
YEAR
OTHER
NEXTGEN SYSTEMS HAVE
DEMOLISHES THEIRS IN SALES.

[Mwaan]

If you sound like a complete tool everytime you speak? Should I end all my comments with: "Jump In!" so everybody knows my comments are biased and don't mean anything. You like the PS3. We get it, but if you can't be objective than you're wasting everybody's time. I'm joining the hundreds by ignoring you, but when you create a new account to continue your undying hatred for all things non-PS3, I hope you use a new avatar.

[VirusE]

funkysolo i have resistance my psn tag is v1rusE I will attach a pic of my ps3. If you want I can log on later tonight and shove a hedgehog grenade in your fanboy arse. Resistance was a great game but I am sorry halo 3 destroys it in everyway imaginable. What is your xbox live tag so I can see your halo achievements? Not so interested in replying now are you. Please provide links to evidence of review buying. Stop talking out of your arse fanboy.

[Icecold33]

I'm sorry, which comment is you comment in response to? You should put that in your subject block. Just curious.

[nobizlikesnowbiz]

I think we can all agree that JIN KAZAMA is a turd.

The small amount of comments that he makes reek with lemminess.

[AcidRhain]

Why don't you get shot like tupac.

[The Wood]

until you said halo beats resistance in every way. how so and what are your categories please. i understand you've been goaded but dont let that lower your integrity. i can respect an opinion and all but cumon

[VirusE]

The wood my comments should not take anything away from resistance, I think it is an amazing game. If I had to rate it I would give it a 9.2 but if I had to rate halo I would give it a 9.7. The problem is it copies halo in a lot of ways yet falls short in beating halo 3 due to the fact that bungie has hand more time to perfect the halo formula over 3 games. Regen health ala halo check, shoot 4 cores to blow the chimera base at the end ala halo 1s end check, aliens that grow inside a host ala the flood from halo check. The only thing that really caught me as new for resistance was the unique guns.

I like the golden tripod scheme that halo uses better than the old school doom inspired carry 13 guns on one small guy scheme.

I feel that halo offers a strong multiplayer component and a more engaging single player campaign.

Resistance again is an amazing game and still my fav ps 3 game. I am a big Nathan hail supporter but I would take the chief over him any day.

[The Wood]

but kool. all game plots remind me of some type of film but 1 things for sure; you really love halo. playing r+c demo so im a touch preoc but kool for replying

[The Wood]

even if i believe what they say.

[TheZippo]

I agree

[eagle21]

I am amazed by this game. The aftertouch controls (which can be turned off) and the ability for throwing bodies, watermelons, tables, enemies swords, helmets, anything in the area is something God of War does not have. She is soo kick ass. As you unlock lightning fast combos, you press start, review a organized list, learn them and get busy. Just like God of War, you start feeling like you have a combo or move for any type of enemy. You learn to read the enemies and it becomes a dance like execution of grace and style. The controls are perfection like. I know Heavenly Sword with sell 1 million worldwide by xmas. But it deserves to sell 2 million at least this generation. It is just fun. IGN gave it straight 9's for presentation, graphics, etc. then made lasting appeal a 5 to drive down the score (you will want to replay sections which you can easily access at anytime. I will never forgive ign for that, ever! Game Informer gave it 8.75/9. Read that review, do not let those ign bastards keep you from playing one of the most beautiful and fun experiences currently out. What is their is 100% golden and next gen. Read the amazon and ebgames.com/gamestop.com reviews. Everyone loves it!!

[goodganja]

Not to mention Nariko is sexy as hell!

[TheZippo]

You can love a game... just don't LOVE a game. Honestly I kind of felt like a voyeur reading your post. :)

But I agree with you it is a very pretty game and other than not having a jump ability I think it probably should have gotten better scores.

[squallsoft]

Eye of Judgement (sony ps3) and Wii Sports (nintendo wii)

[Marceles]

Wii Sports isn't next gen...you've never seen those cheap stand-alone plug N' Play TV games with baseball and tennis and all of those other games? The only difference it's in 3D and Nintendo branded so the quality is much better...but not revolutionary at all

http://www.target.com/gp/de...

[VirusE]

Eye of judgment does look very revolutionary! I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

[iceman2000]

next-gen supose du bi 5 6 jers hed of komptien
det is nex gen
net gen is natt 1 jer
neg gen fra ps2 to ps3

[mighty_douche]

...yep, what ever he said^^

EDIT @ sak500, dude there guys obviously foreign and doest speak english, no need to be a c*nt to him.

[sak500]

@13 Ohhh look at that, daddy must hv left the little 5 year old infront of his PC and look what he typed.

[Mr PS3]

How can A FPS game be classed as next gen its just a FPS in bio shocks case a good looking one and in halo's case a crap looking one but none of them offer somthing next gen and the xbots like to think that these games are next gen and because of what ??? Because halo is supposed to be the best game out there BullSh1t it is if you xbots are honest (and i know you aint)You can think of ten games next gen or not that are better than your beloved halo 3
I mean no online for bioshock well how can that even come close to being classed as next gen !! with what gamers expect from games these days it don't come close i dont care if it looks damm sexy
Halo!! WTF dont make me laugh dont need to go on about that all time flop of a game but in short there's no way halo 3 is next gen !!! FACT

And at Sak500
you should take away the 500 from your name and replace it with ofshit

[beans]

Halo 3 and Bioshock are very much next gen and as time goes forward games will get better and better which everyone know's! I'm personally looking forward to Rage , Borderlines, Alan Wake, Dead Space, Killzone 2, Far cry 2, Brothers in arms, Wolfenstein 360 and a few other projects which I can't even remember there names! The Outsider might be more next gen but who know's i'm just waiting for the day when games will no longer be called games and we view them as Hd Virtual experiences or something wild like that! All of this PS3 360 crap will be but a distant memory very soon and people will look back and tell there kids how childish they would act over who's console was better!

[mighty_douche]

the 'next gen' of consoles after ps2 and xbox. thats all, im not sure how it can now be a way of judging games...

if graphics = next gen, then the pc has been next gen for years. infact with games like crysis and farcry2 the pc is now next next next gen.

its a stupid term, one of the new pieces of crap gamers have to deal with now, along with the term AAA. if anyone can actually explain to me what that means?

[Game Crazy]

Honestly I cant stand when people knock any PS3 or 360 games as not next gen. These games are all in high definition. That means that none of the consoles before the PS3 or 360 are capable of making these games. Unless this guy can show me otherwise he has no credibility. LMAO. No way you could find a game as good as Bioshock or Halo 3 graphically on last generation consoles. No way.

Look at the history of gaming for proof. (I left out anything Atari, Coleco, and Intellivision because only a few of us know what that is)
1. Sega: Master System -> Genesis -> Saturn -> Dreamcast
2. Nintendo: NES -> SNES -> N64 -> Gamecube
3. Sony: PS1 -> PS2 -> PS3
4. Microsoft: Xbox -> 360

All 4 of these console manufacturers have one thing in common. When they released a new console it was a significant graphical leap over its last console. Graphics has always been the measuring stick for measuring new generations of videogame consoles. I have watched over the years as we went from a controller with a joystick and 1 red-button with the Atari 2600. To the 4 way directional and 2 button NES controller to the newest 360 and PS3 controllers with dpads, dual analog, 4 shoulder buttons, 4 face buttons, media control button, force feedback, motion sensing, etc... Every new console is just an evolution from the older console.

We are playing next gen games, its called high definition gaming. And it started almost 2 years ago with the 360, and almost a year ago with the PS3.

[DarkSniper]

Shenmue has stood through the tests of time graphically. Cut on the game today and you'll see graphics which still exceed what would see normally on the Wii. And this is from a 9 year old console.

$niper

[funkysolo]

Why is a 3rd generation 360 game running the worst resolution than any other game. Frame rate is terrible. I'll admit I'm a graphics whore. I didn't buy a 1080p HDTV and a nextgen console to play it on SDTV mode. There is no excuse and just because gameplay is the same as Halo2 they didn't have to invent or develop anything new just copy and upgrade the graphics, but it seems like they are still using the Halo2 engine from xbox1. I'm sorry but I was looking forward to Halo3 and after I finish it I can honestly say is crap. Halo3 should at least run at 720p 60FPS 3rd generation title. No excuse...Resistance 1st gen PS3 title runs at 720p30fps and runs as smooth as butter and has great graphics. Xbots you can make all the excuses you want, but compare Halo3 to Resistance and Resistance blows halo3 out of here. 640p no excuse

[sak500]

Although i grew up playing ELITE on C64 and amiga and was really hooked into it but this guy is talking BS right now. He hasn't made any commendable in last 15 years so whoTF gives him right to talk like that.

NEXT GEN is what was not possible on last gen.
/nuff said

[u got owned]

"NEXT GEN is what was not possible on last gen. "

Finally an intelligent comment... =)

[frank jaeger]

nice comment nicly put lol but u stole my "nuff said"! lol

[HondaSIRowner]

PS3 offers motion sensing and with the PS3 eye coming out, hopefully devs will use is for real games and not just party games like the Eyetoy. Eye of Judgement is a first good and unique step forward with that technology. So now everyone can see the SIXAXIS and Eye being used.

[ukilnme]

I thought Sony said Next Gen starts when we say so? I guess anybody can claim Next Gen rights now.

[Vizion26]

I have said this before and I will say it again. Improved graphics does not automatically entail improved gameplay today. Graphic capability of all new consoles this generation can realize a developer's vision without compromising the gameplay mechanics. Even for the Wii. Halo 3 and Bioshock could be made for the Wii and even the Xbox, albeit with downgraded graphics but the core gameplay mechanics wouldn't be compromised.

Sure increased graphic capability was essential before, but not anymore. There couldn't be games like Super Mario Bros. 3 on Atari which had a very limited color palette and sprites on screen. There couldn't have games like F-Zero and Super Mario Kart on the NES which didn't have mode 7. There couldn't have been real-time 3-D games like Mario 64 and Zelda:OC for the SNES because it couldn't render so many polygons. Each generation gave us games with new kinds of gameplay experiences, but now we have reached a threshold. Nintendo understood that graphic capability has reached a limit in improving and innovating gameplay experiences. And that's why they introduced the Wii Remote to offer gamers a new kind of gameplay experience. I certainly had new (and fun) gameplay experience playing Wario Ware, Wii Sports, and Metroid Prime 3 where the Wii remote becomes more of an extension of your hand. It felt more intuitive and immersive. It is a step closer to virtual reality. More importantly, it offers a new kind of gameplay experience that the 360 and PS3 can't offer. If Wii Sports was on the PS3 or 360 with improved, beautified, detailed graphics, but still involved button smashing and a thumb stick, the user still wouldn't have a gameplay experience he couldn't have in the previous generation.

I hope you get my point.

[CRIMS0N_W0LF]

Halo is definitly NOT Next gen. Bioshock has nice atmosphere and close to next gen but not.

I prefer Jericho to it. Only downfall is no MP. It would be fun MP with magic powers included.

Why Jericho will be better then Bioshock and Halo? Includes tactis and squad play (Hope AI ain't dumb) and its made by CLIVE BAKER

[AcidRhain]

Have you played the demo??? it sucks.

[Bolts]

Jerricho is a terrible example. That type of gameplay and graphics is not nextgen by a long shot.

[Z501]

Games like FFVII was next-gen
Metal Gear Solid
Super Mario Bros
N64 and the implementation of the analog stick into games
Rumble,when there was no rumble elsewhere
Online gaming on the PC
Lifeline
Atari and home computers already had the FPS
Light gun games
Indigo Prophecy

Honorable mention to Heavenly Sword and the 2000 individual soilders you can fight.

That's next-gen

[CRIMS0N_W0LF]

Also on Heavenly Sword. Its the most graphical characters I saw. Best facail animation in a game. over 2000 enemies on a screen which you can damage and kill without even 1 slow down. Music shows quality, yes the 10GB music is very good if you have 7.1 sound.

[DarkSniper]

If there was anything Next Gen, It was Shenmue I and II. True next gen games that cant be duplicated.

Speaking of, Shenmue on Blu Ray would look real sweet. Hopefully $ega can pull something out their ass and make YS develop the game.

$niper

[ukilnme]

if he said RFOM, LAIR and HS are not Next Gen?

[Double-Edged]

Graphics that will make you say..whoa... like what gears and lair does..even Halo when playing campaign..

Gameplay... realistic play... for example.... NBA2K8.. Forza 2..Rainbow Six/Recon

Online.... damn i love the online features...

[stuntman_mike]

i think the whole term is just another word for people to throw around to be-little others.

who the hell know what these people mean by "next gen"

my interpretation is that we should all be flying around on hover boards and teleporting every where.

[squallsoft]

gameplay (not graphics) that were not possible on the last generation of systems because of technical limitations. ie: wii sports, eye of judgement, expanded bluray HD content in games

[MK_Red]

I don't know about Halo 3 but I've fully played BioShock. Let's see:
1.A graphical engine with innovative and awesome water and special effects. Superb modeling and textures.
2.Art design that rivals the best artists in the world in any field.
3.AI that easily makes any other game's enemy / creature behavior look like a dead gimmick.
4.Sound design that is simply the best ever to this day (Anyone tried the freezing room in GDC Leipzig?)
5.Deep story and lots of mature questions. Philosophy based on great book of Atlas Shrugged.
6.Decision making.
7.Shooter 2. Lot's of innovative tools and a fresh sandbox feel for a not so open FPS.

If that's not enough next-gen for that idiot then maybe Hour of Victory is. Maybe he thinks Wii Sports or Boogie are next-gen.

[Salvadore]

Once again, we see developers bashing big hits in order to get themselves some attention. Of course we're all going to buy this new game to see if it's better than Bioshock and Halo 3.

[MrWeymes]

Even if the game sucks, we will have bought it just to see if this guy was just talking nonsense or not. The whole comment about Bioshock and Halo 3 not being next gen is just nonsense to me, though. Could you have made either game for the original Xbox? I doubt it. They're next gen.

[BLACKJACK VII]

LOL, then there is NO NEXT GEN !!!

LMAO, Look at the reviews, look at the sales....

NEXT GEN = GEARS + BIOSHOCK + MASS EFFECT + UNCHARTED + HALO 3's THEATER

[zonetrooper5]

Bioshock and Halo 3 while I love them and you can check my gamertag, they are not anything new, nor is Resistance. I might be gettting a PS3 this Christmas I hope. =P

The fact is, "Next Gen" could mean anything according to alot of the people in this comment section. Graphics improve, wow thats new, oh wait its not. For it to be truely "Next Gen" it must change gameplay , meaning the way the player plays to do something different from last gen. All the games this gen are just last gen games with prettier graphics. I do like the 360, Wii, PC and PS3 but that is the truth.

How does Resistance change the FPS genre?

How does Bioshock change the FPS genre?

I'm happy playing them games as they are fun but they are not "Next Gen" games which change the way we play. Please don't include graphics as they are always getting better.

[Fux4Bux]

Bioshock I'd think classifies "next-gen" because there's never been a game that came even close to having the atmosphere or rapture. He's right about Halo3 though... although it's fun there's really absolutely nothing next-gen about it.

I dunno we've kinda got to the point last gen where every concept could be realized in some form.... from then on without a new interface (Wiimote does not cut it) then all there is from here is improvement. And we are kinda falling short just refining gameplay too.

[xionpunk]

Blah, I dont take too much time to contemplate the meanings of the phrase "Next Gen". To me its just the next console cycle. Instead I think its more important recognize what specific games define the console. For example there are tons of action games on ps2, but along came Devil may cry and it changed the way action games were played, influencing countless other games.The same can be said for Metal Gear Solid. So basically, I think that a next gen game is one that has an obvious impact on the industry and other games. the end.

[Megaton]

It's hard to really blow the doors off the hinges with innovation in the FPS genre. FPS's have been around for decades, so most of it has already been done before.

As much as I love Unreal Tournament, I know it's not going to be above and beyond the level of every other FPS nowadays. They're adding a ton of vehicles and cool stuff, and going balls-deep with the graphics, but other than that, it'll be the same old great FPS franchise I've grown to love.

I think BioShock is currently the closest thing to a new level in FPS gaming. Being able to fully interact with and use your environment as a weapon is pretty new. The whole story is incredibly new as well. I can't tell you how great it makes me feel to see a FPS that doesn't revolve around World War II or Aliens vs. Humans. I think we need to keep going in the direction of BioShock if we wanna see innovation in FPS gaming.

Now that doesn't mean all FPS games suck by comparison. Innovation isn't always needed to make a game great. Perfecting the basics will go even further than a little innovation sometimes. To label(or not label) something next-gen is kinda pointless. It's a pretty arbitrary term. Everyone will think differently about what next-gen gaming means.

BioShock would get my vote for Game of the Year if God of War II had not come out this year. Sorry Big Daddy, Kratos has my vote =P

[Funky Town_TX]

That is all that matters to me.

[Wii60_FTW]

Halo 3 screenshots I took the other day. get owned, fangirls.

http://img72.imageshack.us/...

http://img178.imageshack.us...

Some nice shots of my buddy and I in the beutiful map, Guardian:

http://img210.imageshack.us...

http://img210.imageshack.us...

http://img223.imageshack.us...

Check out the insane ammount of detail on MC's glove and shotgun, and also on the back of his knee.

http://img512.imageshack.us...

http://img512.imageshack.us...

http://img256.imageshack.us...

http://img292.imageshack.us...

http://img267.imageshack.us...

http://img267.imageshack.us...

http://img50.imageshack.us/...

Get f*cking OWNED. That's right. And this isn't even of any of the single-player which looks even better. Killzone 2? Good luck. LMAO. That game looks like major ass up close. I've seen the HD vids. Besides motion blur (which H3 also has), it has nothing. The game is seriously lacking in the shader department (same with Resistance). And don't get me started on gameplay LOL. Nothing on ps3 will ever touch any Halo game. get f*cking owned.

EDIT: HAHahAHAhahAHahahaHAhah LISTEN TO THESE FANGIRLS CRY! GIVE ME MORE!

[MikeGdaGod]

are you f*cking kidding me???

NG: Sigma, Motorstorm, HS all look way better than any of those screenshots. hell, Ratchet & Clank DEMO looks better than anything you've just posted.

i've never dissed Halo even though i stated i never liked the game but those screenshots aren't very impressive at all. the screenshots aren't even that important anyway because you don't play one screen a minute at a time and even the devs said they had to lower the resolution just for it to look good and play smoothly.

you just owned yourself.

[Goshyujin_Sama]

wants to see your sscreenshots you idiot, stop trying to get hits on your screenshots geez...go home you only have 2 bubbles, so you must be a fool, lol

[Niedermayer_20]

scottie 2521 that was beautifull

PLAY B3YOND
THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS AND 360 HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON THEIR SYSTEM IS JUST SO INCONSISTENT

[MikeGdaGod]

Heavenly Sword - say what you want about the length, this game has the most beautiful graphics of any other games.....EVER. everything from having 1000 enemies on screen to the very noticable facial expressions to the use of a new way of playing a game "aftertouch" that was actually fun, everything about this game is absolutely next gen.

Gears of War - this was the first game for the 360 that really had me impressed with what it was capable. gunning, running and ducking had never been so fun.

MotorStorm - when i first got my ps3 and played this demo i knew instantly i made a great purchase. the visuals are crazy and the gameplay never gets old.

Resistance - 40 players online, no lag.......nuff said

Warhawk - 32 players online, no lag........nuff said

Ratchet & Clank demo - my girlfriend and i were really amazed at the graphics in the demo and can't wait for the game to come out. it really looks like one of those Pixar movies....Cars, Ants, Monsters Inc., Toy Story. you guys that haven't played it will be amazed at what your ps3 is capable of. the cut scenes look just like the in-game graphics.

[Jack Bauer]

wow i lose major respect for game makers when they down other games like this... this guy sounds like Gabe newell (SP?) when he said HL2 was better then halo 2...my game is better then yours is so kindergarden....

[HarryEtTubMan]

Because he KNOWS Half-life 2 is a better game than Halo 2 or 3. ALOOTTT BETTER. Pick up the orange box and try it out. He knows Halo is big because Microsoft has money and supports it alot just like GEARS. The game is an average FPS periodddd. I only have a 360, I'm just not 16 and understand the real truth. Ps3 pwns 360 anyday, anyway, and 360 WILL come in last this generation. I'll put money on it. Halo is their biggest thing every coming to 360. It barely even help sell consoles. People just don't like the 360 and it's sci-fi corny, generic shooters. I will never buy an Xbox again.

Gamertag: get shank d

[Jack Bauer]

it's about principle and respect, it's unprofessional and disrespectful... i dont care if it was the best game ever made...how would you like it if someone says something like that about your game you worked on for 3 years... a honest review looking at the good and stuff to improve upon is what should be said...im being sensible here... i guess the fanboys cant grasp that.... well look who im dealing with....dur....

[AngryTypingGuy]

With the exception of the Wii, I don't think gameplay itself, or the way we play our games, will change much over the years.

Halo 3 and Bioshock are definitely next-gen games as far as graphics go. However, the gameplay is the same as we're used to. Xiphos is right in that it'll be really hard to innovate the first-person shooter. One trend that's starting to happen that I like is combining the western RPG and shooters, like Bioshock and the upcoming Mass Effect. It adds a whole new element to the game.

I think that generation that changed how we play games the most (besides the Wii of course) was the N64/PlayStation generation. I say this because the N64 had the C button (the 4 little arrow buttons that later evolved into the C stick on the GameCube), and the PS had the right joystick, which allowed for camera turning in 3D games. I'm pretty sure at least that this is when games when from mostly 2D to 3D, from sprites to polygons. Since then, console gaming has never been the same, and I mean that in a good way.

[Lex Luthor]

Next gen this, next gen that.

Gameplay should be the number one focus for games, period.
Graphics could be "TEH BEST EVAR" but if gameplay sucks then it's all in vain. Take Lair for example.

I'm pretty sure everyone of us would rather play FFVII or KOTOR rather than Lair.

[cpuchess]

If neither BIOSHOCK or Halo 3 could run on the original Xbox which is the previous generation, then it's next gen. Simple as that.

Seems like Next Gen systems would be what is currently in development and not available to the public for years to come. Current Gen should be the term for the best systems money can buy right now.

[jazzmanb]

mk red..i couldnt have agreed more..bioshock is an example of how games have progressed,and what could now be done..graphics,story,sound,atm osphere,ai,imagination,artwork, gameplay,complete freedom of choosing clever ways to kill enemies..bioshock is a masterpiece in every respect,and is the definition of nextgen..so far its the goty,even over halo3..well have to wait to see how good the orange box,cod4 and mass effect turn out,but to call bioshock not next gen is utter bs....

[Groo]

bioshock is great, don't get me wrong I liked it a lot, but I brought it back after one full weekend of play. I know there are new plasmids out and everything now, but I don't really care to play it again. After playing through it twice...what else is there?

[secur1ty911]

You got that right - absolutely nothing to write home about.

You guys want next gen how about a taste of Killzone 2 and/or
Little Big Planet and/or Naughty Dog's Drake Uncharted ect....

[SJL480]

Fanboys are acting like bringing up examples of some old crap change facts just give credit where credit is due.

more disk space + (no matter how you look at it)
six axis option + (no matter how you look at it)

and

bigger games library + (no matter how you look at it)
live + (no matter how you look at it)

[R M Spender]

is just the next generation of game system. whether better or worse thats all it really means. inovation is innovation. being more creative with what hardware you is is just that. to argue that you could say every wii game that uses the wii remote is next gen is ok but so is every game that is designed on/for/around a new system. what this guy ment to say is halo 3 and bioshock arent all that innovative. i agree but ill damn sure be getting tekken when it comes out.

[Groo]

I've been a gamer since 1980, I've never heard of Elite. People should know they shouldn't talk smack till after there game is out and people like it.. Factor 5 is a good example.

[tonsoffun]

SAUCER OF MILK, TABLE TWO.....

[test123123]

Stop bragging and talk. Show me the game

[dachiefsman]

"here we go againnnnnnnn...same ole' sh1t dog just a different day"

DMX

[AcidRhain]

Lame attempt for publicity...

"next gen" is virtual reality. where is my VR goggles and my power glove dammit! :-P

[Daxx]

Any game that is on a next generation console (PS3, 360, and Wii) is a next gen game. We being in the 7th generation of gaming consoles, every game that has been made for the PS3, 360, and Wii are considered next gen games.

[Drano]

Why should you guys give a damn about it? That's his opinion. Just like Roger Ebert saying that Videogames are not art. He can say whatever he wants. It's not a matter of Jumping In or Playing Beyond, that guy probably had expectations (just like we all do) and was... I don't know... probably disappointed.

A game can be plain, traditionnal and be fun anyway : I'm pretty sure that if Nintendo was to release a Mario64esque game that it would be a Best-Seller... even if it has been done before.

Braben probably made this comment thinking of the reviews these games got. In my opinion (mark my words, my "freaking" opinion, which can or can not matter to you), Bioshock deserved the "next-gen gameplay" tag, but not Halo 3, definitly... there's nothing more traditionnal than Halo 3. Regardless of what Halo has brought to gaming in the past years, it has become the least of things in every shooters : that's what many people meant when they said that Halo 3 was just "Halo 2 with better lighting". Remember that "motto" : if it ain't broke, don't fix it. They made Halo for the fans, sticking to an excellent tried-and-true formula, but this ain't next-gen.

In my opinion (once again!), Next-Gen gaming is when a game becomes... how can I say... MORE than just a game, you become emotionaly engaged in that game. Bioshock tried (and it partially worked, depending on your view of the game) to make the player think before his actions, not because a Big Daddy is going to drill his brains out if he smash a little sister with a pipe wrench but in a way that... you ask yourself "Do these little 'girls' deserve a beating? How do they feel?". It's really hard to make, that's why I say that Bioshock was partially a success on that point (despite the fact that this game kept me countless hours playing on my sofa or drooling watching the trailers).

Halo is a shooter like another, I'm not saying it's a bad shooter, I'm not saying it's a boring shooter, I'm just saying that :

- If you see a Grunt, that's a bullet in the face;
- If you see a Brute, that's many bullets in the face;
- If you see a Hunter, that's a couple of bullets in the spine;
- If you see a Scarab and you only have a handgun, run like hell.

The worst question you'll ever have to ask yourself in Halo 3 is "How am I going to take down that big bad son of a b*tch?". I think that's why so many people say that Halo 3 isn't "next-gen", because it's a conventionnal shooter, a damn good one... but it's not going to appeal a lot of newcomers to the gaming universe.

That was long, sorry about that. Jump Beyond.

[JasonPC360PS3Wii]

HAHA

[Monty_The_Great]

retarded. Of course both of these games are "next-gen" If they couldn't be done on the generation before, then they are therefore "next-gen"

[Drano]

There is a major difference between "next-gen gaming" and "next-gen console".

[misterssippi]

in that case nothing on the wii is next gen. this dude hasnt had a hot game in over a decade, so why should i care what he says? Dude just sounds bitter.

[jack who]

ok cool but who the hell is Frontier Developments boss David Braben ?

[JokesOnYou]

"For him, a next-gen game means giving you the tools to change the outcome of a story much more dynamically than by choosing good or evil paths - something only the new consoles have the grunt to deliver."

ha ha, come on n4g people how old is this tactic? 1st say something negative about a very successful game and get everyone's attention, then of course tell everyone how great your game will be, the funny thing is it rarely works, just another blatant attempt to get noticed, who is this guy?, what game is he working on?, oh nevermind when I see something I should get excited about then I guess I will start paying attention to uhm uhm whats his name=

JOY

[spike]

Halo 3 and Bioshock are still awesome games. Who cares what this jackass says.

[cheatmaster28]

N4G.com has become a flaming site for consoles rather then news. When i got here it was fine but now all i see is "is ps3 desperate?" or "is 360 going to lose the console war by 2009" or "this game isnt next gen". This isnt not news,just flamebait and is tearing up this site.
What is news is stuff like new games coming out and new content for games or the future of gaming and what we can expect to see with the next generation. Please stop flamebait news it will just tear up this site and anyone who still continues to do it should have their news posting privlages taken away. Please make N4G aware of this so they can fix the problem because i dont think the big guys on top are aware of this flamebait that is destroying the good name of the site and the immature kids that post it.

[PimpHandHappy]

did i miss the party!!!

dam

Yea Halo isnt next-gen but it stil sold. Bio Shock dint gameplay wasnt next-gen but they got that next-gen movie game feel down spot on...

I agree with this dude

[mikeslemonade]

Im a Sony Fanboy but I have to disagree with what a next gen game should be. To me a next gen game just has to have graphics that are better than last generation because the current generation systems are stronger so it should look better. Everything else is free to what the developer wants to do. Again im a Sony fanboy and I have to say the best games out there for this generation are:
1. Bioshock
2. Gears
3. Oblvion
4. Halo 3
These are currently the best games of this generation by the combination of consensus and the calboration of all the reviews. They are all next generation. I do believe however that the PS3 will have games that surpass all of those.

[Amsterdaam]

Well, the first step is admitting that you have a problem, so good for you. Now follow the other 11 steps of Fanboi Anonymous and you just might become a sensible, informed consumer instead of blindly following a corporation like a mindless little lemming.

[frank jaeger]

if these games arnt next gen then wat exactly is ? these games rock so hard! and if theyre just past gen then wat truly is next gen ? bioshock and halo games got 10 and 9.7s so basically these so called pastgenn games seem better than the next gen games .. hs got a 8.7 and its supposed to b called next gen so i think i rest my case we all should just go back to our ps2s and hope that we get gud games on it...

nuff said

P.s just for the record i was the first 1 to use nuff said on this site lol ;p

[jazzmanb]

wait till mass effect comes out..

[Silver360]

meet our ideas of next gen. Will his game sell as well as either of those. These games may not have been next gen but they are what we gamers wanted.

[Gamer13]

Nuff Said.

[CourtesyFlush]

In a way, it *could* be argued that nothing on a "current" console is Next Gen. That is because most people often tend to think of consol generations as opposed to software generations within a console's lifespan. Using that logic...

Past Gen (or Retro Gen): Anything from the PS1, NeoGeo, SNES (etc.) all the way back to Pong
Last Gen: PS2, Xbox, GameCube
Now Gen: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
Next Gen: PS4, Xbox720, Woo (or whatever they will call the thing)

The "Now Gen" is whatever weas considered "Next Gen" in the last generation of platform. And whatever is truly "Next" will start showing up in the rumor mill sections of mags and forums long before this generation is even close to being fully expoited.

[Amsterdaam]

I won't consider anything next-gen until Lara Croft is in my kitchen making my dinner.

[IRONMAN_357kickback]

yet fun is another story

[Almighty]

Exactly, NEXT-GEN game is something IMPOSSIBLE to do on an old machine (and i'm not talking about graphics), the only real next-gen game coming soon is Super Mario Galaxy. Expect an average ratio of 98% for this game and universal praise by the media as well as the people. Why? Because how the people control this game is something that you couldn't do in any other gam until NOW.

[Kyur4ThePain]

If the PS2 and XBox are last-gen, and the PS3 and 360 are next-gen, where the hell is my current-gen?

All this next-gen blah-blah is getting boring.