Last-gen ports: Opinions?

[Umbra]

I seriously think part of the problem with the current gen consoles isn't the lack of games, but rather that they're just not really a significant jump over the last gen.

This. I was playing Halo Reach the other day and it looks just as good as some current-gen titles, and that game is already five years old. I looked at comparison shots of some cross-gen releases (Destiny, Rise of the Tomb Raider, etc.) and the main difference that I saw was that the next-gen consoles had better lighting and could handle more random clutter like rocks and grass. Doesn't seem like we'll have a huge gap like the PS2/3 had for quite a while, I think; it seems like the tech is starting to level out.

The only time I encountered any sort of major difference was with the last-gen port of Shadow of Mordor, where the game's Nemesis system (the mechanic that handled promotions in Sauron's army) was severely stripped down to make it work, but in all honesty that was a terrible port all around.

[FritzWhite]

I don't know about Sony, but GTAV on X1 compared to 360 is a very noticeable difference imo. No, it's not the same as the graphics difference between original xbox and 360, but it's still obviously better.

[sheep2001]

Sleeping dogs ps4, much clearer and smoother than PS3.  Need for speed rivals the same. 

When you look at stills, or YouTube videos it's hard to tell them apart, but playing for yourself on a large screen, the latest generation really is a big improvement.  I didn't notice it to any large degree at first - but when I went back to sleeping dogs on the PS3 after finishing the ps4 version, I was staggered at how bad the PS3 one looked in comparison.  And that was a game I loved.

Of course the difference isn't going to be as big as ps2 to PS3, or Xbox to 360 - because last gen brought in technology that could handle decent frame rates and clever texture mapping, which was not really available before that.  Like when we had a change of graphical style from sprites to polygons - let's say snes to ps1.

But we aren't going to see games pushing the ps4/xb1 to their limit until they are being produced with next gen engines, and not with last gen compatibility in mind.  I don't think that's going to happen any time soon, the PS3 is only 9 years old, i see at least a couple more years of big releases (and probably more for the sports games they will continue to milk)

[wiggy]

Those examples perfectly reflect my point; things are smoother and have some more detail, but not the "leap" that we've all become accustomed to with previous console releases.

GTA5 definitely looks better on the new consoles, but without seeing them side-by-side, it's not likely that I would have noticed.  

Now look at any GTA on the PS3 and then any GTA on the PS2. The differences are significant, to say the least.

The 8th gen consoles are nice enough, but they really aren't offering anything that the 7th gen consoles did, aside from the WiiU, which, while a generation behind from a hardware standpoint, is the only console which offers a new experience.  It makes me sad that the WiiU really doesn't get much love despite a library of unique and quite good titles, versus all the "me too" stuff on the PS4/XB1.

Now this isn't to say that I need the graphics and whatnot to be all whizbang and whatnot (the WiiU sure isn't producing graphics which defy logic), but in order for me to care, there needs to be something new added to the experience, and there's virtually nothing. The controllers are virtually identical to last gen (the touch pad on the PS4 sure doesn't seem to be of any real value based on my experience with it), the hardware hasn't really changed all that much, and the software offered is virtually identical. I can watch Netflix on any 7th gen console, stream music or whatever from my PC, and so on.  There's just nothing "new" about the PS4/XB1 IMO. I own a PS4 because of the business and was needed so that I could play a specific title for a collaborative project, and it's just sat collecting dust ever since.  I bought the XB1 just because I really like Forza. I have Forza 5 & 6, plus the Rare collection and there's honestly nothing else I want.  It's actually sorta depressing

[sheep2001]

I think we're singing the same song, except, I think for the price of the console, I'm happy with the performance increase.  A bit like installing more ram and a better graphics card in your PC to play modern games at better frame rates/resolutions.  Ok, it's not backwards compatible, but it's not like they take away your PS3 when you upgrade. 

[wiggy]

I've never really understood the complaints about backward compatibility.  The reason I hear most often when people complain is the space that the extra console takes up, but really about 1/2 a cubic foot is pretty hard to imagine as being more than most any apartment or house could afford.  Sure, it's convenient to have one console that would play the older games as well, but it's far from a deterrent when I'm buying a new console.

[gam3rz3r0]

Personally I'm with you, I'd rather keep my system but some people sell there old system to help pay for the new one. If they did have backwards compatibility (especially this gen) they would have more options for games until the current gen library gets more fleshed out.

[TDIRunner]

I've never really understood the complaints about backward compatibility.  The reason I hear most often when people complain is the space that the extra console takes up, but really about 1/2 a cubic foot is pretty hard to imagine as being more than most any apartment or house could afford.  Sure, it's convenient to have one console that would play the older games as well, but it's far from a deterrent when I'm buying a new console.

I think people were just spoiled by the PS2 with its damn near perfect backwards compatibility (including controllers, memory cards, etc.).  Since the PS2 is the best selling console of all time, it's also safe to say that most gamers have had some experience with it and are aware of the backwards compatibility.  Now that they have it, they expect it every time going forward.

[Umbra]

I can't recall where I saw the information, but apparently Phil Spencer wants to have original Xbox titles backwards compatible on the One as well, although he's not sure it would happen any time soon, if at all. If so, this would be a pretty good selling point - the first console since the PS3 fat that would have multi-generational backward compatibility. One can hope I suppose.

[Thom Grayson]

I can't recall where I saw the information, but apparently Phil Spencer wants to have original Xbox titles backwards compatible on the One as well, although he's not sure it would happen any time soon, if at all. If so, this would be a pretty good selling point - the first console since the PS3 fat that would have multi-generational backward compatibility. One can hope I suppose.

Since they are both x86, this should (theoretically) be (relatively) easy to do.

I think I read/saw the same thing you did

[Einhander]

PS4 is all about it's potential and capability. But 2 years in, it hasn't lived up to expectations. People keep getting it because of it's potential. But there's nothing really special about the games. I will admit that I like the console's appearance. It's stylish and I like it's angular design on the front. I like the controllers too. Very sleek. But the games? Only exclusives I care for so far are Infamous 2nd Son and Knack. Maybe Uncharted 4 or Last of Us 2 (if it comes out) and that's about it.

[Umbra]

Since they are both x86, this should (theoretically) be (relatively) easy to do.

I think I read/saw the same thing you did

That strikes me as pretty interesting that the Xbox One uses x86 architecture, considering that many of the games it runs require x64 on PC

[Thom Grayson]

Since they are both x86, this should (theoretically) be (relatively) easy to do.

I think I read/saw the same thing you did

That strikes me as pretty interesting that the Xbox One uses x86 architecture, considering that many of the games it runs require x64 on PC

x64 is just another name for x86-64, I'm pretty sure.

[sheep2001]

Yes.  Xbone and ps4 are both x64-86.  X64 is backwards compatible to x86.

X64 is for 64 bit processors.  X86 was for 16/32 bit processors.

[Umbra]

Yeah I know about all that. I personally don't know anything about the new consoles so the way Thom worded it made it sound like it was using an x86-exclusive processor.