Zero Punctuation: Next Gen Buyer's Guide

[Ghostknightxii]

Well, to be fair, 99% of the stuff during christmas is just old movies and old tv shows that hashed together bits of old cartoons in a "looking back" episode. So really, in a way, he did hit the nail on the proverbial head. I think i'm going to go watch the 1 hour fire on Netflix now.

 

[McMarbles]

Did I go back in time? I have to tell myself who won the World Series!

 

[Branindain]

The PC fanboy mentality has become by far the most annoying thing about frequenting this site (and bear in mind, this is the site that regurgitates the same 500-post argument every time Anita Sarkeesian farts). As someone who plays his PC more often than his consoles, I have started thinking of myself as a console player because they're so annoying to associate with. Not all of them of course, but the ones that are so SMUG and so unwilling to accept that anyone could have a valid reason to want a console. And the 20 people who post in every thread just to say "Yeah, I don't need a console, I've got my PC and my Steam sale backlog" in a desperate quest for approval. And especially, ESPECIALLY the entitled people who refer to any situation where a console has an exclusive as "hostage-taking", even if the game was published and green-lit by the company that built the console and may well never have been made at all if the console manufacturer wasn't looking to move units.

/rant (sorry, I'm normally friendlier, this has just grated on me for months now).

Console fanboys are no better really. It's just that they say things that isn't true actually. So many of them have been saying that the new consoles were going to be more powerful than a PC and would continue to be so for years. Yes, they are actually claiming that. Console fanboys often bicker among themselves which piece of hardware is better and which has the better graphics. The moment a PC user points out that PCs are much more powerful then graphics and hardware doesn't matter. If we are discussing the Wii VS PS3/Xbox 360 then graphics matter. If we are discussing the Wii U VS the Xbox One/PS4 then graphics matter. If we are discussing the PS4 vs PC then graphics don't matter at all.

It's not a matter of PC fanboys being worse. It's a lot more simple than that. Discussing any subject with someone who's frothing at the mouth as he makes his point which only covers his side of the case then that's obviously going to be a waste of time. Any kind is just as annoying. Try discussing gun control with someone who's completely convinced it will reduce the murder rates or someone who is convinced the world was created by a higher power. Most likely this will end up looking the same (in terms of annoyance) as someone who's convinced that the Wii U is going to dominate the market in 6 months.

I basically agree with what you're saying. I'm certainly not contesting the power or advantages of PC gaming. I'm just pointing out that while there may no reason for you personally to buy a console, it doesn't automatically follow that there is no reason for ANYBODY to buy one. People are different, they have different skill sets, different budgets and different needs. (I almost didn't write "budgets" because that will normally trigger the 'I CAN COMPILE A GAMING PC FOR $137, IT'S SO SIMPLE A BRAIN DAMAGED GIBBON COULD DO IT' crowd, which is another annoying subset of PC fanboys). And I don't think PC fanboys are worse, I'm just more annoyed with them because this is my gaming site of choice.

Oh, and as someone who lives in a country with gun control and 100x less murders than America, I think one of your examples is suspect. But I don't want to get into that here, so we'll agree to disagree on that.

 

[Your Fearless Captain]

Oh, and as someone who lives in a country...100x less murders than America

I looked this up and for that to be possible you would have to live in either Monaco or Palau both of which have a murder rate of 0. It's unlikely that you live in either but it is possible.

 

[Branindain]

Oh, and as someone who lives in a country...100x less murders than America

I looked this up and for that to be possible you would have to live in either Monaco or Palau both of which have a murder rate of 0. It's unlikely that you live in either but it is possible.

Lol, you got me. Deservedly so, since you actually bothered to fact check. I certainly didn't, hence the hyperbolic figure. Nonetheless, we have [a whole lot] less.

 

[Joseph Gallagher]

I remember watching this back in June, that is why the ps4 doesn't have a picture and why the Microsoft jokes refer to old limitations they either fixed or dumped altogether. I wouldn't have a problem if it was a re-post, however in this situation (from what i can see) they deleted the original "next gen console run down" video so that the new video wouldn't be instantly recognized. Not sure why they felt the need to do this, as there will definitely be people who remember the old video.

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=zero+punctuation+next+gen+console+rundown%5C&rlz=1C1SFXN_enCA499CA499&oq=zero+punctuation+next+gen+console+rundown%5C&aqs=chrome..69i57.7095j0j4&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8#es_sm=93&espv=210&q=zero+punctuation+console+2013

This link shows the original date being back in june

 

[Evaheist666]

Wait... there were 3 of them?!

oh...

lol.

 

[Second World]

I have an XP computer and full screen monitor from a great number of years ago that I acquired for roughly $50.

In 4 years, I can purchase a new console for $100-200 and ensure absolute compatibility, no loss of frame rate (unless the inherent port was flawed), and optimized absolutely to the games I will be buying for $10-15 each (of which I can own physical copies that I will play 20 years down the road), and I will buy up to two games per year.

From my perspective, relying on a computer I built myself to smoothly run ANY game I want for $230 for the next 8 years is far-fetched and the amount of time I could save head-scratching over finding the reverse of this could be spent earning enough money to relegate the differences.

Others have time to harp over deals, investigate product, and build electronics before they can be entertained. I choose my job. Good for them. Good for me. We all have options.

 

[JayDee]

Next Gen Buyer's Guide

This week, Zero Punctuation takes a look at the three next gen consoles.

Watch Video

"This week, we repost one of Yahtzee's videos from June, as Mr Croshaw is incapacitated due to Christmas indulgence."

 

[Flunk]

it's funny how this is still relevant.

 

[tikalal]

In 4 years, I can purchase a new console for $100-200 and ensure absolute compatibility, no loss of frame rate (unless the inherent port was flawed), and optimized absolutely to the games I will be buying for $10-15 each (of which I can own physical copies that I will play 20 years down the road), and I will buy up to two games per year.

From my perspective, relying on a computer I built myself to smoothly run ANY game I want for $230 for the next 8 years is far-fetched and the amount of time I could save head-scratching over finding the reverse of this could be spent earning enough money to relegate the differences.

Others have time to harp over deals, investigate product, and build electronics before they can be entertained. I choose my job. Good for them. Good for me. We all have options.

I'm not disagreeing with you, but here's how I think about the value I get from my computer.

I get to keep my games no matter what. While people buying into the XBone and PS4 have no backwards compatibility, I get to keep my 230+ Steam games. Even in 8 years, all my games are mine and they're all in the one place. With every new console you buy, you have to throw out the baby with the bathwater and start again.

I don't need to worry about where my physical copies are or what condition they're in. A small consideration, but when you have over 200 games and you're renting houses and moving every few years, it's worth considering. I don't like having to take my old N64/GC/Wii stuff from house to house, but they still get used and I don't want to part with them.

The future of PC gaming looks brighter. Soon I'll be able to get a Steam Box and put it in my lounge. I'll be able to stream all the games I already own from my PC to my television. Most games are not optimised for this, and it will take some time for this to become a reality, but it's happening.

The PC is definitely a bigger investment of time and money, but you get a lot more. Not that it's worth it to everybody.

 

[QUINTIX]

XBone and PS4 have no backwards compatibility

IMHO, as of both Sony and Microsoft taking after the original Xbox in using (almost) off-the-shelf (laptop) PC components, the PC vs Console argument has been rendered moot.

The current x86 microarchitecture/instruction set used by both new consoles (and Nintendo will soon do so too, mark my words) is designed to run most code compiled to intel from the late eighties with little fuss. I don't even think IBM's Power (used by old macs and new mainframes) or ARM (used in just about every touchscreen device not attached to a physical keyboard) bends so far backwards for backwards compatibility.

Once a few DRM keys get busted either the XBone or the PS4 could run Windows or SteamOS just fine. It would not be ideal, but again, only DRM is stopping them from being full-fledged HTPCs capable of running just about anything (slowly, especially if a piece of software in question depends on a heavy main thread).

I expect both Sony and MS to announce partnership with CD Projekt to get the Good Old Games marketplace working for any title published before 2005, and to invest heavily in DosBox so it can actually get AMD K6-3DNow level performance out of 1.6ghz Jaguar cores to preempt the temptation of, ahem, enthusiasts trying to find loopholes or side-channel attacks which would help divulge the keys.

 

[commasplice]

Snip.

This actually sounds really interesting and relevant to my interests. I just wish I had a better handle on what you're actually saying.

What I'm getting from this is "backwards compatibility and emulation is actually a lot more feasible than we've been led to believe." Is that accurate?

It also kinda sounds like you're giving these companies a lot of credit, though. I really doubt that your prediction will come to pass, not for technological reasons, but for bureaucratic ones. The suggestions you're making sound like too much of a leap from the status quo. Game companies, at least as far as I can tell, seem to prefer only the shallowest modes of innovation and change.

 

[Adventurer2626]

SteamBox here yet? I will continue as planned to not buy a console until the great console-pc singularity. They seem intent on inventing new ways alienate their customers. Used to be they tried to offer more goodie baskets than the other guy. Now they just withhold our favorite franchises until we sign them a Terms of Service blank check. No thanks...*fires up Smash Bros on GameCube makes a rude gesture*

 

[WarpZone]

Why was this episode

Nice to see this is still up-to-date.

wat? Microsoft reversed... all of their former policies for check-in's and used games. How is this video up to date on that?

Simple. The Xbone still sucks after the changes. They moved it from "much worse than the PS4" to "slightly worse than the 360 in terms of everything but graphics." The conclusion is still the same: Don't.

 

[dantoddd]

he seems to have ignored the steambox

 

[Arnoxthe1]

slightly worse than the 360 in terms of everything but graphics.

It's got a better controller, much slicker OS, and voice commands that actually work for the most part. And that power can serve for MUCH more than just graphics, not to mention all the sweet new IP's that are about to come out for the system. So yes, you definitely might want to check it out. This all for the most part goes for the PS4 too as well.

 

[Atmos Duality]

And that power can serve for MUCH more than just graphics...

It can, but it won't.
Because programming better AI, creating more intricate/interactive level design and making new mechanics in general takes more effort than increasing the degree of whatever Taylor Series they use in the physics engine or jacking up the gradient on the textures/lighting/geometry effects.

And the name of the game right now, at least for AAA, is "maximum pandering to the lowest common denominator at minimal effort". Which means boosting the most superficial elements of the game, like graphics and physics, while continuing to rely on the same narrowing set of "golden gameplay mechanics" they've been relying on for the last 5 years.

So...

...not to mention all the sweet new IP's that are about to come out for the system.

...expect more of the same, perhaps with a new name.
Honestly, I can find absolutely no reason get excited for this next console generation.

 

[Arnoxthe1]

And that power can serve for MUCH more than just graphics...

It can, but it won't.
Because programming better AI, creating more intricate/interactive level design and making new mechanics in general takes more effort than increasing the degree of whatever Taylor Series they use in the physics engine or jacking up the gradient on the textures/lighting/geometry effects.

And the name of the game right now, at least for AAA, is "maximum pandering to the lowest common denominator at minimal effort". Which means boosting the most superficial elements of the game, like graphics and physics, while continuing to rely on the same narrowing set of "golden gameplay mechanics" they've been relying on for the last 5 years.

So...

Actually, I read a couple articles detailing how the current gen of consoles are holding back what they can really do with games and there are a lot of devs that are quoted with saying how excited they are for the next gen.

...expect more of the same, perhaps with a new name.
Honestly, I can find absolutely no reason get excited for this next console generation.

Nah, trust me. I've seen a detailed list on all of the exclusives that are coming out for the One and they all look pretty awesome. Also, have you seen this game? [http://www.lichdom.com/index.html] It's not an exclusive for any system but man, it looks amazing and it's just indie.

I know that it's tempting to be cynical but you'll be a lot happier if you also consider the good things as well as the bad.

 

[QUINTIX]

What I'm getting from this is "backwards compatibility and emulation is actually a lot more feasible than we've been led to believe." Is that accurate?

Mostly, though outside of DosBox 386 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_80386] semi-emulation I am actually not talking about emulation. At all.

Let me put it this way: The "uncore" parts responsible for input/output, video compositing/recording and system memory interface are custom, but the central and graphics processors [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_(microarchitecture)] are parts (technically die masks) straight from AMD's catalogue. In fact, they are available in ordinary desktops and laptops right now. When Sony said "super charged PC architecture" they meant it. Well, maybe not so much the super-charged part... anyways

Essentially, if any of [a href=http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=Property&Subcategory=32&N=100006740 600165139 600451679 600451669&IsNodeId=1&IsPowerSearch=1]these laptops[/a] can run an old game, be it directly in Windows or running under DosBox, there is very little stopping Microsoft from allowing the game to run on Xbox One. A little more is stopping Sony from running old windows games because the OS they made for the PS4 has the same foundation (BSD Unix) as Apple, but iirc there should already be a DosBox port to BSD Unix.