This Time Is Different.....

[nutzplayer]

Nextgen upgrades will cost more than a few $100 dollars. PS3 will use 1080P resolution. HDTV with 1080P resolution still cost $3000 min. A basic 27" CRT HDTV with component input(for xbox360) and Hmd/dvi(ps3)cost $600 min. A Basic Xbox360 bundle cost $400 and I am sure a basic ps3 bundle will too. That's $400 for the nextgen console Plus $600 for the basic HDTV. 17-21" HDTV are LCDs and cost more. That's a min of $1,000+ for the next generation console upgrade. If you want to play your ps3 games on a 1080P resolution you'll spend $3000 just for the HDTV. So the cost of console upgrades are catching up to the PC upgrades... Plus, nextgen console games will cost $59.99USdollars. If you play your next generation console games on 720p/1080I games that's $1,000+ for 3-5 years. After that, you'll need to buy a new console and a new tv that can handle higher resolutions. PC monitors can handle 1080P resolution already without problems......
This is different this time... the cost have gone up but we will get more online gaming, more AI interaction, etc with our nextgen consoles....

Patrick

[Infernal]

... I dont really understand the point of this post but heres my reply...
I dont have an HDTV and i probably wont buy one for next generation unless the prices drop. I mean who says you need a high definition TV? Another thing is that you said after this next generation you will still need another TV, if you bought a 1080p TV right now you, a higher resolution TV wouldnt be offered for probably a decade or two. I mean so a bundle costs 400 dollars and a game costs 60 dollars, big deal. I mean just to fill a car with gas today costs 50 bucks, and thats the cost of a game. This is no different from previous generations, console prices havent really risen alot, PS3 may be more than 300 dollars but the accessories and so on will still be the same.

Oh and one more thing, you can hook up your next-gen consoles to a PC monitor anyway, and if you bought a 1080p TV, you could hook up your PC to that TV as well.

[nutzplayer]

if you are not going to get an HDTV, why get a nextgen console? why not keep playing games with the same graphics on your regular tv?...

nutzplayer

[Infernal]

if you are not going to get an HDTV, why get a nextgen console? why not keep playing games with the same graphics on your regular tv?...

nutzplayer

Well let me ask you this, does watching a dvd on a standard definition TV look better than playing a video game. Of course it does. Basically what im saying is theres PLENTY of room for improvement even without increasing the definition.

[nutzplayer]

thta depends on the game and the hardware you're using. HDTV graphics is 7-10X better than regular TV. If you're going to play your nextgen console games on your regular tv, you'll only get the benefits of better AI and online # of players... imo.

My point is the main advantage of price the consoles had over the PC is narrowing. This time you will need HDTV to enjoy the graphics. Basic Xbox360 bundles comes with composite cables and not RF input. The main advantage the PC has over the consoles(massively multiplayer games) is also narrow thanks to the better hardware of the nextgen consoles.......


nutzplayer

[Viper]

thta depends on the game and the hardware you're using. HDTV graphics is 7-10X better than regular TV. If you're going to play your nextgen console games on your regular tv, you'll only get the benefits of better AI and online # of players... imo.

My point is the main advantage of price the consoles had over the PC is narrowing. This time you will need HDTV to enjoy the graphics. Basic Xbox360 bundles comes with composite cables and not RF input. The main advantage the PC has over the consoles(massively multiplayer games) is also narrow thanks to the better hardware of the nextgen consoles.......


nutzplayer

You make it sounds as though you believe the next gen graphics will look no better on a Standard Definition than the current gen graphics.

The graphics will be greatly improved no matter what kind of visual display you use.

A TV is not a graphics card. An HDTV will offer a better resolution of the same graphics meaning you will get much nicer looking edges and some smoother animation. It doesn't mean that if you still use a SDTV that the graphics will like current generation graphics. If you believe that, someone vastly lied to you or you misinterpreted data.

Besides, I'll take an enhancement to A.I. and physics over graphics anyday.

[Goki]

Yeah, but when consoles went through the phase of PS1 to PS2, there was also a slight change in tv, and that was WIDESCREEN. So a lot of people were uppgrading to widescreeen. I didnt untill a couple of years ago and I can tell you it does make a difference but, the graphics still was there. I see ps3 trailers in crappy webmail resolution, and still get impressed. And your discussion about Console gaming reaching PC gaming in terms of expendenture, You have to remember that even though someone buys a HDTV now, thats all they need for at least 5-7 years b4 another uppgrade whereas you have to (or so it seems) uppgrade each year with PC gaming.

[tazz3]

i dont have a HDTV and i wont buy one either.
my tv flat screen tube tv with 3 comb fliter. its a toshiba
it will be fine for the ps3.
i can get a 27 inch toshiba HDTV with the hdmi hook up for 500 dollars
from best buy if i want to.
but there is no point to get a tv if u have a good one all ready

[Z]

don't rush anything. baby steps. you don't have to get everythingon the first day. very few have the 'ultimate experience equipment' so it isn't a biggy really. some people still don't have surround sound and are still enjoying gaming and movies anyway. make the best of what you have and work on getting better experiences on what you think is more important than others. some may save up for a surround sound system, some may prefer an HDTV, others a faster net connection, etc.

that is what I do. hope that helps.

[woundingchaney]

Well I got a 50 lcdrp and a 1200 watt surround sound system, and the enjoyment of gaming on those greatly increases over just a basic tv w/o surround sound. It is by no means necessary, but for everyone gamer that was on the bubble of buying this equipment the next gen of consoles almost make it a must (opinion).

Granted these things are expensive but really Im looking at about an investment of around a decade so for 3000 over ten years its about 300 a year or about 25 dollars a month. I dont blame anyone for not spending money on a home theatre set up, but for those who have and are going to I can definetely say that the enjoyment is there.

[Z]

of course it it better to have it all. a Ferrari is a real nice car, but many will never have the pleasure of driving it. a complete gaming setup (hgome theater?) is greatr no doubt. after trying 5.1 surround sound, I can't go back to stereo anymore. I am currently saving up for a 40" HDTV Wega along with my PS3 and a proper surround system (with optical audio input and all). it is like you said an investment. and it is true it would be for years to come. and it woudn't only be for gaming, but TV and movie viewing as well.

[D3adcell]

I have an HDTV but I think it only gets 480p and possibly 720p. But if higher resolution is needed they always make VGA adapters to hook the system up to your monitor. It saves alot of money.

[Z]

well, since I am wating for a while to get an HDTV it will be 1080p! I don't consider it HD if it doesn't support the highest resolution out there. and I intend for it to be around for a very long time, so I got to think of the future as well.

[masonite]

will a HDTV improve the AI? will it make the physics more accurate? improve the storyline? make the game last longer? seriously, i'm still impressed by GT4 graphics, i don't really care that much about how much better it ends up looking - as long as the experience is improved.

[trakais]

you will keep saying this only until you see HDTV 1080p in action believe me.

but of course, i can't disagree with ps3 still being mindblowing on a regular tv. you will only lose sharpness and resolution, but all the rest will still be there. i will wait until late next year, or a few months after ps3 comes out. no doubt that HDTV will be more affordable by then.

[nutzplayer]

You can play Half life2 on a 4yr old pentium 1.5gighz pc with a nvidia gforce2 card. You only do it in very low resolution without AA/AT and other graphics enchancements,probably in 16colors. by not playing your nextgen console games you would be just like playing half life2 on your 4 yr old PC. This is my point. You'll *need* to upgrade your TV every new console generation from now on, and it'll cost alot more money than a few $100s.... This narrow the cost gap between the PC and Consoles.... that's my point.

nutzplayer

[D3adcell]

You can play Half life2 on a 4yr old pentium 1.5gighz pc with a nvidia gforce2 card. You only do it in very low resolution without AA/AT and other graphics enchancements,probably in 16colors. by not playing your nextgen console games you would be just like playing half life2 on your 4 yr old PC. This is my point. You'll *need* to upgrade your TV every new console generation from now on, and it'll cost alot more money than a few $100s.... This narrow the cost gap between the PC and Consoles.... that's my point.

nutzplayer

Not really as every system next gen is going to be built to the same specs (for that system). If you have seen any custscenes like say the Final Fantasy cutscenes you can tell a difference between teh graphics. Even on SD tv's....

[Infernal]

You'll *need* to upgrade your TV every new console generation from now on, and it'll cost alot more money than a few $100s....

You keep saying this but do you honestly believe you will need to upgrade "EVERY" generation from now on? An 1080p TV should be the highest TV definition for decades to come. And like I said before you can use a TV for well, TV, movies, games, and your PC. Same with your PC monitor which is already in high defintion.

[trakais]

you `need` only to enjoy ALL what the crisp bauty that next-gen brings. but it is up to the user.

[Z]

of course HD will look better. standard TVs can't show HD quality. but is the difference worth getting a whole HDTV set? for me, it isn't just for gaming. it will be my next TV that I'll be watching for at least a decade to come so I might as well get the best their is. also, technically, HD is 4-6 times clearer than DVD quality. check current HD games like GT4 and God of War to see if the difference convinces you to upgrade.