The Next-Gen War Has Already Started
Still waiting for a next-gen gaming revolution? It’s closer than you think…
For many, the technology working tirelessly behind the scenes of their games will remain as an abstract concept. It comes from a world where designers, artists, mathematicians and architects all collide to create the building blocks and tools that structure the worlds we play in. Some engines are a true tour de force of technology that facilitate the creation of diverse experiences across a range of different genres, but as the 360’s life has stretched on, a shadow has been cast across gaming. It is the shadow of the super engine, and if the thought of a one-console industry scares you, the far more real prospect of a one engine-world should be second on your list.
The number of studios pushing their engines out the door has seen a huge increase since the beginning of the 360’s life. Epic’s Unreal Engine quickly secured itself market dominance, as others looked to the original Gears Of War and its incredible visual design when building their own games. For a while it appeared that Epic would rule over this generation, but as the years have gone on, both DICE and Crytek have shown just what can be done to push the graphical benchmark.
In particular, DICE’s Frostbite Engine has gone on to have one of the most pervasive relationships with the entire EA portfolio. Providing the most popular games with impressive visuals and solid tech has ensured that every game with DICE’s influence comes with certain quality expectations. This collaboration has gone the other way too, with Battlefield 3 employing FIFA’s groundbreaking animation techniques, but why is the Swedish-based developer so good at adapting its engines for a
range of games?
“As we were developing the concept for Need For Speed: The Run,” explains Jason DeLong, Executive Producer on the EA racer, “we realised we needed an engine that could deliver a world-class experience on all fronts: visuals, characters and animations, physics, world destruction and audio. With this in mind, we were able to partner with our friends at DICE to integrate truly next-gen racing into Frostbite 2, resulting in an incredibly powerful and extremely well-rounded engine.”
More than any other big engine within the industry, DICE’s work has maintained an impressive track record that looks unlikely to change. “Frostbite 2 was essential in allowing us to provide the player with the gameplay experience we wanted to convey,” continues DeLong. “For example, in wanting to tell a compelling Hollywood-style story, we knew we had to get incredibly detailed characters and performances into the game. We also wanted to ensure we put our hero in peril from time to time on his journey, so Frostbite allowed us to create intense action moments via incredible VFX and world destruction.”
Will we see this dominance lead to an engine culling as the big three secure themselves as the go-to tools for studios? This could quite easily be the case for big budget, time consuming mega-hits; but for the industry as a whole, personalised, adaptable engines will still provide the flexibility needed to work cheaply. With each engine able to scale for a next-gen machine, the mega-engine is here to stay.
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It is precisely these engine designers who are the loudest voices calling for the so-called “next-gen”, machines, which we do not need. There is a lot of wishful thinking going on about the “next-gen” and their supposed power, which is being stoked up by vested interests such as those mentioned, aided and abetted by many journalists, who just want something to get readers excited.
In a world where most gamers do not know, or do not care, that the majority of titles that they are playing run at 720p, rather than 1080p, how much traction are graphics, which are only somewhat prettier, really going to have with them? Are they going to change the machine they play on or fork out hundreds of dollars for slightly better textures, shaders or more anti-aliasing? If they really cared that much about graphics, they would all be playing on P.C.s.
The game engine designers have got themselves trapped on a treadmill and are trying to hype up the importance of small steps forward in order to try and drag the rest of us into their obsessive, graphics-geek world.
Well stated, SteveDOF! There are a multitude of “us” who have been advocates of a “no appetite for new hardware” right now platform, but my guess is it will be ignored anyway.
You are bang on with the 720p observation, and the biggest jump of the current generation was to “HD” gaming. I recognize 3D and movement tracking technology has been part of this generation, but I’m not convinced core gamers are there…yet, or ever will be unless it’s forced upon them.
The only disagreement I have with you is the comment on graphics and if people really cared they, “…would all be playing on P.C.’s.” I’m fortunate that I have disposable income to have all of the platforms (including a decent gaming PC), but the fact is my gaming rig cost about 6 times what my Xbox did. I’m sure that consoles will continue to be a necessary staple for gamers solely based on cost. And, of course, many of the games I enjoy playing are available only on consoles, so my PC does often get neglected (but not when it comes to playing Crysis 2).
Do you know what I’d really think “next gen” could be, Steve? It’d be a hybrid PC/Console system that you could swap things like memory and video cards. Maybe even one board (MS, Sony) that is proprietary so that there could still be exclusives (which seem fewer and fewer anyway). Next gen could (and finally should be) open whereby I can play against or with you regardless of the hardware.
So, Steve, well said: Wouldn`t it be great if the gaming powers actually listened to gamers and what they wanted instead of telling them what they’re getting?
@SteveDOF
Why would you care if next gen consoles launch? If you are satisfied with ps3/360 you can keep playing that. PS3 has a 10 year lifespan as said by sony.
Personally i think what you wrote is nonsense, which is why i game on a PC + PS3. I find it ridiculous that you guys are “advocates” against “next gen”. If you dont want it dont buy it.
That simple.
Oh and you guys are completely clueless if you think there wont be a major difference. We havent seen any games use current gpu tech to the max simply because most games are console ports. Console hardware is half a decade old….
Nobody wants new consoles.
Its Microsoft who wants to bail from this generation now that Sony has just met them sale wise.
They know Sony will leave them in the dust from this point on, MS also lacks exclusives
where Sony has a fair list of blockbusters inline for this year, plus a ton still in development.
Third party developers dont want a next generation yet ether, they just learned how to develop for
both consoles.
So there you have it, MS once again trying to stiff their base, but it aint happening this time.
Um check your facts sony droid. X360 is still in the lead and that lead is growing, over 5 mil. Just cuz your happy with outdated hardware because you cant afford new doesnt make your opinion fact. Consoles are limited, PC is where cutting edge is. Don’t go throwing around cost because the ps3 launch date price, i could have built a better system for that ridiculous 600 bucks for nothing but empty promises and removal of features. In all reality sony should be on top this gen but they FORCED bluray and consumers said NO.
Dom,
What does this even mean???
Oh and you guys are completely clueless if you think there wont be a major difference. We havent seen any games use current gpu tech to the max simply because most games are console ports. Console hardware is half a decade old….
Do you mean gpu in current consoles, or in current PC’s? Because if you mean in consoles, then you’re actually supporting the argument that new consoles aren’t needed now. I don’t even understand what’s relevant about your comment about your gaming on the PS3.
And, I didn’t read anywhere about anyone saying they are against next gen; I did read that they don’t think it’s needed any time soon.
After you write something that’s coherent, then you have permission to start calling people clueless. Until then -