This is my second blog post so I'm going to post something which I've been thinking a lot about lately, the next generation of consoles! Okay, so right now we're in the longest void between consoles which I can remember. It's approaching 6 years since this gen started and we haven't even heard a trickle of information about the next generation from Sony or Microsoft. Only the gaming industry's finest know the true intentions of both Microsoft and Sony for the next generation. So all i can do is speculate. Although during watching Cliffy B's interviews on Gears, he's elluded to the fact that the consoles aren't coming out anytime soon. Industry analyst Michael Pachter has also predicted the consoles could come as late as 2014! (although as many of you know, his predictions are very hit-or-miss). 
 
In my opinion, this is freaking awesome! I felt that the potentials of the consoles during last gen (ps2, xbox etc) were not maximized completely. This generation is looking to be completely different. The devs are really pushing the hardware. Just look at Uncharted 3 and Gears 3, these are both running on 5-6 year old hardware units and to be honest, they are not a far cry (no pun intended) from the top notch PC juggernauts. Think about it, if we have another 2 years of this generation, think of the potential developers have to deliver some awesome new games! All that and we don't even have to spend £300 on a new machine.  
 
However I do not know what to expect from the next gen of consoles. Will Microsoft act on the success of Kinect and continue support for that and develop a console for the casual or will it strive to please the hardcore? Same with sony, will they pursue the move, or seek to be that ever-so cheesy slogan of theirs- ''it only does everything''. Time will tell. As for Nintendo, which we have some insight on, will they deliver on their promises to cater for the core games? I freaking hope so. The Wii-U has so much potential and it would be a shame to throw that away. 
 
Overall, this incoming generation is the most shrouded, thought provoking and, to me, the most exciting yet!  
Thanks for reading my 2-cents. Please let me know what you guys think about the next-gen!

I don't want a next generation console.  I want this generation tech (i.e., facial animation from L.A. Noire, more realistic depth of field effects from DX11 version of Crysis 2) in future multiplatform games.

In before pc elitists clomplaint

As for me I am too really comfortable with the current gen , is not all about graphics anyway

I'm happy with the current generation and I don't want devs to spend even more time and money on games just for graphical reasons. 3 year dev cycles? No thank you.

@SUPERhys said:

along with some realistic AI

Improved AI is the oldest trick in the book for a dev to say about his game when he knows he has nothing significant say about it. And would you really want enemies to behave like humans, like in a multiplayer game? Then games would take 3 times longer to complete.

Although Nintendo seems to be out-of-sync with Sony and Microsoft in terms of their console cycles, as the Wii-U is maybe half a step up, if that, from the PS3 and 360. I am glad that the console generation is lasting so long, even though PC gamers feel somewhat limited; if we focus on things other than base technological capabilities we will see far more inventive game design as we are forced to cope with having fairly old hardware. Game design can benefit quite a lot from extended console life cycles (as long as this generation of consoles isn't dragged on too long that is, 2014 feels around right considering right about now would be the time people started developing for the new consoles. There are some games coming out for this generation of consoles like that Guilliermo Del Toro project, Insane, that are coming in 2013).  
I'm not saying that we should wait forever for a next generation of consoles, but I am saying that this one being extended to be longer than the last is a good thing.

In before pc elitists clomplaint

As for me I am too really comfortable with the current gen , is not all about graphics anyway

I haven't even gotten around to buying a PS3 yet. The longer the wait for new consoles, the better. I'm not looking forward to plopping down another $400 three times over again. Either the consoles need to release cheaper, or they can keep pushing them back for all I care.

@SUPERhys said:

@Grissefar: Agreed, although...... Yes I would like them to be more human-like. The game would feel more fresh. The AI adapting to techniques would prevent cheap tactics and make the game more challenging. Why do you think online games have so much longevity? Because people react differently all the time, which could be emulated with new tech. That's just my opinion though, I'd love new AI

Cool, I remember Elizebeth having something like that, which made her one of the most difficult bosses in the game, on Master Ninja at least. Whichever tactic you tried on her might work for a while and then suddenly she would mix things up, forcing you to mix things up too.

360 / multiplat games look old as shit. PS3 exclusives can still look impressive but that's about 2 games. PC games would be out of sight if they weren't hamstrung by the market conditions - there are no 'top notch PC juggernauts'. PC games do still look significantly better imo (especially compared to multiplat), but that's very much with the gloves on.

Unless PC sales miraculously pick up by a lot, I still don't see any incentive for Microsoft or Sony to force the issue. They make their money on software, so why bother with new hardware if nobody is pushing them to do it? The current status quo suits both of them well enough.

Gears 3 and Uncharted 3 are not what the majority of games look like they are the exception. You can't use them as examples for how great games look like when most games just look alright to really nothing special. I want the next generation should start sooner then 2014.

I think BF3 is the first time where I've considered the current generations of console as offering a "lesser" experience because of Hardware limitations. You just can't make a game like Battlefield 3 on current console specs. 
 
I would quite happily buy a new console tomorrow. 

I think BF3 is the first time where I've considered the current generations of console as offering a "lesser" experience because of Hardware limitations. You just can't make a game like Battlefield 3 on current console specs.  I would quite happily buy a new console tomorrow. 

Beside the normal "better spec" of the console, which I'm not saying a jump like last gen - Current gen, just an overhaul to play the current game smoother.  
 
Well, beside that, I would like a console that work a little more like steam. In fact, a console build around the concept of steam, cloud-sharing, game forum, all release can be bought digitally via a market, etc. Valve should make the next console and we're good in fact... :P

i can continue to wait for a new console. i enjoy the current generation consoles that are out there. i wait for the price to drop on the consoles then i buy them.

@Jimbo: Gears 3 DOES NOT look llike a multi-plat game. Watch some videos.