On significance of platform transition: PS1/PS2/PS3/PS4

[Jmustang1968]

I don't see how people can say ps3 and 360 are close to ps4 and xb1. As someone who plays modern PC games, I was ready for the next console gen and felt it was overdue. As many publishers were releasing games across both consoles and PC, they were doing to a degree to the least common denominator, and really holding back games on PC.

[isiolia]

I don't see how people can say ps3 and 360 are close to ps4 and xb1. As someone who plays modern PC games, I was ready for the next console gen and felt it was overdue. As many publishers were releasing games across both consoles and PC, they were doing to a degree to the least common denominator, and really holding back games on PC.

Mainly I would look at it in terms of general game design. I can't think of much on 8th gen that isn't essentially a bigger, better version of what was being done on 7th gen. Additionally, the functionality of the console itself tends to be largely similar to what the (eventual) PS3 or 360 UIs did. There are a number of improvements, but outside of maybe capture/streaming tech, it's mostly stuff that just refines what the systems were already doing.
In another 20 years, of course, this might end up being the generation we lump VR/AR into, which is where I think a lot of potential is.

[Sarge]

Yeah, I think isiolia captures my sentiments. There really isn't anything from a gameplay perspective that's all that different from the last generation. It's just a bit prettier. (And absolutely, things do look prettier. The lighting, in particular, is rather stunning. But it's not so great a leap that I all of a sudden think that the last generation looks awful.)

[Jmustang1968]

Well right, VR couldn't be done last gen, but can now.

You could also make the same argument of just bigger and better from ps2 to ps3. The UI interface is the biggest difference.

XB1 allows voice commands and TV pass through which is unique. And while many here may not care about it much, the twitch and streaming integration has been huge for mainstream gaming.

[Sarge]

You could also make the same argument of just bigger and better from ps2 to ps3. The UI interface is the biggest difference.

I've already basically made this argument.

[Jmustang1968]

That was more to Isola, but resolution jumps are a big deal.

[isiolia]

You could also make the same argument of just bigger and better from ps2 to ps3. The UI interface is the biggest difference.

I'd definitely say more got added going from PS2 to PS3 than PS3 to PS4. Online went from a niche thing to basically expected, with accompanying marketplaces that enabled the low budget/indie market (and a lot more DLC, patches, etc). Far more games had some online play as a result, social features got rolled in, trophies, all that. Basic comfort features went up, with HD being standard when even progressive scan was optional before. Wireless controllers across the board.

The cumulative effect of all of that had a major effect on how people played games, what content was available to them, and so on. It was a major shift. PS4/XB1 do that stuff better and roll in some nice additions, but a lot more of it is refinement at this point.

I'd agree that a lot of genres really got defined in more of the PS2 era (even on the PC side of things, for that matter), and have just gotten bigger and better versions since then. There have been new things too, but HD remasters of hit PS2 games still hold up pretty well now.