Eighth generation of video game consoles
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In the history of video games, the eighth generation of video game consoles is a term to describe the next iteration of video game consoles that are expected to follow the current seventh generation: Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, and Nintendo's Wii. It also describes handheld game units released in the similar timeframe. The Nintendo 3DS was released on February 26, 2011 and Sony's PlayStation Vita is due to be released on December 17, 2011 in Japan.
Presently, only Nintendo has announced its home console successor, the Wii U, to be released in 2012. Several journalists have classified the system as the first eighth generation system.[1][2][3]
Though previous console generations have normally occurred in five year cycles, the transition from seventh to eighth generation units has lasted more than six years.[2] The transition is also unusual in that the previous generation's best-selling unit, the Wii, is the first to be replaced in the eighth generation.[2] Both Microsoft and Sony have stated they have begun looking at their next iteration of consoles, but consider themselves only halfway through a ten-year lifecycle for their current seventh-generation offerings.[4][5][6][7] The addition of motion controllers and camera-based controllers like Kinect and PlayStation Move are considered to have extended these systems' lifetimes.[8]
It is anticipated that the eighth generation of video game consoles will face stiff competition from the smartphone and tablet gaming markets.[9][10][11][12] There are some that dispute this though.[13]
Home consoles
Wii U
In November 2010, Nintendo of America CEO Reggie Fils-Aime stated that the release of the next generation of Nintendo would be determined by the continued success of the Wii.[14] Nintendo announced their successor to the Wii, the Wii U, at the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2011 on June 7, 2011.[15] It is slated for release in 2012.[3]
The Wii U's main controller features an embedded touchscreen that can work as an auxiliary interactive screen, in a fashion similar to the Nintendo DS/3DS, or even as the main screen itself, enabling games to be played without the need of an extra screen connected to the console. It will also be compatible with its predecessor's standard controller, the Wii Remote and its upgraded version, the Wii Remote Plus, along with all of their peripherals and the Wii Balance Board.
Name | Wii U |
---|---|
Console | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Release dates | After E3 2012 |
Media | Wii U Optical Disc 25 GB (single layer) |
CPU | IBM Power-based multi-core 45 nm microprocessor[16] |
GPU | Custom-designed AMD Radeon HD[17] |
Storage | Internal flash memory, expandable via SD memory cards and/or USB hard disk drives[18] |
Integrated 3DTV support[a] | Yes[19] |
Controller |
|
User interface
(Wii U Main Controller) |
|
Video |
|
Audio |
|
Peripheral capabilities | |
List of games | List of Wii U games |
^a All consoles are capable of producing 3D images using anaglyph or frame-compatible systems (side-by-side/SbS, top and bottom/TaB), as these do not require any special output hardware. As such, these display modes are dependent on the software being displayed rather than the console.
Handheld systems
Nintendo 3DS
The Nintendo 3DS is a portable game console produced by Nintendo. It is the successor to the Nintendo DS. The autostereoscopic device is able to project stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or any additional accessories.[20] The Nintendo 3DS features backward compatibility with Nintendo DS series software, including Nintendo DSi software.[20] Announcing the device in March 2010, Nintendo officially unveiled it at E3 2010,[20][21] with the company inviting attendees to use demonstration units.[22] The console succeeds the Nintendo DS series of handheld systems,[20] which primarily competes with Sony's PlayStation Portable.[23] It will compete with Sony's handheld, the PlayStation Vita.[24]
The Nintendo 3DS was released in Japan on February 26, 2011; in Europe on March 25, 2011; in North America on March 27, 2011;[25][26] and in Australia on March 31, 2011. On July 28, 2011, Nintendo announced a major price drop starting August 12. In addition, as of September 2011 consumers who bought the system at its original price have access to ten Nintendo Entertainment System games before they are available to the general public, after which the games may be updated to the versions publicly released on the Nintendo eShop. Later the same year, ten Game Boy Advance games will also be available to consumers who bought the system at its original price at no charge, with Nintendo stating it currently has no plans to release to the general public.[27]
PlayStation Vita
PlayStation Vita is an upcoming handheld game console under development by Sony Computer Entertainment.[28] It is the successor to the PlayStation Portable as part of the PlayStation brand of gaming devices. It is set to be released in Japan and parts of Asia on December 17, 2011[29] and in Europe and North America on February 22, 2012.[30][31]
The handheld includes two analog sticks, a 5-inch (130 mm) OLED multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, and supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and optional 3G. Internally, the Vita features a 4 core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor and a 4 core SGX543MP4+ graphics processing unit, as well as LiveArea software as its main user interface, which succeeds the XrossMediaBar.[32][33]
The device is fully backwards-compatible with PlayStation Portable games digitally released on the PlayStation Network via the PlayStation Store.[34] However, PS One Classics/TurboGrafx-16 titles will not be compatible at (Japanese) launch.[35] The Vita's dual analog sticks will be supported on selected PSP games. The graphics for PSP releases will be up-scaled, with a smoothing filter to reduce pixelation.[36]
Handheld comparison
Nintendo 3DS | PlayStation Vita | |
---|---|---|
Console | ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Release dates | ||
Launch prices | ¥25,000 US$249.99[37] £/€ - Set by individual retailers, usually about £230[38] A$349.95[39] |
$249/€249/¥24,980 - Wi-Fi $299/€299/¥29,980 - Wi-Fi+3G[40] |
Current prices | ¥15,000 (as of August 11, 2011)[41] US$169.99 (as of August 12, 2011)[42] £/€ - Set by individual retailers A$249.99 (as of August 12, 2011)[41] |
— (not yet released) |
Units Shipped | Worldwide: 6.68 million (as of September 30, 2011)[43] | — (not yet released) |
Weight | 230 grams (8.1 oz) | TBA |
Dimensions | 134 mm (5.3 in) (w) 74 mm (2.9 in) (d) 21 mm (0.83 in) (h) |
182 mm (7.2 in) (w) 83.55 mm (3.289 in) (d) 18.6 mm (0.73 in) (h)[44] |
Media | Nintendo 3DS Game Card (2-8 GB) | PlayStation Vita Game Card (2-16 GB) |
CPU | ARM11 (Proprietary Nintendo design) | 4 core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore[45][44] |
GPU | DMP PICA200 | 200 MHz[citation needed] PowerVR SGX543MP4+[44] |
Memory | 128 MB FCRAM | 512 MB RAM, 128 MB VRAM[46] |
Storage |
|
4 to 32 GB external storage |
Display | Top screen: 3.53 in (90 mm), Autostereoscopic (3D) LCD 800 × 240 px (400 × 240 px per eye) Bottom screen: 3.02 in (77 mm), 320 × 240 QVGA |
5 in (130 mm) OLED 960 × 544 px[44] |
3D enabled | Yes | No |
Battery | 3-8 hours, depending on screen brightness, Wi-Fi, sound volume, and 3D effect (1300 mAh) |
3-5 hours, depending on screen brightness, 3G is active, Wi-Fi, and sound volume (2200 mAh) |
Connectivity | ||
User interface |
|
|
Camera | One front-facing and a set of two rear-facing 3D 0.3 MP (VGA) cameras | Front and rear 0.3 MP (VGA) cameras (320×240(QVGA) @ 120 Hz; 640×480(VGA) @ 60 Hz)[44] |
Regional Lockout | Yes | No |
Online services |
|
|
Preloaded applications |
|
|
List of games | List of Nintendo 3DS games | List of PlayStation Vita games |
References
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- ^ a b c David Radd. "Nintendo's Project Cafe: Will Gamers Feel The Buzz?". Business Insider. Retrieved 11 June 2011.
- ^ a b Derek Dickinson. "Nindendo Wii 2, Project Cafe: the Milestone of Next Generation". brothersoft.com. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
- ^ James Brightman. "PlayStation 4 In The Works, Sony Confirms". http://www.industrygamers.com/.
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- ^ James Brightman. "Microsoft Hiring Engineers for Next Xbox". http://www.industrygamers.com/.
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- ^ Andrew Yoon. "Microsoft: Xbox 360 'about halfway' through generation". http://www.shacknews.com.
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- ^ Robinson, Martin (2009-06-04). "E3 2009: 360 to Stick Around Until 2015 - Xbox360 News at IGN". Uk.xbox360.ign.com. Retrieved 2010-11-11. "The Xbox 360's recently unveiled motion control technology will help extend the console's life span into 2015, according to Microsoft executive Shane Kim."
- ^ James Cull (2011-06-20). "NVIDIA Tegra: The Future of Android Gaming". appstorm.net.
- ^ Geekaphone Editor (2011-07-27). "Mobile Gaming is Dominating the Gaming Industry". Geekaphone.
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- ^ Dan Gallagher (2011-06-21). "Sony, Nintendo Place Big Bets On Handhelds". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2011-06-22.
- ^ "5 reasons why smartphones will never replace consoles". ComputerandVideoGames.com. August 26, 2011. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
- ^ Ryan Fleming (2010-11-16). "Nintendo to talk next-gen consoles after selling 15 million more Wii units". digitaltrends.com. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
- ^ "Official Press Release From Nintendo Details The Wii U And Gives Information On New Titles". http://www.gameon.co.uk.
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- ^ "AMD and Nintendo Join Forces in Creating a New Way to Enjoy Console Gaming Entertainment". Marketwire.com. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
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- ^ http://www.giantbomb.com/news/nintendo-begrudgingly-acknowledges-wii-u-3d-support/3459/
- ^ a b c d "Launch of New Portable Game Machine" (PDF) (Press release). Minami-ku, Kyoto: Nintendo. March 23, 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-23.
- ^ Tabuchi, Hiroko (March 23, 2010). "Nintendo to Make 3-D Version of Its DSi Handheld Game". Retrieved 2010-04-24.
It takes place June 15~17, 2010, at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
[dead link] - ^ Tabuchi, Hiroko (March 23, 2010). "Nintendo to Make 3-D Version of Its DS Handheld Game". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
'We wanted to give the gaming industry a head's up about what to expect from Nintendo at E3,' said Ken Toyoda, chief spokesman at Nintendo. 'We'll invite people to play with the new device then.'
- ^ Alexander, Leigh (January 15, 2010). "Analyst: DS Successor To Hit In Next 15 Months?". Gamasutra. Think Services. Retrieved 2010-04-04.
In the year 2010, Nintendo's continuing face-off against the PSP seems less relevant than the overall sea change in the portable market brought about by the explosive iPhone.
- ^ "Nintendo 3DS vs. PS Vita: Handheld Wars, The Next Generation". IndustryGamers. 2011-09-16. Retrieved 2011-11-01.
- ^ "Nintendo's 3DS Hits the U.S. On March 27 for $249.99". Kotaku.
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In an astounding and unexpected set of announcements, Nintendo took a huge leap in righting the wrongs of the 3DS' shaky launch. The system, which released in the US on March 27 with a hefty $250 dollar price tag, will see a massive price cut to $170 come August 12.
- ^ "NGP becomes PlayStation Vita". Eurogamer. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
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- ^ "PlayStation Vita Launches From 22 February 2012 – PlayStation.Blog.Europe". PlayStation Blog. Sony. October 19, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
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- ^ Bob Munir (June 6, 2011). "E3: Sony's PlayStation Vita due end of 2011 for $249". destructoid.com. Retrieved 2011-06-08.
- ^ a b "3DS price cut 40% in Japan, now $169.99 in the U.S. – Video Games Reviews, Cheats". Geek.com. 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2011-08-04.
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