32 replies to this topic

[Atari Master]

Yes, this is true. For once I'm not going to act foolish and not joke around. I'm posting this just so we can discuss something interesting for once.

Before I continue I want you all to take a look at those PDAs. You know, those little computers? This little thing is about the size of a video game controller and yet, has 64 megs of ram and etc. I know some people who own full size computers that are weaker than this.

A while back in a magazine Nintendo stated that its almost impossble to make gaming technology any better than it is. Well, there lying...

If a PDA can hold 64 Megs of Ram. What do you think an entire system can actually hold? What kind of processor can it hold? And what kind of video card can it hold? Thats right, alot! System can probably be 5 times better than companies lead us to believe.

I mean look at the Xbox. If a PDA can hold so much in so little? What can a system this size hold?

This is what happened to GForce. They admitted that they make a video card and sell it high price. They admittied it. They stated that when they have issued a Gforce 2. Gforce 3 is already finished. They would sit on it for 6 months.

The only thing I can truely say is that gaming companies want to make cheap systems. They wait untill the price of some hardware drops and buy that. So soon enough the system's hardware is considerd outdated.

If say, Sega went with the best technology at the time. The Dreamcast would probably be as strong as the Gamecube. And what would have happened if the Gamecube, Xbox, would have went with the most modern technology? We would have something great right now!

So what do you think on this issue?

[PuddWakkr]

I think if they went with the most recent technology I couldn't afford any system. Putting 2ghz P4's and 200gig HD in a console would kick ohh so much booty, but would also kick me out of house and home.
I think the current systems are doing fine power wise and are reasonably affordable.

[Atari Master]

PuddWakkr said:

I think if they went with the most recent technology I couldn't afford any system. Putting  2ghz P4's and 200gig HD in a console would kick ohh so much booty, but would also kick me out of house and home.
I think the current systems are doing fine power wise and are reasonably affordable.

I'm just saying that its a big lie at the moment. Nintendo said that it was hard to make something better when they know damn well they can.

They should make systems with upgradeable hardware.

Xbox had the right idea with the RAM add ons.

[Ze_ro]

Atari Master said:

They should make systems with upgradeable hardware.

Computers already do this just fine. The main reason people stay with consoles is because they don't have to worry about minimum system requirements, IRQ settings, Windows crashing on you, or anything like that... with a Gamecube, you just put the game in and play.

Luckily, most systems that have had expansions have only had a few. Like the memory expansion for the N64... you never needed to know how much memory you had, you either had the Expansion Pak or you didn't. Having to know if you had 64MB's or 128MB's would take away a lot of the ease of console gaming.

--Zero

[Atari Master]

I ment a choice for the player. If they wanted the games to run faster etc. I mean easy to upgrade hardware.

Sure would be good in the future of games. Since basicly alot of games will be online then, and a fast system would be a good thing.

[CPUWIZ]

Slap me.

basicly = basically

[shep]

I don't like hardware expansion ideas outside (or inside however you look at it) of perihpreals, unless its along the lines of n64/Saturn style expansion pak. Part of the reason for console gaming is its easse of use, and its less confusing than PCs, as someone above mentioned

[Atari Master]

CPUWIZ said:

Slap me.  

basicly = basically

Oh God I'm about to slap the hell out of you...

Anyway. Earlier someone said that the cost of a system using modern technology would cost alot. I'm going to prove that in a way, wrong. We can afford it. I'll tell you why they wont let us tommorow. I'm tired. Lol

[Atari-Jess]

No way, do you know how many people dont buy consoles
today just because of how much they cost NOW?!

If they just gave us the fancier stuff it would end up only catering
to the people with high-end lifestyles

The idea of upgradeable consoles is foolish for MANY reasons

if you have to upgrade it, what about those people with lower end jobs
they dont want to have to buy upgrades they want to use that console
to its last released game and beyond, if I bought a console i dont want
to not be able to play those later games (look at the 2600 for example!)
just because I dont want to shell out another 200 dollars!

If i wanted that I would buy myself a computer!
(mind you my computer is fairly low end now-a-days)

I cant even afford a USED game cube let alone one that cost even
50 dollars more.

And besides, lower cost yet higher technology is a near profitless
business, there are VERY FEW businesses that are successful and use
that kind of a business model. (feel free to prove me wrong)

Also, why use the SUPER FANTASTICAL HYPER CHARGED MEGA tech
when you can MILK it by releasing another system that isn't that high
businesses think on a long term thing, look at nintendo that company
is damn well ancient (well, kinda) and you dont see it changing their
flagship product every week or so, leave that to the record companies
or the dollar stores

I hate having to buy addons and I know many people agree with me
a console is good because you DONT have to upgrade them, thats why
you can sell them for 5 years and be merry.

But I am interested in seeing your counterpoints.

ta-ta till tomorrow eh?

[Atari Master]

Heh, its the same way with companys Jess. They don't go with there full potential nor do they charge fair prices on there products. This is why systems are released somewhat out dated. You can buy a 64 MB video card for a good price, same with a 128. When you get to the 200s range your talking 300 bucks or up... And its sad people don't realize that a there charging a ton of extra money for adding around two little square things on to a video card... If they would be fair with there prices you might acually see a system with up to date hardware.

Companys don't want to get off of there lazy asses untill they've sold enough of the regular stuff and then they make a new one. Pretty soon you'll be able to get a 256 Video card cheap. And a 512 will be all the hype...

So basically what I am saying is... Video card companys are price jacking idiots when they know they can live with a lower price.

[chrisbid]

but video card companies do spend a shitload of money on R&D to develop even more powerful hardware. They have at least one new product a year, where console companies only have one major upgrade every five years.

[Atari Master]

chrisbid said:

but video card companies do spend a shitload of money on R&D to develop even more powerful hardware.  They have at least one new product a year, where console companies only have one major upgrade every five years.

Still. They should use the more modern technology. I wouldn't doubt if they couldn't make a deal with those companys to get the hardware cheaper.

[CPUWIZ]

companys ?

* gets slapped again *

[Atari Master]

CPUWIZ said:

companys ?    

* gets slapped again *  

Ok, ok... So I mess up alot. I went to a bad school for 5 years, give me a break... I'm still trying to improve my grammer. Take a look at some of my original posts from a year ago and see how much I've improved.

*slap*

[Inky]

Has this turned into the sissygirl slapfight thread?

[Atari Master]

Inky said:

Has this turned into the sissygirl slapfight thread?

Yup.

*Slaps Inky*

[CPUWIZ]

grammer

* slaps himself *

[kisrael]

Hopefully I'm not coming into this too late:

First off, "Atari Master" should get a selfslap for not picking a better subject lines; you should be able to more or less know what a thread is about by reading the subject line.

Portable gaming devices have to deal with:
*power consumption - esp. on higher end chips, which ties in with heat
*size
*cost - this is one of the biggest issues for Nintendo
*media - currently more or less limited to carts

Nintendo has always leaned towards the conservative side of things with the gameboy and is the market leader for it. Higher power contenders have come and gone while even the four-shades-of-grey but portable and easy on the batteries original GB kicked much butt.

Interesting to see if Sony's new entry turns up the heat though, I'm sure Nintendo is a bit complacent.

Expandable systems are a bad idea. N64's "expansion pack" is about as far as it should go. Consoles beat higher powered PCs partially because developers only have to code for a single standard of hardware.

[Nukey Shay]

Consoles will never seem like they are using "current" technology, because by the time they debut (after designing the system, programming it, releasing dev kits to third parties, and creating a startup library of games)...it's already outdated. Technology just moves too fast

[MegaManFan]

You know what? I'm okay with that. I buy consoles BECAUSE they are instantly outdated. At least I know every game I buy for it will work and that I'll never have to open it up, yank out the video card, and put in a new one.

[Nukey Shay]

Yep. I mean if the reverse were true, there wouldn't be an AtariAge site at all. Nobody would give the outdated consoles a moment's thought

[ElectricTroy]

The N64 was upgradeable with the RAM expansion, but few games used it, and many owners never botherered. Upgradeable consoles don't go off well, because people don't want the hassle/expense of add-ons.

Xbox was highly advanced for its time of release. It also caused Microsoft to lose money on each one sold. See, companies have to create a balance:
- power
- but not too expensive (more than $300) or else people won't buy it

That's why consoles are typically a generation behind PCs in technology. They have to be cheap, which means they have to use older processors, less RAM, and so on.

[PuddWakkr]

Quote

You know what? I'm okay with that. I buy consoles BECAUSE they are instantly outdated. At least I know every game I buy for it will work and that I'll never have to open it up, yank out the video card, and put in a new one.

*standing ovation*
(hope I spelled that right...don't want to get slapped )
Every game I buy for my console works in my console. Don't have to dumb down the textures or suffer from choppy framerate. Upgradeable hardware is not a good idea. My console games are every bit as enjoyable as the computer games out now and I get to play them on my couch in front of my big screen. Just because the hardware is not the latest doesn't bother me in the least.

[ElectricTroy]

MegaManFan said:

You know what?  I'm okay with that.  I buy consoles BECAUSE they are instantly outdated.  At least I know every game I buy for it will work and that I'll never have to open it up, yank out the video card, and put in a new one.

I agree! I have 3 PC games that refuse to work, because I my computer is too old. It's frustrating to waste your money on osftware, and then find out it doesn't work.

As least with a Gamecube or PS2 I *know* the game will work.

[Nukey Shay]

And the first cpu's that crossed the 1gz mark were just appearing (if you had $$$) when the top 3 current consoles were just being designed. So as far as specs go, they weren't very outdated at the time.