5 reasons to go next-gen later

by Blake Snow { Oct 19th 2006 at 4:50PM }

We don't need no stinkin' next-gen! Destructoid defines five reasons why gamers should wait between 6-12 months before upgrading to either a Xbox 360, PS3, or Wii. They are in summary:

First year games don't take full advantage of the hardware
Lack of genre choices
Early production units are more faulty
New exclusivity deals may de-value your early purchase
Limited availability of launch units

The op-ed piece does, however, recommend three conditions to buy now: You work in the industry, you wanna be cool, and/or you're rich. Hit the read link for the full interpretation. So any gamers out there still waiting (and plan to wait) to purchase a next-generation console?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Ash @ Oct 19th 2006 4:52PM

why not wait 2 years? then you can get the used games dirt cheap

crono141 @ Oct 19th 2006 4:56PM

or 3, or 4. Then you can get a 360 and a PS3 for under $200.

Well, maybe not a PS3.

EdogLost @ Oct 19th 2006 4:58PM

perhaps you just like games, (like everyone that is reading this article) and you want to play what's new. Sorry ps2 fans, I will back sony for a long time, but they just ran out of games. I had to switch over to the 360 to continue my addiction. Oblivian may not have takken full advantage of the system, but it was damn fun. I don't regret buying that system and I won't regret buying the WII. PS3 might take a wile... for all reasons listed above.

Sam @ Oct 19th 2006 4:59PM

or you can just get them now... why not? Like i'm really gonna wait 2 years to play Gears of War of Resident Evil 5. Gotta be crazy!

serge @ Oct 19th 2006 5:00PM

Why dont we wait till we are grandparents ?!
Anyway 360 been out for a year, and has good games.
Stupid topic.

TopaZ @ Oct 19th 2006 5:03PM

Don't forget the #1 reason to adopt EARLY: first-generation hardware is the easiest to exploit/crack!

joe smith @ Oct 19th 2006 5:03PM

Seems like a good argument to buy a 360 this year.

computer gamer @ Oct 19th 2006 5:06PM

I can counter all 5 (obvious to anyone) reasons with just one to the contary:

1. Life is too damn short, don't wait around for fun to happen... grab it*

*if you have the cash ;)

JodyAnthony @ Oct 19th 2006 5:08PM

my main reason for preordering wii?

Nintendo is my crack.

Kev @ Oct 19th 2006 5:11PM

Reason #6 to wait: I'm still not finished some games I bought for my current gen systems.

:)

Dignan17 @ Oct 19th 2006 5:12PM

I'm ashamed to admit this, but the only thing that gave me pause when preordering my Wii was the fact that I knew it would be white. I don't want a white console. I want that slick glossy black one. Oh well, that's the price of getting this thing so early.

Besides, isn't the whole deal with the price of the Wii that people will buy it now instead of later? And just think, if Nintendo just does one $50 price cut, that's a huge difference and people will go nuts. If Sony drops their price from $600 to $550, nobody is going to care.

Mikeawesome @ Oct 19th 2006 5:12PM

Yeah, my reasoning for getting an Xbox 360 was because "I was going into the industry and I needed to keep up to date"

Real reason? I wanted to look cool, even if it meant standing outside at 4:30 a.m. on a cold November morning. (I also came up empty-handed that day, too).

Almack64 @ Oct 19th 2006 5:14PM

Since after N64 that's pretty much what I've been doing, waiting a least a year before "investing" into a new system. It was a year for Dreamcast (ah my poor dreamcast), 2.5 years for PS2 and I just bought my GC for the fair price of $50. So since I'm constantly "living in the past" I always have plenty of great "new to me games" to choose from. And they're whole lot cheaper too.

Kev @ Oct 19th 2006 5:16PM

Call me superficial if you must but I'm waiting until there's an Onyx or Jet Black Wii. It'll go better with my home theatre and I'm actually sick of all these polar white techno-gadgets.

Monsterbeard @ Oct 19th 2006 5:18PM

See, you look at 360 and you think "man, I can't wait for BioShock, and Halo 3, and Blue Dragon and all those games that will be out...sometime in 2007"
And then with the Wii you think "wow, I can play Zelda at launch and... wait till 2007 for anything else I'll truly love"

and you just sort of get depressed and when March of 2007 comes around and those games are on the horizon you think "well, maybe the 360 will do a price drop soon, and then I'll really get a sweet deal." And then you just keep waiting, wondering when you can truly justify purchasing several hundred dollars worth of fun in a box.

guises @ Oct 19th 2006 5:19PM

Those reasons may be true for most launches, but the fact the the Wii is essentially just like the gamecube says that #1 doesn't apply.

And Zelda's a launch title. If I've got what I want to play already, why would I care about lack of genre choices?

Josh @ Oct 19th 2006 5:21PM

I'll get a Wii on launch day or not entirely based on if Twilight Princess Wii makes the "mirror mode" an option.

Pince @ Oct 19th 2006 5:24PM

I generally game about a year behind the current releases (at least). I rarely buy really new games, unless it is something that I have been excited about for a very long time. I prefer to stalk the internet and various gaming mags reading about the new stuff and formulating a little list of things I want very badly. Once a time of year comes around that I have some extra cash (Xmas money is always nice) I go on a little shopping spree and buy up the stuff I wanted (and, generally, it is all about half as expensive as if I had bought it the year previous).

So yeah, I am biased in thinking this is a good idea, but I think it is true especially for this generation. 360 and PS3 are very very similar, and their really hard-hitting exclusives are yet to be seen (360 has a few coming down the pipeline this year, but PS3 will likely get its real blockbusters in 2007) and many of the capabilities of the systems are largely unknown or untested.

The PS3's list of dangerous unknowns:
-how will its online service work out, will it be better than Live?
-how will the format war work out. will it be worth it to have Blu-ray player or alternatively, can you afford not to have a blu-ray player
-will the sixaxis end up being a silly gimmick or a great addition
-will the price drop
-is there a noticable difference between ps3 and 360 games
etc etc

Wii's list of dangerous unknowns.
-will the new controller style work out
-will Wii get the 3rd party support it needs
-how will online work out
-will the virtual console be reasonable and will titles be worth the asking price
-will the graphics ultimately become a big problem
etc etc

360
-well, its out, so the console is there, but MS is still fine tuning things - HD support, online services, exclusivity between them and the PS3, etc
Beyond that, how the 360 ends up looking has to do a lot with how the PS3 and the Wii work out. Hell, both of them could make the 360 look like shit, or the 360 could end up looking amazing in comparison. All we have now is speculation.

As much as silly fanboys love to claim answers to all of these questions as if they are pure fact, these things will only really be fleshed out with time. The consoles of this generation take some big leaps in very different directions, and no one can really be sure how anything is going to work out.

It is not that there havent been unknowns in other console-wars, but this generation presents many new variables (all 3 have online, HD support issues, huge price issues, new controller schemes, etc) so it may be a better idea for many to wait and see what happens. I know i will. In the meantime, I have games from last year to beat, a console war to watch, and a list of must-haves to make.

shirizaki @ Oct 19th 2006 5:26PM

You try telling this to me, who won 3 X360 games from a contest but has no 360.

I know PD:Zero, PGR3, and Kameo weren't AAA titles, but it pains me everytime I walk into my room to see those games sitting there, taunting me.

I don't adopt the first year solely for #3. Sony's hardware being the perfect example. I wait for the first price break usually, so around the time it happens for the PS3 I'll pick it up.

crono141 @ Oct 19th 2006 5:26PM

I really don't think "mirror mode" is going to matter. its not like all the writing will be backwards, just the dungeons we be flipped (as well as link). And since we have never played this game before, it doesn't matter.

TwilightKnight @ Oct 19th 2006 5:36PM

I already thought of this. I'm waiting for this gen to get get over with so I can get a PS2 for under 40 bucks and all of the games that I want for under 10.

I'm not a 100% Nintendo fanboy in the least, I play my PC more then anything else for example. I just wait on non-Nintendo home consoles until they are extremely cheap and plentiful. I only have enough money to support one current gen console at a time, and quite frankly I NEED my Zelda and Super Smash Bros.

MthdDirector @ Oct 19th 2006 5:39PM

I don't know, Joystiq....

I'm looking forward to a SECOND year of games with the 360, starting with GOW.

Let's talk about the PS3 and Wii "Second Year" ...next November. We'll have more to discuss, I'm sure.

nitefire @ Oct 19th 2006 5:41PM

@17
There is no mirror mode.

They have said that the reason that Link is right handed now is because most people who play the game, play right handed and swing the sword with the right hand.

It would be pretty sad if you based your entire decision on a console based on one unproven, mythical feature of one game (which is bound to be one of the best games regardless)

Me @ Oct 19th 2006 5:52PM

Just for the first reason on the topic posted..... 1. First year games don't take full advantage of the hardware.
The first games that come out might not use the system to its fullest, but then again, that doesn't take place for many years anways. I believe once people play Resistance at home, they will know how badass the PS3 is.

Petrie @ Oct 19th 2006 5:55PM

5 reasons I went next-gen early:

Dead Rising
Saints Row
Oblivion
Gears of War
Live Arcade

Josh @ Oct 19th 2006 6:11PM

The mirror mode exists. It was implemented to make Link right-handed, but it also flips the entire rest of the 3D part of the game around. I'd rather play the game as it was meant to be seen, and if I can't do that with the Wii, well then what other reason to I have to buy one this year?

Maybe for Brawl, if it lives up to Melee...

striderhayasa @ Oct 19th 2006 6:13PM

TOO LAte

My wii is already paid for along with Zelda! I'll be getting Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam, ExciteTruck and maybe Red Steel depending on what the reviews say.

5 reasons to support next gen

1) Zelda Twilight Princess - Kinda tricky there with a current gen game on next gen hardware.

2) Gears of War

3) Virtual Console

4) Online Gaming (Wii Wifi, XBL/XBLA/ Sony's something or other)

5) Backwards Compatibility (I'm looking at you Wii)

Jok3r @ Oct 19th 2006 6:23PM

@#27

Do you have a girlfriend?

(Internet girlfriends don't count)

FSK405K @ Oct 19th 2006 6:48PM

Wow Pince...great post of reflection. Nice to see someone put the real questions out forward, and fanboyproof them. As much as I'd like to take your approach, though, I literally can't wait for Wii, and preordered a PS3. Online of both of those systems could break them, unfortunately.

melophonist @ Oct 19th 2006 6:48PM

Then it raises the argument of "is the Wii next gen or just a pimped out GC?

FSK405K @ Oct 19th 2006 6:58PM

Sony says the next gen starts when they say it does, so neither Wii nor 360 are next gen.

melophonist @ Oct 19th 2006 7:00PM

@ 17, 20, 23
The mirror mode thing would be easy to incorprate into the game, right? It would be prefect for all the left hended gamers out there. I mean to say, would Miyamoto play Zelda right handed on Wii with a left handed character that he created in his own image? I hope that there will be some order online TP lefty style for the lefty gamers.

FSK405K @ Oct 19th 2006 7:02PM

Maybe Nin will learn from EA and enable you to play in mirror mode, optionally, for $4.99...?

Mike @ Oct 19th 2006 7:13PM

Ditto #18.

This list talks about the pitfalls of next gen, but I'm going to wait because of the strength of current gen (which for me is PS2 and DS). Namely, cheap prices and plentiful games of all kinds. Someone who bought a PS2 today could easily get years worth of cheap gaming kicks out of it. Not everyone plays every game on every platform as soon as they're released.

chris @ Oct 19th 2006 7:15PM

tonyhawk and excite truck dont seem like some of the better wii choices
id say monkeyball, rayman, trauma center, elebits & dragonquest are some of the better third party games... then stuff like redsteel, marvel, madden, tonyhawk, excite truck

LaughingTarget @ Oct 19th 2006 7:16PM

Backwards compatibility is a terrible reason to go next gen early. Playing PS1 games on the PS2 had no advantages (smooth shading or whatever that mode didn't do anything to my PS1 games). Playing Gamecube games on the Wii or PS2 games on the PS3 won't offer any advantages either. Why spend $600 on a machine that you're going to use games designed for a $130 one?

Get the unit AFTER there are enough software titles to warrant the purchase. I got burned on the 360, and I'll never go launch again.

Number One @ Oct 19th 2006 7:35PM

This is all pretty much a "reasons not to buy the ps3" to me.

And they are Goddamn right.

SuicideNinja @ Oct 19th 2006 7:44PM

Honestly, I wouldn't have bought an Xbox 360 until recently if I didn't get it as a gift last year. Splinter Cell, Dead Rising, and some earlier titles are half price now, so it seems like a good time to buy. Then again...I wouldn't have my HDTV if I didn't get the 360 yet...

Resistance seems interesting, but not enough to warrant a $500 stress-inducing-futile-attempt-resulting-in-going-home-empty-handed purchase. I'll wait until FFXIII comes out to buy one, as the PS3's current lineup is far from exciting.

Metroid Prime 3 MIGHT get me to purchase a Wii sooner than later, but I don't plan on going to a couple dozen stores to find one. If it's there, great. If not, I can wait. I don't even think MP3 will be available at launch anyway.

OS Perry @ Oct 19th 2006 8:57PM

Interesting that most, and I do mean most of these games are out on the 360 already... or will be out before PS3. Resistance Fall of Man, OK, we have GOW. List pasted from teamxbox.com
http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/12045/PlayStation-3-...

1. Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII (Ubisoft) Already on Xbox 360
2. Call of Duty 3 (Activision) Already on Xbox 360
3. Fight Night Round 3 (Electronic Arts) Already on Xbox 360
4. The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion (Bethesda Softworks) Already on Xbox 360
5. F.E.A.R. (Vivendi Universal Games) Also on Xbox 360
6. Full Auto 2: Battlelines (Sega) Already on Xbox 360
7. Genji: Days of the Blade (Sony) Exclusive PS3
8. Madden NFL 07 (Electronic Arts) Already on Xbox 360
9. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance (Activision) Already on Xbox 360
10. Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire (Namco Bandai Games)
11. NBA 07 (Sony) Already on Xbox 360
12. NBA 2K7 (2K Sports) Already on Xbox 360
13. Need For Speed Carbon (Electronic Arts) Also on Xbox 360
14. NHL 2K7 (2K Sports) Already on Xbox 360
15. Resistance: Fall of Man (Sony) Exclusive PS3
16. Ridge Racer 7 (Namco Bandai) Already on Xbox 360
17. Sonic the Hedgehog (Sega) Also on 360
18. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 07 (Electronic Arts) Already on Xbox 360
19. Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas (Ubisoft) Already on Xbox 360
20. Tony Hawk's Project 8 (Activision) Already on Xbox 360
21. Untold Legends: Dark Kingdom (Sony Online Entertainment) Exclusive PS3

3 PS3 titles. So the PS3 has a handful of PS3 titles at launch that aren't on 360. I can understand wanting one later on, when the price drops and some must have exclusives come out, but come PS3 launch day... Whatever. Just my 2 cents.

Vlad @ Oct 19th 2006 9:09PM

suuuch a good piece by Joystiq, this is what i've been telling everyone i know. While I think jumping on a Wii now is still a good idea (lots of good games, still pretty cheap, novelty factor, abundant at launch), I'm waiting for next year for my PS3.

May I add a couple other reasons for waiting on a PS3? how about all the great games that are still out/coming out for the PS2? Okami is still only about a month old, and it's one of the best PS2 games ever made, FFXII comes out in 12 days, Guitar Hero II in 19 days, and finally God of War II in the spring. plus...I don't know about you guys, but there's still at least 3 or 4 older PS2 games that I never got around to that I'm coming back for (Prince of Persia 3, Rez, Shadow Hearts II, etc). I'll be just fine waiting a year for PS3.

matt @ Oct 19th 2006 9:19PM

I buy all my systems a good year if not more into thier life spans. I almost always get a good hundred bucks off the launch price and several good games off ebay for dirt cheap, plus if its a sony, you know the first 2-3 versions will be faulty somehow...especially this beast they plan on launching. Even the 360, I am tempted right now, but am in hopes that this coming year will bring in a built in hd dvd player instead of the lame external drive. But I must say, anything that Nintendo has ever put out has never had any major issues that i can recall. Add that with the fairly cheap price of the wii and a huge library of dirt cheap used gamecube games and you have a pretty tempting package. Either way, I am currently pleased with my pc, Oblivion, Call of Duty 2, Battlefield 2...So far every "next gen" game looks better on my pc than on the 360 and are free to play and mod as i please with no extra cost. So i think ill wait awhile and see :)

tugboat @ Oct 19th 2006 9:21PM

I have never purchased a console at launch. I always wait until there is a wide selection of games, and many used games for under $20. I love gaming, but whether I play it the week it comes out, or two years down the line makes no difference to me. I still believe that purchasing a Dreamcast for $15 was one of the best decisions I ever made.

My little brother, well, he is a different story. He has purchased Xbox 360, DS, Advance, Advance SP and PSP all at launch. Then to top it off, he already has a PS3 and Wii on preorder! Not to mention, as soon as a hot game or accessory comes out, he has it. Where he finds money to do all of this, I have no idea, but to me it is a huge waste. But when it comes time for him to buy a car, he will be pretty pissed he has $5,000 worth of videogames and the only driving he will be doing is in GT4.

LaughingTarget @ Oct 19th 2006 9:28PM

OS Perry -

Make that 4 exclusives. Full Auto 2 is a different title than the Full Auto on the 360. It is a sequel.

justchris @ Oct 19th 2006 9:54PM

@FSK405K, according to Sony, next-gen starts on 11/17, when the PS3 releases. The Wii releases on 11/19, 2 days after the PS3. So, by Sony's logic, Wii is next gen, but 360 is not.

Which will hopefully teach us a lesson about listening to Sony.

AoE @ Oct 19th 2006 9:55PM

Sooo the 360 shouldn't be on that list? I mean with the exception of the evolving exclusivity deals, which is an issue regardless of the year in which you buy a console... the last 11 months have worked out most of the rest of those kinks on the 360...

JAC @ Oct 19th 2006 10:21PM

Nintendo console systems from the first batch are never faulty (unlike what we've come to expect from Sony and MSoft) I still have my launch N64 which works without a hitch, as well as my SNES and my GCube. I would never buy a Playstation or an X-box at launch, but I will get my Wii without hesitating because of initial quality issues.

Brandon @ Oct 20th 2006 12:45AM

Reason 4 for buying now: YOU JUST WANNA PLAY THE GODDAMN GAMES!!! All of those reasons don't make up for the fact that I wanna play Zelda as early as possible. =D

Matt Rix @ Oct 20th 2006 12:55AM

This theory could apply to pretty much anything in life... Why not just sit around and play NES and nothing that came after it? It's gotta be cheaper to do that, right?

The basic logic is like this:
[Enjoyment from next gen games] > [Enjoyment from current gen games]

Therefore I will get more enjoyment over the period of a year if I play next gen games, rather than current gen games.

...which is worth the extra $100 or $200 to me.

Jeff @ Oct 20th 2006 2:02AM

Im still waiting to pick up the 360, honestly because there hasnt been any games I really must have. I will pick one up in November for gears of war. There is no way im even trying to get a ps3 out of the gate, im sure they will all break down and $600 is way too much money.