Consoles to allow user to define quality of experience, next gen? • Gaming • Digital Foundry • Eurogamer.net

Machetazo 1 Jan 2010 18:16:11 6,373 posts
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DF takes a great deal of interest in the outcomes of porting processes, and the way in which games are constructed, and the result of a developer's work on a game. In some cases, the resource has explained immediately noticeable differences between platforms, where the game just doesn't measure up on a system (Lost Planet PS3 springs to mind, as a game probably best enjoyed on its original platforms). Maybe, then, that version suffers of bad word of mouth, it releases later, and sales aren't great.

Really, though, I'm just interested to see whether it's thought to be a good idea to offer the player the opportunity to decide where the power of their console is spent in a game - do you want clearer graphics, with tradeoffs in other areas, such as load times, for instance? Would you prefer a faster load, at a cost of visual fidelity?
The aim would be to reduce detracting elements in effect on the play experience. If the player made that call, of how they'd prefer their game to play, then more copies would be sold perhaps, overall.
Could a simple slider-based UI enable such a thing for a console, and would it be a good idea - is my question.

An article I spotted on a similar thought is this one, in which the author focuses on PC titles from their collection, and considers the effect that the diversity of power in PCs used to play games, has on the understanding of the world, and narrative construct, therein. In particular, they ask: "Should the game experience only be viewed as canon, when its being run on Maximum settings".

Jazzy_Geoff 1 Jan 2010 18:31:26 8,068 posts
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assuming such I thing is possible, it seems benign enough. However as an indicator of a burgeoning trend I don't like it. I play on consoles because I don't have the time or inclination to piss around with the hassle and expense of bleeding edge PC games and the associated necessary equipment required to play them.

Jazzy_Geoff 1 Jan 2010 18:35:22 8,068 posts
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we can already upgrade hard drives and network adaptors, how long before RAM and processor upgrades are available, no doubt based on proprietary tech and sold at a super premium?

danathjo 1 Jan 2010 18:36:09 8,294 posts
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yeah, surely with the success of the Wii console makers know that over complicating their system wouldn't be in their interest at all?

I know this gen has had Sony and MS's systems turn more into a PC more than ever before but this would be step too far/in the wrong direction IMHO

Obiwanshinobi 4 Jan 2010 03:14:20 870 posts
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They pretty much already turned console gaming into poor man's PC gaming. I dislike "the worst of two worlds" idea. Why should I polish their turd for them, when I can't even upgrade the hardware or hope for mods to come? That's their job to make good use of the hardware at disposal.

Jazzy_Geoff wrote:
we can already upgrade hard drives and network adaptors, how long before RAM and processor upgrades are available, no doubt based on proprietary tech and sold at a super premium?

This is nothing new. Capcom used to bundle "special" versions of certain Saturn games with a 4MB RAM cartridge (Vampire Savior). The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask required the Expansion Pak. Final Fantasy XI for the PS2 wouldn't run without an HDD.