A debate on should next gen consoles support custom gpu cards or ram slots.

It goes directly against what consoles have always addressed, and that is a form of gaming that is accessible to many. This would bring up issues with developers and publishers as well, as it would severely limit the consoles userbase that are capable of playing such games. Whether they make games scalable or not could solve the problem, but hypothetically, I just don't see it working.

So, you want a PC instead??

It would be interesting, but I doubt either system will choose that path. I remember when Sega was adding hardware updates to their consoles, with the Sega CD add-on, or the 32X attachment, but neither of those two pieces actually caught on compared to the sales of a stand-alone unit. I think there is also a lot of hype surrounding the launch of a new system. I think this is why Sony went and teamed up with a few companies to develop something new with their cell processor, to actually have the ability to help performance, no matter the other limitations, with ram, and so forth.I think that's what we'll see next gen, especially from Microsoft. They'll probably try to either partner up with IBM, or INtel, and have some monster processor, team up with AMD, or NVida for their graphics chip, and probably have sufficient ram. Maybe this time they'll provide enough ram, and a bigger storage format. I remember reading an article, where the VP of the gaming division was talking to one of the head guys in the development of the 360, and they initially were going to only have 256mb for the system, but with the pressure from the R&D team,decided to go with 512mb. This cost them over $10 million at the time. I think it was worth it though. I can't imagine the restraints it might have had with only 256mb.

what an awful idea

the whole point of a console is to be a standarized platform.

I would say no, since doing this would completely destroy the purpose of a console. Iantheone

/thread.

Just get a pc if you want to do these things Tc.

So you want a PC?

no, it would defeat the whole idea of a console in the first place

So, basically, you want consoles to become PCs? Because that's what I'm getting from this post. :?

They've already had both of these. The jaguar and genesis let you clip on expansion mini consoles that added graphics processors, and the n64 had a memory expansion pack.

None of those turned out too well.

They've already had both of these. The jaguar and genesis let you clip on expansion mini consoles that added graphics processors, and the n64 had a memory expansion pack.

None of those turned out too well.

topgunmv

the memory expansion pack worked pretty well.

I dont think it would turn out well, I can see them trying it on a test group, or proposing the idea at E3 and monitoring people's reaction on game sites and blogs. But I dont think people will be so kean to the idea.

So basically you want consoles to be PCs?

[QUOTE="topgunmv"]

They've already had both of these. The jaguar and genesis let you clip on expansion mini consoles that added graphics processors, and the n64 had a memory expansion pack.

None of those turned out too well.

theuncharted34

the memory expansion pack worked pretty well.

There were a fair amount of games that supported it, but the ones that really took advantage of it could be counted on one hand.

I think something like having all consoles come with a hard drive, and each drive having a minimum of say 10 gigs of cache for games would be more beneficial. I know all ps3s come with one, but you can bet multiplats would look better if they were standard on the 360 as well.

[QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

[QUOTE="topgunmv"]

They've already had both of these. The jaguar and genesis let you clip on expansion mini consoles that added graphics processors, and the n64 had a memory expansion pack.

None of those turned out too well.

topgunmv

the memory expansion pack worked pretty well.

There were a fair amount of games that supported it, but the ones that really took advantage of it could be counted on one hand.

I think something like having all consoles come with a hard drive, and each drive having a minimum of say 10 gigs of cache for games would be more beneficial. I know all ps3s come with one, but you can bet multiplats would look better if they were standard on the 360 as well.

it really doesn't matter. if you wanted a game that needed the expansion pack, it either came with the game or cost $20. this wasn't an $100 add on.

No. I enjoy being able to buy a console & not have to worry about anything else. Get a PC if you're looking for customization.

TC you see them as an add-on, but the inherent flaw in your logic is whether or not they will sell enough to make back what was spent on R&D and marketing. You stress the choice, but in the face of that choice, what if most choose for the "barebones" system? It would put us right back in the neat and tidy square one.

[QUOTE="topgunmv"]

[QUOTE="theuncharted34"]

the memory expansion pack worked pretty well.

theuncharted34

There were a fair amount of games that supported it, but the ones that really took advantage of it could be counted on one hand.

I think something like having all consoles come with a hard drive, and each drive having a minimum of say 10 gigs of cache for games would be more beneficial. I know all ps3s come with one, but you can bet multiplats would look better if they were standard on the 360 as well.

it really doesn't matter. if you wanted a game that needed the expansion pack, it either came with the game or cost $20. this wasn't an $100 add on.

It was 30$. About the cost of a memory card. A lot of people didn't get those either.

What? I don't car.

I think its called a PC.;)

Hardware is CHEAP and has been for years and years...Developers can put about the best hardware in thats available if they wanted at current prices.

Console hardware add-ons died with the N64 and it's better left this way.

While special memory expansions and similar could work, they would also divide the market and that's the last thing Sony, MS and Nintendo want.

Although I did believe that Kinect will come with some more RAM which would be used for 1080p res.

Short of it, no. Long of it, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

But what happens if pc boys are tired of building pc's and settle down have a famliy, or just to busy with university or what ever the case is and just simply wishes to just enjoy consoles with choice! would that bother you. Well what would you wish for? a console that is internal and connot be changed. or choice Below are some trick questions that will result on few things, are you a "gamer" "fan" "pro" or "family orientated person,lorddaggeroff

I would say no, since doing this would completely destroy the purpose of a console. Iantheone

No, but I wouldn't mind an expansion slot for the potential upgrade at a later time not unlike the N64.

"I care becuase i want choice"

what this should mean

nope, i am not paying 200 every 2 months to get better hardware no thanks pal im stuck with my pc as it is , , can hardly afford to buy memory for the thing right now with 3ds and psp 2 lurking -3ds on preorder and no im not gonna can it for psp 2 those who do will regret it ,

No, that would be dumb, the great thing about consoles is how simple they are, you just pop in a game and it runs.

I can use a computer, I can build a computer, but I use computers for doing things I want a computer to do, I don't want them to become one and the same.

I want the Ps3 to be as complex as consoles get, allow the user to insert his own hdd if he wants, but if we have upgrades we begin down the Sega 32x route, and that didn't work out.

if you want that, then why not just buy a pc? If they make that, you can bet your mom on that they will probably do some 3rd party lockout crap, and sell you an overpriced and outdated piece of hardware. Like Apple when you think about it :P

Well the N64 did have expanable memory so it could work...

Offering a cheap upgrade rather than an entire expensive new console might be a good idea.

Great idea TC and I'm surprised at the negative backlash in the comments.

Maybe most of you forgot, but N64 DID EXACTLY THIS with the memory expansion pack.

I remeber when I bought Turok 2 and it supported the feature. If you wanted to, you could buy the memory pack for $30 which you would plug into the bottom of the console. It double the memory from 4GB to 8 GB(don't laugh, this was alot for a console back then!)

With Turok 2, it gave you higher resolution and a better frame rate. I played it both ways and there was a very noticeable difference in resolution and framerate.

So contrary to what some of you are saying. This did not mess up development, or cause confusion, or cause problems for those who didn't want it. For the games that supported the feature, it worked great. For those who didn't want it, they could play the game in normal mode with no problems as it was never mandatory for any game. It gave people choice and it worked perfectly.

I actually think this would work even better today than it did then. The premium GPU's or extra memory could allow games to run at true 1080p with more AA, better frame rates, etc. For those who want it and are willing to spend the money, they'll get that extra juice. For those who don't will get the same experience they would have gotten anyways. Everybody gets what they want:D

OH HELL NO!!!

That's going too far into PC territory. Keep consoles as consoles.

no. your introducing a whole raft of new problems like 1) devs need to develop for more hardware. optimising would become insane. 2) 3rd party lock out. on the PC it works due to competition. on a console it would be a cold day in hell before they allow that competition. it would be sony/MS/ninty sanctioned GPUs only. the potential for complete rip off is obscene. 3) console games would have a full list of system requirements. goodbye simplicity. 4) a console is a finely tuned and balanced machine. adding more GPU power will get conter productive very quickly. you can see it on PCs with slow dual core CPUs and 6970s....its just a silly spec to have. 5) further increase in the cost of gaming. the temptation would be there for new releases every year and making some games exclusive to the newer cards is also a constant temptation. sure its a PS4 game but do you have the right PS4? i could go on. but the core components of a console should remain a constant for its entire life. upgrading things like a HDD or controller or something is fine but the ram, CPU, GPU, mobo should not change until the next gen. if your not happy with the performance of a console or want to be on the bleeding edge of technology then get a PC. adding full upgradability to a console doesnt solve any problem worth solving in the console market (i.e being on the bleeding edge. the mass market doesnt give a toss about the bleeding edge).osan0

This. People usually tend to see this in the "Wow, this would really be cool, bro" way. The moment they get custom hardware mods the most of the purpose of a console disappears. Better getting a PC if that was the case.

Great idea TC and I'm surprised at the negative backlash in the comments.

Maybe most of you forgot, but N64 DID EXACTLY THIS with the memory expansion pack.

I remeber when I bought Turok 2 and it supported the feature. If you wanted to, you could buy the memory pack for $30 which you would plug into the bottom of the console. It double the memory from 4GB to 8 GB(don't laugh, this was alot for a console back then!)

With Turok 2, it gave you higher resolution and a better frame rate. I played it both ways and there was a very noticeable difference in resolution and framerate.

So contrary to what some of you are saying. This did not mess up development, or cause confusion, or cause problems for those who didn't want it. For the games that supported the feature, it worked great. For those who didn't want it, they could play the game in normal mode with no problems as it was never mandatory for any game. It gave people choice and it worked perfectly.

I actually think this would work even better today than it did then. The premium GPU's or extra memory could allow games to run at true 1080p with more AA, better frame rates, etc. For those who want it and are willing to spend the money, they'll get that extra juice. For those who don't will get the same experience they would have gotten anyways. Everybody gets what they want:D

mztazmz

Custom hardware on a console

Ahahahahahahahahhahahaha

You'll pay for their marked up hardware and you'll like it.

Ram slots... only if a game requiring extra ram would come with it :)

no,

having the chips built in and not on seperate boards is has faster transfer speeds, once you add connectors you add bottlenecks

having different configurations will also mean deteriorating stability, 1 game might not run perfectly across the different systems

its just complicates things when the best part of consoles are simplification