Next-Gen Console Ideas

While Nintendo has been rumored to be working on an HD version of the Wii and Sony and Microsoft has been looking forward to adding accessories to their current generation consoles, I'm wondering, like you guys, what will we be expecting in the next-generation consoles?

Nintendo's Wii is a sure hall of famer to the short-listed best consoles ever produced. With its unique motion-sensing feature, many non-gamers jumped into console gaming. However, as a sign of aging and due to lack of future technological advances, third party developers tend to sway away from the idea that it is a console for hardcore gamers. Meanwhile, if you're a casual gamer, do you turn into Microsoft XBox 360 or Sony Playstation 3 for gaming? Graphics-wise, you'll probably jump into buying one of these consoles but fun factor? An obvious answer would be "No". That is why both these companies are now targeting the casual audience and creating accessories for them.

Now I'd like to give some ideas on how next-generation consoles are made up of?

Hardware

Storage-wise, I'd say go embrace the Blu-Ray technology. Content-heavy games are always in demand for most gamers. So 25GB of pure gaming content is a necessity for the console. Graphics-wise, I'd say go for the average - way above Wii's hardware, definitely at par with PS3's graphics. Even until now, only very few games were able to maximize PS3's graphics hardware. Controller-wise, now this is something to be treated with utmost confidentiality. Wiimote must have been kept secret for the longest time for us gamers and the gaming media. Chances are, the success of the console may be heavily dependent on the controller and its capabilities. But since Wii did it with necessity, so must the next-gen console be - motion-sensing and vibration. Many of you wouldn't agree to some of the add-ons I would like to have but anyway here are some of it:

Indicators - Since all controllers now are wireless, I think it wouldn't hurt if they have some indicators when then battery is running low or providing some information about the game their playing.

Creative buttons - How many games actually use the "Select" button extensively these days? Only a few right? What if we replace some of the buttons we have been used to seeing with sensible ones.

Multi-touch screen - I think its usage would still be a concern but who knows it's just a suggestion.

Games

There are a lot of genres for games nowadays but the gamers I think are still divided into three: social apps, casual and hardcore gamers. Social apps gamers are those who just plug in their pc, log on to Facebook or any site and play social apps. Imagine if the console you're creating is a social app-friendly and has heavy tie-ups on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. Top social apps developers Zynga and Playfish may be involved in the discussion as well. Homebrew games should also be encouraged as well.

Don't you think it's time to boost up campaign for creation of new franchise games for casual and hardcore gamers? I know it is hard to conceptualize games per se and build on it as a franchise but hey third party developers such as Square Enix, EA and Rockstar North. Even Nintendo has to really come up with a new set of franchise games. Mario and Zelda need major revamps, God of War and Halo must be extended more to the casual audience.

Finally, gamers are the most important part of the console business. Interaction through communities is a necessity for its continued success. Continued invention and innovation is the key towards driving that success further.

Playing Final Fantasy thru Emulators

Are you an avid fan of the Final Fantasy series of Square Enix? Or are you a burgeoning fan of the series?

If you are the latter, chances are either you've missed some of the early games of the series or you're missing them and you want to rekindle that good old-fashioned RPG.

Well, here is a list of what I thought of the methods wherein you can play any of the Final Fantasy series.

Emulators
If you have a PC, almost all of the Final Fantasy series are playable thru the help of emulators.

Final Fantasy I
Original: NES, GBA, WonderSwan
Where it can be played: Playstation X (Remake), Mobile

Final Fantasy II
Original: NES, GBA, WonderSwan
Where it can be played: Playstation X (Remake), Mobile

Final Fantasy III
Original: NES, WonderSwan
Where it can be played: DS Lite (Remake)

Final Fantasy IV
Original: NES, SNES, WonderSwan
Where it can be played: DS Lite (Remake), Playstation X (Remake), Moble

Final Fantasy V
Original: SNES
Where it can be played: GBA (Remake), DS Lite (Remake), Playstation X (Remake)

Final Fantasy VI
Original: SNES
Where it can be played: GBA (Remake), Playstation X (Remake)

Final Fantasy VII
Original: PC, Playstation X

Final Fantasy VIII
Original: PC, Playstation X

Final Fantasy IX
Original: PC, Playstation X

Final Fantasy XI
Original: PC (Online)

Final Fantasy XI
Original: Playstation 2

Final Fantasy XII
Original: Playstation 2

Final Fantasy XIII
Original: Xbox 360 (US version), PS3 (Japanese version)

Some things to note:

Playstation X can be played thru emulators either on PC or Sony PSP or thru Playstation 2. I think Playstation 3 is also backward compatible upto Playstation X though I'm not so sure about it.

Playstation 2 can be played thru emulators on PC. As of this writing, only a few PS2 games are working on the PS2 emulators for the PC that I know of though I haven't really tried it yet.

DS can be played thru emulators via PC.

WonderSwan, GBA, NES and SNES can be played thru emulators either on PC, Sony PSP or anything that has the Java application on it. I've tried running it via my Sony k750i mobile phone and it worked (NES I should say).