Handheld gaming on the rise...it's catching up!

[Jupiter_x]

I have often wondered:

1. Will there come a day when handheld games look just as good as console games?
2. Will Handhelds and consoles become one?

Eventually there could possibly come a day when the Companies (ie:Sony, MS, Nintendo) release just one single system that has all the latest greatest visuals, memory capacity, hooks up to your TV, includes wireless controller ports, but also has a small LCD screen and on board controls that can be tucked away or covered up when in "console mode", yet still be small enough to stick your pocket and play anywhere?

Think of it as a Console/Handheld hybrid as it were!

Well, it seems to be happening at an alarming rate! Handhelds are getting more powerful and Consoles are getting smaller and smaller....PStwo anybody?
Handhelds of the past have usually been at least 2-3 generations behind the current consoles. The GBA was a 16-32bit hybrid with visuals pretty much like Snes or (2d) PS1 games.
Now with the DS and PSP, the generation gap is narrowing! The crazy thing is, the current handhelds today are only 1/2 to 1 generation behind our home consoles! In fact Sony’s PSP is so close that it almost keeps up with PS2, and it too can even play movies, music and browse the web, among other things...and fits in your pocket...incredible!
Now, while most people today are bashing and cursing Nintendo’s handheld the "DS". In the relative scheme of things, the DS is also incredible. Just look what this thing can do.... it's an N64 in the palm of your freakin hand, has a touch screen, soon to have internet.... Wow!
DS is in fact inferior in most ways to PSP and for those who bash the DS, think about it this way! If PSP never came out the DS would be the top dog in terms of handheld gaming and power.

I've posted some images to compare the visuals between DS/GC as well as PSP/PS2!




DS
http://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/568/568227/super-mario-64-ds-20041122053850100.jpghttp://dsmedia.ign.com/ds/image/article/568/568227/super-mario-64-ds-20041122053837553.jpg

GC
http://cubemedia.ign.com/cube/image/mariosunshine_0614_gcn_ss25.jpg

PSP http://pspmedia.ign.com/psp/image/article/601/601688/metal-gear-acid-20050405000116689.jpg

PS2
http://ps2media.ign.com/media/previews/image/mgs11/mgs2_1.jpg

[Brendon]

I remember making a post a while back concerning the coming of retinal projection technology, if anyone else can find it that would be great.

THAT is the future and will make both handhelds and televisions obsolete.

[Jupiter_x]

I remember making a post a while back concerning the coming of retinal projection technology, if anyone else can find it that would be great.

THAT is the future and will make both handhelds and televisions obsolete.

Do you mean this one???


Posted by: Brendon
I have all the bananas
Registered Member

Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: auckland/New Zealand
Posts: 201

The future is here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3647437.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3647437.stm)

It seems that all current ideas about the next few generations of consoles are being rendered null and void.

Reguardless of being seemingly from a Sci-fi universe, the idea of retinal projection is simply awesome in what it could mean for games. Current ideas of VR setups serve no purpose any more, clunky moniters for each eye care replaced with super light lasers, and given enough power this means that multiplayer on one console no longer interfares.

And before anyone says that working consumer models are 20 or more years away, the reality is that the first working unit of the future soldier programme (US marines are going to be like predators, it's true) is projected to be operational by 2006, I'm willing to bet the military will accelerate the research.

I just can't wait.

[Mochan]

1. Will there come a day when handheld games look just as good as console games?

Probably not.

2. Will Handhelds and consoles become one?

I hope not, if it means higher unit price and turning your handheld into your controller.

Eventually there could possibly come a day when the Companies (ie:Sony, MS, Nintendo) release just one single system that has all the latest greatest visuals, memory capacity

Good idea but it's not gonna happen as long as the world follows greedy capitalist ideals.

As for retinal projection, the thought still scares me, to be honest.

[GameLegend]

Highly unlikely, so keep dreaming...
But being able to play, umm PSP games on PS2 or PS3. Thats cool! But Nintendo has already shown that before. I bet that have something like that planned for Gamecube or Revolution. I hope Sony does something similar too.