*DISCLAIMER: I SWEAR IN THIS ENTRY, A-FUCKING-LOT. (Fair warning so you cant whine about it after reading it, I'm angry, get over it)*
Down the grapevine I've heard that, if Gears of War 3 happens. It won't happen until Next Gen. NEXT GEN. Jesus christ we're just tapping into this gen. It's finally gotten to the point that the people who want this shit, the people who bust their asses 40 hours a week putting up with ridiculous bullshit for bullshit pay just to BUY the goddamn machine for the hundreds of dollars that it costs can actually afford to buy it and already we're talking about NEXT gen. Sony is already developing the PS4 and I'm sure Xbox is already in the works for their next doorstop, inadequately produced, 67% failure rate right out of the gate piece of crap.
I was lucky, I managed to score a 360 off of my friend, used, for a great price. With games, and an extra controller. (Luckily, just before he learned of the joys of Guitar Hero... so I lucked out pretty good) First run so it's currently one of the 34% that hasn't failed right out of the gate, and I consider my self VERY fortunate for this fact. I was already a couple years behind the 360 bandwagon and chances are there will only be a handful of years left in its cycle to begin with. This ENRAGES me. Why the hell do things have to move on so quickly. We're in the middle of a fucking recession and these companies think we can just pull hundreds of dollars out of our asses to entertain ourselves. The companies that make the games are either catching up to the current technology or planning ahead for what's to come? What the hell is that? When the gaming companies can't even take the time to make a proper game for the systems that are currently out because they just want to pump that bitch out and cash in on it. But that is a separate rant for a different day.
I think it's ridiculous that this kind of technology doesn't even have a lifespan of at least a decade, for the kind of money people spend on it (thousands of dollars by the end of it if you add up all the games and controllers and other this and that's that comes with buying a machine that is capable of what these machines are) you would expect that your investment would be worth it, and last. Not to just fail with a fucking red-ring-of-death after a couple of weeks with a warranty that only lasts a year (or three, after outcry forced Microsoft to extend their goddamn warranty) I'm sorry but if I'm paying more than 400 bucks for a fucking box. That shit should be guaranteed for LIFE. Not a year or two, that's BULLSHIT.
Look at the Xbox/PS2. PS2 was introduced in 2000, but by 2007, it was obsolete as the PS3 was being introduced. Unlike Microsoft however, sony still puts games out for the PS2, so I guess you don't have to consider it obsolete but it's certainly more than pointless to buy one. Its pedigree speaks for itself though as it is the highest selling console of all time, having sold over 145 million units. The Xbox, in comparison, was released in 2001 and the 360 was ushered in rather infamously in 2005. That's a 4 year life span for the Xbox and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong but I don't think they continue to make games for original Xbox. It's safe to consider it obsolete. This is typical Microsoft as PC's seem to become obsolete mere months after one another (not Microsoft's fault but I'm playing the blame game here). However, the quality of the 360 was not really assured until their "360 elite" was released with the championing game of the system, Halo 3.
So lets look at it like this, the elite was released in 2007, so a reliable 360 has only existed for a couple of years. I only shudder to think how many people who already payed 400-500 bucks for an xbox pumped out MORE money to buy a 360 elite. These people easily payed more than a thousand dollars just for the bloody BOX. And I wonder just how many of these there were out there. And it's safe to say that they will not even have a good 5 years to enjoy their 360. Their 600+ dollar base investment, pretty much down the drain as soon as Microsoft decides to unveil their newest cash cow, most likely to co-inside with the PS4 whenever it is released. The next gen (I hate that we're already considering that) wait let me take a step back. What will we even call the 'next' gen. THIS gen is "Next Gen". So what will the actual next gen be? Its inevitable, and it will no doubt, be expensive as fuck.
In sum, It just really pisses me off that not just myself but gamers everywhere are basically having their wallets continuously raped. Look at Games Workshop and their "Warhammer" games. I, personally, cannot attest to this but they're vagrant offenders of this as well. I've seen many of my friends continually throw hundreds upon hundreds of dollars at this game just to keep up. Where is the pay-off. When do you draw a line? I suppose, if they keep buying it you have the right to charge whatever you want. But at some point, there has to be a consensus of "okay, fuck you, we're not paying this, for this bullshit."
How long is the next gen going to last? A few years, before buzz of the "Playstation 5's" are coming about and companies are boasting that their highly successful game's sequel won't be available until THAT system comes out. Why don't we reach the potential of what's already out there. Make the most out of what's present in front of us before we worry about the NEXT GENERATION. Let's run this course for all its worth and when there's nothing left, and gaming as an industry begins to stagnate. (Oh wait, too late, games are already stagnating... again, another rant for another day) THEN lets move forward to the next generation and higher possibilities. Technology can continue to grow, but how is this consumerism we all know and love supposed to thrive when the consumers can't even keep up.
Anyway, a little food for thought. Maybe I'll have something more important and focused to say next time but until then...
PEACE
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