Predict: The Next Generation Console Tech

[Barso]

I would imagine there would be alot of angry people if the next gen systems are not BC with their PSN and XBOX live purchases. I know I would be.
I know alot of attitudes are that we should just hold onto our current consoles but we should be able to carry our digital purchases forward with each new console purchase and new generation.
What worries me is with the architecture of NGP, sony won't go with CELL next gen.

 

[AlNom]

I would imagine there would be alot of angry people if the next gen systems are not BC with their PSN and XBOX live purchases.

I wonder about the delayed and non-universal release of Games on Demand titles for Xbox Live Marketplace...

 

[Squilliam]

Emulating Cell would be nigh impossible on anything other than a similar architecture including instruction set.

Doesn't that depend on the outright performance and structure of the next generation architecture? For instance the Cell is 7 SPE + 1 PPE, surely this could be emulated on a PPC7 architecture given they share similar instruction sets because anything that can run on the PPE can be made to run on the SPEs and vice versa, so essentially a far away improved PPE could run everything?

 

[AlphaWolf]

I would imagine there would be alot of angry people if the next gen systems are not BC with their PSN and XBOX live purchases.

I imagine this number is quite small in the overall scheme of things, although they are always a vocal bunch. I'm not spending $500 on a new console to play a few old arcade titles. If the best reason for consumers to buy your new console is because of BC, you've pretty much failed out of the gate.

 

[Xenus]

Plus there is always to option of just doing a quick recompile of the games for the new architectures.

Honestly I would love to see a PS4 with more enhance SPE's and something like a quad core i5 replacing the PPE.

 

[Svensk Viking]

I imagine this number is quite small in the overall scheme of things, although they are always a vocal bunch. I'm not spending $500 on a new console to play a few old arcade titles. If the best reason for consumers to buy your new console is because of BC, you've pretty much failed out of the gate.

But with more and more pushing on digital distribution, it should be a given to carry them over to your new system
I buy all console games on disc, but I can imagine those who got them from Games on Demand, as well as those people getting DLC, to get a bit angry if their new system doesn't support them

 

[AlphaWolf]

But with more and more pushing on digital distribution, it should be a given to carry them over to your new system
I buy all console games on disc, but I can imagine those who got them from Games on Demand, as well as those people getting DLC, to get a bit angry if their new system doesn't support them

Why should it be a given? The games you downloaded will still be on your old console if you really want to play them.

BC isn't going to make or break a console, if they can offer it easily that's fine, if its going to cost them $10 a box... I personally would rather have the $10. I'm sure the developers would rather you buy a new (improved) version of their game instead of the old one.

 

[AlNom]

Somehow, emulating XBLA titles seems rather trivial. Indie games also conform to XNA standards as well.

 

[Sink41]

Wasn't the xbox360 meant to have 256MB RAM but EPIC told them to up it to 512.
That cost them 1 billion$.

I thought they asked devs which they would prefer:

A. 256mb RAM + all 360's have a hard drive
B. 512mb RAM but hard drive is optional

Dev's decided that option B was better. But maybe i'm remembering wrong...

 

[msia2k75]

Depending of the silicon budget Sony will allow for their machine, does anyone think a Geforce GTX 560 class of GPU is possible (at 28nm, not 40nm)?

Reading Mark Rein's comments (I know he's the PR guy so you have to take what he said with a grain salt), i can't help but think he made a stealth wish by saying that:

While the demo was made by only three artists, one rigger, and a number of mocap artists, it did run on three graphics cards. However, Rein stated: "We suspect that with a little bit of optimisation this could even run on a single Ti500 card" [Nirolak's Note: I'm assuming they meant a single GTX 580 since the Ti500 is from 2005.]

Talking about the part in bold.

 

[AlNom]

Why hello thar:

http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=1285469

Posted: March 4, 2011

The Xbox Console Architecture team is hiring for a Graphics hardware architect position.

The team is responsible for defining and delivering next generation console architectures from conception through implementation.

The responsibilities include architecture analysis, key technology selection, architecture specification, communication and collaboration with extended Microsoft teams and partner companies. The ideal candidate should have a broad background in 3D graphics rendering architectures and algorithms (ideally with gaming applications in mind), 3D software pipelines, and physics. The candidate should also have a solid understanding of graphics hardware implementation, including design methodologies and production yield and cost analysis. The successful candidate is expected to have a working knowledge of how state-of-the-art PC and/or console OS, driver and application code is designed and how it interacts with graphics HW/firmware. The ideal candidate will have been the lead architect and/or implementation lead of a 3D graphics core. The candidate must have taken designs from investigation to end-customer shipment during their career.

Physics?

http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=1285472

Senior Architect and Performance Engineer in XBOX Console Architecture Group.

Our group is involved in product definition from early evaluation all the way through high volume manufacturing. The main focus of this position is on performance evaluation and modeling. However, involvement in all aspects of product development regularly occurs. We are looking for someone who is flexible, and wants to be involved with various stages of the product life cycle. During different stages of the product life cycle responsibilities will vary.

 

[kagemaru]

^ Interesting. I guess those rumors of MS shelving their next development can be put to rest.

 

[AlNom]

http://www.linkedin.com/jobs?viewJob=&jobId=1256144

This one at least sounds like they're not done with 360 revisions... hm...

Do you have a passion for leading edge technology? Are you fascinated by the video game industry and Xbox 360? Come join a dynamic engineering team and play a key role in the development and verification of the Xbox and future platforms. We are looking for an experienced Senior Hardware Design/Verification Engineer. You will be responsible for the design verification and qualification of the Xbox console at the component, motherboard, and system levels. You will lead test strategy discussions, develop test methodologies & plans and project-manage qualification cycles.

Xbox 360 Anorexic? :3

I guess those rumors of MS shelving their next development can be put to rest.

I must have missed that one. :s Unless it might have also included another zune?



edit:

The first link above may suggest the next-next generation (the one after the next xbox). I would certainly have expected the next-gen group to have started during this past gen, and not... now.

So perhaps next-gen is already done and they're just waiting for the signal to start manufacturing en-masse. :s Then my question is if they had several designs to cover different starting points in the process tech instead of sticking to a particular performance target and instead looking at the manufacturing side. e.g. if launch process is 40nm, use design A. If 28nm, use scaled up version B.

 

[Squilliam]

Depending of the silicon budget Sony will allow for their machine, does anyone think a Geforce GTX 560 class of GPU is possible (at 28nm, not 40nm)?

Possibly close enough to that level. The GTX 560 does push the power efficiency curve a little and once you move back down towards a smaller die size you're immediately getting a more power efficient processor for the performance, you can see this somewhat with the Radeon hardware of late which has been smaller but more energy/die efficient than the larger Geforce architectures with other process improvements potentially making up the rest of the difference.

Mainly however it depends on what power budget is deemed appropriate, if they are willing to install a 70-100W GPU theres a decent chance that performance will be available.

 

[Blazkowicz]

they will probably want to keep a 128bit bus so it stays cheap, so maybe a smaller version would do for a good console chip?
I'm thinking about a 288SP variant (6 shader clusters)

 

[kagemaru]

I must have missed that one. :s Unless it might have also included another zune?

Nevermind, I looked for the rumor and turns out the rumor was for the PS4:

http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2011/02/15/playstation-4-plans-suspended/

 

[Ruskie]

GOOD!

Epic must have had fingers in this after that GDC presentation

P.S

AL,just so you know you just became famous across internetz with this

 

[Rangers]

^ Interesting. I guess those rumors of MS shelving their next development can be put to rest.

I think those rumors on both cases (Sony and Microsoft) were total bunk more or less. That article was little more than a speculating author at watch.jp.

I'm sure next gen plans are proceeding apace.

AL,just so you know you just became famous across internetz with this

Al is already famous for his pixel counting skills

Xbox 360 Anorexic? :3

A no brainer imo. Look at the huge sales spikes both PS3 and 360 got with the introduction of slim models. Then look at Apple and Nintendo with the DS and "hey, buy our different/yearly/improved versions of the same hardware 40 times" strategies.

I was just thinking about the inevitability of the next Xbox slim and what features it may entail the other day. IMO the manufacturer that pushes out a new iteration first may have a lot to gain.

they will probably want to keep a 128bit bus so it stays cheap, so maybe a smaller version would do for a good console chip?
I'm thinking about a 288SP variant (6 shader clusters)

err, arent you shooting absurdly low there? Seems to be a common problem in this thread.

Pretty sure the next gen consoles will include beefy, fairly close to top line GPU's imo.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

A slimmer XB360, like PSTwo, would help carry XB360+Kinect for another two years, so this doesn't contradict the rumours of a delayed next-gen.

 

[Gerry]

Why hello thar:

Your nosing about has made the online edition of Edge.