Pre-emptive disclaimer/writer's note: This is just a small rant based off of a pet peeve of mine. DON'T TAKE IT THE WRONG WAY. I'm just throwing it out there. You can catch it if you want, or you could let it just go right by. I want to be on top of you. Wait, what? Anyway.
I hate the term "next-gen". It doesn't make sense in it's current context anymore, and I don't know what to do about it. Yes, it WAS the correct word to use a few years ago, when these fancy-pants new machines came out, but it's now an outdated word. On top of that, when the NEXT generation of platforms come out, what are we going to call them? It's going to be pandemonium. It'll be like a friggin Japanese cartoon, with the flashy lights, and the uncontrollable seziures, and odd names for things. Super-happy-advanced-plethora-of-adjectives-kitteh-fun-time-wonderful-gen? That doesn't roll off the tongue very easily. Future-gen? That just sounds silly.
Another thing that "next-gen" implies is that the "current-gen" is still up and running strong, which is really not the case. Yes, a few gems are still out there, and they are still currently releasing games, but with two of the three "last-gen" consoles dead and buried (I'm not counting Dreamcast), why are we still using this archaic term to describe the consoles that we're currently playing on? Also, commas.
Also, why aren't we referring to the handhelds as "next-gen", huh? The DS and PSP were both released around the time this mythical next-generation of gaming started. Now, I know the psp didn't have anything prior to it per se, but the technology in it makes it a newer generation of handheld. And the DS? It's the next-generation of Gameboy. Or GBA, whichever way you wanna go with that. But wouldn't you feel odd saying something about the "next-gen" Phoenix Wright game, as opposed to the "next" Phoenix Wright game?
I mean, can we just bury this stupid buzz phrase for a few years? That's all I'm asking for, because if we don't bury it now, then in the next cycle, when they introduce the new consoles and start beating us around the head and neck area with the same damn phrase, we won't have had a chance to forget it and suddenly remember how "kewl" and "fresh" it is. At least we've moved past how many bits the consoles have.
Note: The National Alliance of Advanced Console Pushers have already done this.
Now I know this was a stupid rant, and I know that it won't accomplish anything, but dammit, I needed to get it off my chest before the "next-next-gen" starts coming around. I'ma need a damn chart before all this is over. And typing "next gen is stupid" into GIS results in an....odd first picture.
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(# 0) on 05/06/2008 12:16
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(# 2) on 05/06/2008 12:18
Well done.
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(# 20) on 05/06/2008 13:54
I agree 100%, blehman. It’s a pet peeve of mine, too, especially now that publishers have made it standard to say that something about their game (graphics, gameplay, multiplayer, etc.) is “next-gen”. Fucking morons.
I like calling current stuff “new-gen”, because the PS2 is still around, and as you said, the DS and PSP are here as well. What do you think about that term?
(# 21) on 05/06/2008 13:55
(# 22) on 05/06/2008 14:06
A. I'm glad you actually read through the blog.
B. I don't know about "new-gen"...makes me think of candy bars, or southern rockers with two good songs, or something.
I still current-gen, with last-gen for the PS2, but MINOR THREAT is right, it is all semantics. Just drives me fucking nuts, that's all. And I still have no idea what mix's comment means.
(# 23) on 05/06/2008 14:25
Lol
I was taking the whole "tomorrow is the future, but it will just be today...tomorrow" route.
As the next set of consoles in the works will be "next-gen" then once they hit the shevles they will become "current-gen" so your post was next-gen (or from the future) unil you posted it....
I'm just crazy like that.
(# 24) on 05/06/2008 14:49
(# 25) on 05/06/2008 15:53
Also, handhelds don't get the next-gen treatment because they'd have to be called "next-mini-gens". Seriously, nextminigen sounds like some kind of treatment for a disease related to a vagina.
Otherwise, I applaud your defiance in the face of the dreaded N-word.
(# 26) on 05/06/2008 16:02
Until somebody coins a better phrase than "next-gen" it's probably not gonna go away.
Current-gen? Now-gen? Doesn't sound quite right to me.
N-gen?... Nü-gen... Nugent?
...
Ted Nugent it is.
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(# 33) on 05/07/2008 02:17
(# 34) on 05/15/2008 06:27
In other news, check this out!
Not there.. THERE!