Closing Out the Generation

I think it is finally the end of it all, the final word in a long book that has defined a generation.

It is the end of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 era, officially.  A year of mixing the two generations have left us knowing whether we are getting a Xbox One or a PlayStation 4.  for a year, we have poured over graphics and engines, game mechanics and online experiences.  And in that year, the change has come.  Even the Wii-U has become a force of power, with major franchise releases throughout the year.

It happened to me earlier this month, while I was sitting at school on a break from studying.  I was on Battlefield 4, looking for a specific game type.  I have not bought any of the new maps that have come out during the game's two-year life cycle.

I began a search for any playlist with original maps and a hardcore game type.  The previous day I had five separate playlists to choose from, all over half filled with other players, but this day I had none.  I changed to a normal playlist with the same maps, and I had three options to choose from.  I switched game modes, and still only five games to choose from.

I checked my friends list last night and ten of my friends were officially on Xbox Live.  Of those ten, only three were on an Xbox 360, and of those three, only one was playing a game.  It is just one example of the newest generation moving in on the old, replacing it.

Another example I see is in advertising for games themselves.  The games are being advertised for either of the big names, One or PS4.  Assassin's Creed Unity is being sold alongside the Xbox One this month for the holiday, and PlayStation's are being sold with Destiny.

And then there are the games.  I have only seen Destiny played on the One or PS4, and it looks marvelous, no screen tearing and little lag.  I have not gone complete into either console, examining the ins and outs, just the surface.  But each still has a large leg above its predecessors.  Better graphics, larger hard drives and improved controller response.

I have not bought a new game in a year, because I do not want to be disappointed with my "puny" 360.  I don't want to see worse graphics or decreased game play.

Oh, that is a thing, decreased game play.  Due to increased processing power and graphics improvements, more games provide options for the new generation.  According to Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor producer Monolith, the engine they created was too large for the less-powerful consoles.  Comparing Battlefield 4 between one generation to the other, I don't see clipping between characters or screen tearing when the action increased.  Even FIFA looks good and has better collision graphics and AI.

And in a year, the newest generation has completely separated itself from its predecessors.  Next year, there are games coming out not available except for the new consoles.  Evolve is one example, and Arkham Knight is another.  So far those two games are only announced to have a PS4 or Xbox One release.  Sony also has some planned releases just for the PS4 and not for the PS3.  Microsoft has yet to make any such announcements.

So is it the end?  Is my 360 phased out, making way for the new guns on the block?  I think so, which makes 2014 the final year of this generation.  We will be seeing a further decrease in games available to them.  Icing on the cake for this generation's end would be a drop in support from Call of Duty, and any EA or Ubisoft game.

Let me know what you think below.  Until next time.