MS and sony both start working on their next system almost as soon as they finished the current one. They start working on idea of what they want in the next system how they can improve over the current ones. What the interface will like, what color the system will be, what the design of the system will look like.

So just cause they are talking about it doesnt mean we will be seeing it anytime soon. My guess as to why they are talking to blizzard is to try to get them to make games for it. Right now blizzard doesnt care about console owners

Pachter said there will be no more consoles in the future. /sarcasm

What I would like to see from MS with their future hardware is to be able to use non proprietary perps. It would be nice if you could use 3rd party USB/Bluetooth (or what ever the future holds next) controllers, keyboards/mice, racing wheels, hard drive/memory/flash cards, cabling, etc...

I would "pay" for a patch/upgrade if MS would allow me to use my Logitech G25 on the 360 when Forza 3 is released. I know they most likely wont but I don't want to go through that again next gen.

How much RAM do you guys think all the next gen consoles will have ?

Ignorance is bliss why would this be the next console generation? The game industry is making tons of money, more than the movie industry. It would be stupid for them to stop making consoles and games all together. The only way video games will end is when it's been forced to end.

What more? Until we achieve photo realism in games that is always one thing to look forward to. Better physics, more control options (gamepad,motion sensor,KB+M) 3D, better sound options (like the 8.1 standard) and more functionality.

** EDIT - @ the guy above. I am going to make two guesses. I am going to say that they have about 4gigs of DDR3 RAM (which will be outdated at the time as consoles always are). And they will ALL have upgradeable HDDs.

boodybandit said "But, but, but....Pachter said there will be no more consoles in the future. /sarcasm"
No, what Pachter said is there's a good chance that next gen the industry will standardize and launch one console for all to develop on thus taking the strain off the developers having to make a game for multiple consoles and also taking the huge R&D costs off just one company. As I mentioned below it makes sense for the industry to standarize consoles like how DVD players play the same format, Blu-Ray players have differences but all play the same disks, etc.

Sony does not "own" Bluray. I don't think Microsoft will go with it anyways just because Sony would get a piece of that pie.

But they might who knows

They would not even have to worry about it if they made the 360 with the built in HDDVD drive, because then HDDVD would might be still alive knowing everyone who bought an Xbox 360 would have bought HDDVD's to start with instead of buying a $200 add on for the console. also games being put on the 30 gig disk.

Despite popular belief, these companies in it for the money first, destroying their evil arch nemesis (or whatever relation people think they have with eachother) second.

If Sony sees (long-term) profit from allowing Microsoft to use Blu-ray, they will probably allow it. Likewise, Microsoft would use Blu-ray for the same reasons, even if having to pay a fee to Sony.

There is a huge difference between competition and basic company moves. As we all know Sony's laptops uses Windows OS despite being software by their competition in the game division. And seeing how Blu-ray is a media format and its main focus is not entirely devoted to games. I don't see the problem with Microsoft getting a slice like Pioneer and so many others have. You have to move forward and Blu-ray will be standard for sometime on consoles in the future. I can't really see Microsoft staying true to Digital Downloads.

And this is coming from a 360 owner.

I wonder how MS is going to deal with that issue. Sony WOULD license Blu-ray to them because it is too much money to be made.

But I don't think that MS is going to go for that. They like to be able to control their costs too much. So whatever format they use for game delivery will be interesting to see. I doubt that they will feel the time is right for Digital Download only. But I can't see any option outside of Blu-Ray or DD that will allow a game to fit on one disc or go without using a disc period.

Unless they want to go the route of a proprietary disc format to curb piracy?

Yeah, last I read on Gamesindustry.biz MS and Nintendo have been making money for over a year and half. And Sony is about to start breaking into the black as early as this 3Q this year.

There IS money in it. Just not as much as MS or Sony would like for all their hard work.

If there truly was no money in it - we all know they would have bailed out a long time ago.