GAME TRAIN

Console Improvements 

On this page I will be reviewing the xbox 360 and its controller and the playatation 3 and its controller. I will be taking an indepth look at both consoles and writing a section in detail on what I think the next generation of these consoles should do to improve on the previous.

Xbox 360 improvements

I will be reviewing the xbox 360 and the controller and specifying the improvements that could be made to them for the next generation of consoles.

Controller

The Xbox 360 controller features a colour organised button pad, two togglesticks that are diagonal from eachother, a nice layed out Dpad, two triggers, two back buttons one left and the other right, a back and start button and the xbox menu button.

Benefits

The design for the Xbox 360 controller feels very comfortable when using for a long period which is great for its purpose, The layout out of the buttons and toggles are recognisable from the previous generation of the Xbox's design. The also has great vibration affects that make first person shooters and role playing games more immersive and improve the fun of this console. The Xbox 360 controller can be used on windows with an adapter that can be bought from online and game shop. The controller also has other accessories that can be used to improve gameplay some are: Rechargable battery pack, online chat headphones and charging dock, 

To Summerise benefits:

1. Recognisable layout

2. Great Vibration effects

3. Comfortable design

4. An adapter for windows

5. Accessories!

limitations and Improvements

To improve the controller i would recommend including a rechargable battery as the controller itself doesnt include them and are needed to be bought seperately, another improvement would be to use higher quality materials for the buttons especially to stop the irritating jamming but also for the rest of the controller to make a more robust design and protect it from everyday use. Having looked at other controllers it would be an improvement if like them the Xbox 360 included an accelerometer for more functionality when playing games that include driving. The Xbox controller would also be improved in my opinion by adding Haptic feedback to the buttons on the controller to make it more noticable when a button is pressed and the final improvement is to add macro touch buttons onto the controller that can be changed by the user and developer to suit the game/gamplay.

I would also recommend adding LED illuminated buttons so it is easier to see in the dark, this would also make the controller look more premium, and to make it even better include software that gives the opportunity to change the colours of the backlighting and illumitated buttons.

To summerise improvements:

1. Rechargable battery included

2. Better materials

3. Haptic feedback

4. Accelerometer

5. Touch Buttons

6. LED buttons

7. Colour changing software

Console

The Xbox 360 console Features a 20Gb removable hard drive and has slots that accept up to 512Mb of memory cards, the xbox one has an IR reciever for a remote control (sold seperatly). There are two USB 2.0 slots on the front of the xbox and one on the back, an ethernet slot, a video out slot and a power port.

Benefits

The Xbox one is a great system and has ton of exclusive games to play, this console handles all of the games very well and has a good looking design. there is a remote control that can be bought to control the playback of DVD's and videos bought from the Xbox store and other accessories that improve the usage and fun of the console The biggest accessory on the xbox is the Kinect, this accessory is a camera that captures gestures and movements and allows gameplay that only the nintendo wii has delivered.

To Summerise benefits:

1. Tons of exclusive

2. Lots of accesories

3. Xbox Kinect

Limitations and improvements

The Xbox 360 doesnt include a HDMI port so HD content cannot be viewed to improve this i would recommend adding a HDMI port onto the console. The Xbox 360 uses an extrnal power supply and this takes up alot of room. To improve the system i would recommend the use of an internal power supply. This console doesnt include a bluray disc reader like unlike the PlayStation 3, adding one would improve the system by accepting a larger DVD market. The system isnt powerful enough to keep up with the gaming market. The new system would need to have powerful futureproof components.

I would also recemmend to improve the system by decreasing the size but increasing the specs of the system, this would make it a much better looking and more premium feeling console and it would improve the sales vastly. Another improvement to the system would be removing the subscription to be able to play the games that you have already payed for to be able to play them online and with friends, like other consoles. And finally another way of improving the product and sales would be by making the system more quiet possibly done by using a watercooling method instead of cheap and loud fans.

To summerise improvements

1. Add a HDMI port for HD content

2. Make interior power supply

3. Add bluray disc reader

4. More powerful hardware

5. Smaller design

6. Better specs

7. Remove gold subscription

8. Water cooling

PS3 improvements

In this section of the page I will be reviewing the PlayStatation 3 and its controller the Dualshock 3 and also specifying the improvements that could be made to them in the next generation of consoles to make it a success. 

Controller

The PS3 controller (Dualshock 3) features a colour organised button pad like the xbox 360, a nice layout for the Dpad, simple toggle sticks that are horzontal from eachother, a neatly organised back bumpers and buttons, and a playstation home button.

Benefits

The PS3 controller is very neatly organised and is recognisable from the previous generations of this console. It is also comfortable to hold and it continues to be comfortable when playing games for an extended period of time. The controller is quite robust unlike the xbox 360's controller which is susceptible to alot of damage from dropping due to the cheap materials used. The dualshock 3 has haptic feedback and accelerometer to track motion which is used in games like Grand theft Auto for a more fun way to drive in the game.

To Summerise benefits:

1. Recognisable layout

2. Comfortable

3. Strong design

4. Haptic Feedback

5. Accelerometer

limitations and Improvements

To improve the controller i would recommend including a rechargable battery as the controller itself doesnt include them and are needed to be bought seperately. A colour coded system for multiplayers would be a great way to know which player you are on a game, for example on call of duty player one is blue and player two is red, one controller shows a red light and the other shows a blue one. The new generation of the controller should have touch buttons and macros that can be changed to suit the gameplay. The controller may have a robust design unlike the xbox 360 controller but the materials are still not very high quality and would look alot better if it used aluminium and better plastics.

I would also recommend using LED illuminated buttons for a better looking and easier top see in the dark design, this would look great and some examples of this is alreasy done by third party companies but including it on the main controller would be better.

To summerise improvements:

1. Rechargable battery included

2. Colour organised button

3. Touch Buttons

4. Higher quality materials

5. LED illuminated Buttons

Console

The PlayStation 3 come out in march 2007 and included a 20Gb hard drive version and a 60Gb hard drive version for a higher price. The 60Gb version includes wifi and memory card slots.

Benefits

Unlike the Xbox 360 the PS3 comes with WI-FI this means you can connect the the router without needing an ethernet cable and allows the playstation to be set up outside of the living room whereas the xbox has to stay there. The console also has an HDMI port for hig resolution HD content and it also includes a bluray disc reader.The Playstation 3 console has online play like Xbox live called playstation network which allows games to be played online and communication with friends. The difference between playstation network and xbox live is that playstation network is free and xbox live charges monthly to be able to chat to friends and play games online. 

To summerise benefits

1. HDMI port

2. WI-FI

3. Bluray disc reader

4. Free online play

Limitations and improvements

The PlayStation 3 gets extremely loud and hot when playing games, to improve the playstation 3 design a better cooling system. The console would be improved if it was much smaller as the PS3 is significantly bukier than the xbox 360. The playStation 3 doesnt look the best and would sell much better if it was to use more premium materials like aluminium. The system isnt powerful enough to keep up with the gaming market. The new system would need to have powerful futureproof components.

By reducing the price of buying console games it would make the console more popular an that would increase the sales of the console and the games to play on it. By keeping the free service to play on the playstation network servers would keep the system more like than the competition and would be a great decision to increase sales.

To summerise improvements

1. Design a better cooling system.

2. Smaller console

3. Premium materials

4. More powerful hardware.

5. Cheaper Games

6. Keep playstation network free