The name says it all really, what are some of the things you expect from the next generation of consoles?
Obviously we all expect bigger and better (not to mention sexier), but what else?

Personally I think it is great that developers are starting to focus on what I call 'subtle realism'. If done right this 'subtle realism' will certainly add to the game experience and possibly the immersion of a game too. A good example for this 'subtle realism' that I allude to would be gutters. Yes, gutters. Those things on the side of the tarmac of a street. Okay so gutters aren't an important aspect of gaming at all, I know that but I'd like to see games (we'll use Need for Speed as an example here) start to have gutters that you can't just drive over as if they were ants. Using my example of Need for Speed, part of the skill of real illegal street racing is staying on the streets and not venturing off the road. Touch a gutter at a high speed and you will either seriously damage the car, lose control or perhaps even flip. While again this particular example isn't a necessary one, if this type of realism was apparent in the games we play I think our experiences would be better for it. Using NFS again, instead of having a fairly easy game that can be beaten with minimal effort, the racing could become harder not because of crappy AI or whatever but because of the fact that you didn't drive properly. While this factor may not translate to most gamers, I'd certainly enjoy being challenged in racing games because I'm not driving to the circumstance and this reason alone is why I think my gutters example would be a good one. But ignoring the actual example for a moment, focus on the point of the example and that is exactly what I want to see. Realistic things that we wouldn't even think about but are there in a subtle way because it is (supposed to be) adding to the experience. Developers already seem to be focusing on this aspect so I'm pleased with that idea and I expect to see it more often from now on.

Another thing I expect has something to do with car games. I expect to see all car games (where it applies) have an in-car view. From the driver's seat to be specific. Rallisport Challenge 2 had a brilliant in-car view and the recent PGR 3 nailed it. Test Drive Unlimited also seems to have nailed the in-car view and now that I have seen it done and done well, I expect it of all racing games from now on. As far as I am concerned, there is no excuse anymore. I'd particularly like to see these views for the simulators such as Forza and of course Gran Turismo.

Last but not least, I expect more realistic weather effects in our various games. I am sick and tired of levels (or tracks for that matter) only having specific weather elements or are only able to be played during certain times of the day. It's unrealistic to me and it needs to change, fast. In a way you could add this to my desire for more subtle realism for earlier too although weather isn't that subtle. ;)

So yeah, what do you expect from the next generation of consoles?

Weather effects are a definite must, alone with full day night cycles. In most cases, it would be nice to be completely real-time, so if you play at night it'll be night time in the game, and so on.

Sticking with racing games for a minute, I'd love to see freeform (didn't know what else to call it) damage models rather than preset ones, so the cars will buckle and bend in the spots that came into contact with something.

Then there are things that could only be done with better hardware, like volumetric clouds that cast shadows, and have streaming light coming through in parts. And water being a physical thing (real flow) rather than a pixel-shaded plane. But I doubt the tech is that good yet.

But the main thing I expect from each generation is to have fun and be entertained.

They did that already, in a game called Animal Crossing ;)

Yeah I know, and Rogue Leader had the 4 times of day on that training level too. I mean I want to see it become a regular feature.

I'd like to see more of the "procedural generation" thingo that is being pioneered in Spore.

As to specific details... let me think...

Maybe in GTA, each building could be enterable, and the "procedural generation" plots and builds floor plans based upon the size and shape of the building

I've written stuff in the past about a more emotional AI. Enemies that get angry if you down their mate... Or, again citing GTA, perhaps if you run around gunning people down, then later in the game you have one person try to shoot you back (just appears) because you killed one of their family in an earlier killing spree.