Microsoft or Sony? My next gen choice.

So there has been a lot arguments on the web on whether the Xbox One or the PS4 is the better console. From the start Sony has made all the right moves and shown that they are the more developer and consumer friendly machine. They started a campaign specifically targeting developers just to show they care. They supported used games right from the start and never brought up DRM (Digital Rights Management). They have the more powerful CPU and GPU, but I will say graphics aren’t everything. I buy a console for the games.

The XB1 had a bumpy start and has been playing catch up for the past couple of months. They have a solid OS offering many features that I think I would enjoy. I know there was a lot of people bashing how they focused on TV during the XB1 announcement, I was one of them. They did however show us they’re still about games at E3. They showed a decent amount of launch exclusives but that wasn’t enough. They shoot themselves in the foot with DRM and no used games. It was Sony using that against them that made the PS4 every ones choice. Sony could have shown no games and just announced no DRM or used game restrictions and that alone would have given them the victory.

Since E3 Microsoft has reversed policies they put into place and now allow used games and have no DRM restrictions. They have recently announced self publishing for indie developers. With recent rumors of the PS4 using 3.5 gigs for their OS leaving 4.5 for games it somewhat evens up the power. I don’t think these rumors are true but even if they are the PS4 is still a more powerful console without a doubt. As far as exclusives over the life of the machine goes I think Sony’s first party studios will trump any ones. As far as console feature go I give the XB1 the edge with some cool TV and voice control feature that I think people will enjoy more than they’re letting on. As far as online services go the PS4 seems to be the better bang for your buck but will Sony’s new online service be as stable as Microsoft’s? I have to go with the XB1 as far as online game play.

They both have good things about them and I think no matter what you choose you in the end win. I myself will be going with the PS4 at launch and do plan on buying the XB1 in the future. The biggest thing for me is Sony came out the gate making all the right choices and Microsoft is shamelessly copying their every move. I chose the 360 last gen and later got a PS3 because I felt Microsoft came out with the better machine for the consumers. I feel like they switched roles this generation. That is my unbiased choice and my reason, no matter your choice I think we all have something to enjoy with these new consoles.

[iamnsuperman]

My PERSONAL OPINION is this:

I think Microsoft is pushing too hard with the Kinect but forgetting one simple problem with doing that. It doesn't matter how much better it is or more advanced it is, the average consumer will not really care.

From past examples the consumer really like new things and not familiar things. Here me out. The Wii released. Everyone jumped on it. It was great and fantastic. Sony then tried to release theirs and it didn't seem to resonate with the consumer (now it could be down to games but hang one). It was completely different and more advance tech but it looked too similar to the Wii remote. Consumer saw they had a Wii and thought why would I need a PS3 and Move if I can do good stuff with what I have got. Microsoft released the kinect and everyone bought it because it was new. It sold very well to start with.

Now the kinect 2.0 looks great. But I don't think the average consumers are going to look at it and think I need that. The most likely have a 360 (if in America and the UK) with kinect that already plays fitness games and party games in a similar way. It doesn't have the same WOW factor anymore. They should have launched it now not back then. If they just launched it now then the One would have flown off the shelf and into infamy.

The problem is they are going to look at two similar devices (PS4 and Xbox One) and see one is cheaper. The other one may have the kinect but they will see it as old now, despite it being fantastic new tech, because of the Kinect 1.0. The TV thing may work in their favour (being a new feature and they really need to push this feature because it is new despite me thinking it a bit half assed requiring a TV cable box as well) but we will see

Remember this is my PERSONAL OPINION. A PERSONAL OPINION can be wrong in your eyes. Do not bite my head off for me PERSONAL OPINION.

[pacostacos]

i think at the price of $500 the average consumer would not care about kinect but if they could somehow lower the price to $400 and include kinect it becomes a big selling point for the average consumer over the Ps4

[Nicaragua]

I agree that Kinect 1 has taken the wow factor out of Kinect 2.

The Kinect i know is unsuitable for playing games, apart from dance games. When they tries to use it in driving games or in Steel Battalion then it didnt work very well and left you feeling kinda stupid.

[M-M]

"The problem is they are going to look at two similar devices (PS4 and Xbox One) and see one is cheaper."

That's a verygood point, at first glance they do look very similar. In the long run, people will for the console with the cheaper price.

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

I went with 360 first this gen the got a PS3. Next gen ill go with PS4 maybe a X1 a few years down cause I rlly want a wiiU cause of Bayonetta 2 and 'X'. This maybe the only gen where I decide to get all 3 consoles.

[caseh]

"They both have good things about them and I think no matter what you choose you in the end win."

In general I agree with this, i've already decided that I would be getting a PS4 before any of the endless articles about DRM, used games, RAM etc etc.

Then I saw a snippet of RYSE and Titanfall on the Xbox One and was genuinely impressed by what I saw. This still hasn't swayed my initial decision but I will undoubtedly miss out on these.

The next gen of consoles are not cheap, theres no backwards compatability as such so i'll have my PS3 knocking about alongside the behemoth that is the PS4. I simply cannot justify having an Xbox One adding to the mountain of hardware that currently resides at home.

As someone who wants to play everything, it saddens me a bit but I guess you have to commit to something right?

[Nik_P757]

I hope that once PS4's Gaikai is up and running we will be able to enjoy the full PS1, PS2 and PS3 libraries on our PS4's. It is a great idea they have with Gaikai I just hope it works that way eliminating the need for backwards compatibility. Only time will tell though.

@software_lover everything costs, but it would be a convenient feature and also great for those that got rid of their past consoles.

[Software_Lover]

It will cost. You could just keep your ps3 or ps2 and hook it up when you want to play. Plus it's free.

[zerocrossing]

While I imagine the PS4 and XB1 will eventually gain a near equal install base, I will have to go with the PS4 as my first next gen console choice out of the two. Sony came out of the gate with their PS4 unveiling with clear dedication to gamers in mind, Sony may not be breaking the mould so to speak, but I respect them for not tacking the same root with restrictive DRM Microsoft first intended with their initial unveiling of the XB1.

[iamnsuperman]

I wouldn't have minded the DRM if we got something back for it. DRM is to stop used game sales and gain more profit for the publishers. Now I understand having a 60 buck price range because there is that potential for used games to impact the market (similarly to pirates with the movie industry and such prices have gone up. i think it should go down to entice people back into cinemas but that is another rant).

If Microsoft were going with the DRM route they needed to come out and say "Our games will be $30-$40 not $60 anymore". Not only would that convince people to accept DRM but it also forces Sony's and Nintendo's hand and Microsoft would have the control. It would appear we got something back for having DRM. But they didn't which is where they went horribly wrong (in a way it is a shame really what happened)

[zerocrossing]

Exactly, most of us know that the future of gaming is digitally downoadable games, but if companies want us to go willingly towards that then they need to make it worth our while. I for one refuse to spend $60 on a digital game that I can't sell on or trade between family and friends.

[maniacmayhem]

Definite agree,

It appeared to everyone that MS came out the gate with the restrictions. If only they would have put the benefits of whatever they had planned to the front first it probably would have made people at least stop and think about if their DRM is a benefit.

I'm sure MS were thinking long term and wanted an ecosystem similar to that of Steam. But even Steam took time to build and become the service they are today. Not to mention Steam centers on a whole different crowd, the PC crowd. The PC crowd is pretty use to digital only, DRM, Game Keys and other forms DRM that pretty much doesn't bother them (too much.

They have to think to themselves that a lot of gamers are not only coming off a 7 to 8 year stint with 360/PS3/Wii but a lot of us were gaming in the Atari/NES/Master System days. We have been conditioned to be able to do whatever we want with the games we purchased. For MS to pull such a drastic change of ways on their consumers was a serious bad move.

[nukeitall]

Ironically, MS did give something back with the digital as MS allowed:

* instant game sharing/lending
* trading
* selling
* gifting

Tell me what other digital platform currently allows that?

For that to work, MS has to *know* and be able to remove said games from your system. Otherwise the system would be rife for abuse!

[Software_Lover]

I'll get both, but about a week ago I just decided to wait a while. I planned on getting a PS4 at launch but cancelled.

I have too many ps3 and 360 games to catch up on. It's really hard to do that with recording and family life. Add to that, I'm not the guy who has to have the newest everything. I made the mistake of jumping on the ps3/360 early at launch and never got back to my ps2 and xbox catalog. I'm not gonna waste any money again.

My goal, since I purposely stayed away from the Steam summer sale, is to finish my Steam catalog. Then jump into my ps3/360 catalog and buy a few more games for them both that I have missed. Once I'm done and/or satisfied, then I will jump into the next gen consoles.

Game on people, game on.

[black0o]

wait a sec I know there are a lot of ps3 ex-games coming out but last time I checked x360 only getting titanful some time next year
so plzzz don't hint that x360 and ps3 are on the same foot

[Software_Lover]

and I quote......

"My goal, since I purposely stayed away from the Steam summer sale, is to finish my Steam catalog. Then jump into my ps3/360 catalog and buy a few more games for them both that I have missed"

Thank you and good night!

[Treian]

"I have to go with the XB1 as far as online game play." I don't agree. The new PS4 UI and store looks like a great improvment over the PS3. Everything looks improved. And yes, it has cross game chat now. PSN on the PS4 looks just as good as XBL on the Xbox one.

[Nik_P757]

I'm not saying that the PS4 wont have improved online or that it does not look good. I'm just pointing out that as of now Microsoft does in fact have more servers than Sony. I don't believe the 300,000 number nor do I think it will be a huge advantage but I believe it will make for better matchmaking and less lag. Sony is improving their online functionality very quickly and within the next few years I think they will be on an even playing field.

[Treian]

But to the naked eye, no one will notice one has more servers than the other. I have rarely had lag when playing online on my PS3 so I don't see why it would be laggy on the PS4 since it has better specs. If you have lag, then is the users internet most of the time. Yes, the PSN store on the PS3 is awful, but I am very confident it will be fixed on the PS4.

[iamnsuperman]

@Treian

I agree with you. I also agree that I think the store will be fixed with the PS4. I think the new PSN store was released too early. It works fine on a computer (brilliant in fact) but I don't think the PS3 can physically handle it. The PS4 should be able to handle it just fine (especially with the rumored bloated OS)

[Octo1]

I'm 34 years old and for the better part of my life have been a Playstation guy. I went from the Sega Genesis to PS1. I've pre-ordered a PS4. This gen the 360 just did not have anything that interested me exclusive wise other than Gears of War Series (played 1 and 2). While I agree that Sony did not show a lot of exclusive at E3 compared to MS, we still have Gamescon and TGS. How can anyone really discount Sony not to deliver more exlusives than MS? This is why I am still sticking with Sony. Titan Fall was the only game that MS showed at this years E3 that I was disappointed that is not coming to the PS4 BUT it looks like its a timed exclusive so there is hope :D

[maniacmayhem]

I'll be getting both....eventually. I'll start with one hopefully 6 months after launch. I want to wait and see what each console brings in terms of games and features.

As of this moment the Xbox One is looking like the first console to get. The features that it has really stands out. Kinect 2 this time around looks promising and we have already heard from different devs that they are interested in using it. Also with the whole X1 unlocked for indies maybe, just maybe we might start seeing some new and interesting ways they might use it in their games.

Also I'm a huge football fan, love my niners. And the fantasy football feature lit my eyes up at the reveal. So that was a huge difference. Not to mention you have Deadrising 3 and the eventual Titanfall coming soon.

Now if only Sony or Microsoft could hit us with an exclusive big budgeted JRPG, that would definitely sway my decision too. If Sony could hit me with a Rogue Galaxy 2 it would be curtains.

[Treian]

So you don't care if people are spying on you with the Kinect?

[XboxFun]

Were people spying on you with the Sony Eyetoy? How about the first Kinect?

Who are these people too?

[Lvl_up_gamer]

I hear your smartphone is spying on you as well....
Don't forget those police cameras on street corners are really just following your every step and recording who you are and what you look like....
Governments actually control the surveillance camera's in the local grocery store cause they want to see what you are buying.....

OMFG you "everyone is watching me" pathetic fanatics are getting more and more pathetic as the day is long. LMFAO that kinect is watching you....

You ppl are so sad it makes me depressed to be associated with your kind as a gamer.

[maniacmayhem]

They'll be getting all sorts of government secrets when they spy on me playing Deadrising 3!

[JohnCartenper]

Since graphics don't matter I'm sticking with my faithful PS2 for at least another 10 years.

Only PC ELITISTS care about graphicz and are willing to spend a whopping 400$ on a new video card, 120$ for a new CPU!!!

[XabiDaChosenOne]

The thing is, the Xbox one could have really been great if they didn't half ass the cable features it actually would have been an attractive console to me. If they were able to strike a deal where they could provide cable directly through the box that would have been a ground breaking feature for the console but no, they go for the restrictions, the spying and some stupid overlay menu for your cable box basically making it a side peripheral for what you already have. Not to mention if you don't have cable half of the consoles features is useless to you. IMO the Xbox one is just a watered down PS4 with lukewarm cable features.

[XboxFun]

Could you imagine the headache to try and program each X1 to work in each different region each with its many, many different cable companies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Xbox One is spying? has this been confirmed?

Half of the consoles features? A little overboard don't you think? You still have the snapping, the apps, the internet, the movies, music and most importantly the games.

"IMO the Xbox one is just a watered down PS4 with lukewarm cable features."

Really? What features does the PS4 have that the X1 doesn't? Recording, trending, facebook, that's really all the features I can think of for the PS4...and X1 has all of those.

[XabiDaChosenOne]

"Could you imagine the headache to try and program each X1 to work in each different region each with its many, many different cable companies."
Microsoft has "teh boatloads" of money as you Xbox fans like to say. It's not impossible, they could have figured something out.
"Xbox One is spying? has this been confirmed?"
As if Microsoft is going to confirm that they are spying on you?
Documents reveling their collaboration with the NSA
http://rt.com/usa/microsoft...
Microsoft caught spying on skype conversations
http://thehackernews.com/20...
Xbox one requiring a the Kinect to work and the device originally planned to be always on would ring a bell with anyone who has a rational thought process, just saying.
"What features does the PS4 have that the X1 doesn't?"
Nothing that I can really think of, now features that the Xbox one can do as well as the PS4? I not alot. Hence it being watered down.

[BillytheBarbarian]

I hope Sony releases some ps4 games on ps3. I like that some 3rd party games on next Gen are also coming to current Gen.