The PlayStation 4 and the Unlucky “Number”

Japanese culture is rooted in superstitious beliefs. Some of these superstitions are so deep in the culture that they are meant to serve as lessons or practical advice. One of these superstitions has to do with the number 4 and will affect the name of Sony’s next console, the PlayStation 4.

[jc48573]

think about it though. If we call it PS4, then the next one PS5 and on and on. I think it makes perfect timing to change it or drop the numbering system.

[SynGamer]

I hear all this talk about "Omni" and honestly...I'm kind of liking it the more I hear it. Same can be said with the PS Vita. When I first heard that, I thought to myself "man, that's lame". But the more I heard it the more it grew on me. Now, I can't even imagine Sony possibly having called this thing the PSP2.

So yes, I think now is a great time for Sony to drop the numbering system and give this new PlayStation a proper name. Fans can still call it the PS4 all they want, but Sony kind of needs to separate itself from the lackluster PS3 years (high launch price, mandatory installs, etc).

[jp_footy2]

Omni is a peripheral for the PS4.

[doctorstrange]

I'm just gonna leave this here:

http://www.playstationlifes...

The 4 = death = no PS4 thing is bullcrap

[EeJLP-]

Also:

http://n4g.com/news/1096136...

[Wigriff]

I just hope they don't change the name entirely to something like the Sony LifeStation.

[Mounce]

I'd prefer if Sony kept the numbering system.

It 'IS' the very reason(Which goes to show its effectiveness) that Xbox 360 wasn't simply Xbox 2. Because then it'd be like this in the eyes of the customer.

Choose:

Xbox 2

or Playstation 3.

Hmmmmmmmmm....one sounds ahead of the other one. As simplistic as that sounds? It's a tactic in itself.

[darthv72]

to drop the numbering. i mean they would have to come up with something catchy to get consumers interested.

People who know about playstation 1-3 would likely see the 4 as just that...another playstation. That isnt a bad thing to those who are interested but to grab other consumers you need to do it with a name that really stands out.

No matter what they call it, I'm calling it money well spent.

[jc48573]

I definitely want to forget how disappointing the generation was. Not really the games, but consumers.

[MikeMyers]

If it isn't called the PS4 it could be because of two reasons.

1. Sony wants to change it's look and with Sony not doing very well the last few years as a company this could be a perfect product with the new president. A new vision so to speak.

2. They are just that superstitious and far too Japanese for their own good.

[Sarcasm]

They could pull an Apple and just call it "The New Playstation."

Gaming websites: "We now have a PS4 for review!"

Sony: "NO... NO!!! It's the NEW PlayStation!!!"

[AnotherProGamer]

the 4 in japanese can also be yon. which means '4'

[ArmGunar]

" superstitious beliefs "

Haha, what about ghosts, vampires, etc ... ?
Have to be rational.

[Knight_Crawler]

Hey dude that's not cool...who are you to judge people beliefs?

Asian people are very superstitious because its part of there culture so stop mocking them.

[2pacalypsenow]

vampires are not real lol

[Rainstorm81]

Of course vampires aren't real........Now Werewolves you gotta be worried about.

[Rockefellow]

Oh boy... Kotaku 2.0

[shalawsorchi]

Thats my reaction when the PS4 coming

http://media.tumblr.com/tum...

[SynGamer]

I'm wasting a bubble just for this:

http://i.imgur.com/QoAPhsV....

[Simon_Brezhnev]

Kaz reaction.

http://i.minus.com/iIxzk8Nr...

[adorie]

GAF seems to be an assembly line for Kaz.gifs, and it used to be 4chan that churned out the funny stuff. Gaf's been destroying my stomach lately with all these hilarious videos and pictures.

[Simon_Brezhnev]

yeah i got it from gaf. Just about all of them been pretty funny.

[Studio-YaMi]

That's just OVERKILL ! xD LOL

[Conzul]

Where the hell do these keep coming from?

[The Great Melon]

Kaz is just so meme-able. I really hope he does Sony well now that he is at the top.

[Lucreto]

Don't forget they never used the japanese numbers when talking about the Playstation.

[dmN_114]

^this.

the japanese always used the english number and ppl still talking about 'the unlucky number'...

[adorie]

wrong post.

[HarryMasonHerpderp]

There are plenty of game titles in Japan with the number 4 in them.
People in Japan are not stupid.
They know the difference between the number 4 and the word death or whatever it's supposed to sound like even if it sounds similiar.
So what's the problem?

[Inception]

Agree. DMC 4, Disgaea 4, GT 4, MGS 4, Persona 4, VF 4, Yakuza 4, RE 4 are example of japanese game with number 4 in their title. And they are great game in terms of quality and sales.

[mr_kubrick]

psfridaythe13th

[mushroomwig]

What a bunch of bull, what about the numerous amount of Japanese games with the number 4? Metal Gear Solid 4 for example.

[Bathyj]

Playstation FWOAR!!

[Soldierone]

I think 4 has been proven wrong by this point. There are tons of games that have made it past and through 4 with no issues at all.

Also "iphone 4" seems to be the most successful in the line so far.

Personally prefer the numbers over odd names.

[Conzul]

Same here. Keep the legacy going.

[El_Colombiano]

So what? Call each new Playstation the "New Playstation"? Like Apple did? Fuck them and that stupid idea. Keep the numbers. Nobody has a problem with FF13. Nevermind FF13-3

[MaideninBlack]

Oh wow! This makes perfect sense. Now I know why there was never a Tekken 4, Soul Calibur 4, Street Fighter 4, Dead or Alive 4, Devil May Cry 4, Metal Gear Solid 4, Suikoden 4, Wild Arms 4....oh wait.

[killerorca258]

Man, some people are pretty stupid. I speak basic Japanese, and basic terms in any Japanese game or consoles are pronounced using Katagana, put simply, they have characters that sound like English, but are written in Japanese like "item" is pronounced "aitemu" and "system transfer" is pronounced "shistem turansferu". Nintendo Wii U is pronounced "Nintendo Wii U", Microsoft Xbox 720 will be pronounced "Micurosoftu Exubox Seven Tuwenty" and Playstation 4 will be pronounced "Puraystayshun Foru".

[ExCest]

This is the same thing in Chinese (Cantonese) where 4 sounds exactly as the word for death, just as 14 is a more elaborate way of saying it. This explains the missing floor(s) on all buildings.

But this doesn't matter, huh? They aren't getting this. (But I think Hong Kong is allowed to have gaming consoles.)

EDIT: And just like everyone says, it doesn't matter since so many other games have a 4. I'm pretty sure only China has a thing against the word 4. And that's only in buildings.