PS4 is a Great System “For Developers”

The official confirmation of the PlayStation 4 from Sony was something that many people had long awaited since rumblings first surfaced on the internet. The event held in New York City by Sony provided some great insight into the direction the company is moving, with a lot of promising ideas at the forefront. Yet one statement that constantly resonated throughout the entire conference was the concept of PlayStation 4 being a saving grace for game developers. And while this is very appealing and something that will lead to some great titles down the line, it is also the seeds of what could possibly be a problem for Sony in the years to come. Shouldn’t the PS4 be a great system for gamers as much as it is for developers? Aren’t those who buy the games in the end supposed to be the first priority for a company like Sony? This is where aspects of the presentation in New York City start to take a very interesting turn.

[jaggernaut25]

Hopefully being a great console "for developers" results in them being able to make better games more easily. If that happens, as it should, then that in turn leads to a better experience for gamers.

I think the general idea is that a better console "for developers" is a prerequisite to a better console "for gamers." That's the IDEA I think...time will tell!

[wsoutlaw87]

Ya thats obvious. Better for the makers of the games and their ability to really make games great, means better games, which is better for people who like games obviously. This author trying to make that sound like a bad thing is ridiculous.

[Godchild1020]

I hope it means cheaper development cost which means more games or more unique experiences in new IPs or existing ones.

[RememberThe357]

GG said the new Killzone wasn't a huge jump from the other games in the series cost wise (they said the team went from 120 to 150 people). We'll probably see less games with the $60 price tag as they will cost a bit more to make and every publisher seems to agree that they flooded the market this gen and that cut into their profit margins. But we'll probably see more of these indie games, at least on the PS4 with Sony allowing self-publishing. This next gen is going to be interesting.

[SilentNegotiator]

A great system for developers is a great system for the gamers.

[mistertwoturbo]

Oh my lord, this site reaks of Anti-Sony stuff every time.

So last generation, PS3 gamers got shoddy ports, lost exclusive games, missed out on "exclusive DLC" to the 360, waited too long for certain titles like GT5 etc. all because developers had a hard time coming to gripes with the console. Who really lost? The consumers. (Not to say we didn't end up with good stuff.) The 360 fanboys were on this like flies on crap.

But this time around, Sony designs as console to remove any burdens to let the developers have freedom of creativity, now stupid sites like this is spinning it into a negative thing.

What in the world is wrong with you people?

If developers get the right tools and the right platform, they will make better games, and the consumers will benefit.

[cleverusername]

That's why anything on this site needs to be taken with a sack of salt!

[rbailey]

Great article and I especially like how you pointed out how they emphasized PS4 is GREAT for DEVELOPERS. Some will assume that every DEVELOPER is also a GAMER as well but in some cases this isn't always true by default. When I hear the system is made with Developers in mind, I immediately cringe at the thought of this being overpriced but easily accessible for people who want to make games on it. In any event, many are willing to spend 600 dollars on a new console so in that case I'd say to them do what you will...

[KwietStorm]

I cannot for the life of me understand how this is all being taken out of context. Its great for developers, meaning ease of.....development. Its what we all want as software programmers. Nobody wants to run into problems before they even get started, just because it wasn't engineered properly. Its about making a platform that developers can jump right into and be efficient with. How this can be a bad thing or even a questionable thing is beyond my comprehension. Sony finally gets around to fixing one of the biggest criticisms they received this generation, only to be criticized for fixing it. LOL inconceivable.

[majiebeast]

I was very happy to see Tim Schafer in the ps4 dev video. So they didnt just ask the very big developers for their opinion on the ps4.

Also it will improve the quality of pc ports so that as a playstation+pc gamer makes me very happy.

Now if a developer cant program for ps4 they cant blame the system but only their own skill(Looking at you bugthesda).

[Root]

Me aswell I'm glad Tim was featured on it

I was really enjoying the differnt developers they got on

...

...well except Tameem Antoniades

[ElectroJade]

Gamers should admire the fact that Sony is focusing on game development. Highlighting lesser-known game developers is also an admiring feature. After all, gamers want something different. Most of us are getting sick of the shitty franchises out there at the moment.

[WeAreLegion]

Amen.

[Nick212004]

Hope Sony receives better third party support than with the PS3 at launch

[brettyd]

Sounds like they will, the days of PS owners getting shafted on multiplatform games should be over.

[Bigkurz85]

What a stupid frickin "article" from another so-called journalist.

A happy developer can churn out AAA games and make the gamer's experience that much better. It's not rocket science.

_________

dirt: that's relevant because...?

[dirthurts]

I'd bet my life that you can't even code a webpage.

[Enemy]

Similarly, dirthurts believes that we're not allowed to point out obvious bugs and glitches until we've developed a game. Never mind the generally known facts that Bethesda are among the only morons that still release broken PS3 games.

[dirthurts]

My point had nothing to do with bugs.
While it wasn't stated explicitly (perhaps it should have been) was that you have no idea what happens behind closed doors.
Happy or not, if something is hard to use it's hard to use.
Bethesda isn't the best developer, but it's not all their fault.

[Enemy]

Cell's gone, bunch of RAM thrown into the mix. Developing for PlayStation should no longer feel like rocket science to incompetent idiotic multiplatform developers like Bethesda.

[first1NFANTRY]

i agree. if the same excuses are thrown around next gen i suggest they remove their incompetent asses from the industry at once.

i don't want to see or here about development difficulties otherwise i'll take legal action.

this gen was an exception. next gen is a requirement!

[Irishguy95]

haha...serious guys? Bethesda can't code on Anything. Never mind the Ps3

[rbailey]

Good point about Bethesda but everyone knows the PC version will always be the better version as most games are in general. Still I'll be glad if PS4 finally gets to experience more games functioning properly. It's absolutely ridiculous how many issues Sony had with this issue on the PlayStation 3 so I'm glad a turn around is in motion.

[first1NFANTRY]

hopefully this means we get a huge games catalogue like the ps2 glory days. i want the same if not more genres like the good old days.

[DragonKnight]

For the love of... really? Ever since this event ended, random no name sites and Kotaku have been looking for any reason to nitpick and b*tch and moan about something. GIVE IT UP! That's the problem with gaming media today, it just reeks of jaded, uptight, neophobic whiners with nothing better to do but to live as personifications of an oxymoron.

As if a console that's good for developers wouldn't be good for gamers. Also, let's just ignore all the social aspects of the PS4 like they were never discussed, or the games shown like they never were.

[jaggernaut25]

Out of curiosity - did you even read the article?

[DragonKnight]

Of course I read the article, my point stands. To even conceive of the premise of this article is enough justification for my point. This article needlessly emphasizes developers and at the end flips the script trying to state that it should be seen as a console for gamers and developers. It's hit mongering.

[mistertwoturbo]

I also read the article, and it was a bunch of "Wahhh it should be about gamers. Why make a console for developers. Wahh. They should make a console for gamers instead."

Which is the most ironic, idiotic, and ignorant thought process I've ever seen.

Note to self: Avoid "thekoalition" like the plague.

[Talamak]

That's exactly how I feel...gaming journalism is beginning to be annoying and tactless, it's about as sad as having this information spun by Fox News or some other biased journalism....shit's real demoralizing for not only long time Playstation fans but also the sanity of gaming as a whole...

[Shadow Man]

now the next oblivion will run great

[Plagasx]

Making a console with developers thoughts in mind is a sure fine way to get a lot of great support. Keep it up Sony.

Reclaim your glory as console king.

[MizTv]

I just hope I can get one when it comes out

[stuna1]

You and me both Miz.

[battlegrog]

And now that Sony has easiy hardware for them plus they leave the door open. This is going to drive more content to the ps4. We know how strict xbox is about content ect. No freedom.

[fOrlOnhOpe57]

Developers get not only a pretty powerful and relatively straightforward system to put their games on but can also expect Sony support and backing in doing so.
As a consequence, the gamer gets an even greater menu of games being brought to the table. Variety is the Sony way.
So what if they can no longer claim 'It only does everything'. What it does promise to do has more than whetted my appetite for what's to come, as a gamer.

[isarai]

What's good for developers is good for gamers.

[C0MPUT3R]

x86 & 8GB GDDR5. Devs are doing cartwheels.

[mistertwoturbo]

And back flips. And in the middle of the air cart wheels after doing a back flip. That's when they heard 8GB.

Then when they heard GDDR5. They Collaborated with the Russians to develop a robot that looks exactly like Megan Fox and had her do a crab walk backwards completely naked.

That's how excited they were. Yes. Russians.

[Perjoss]

This for me is probably the best overall news surrounding the console. The PS3 being hard to develop for was the consoles biggest problem imo, and it seems Sony have learned from it and acted accordingly.

[Kran]

It is a great console for developers.

It's also a great console to new players to the PS franchise and those willing to start fresh. However those who have been with PS for a little while now will have to keep their PS3's rather than replace it with the PS4's to play their old games... which is a shame because there's still so much I want to play on my PS3 and would of loved to play it on my PS4.

Don't get me wrong, i'm still getting the PS4. This is just a downer.

[MasterCornholio]

RIP: CELL and split ram configuration

I welcome Sonys new architecture with open arms since game development will be a lot easier for developers this time around.

"8GB GDDR5"

Yep which is why the 720 if it sticks with DDR3 will probably be more difficult to make games on than the PS4. From what i read the EDram will only serve to make game development more complicated.

[cedaridge]

I'm purchasing the PS4 and keeping my ps3. So i'm straight!

[mistertwoturbo]

I'm keeping my PS3 also, to use it as a stand for my brand new PS4. I'd rather the PS3 not collect dust like my Wii and 360. No wait sorry, the Wii isn't collecting dust anymore, it pretty much has a microscopic civilization on it now.

[GraveLord]

How ignorant.

Developers make the games, we play the games, so in turn making the system great for developers essentially makes it great for gamers. This is common sense.

I look forward to the PS4 being the lead platform for next-gen titles.