Why Not Showing the PS4 Console Was Actually a Good Thing

GenGAME writes: "I’ve been reading a lot of press about Sony not showing the actual PlayStation 4 box at the system’s own unveiling – and a lot of it seems to be bad or confused press. It’s as if there’s a belief that Sony’s trying to hide the product it’s selling for some sinister reason. As if when people buy a PlayStation 4, that’s what they’re really paying for.

"Of course, any gamer should know that that’s patent nonsense. What we’re buying isn’t a box. What we’re buying is the ability to play the games we crave, to tap into a set of services designed to make that game experience even better, and to connect with a playerbase that we feel as though we belong to.

"Sony didn’t leave out the box from the announcement because they’ve got something to hide. They left it out because it isn’t important. What’s important are the games."

[ExgamerLegends]

If I were Sony I'd show the ps4 AND Uncharted 4 right after the new xbox event.

[HammadTheOne]

That would be a smart move. Whatever Naughty Dog's new game is, it can probably stand up to anything MS throws at it. A good back-up plan for Sony.

[Firefwy]

"Sony didn’t leave out the box from the announcement because they’ve got something to hide. They left it out because it isn’t important. What’s important are the games."

It IS important, and anyone who claims otherwise is a LIAR, unless you expect everyone to believe you wouldn't care if the actual console ended up being a generic-looking beige PC tower, in which case you're nothing more than a pathetic fanboy.

[HammadTheOne]

I'm not playing with the box, I'm playing with what's inside.

[ThichQuangDuck]

Complete truth. Although many would worry what it looks like or if it fits with the rest of their technology I want to know if I will be using it to play games. With 360 quickly becoming the dashboard, netflix, party chat box games are what matter not the visual aesthetic. They do have to save something for after microsoft reveal and to rebuttal the games nintendo eventually shows. Price and Console Reveal will come and with even more games so I am not complaining. To see it otherwise is not see the full picture of their strategy and overall what many gamers care about.

[360ICE]

It wasn't important to the overall narrative of the show. The narrative appeared to be about the games, the support and the possibilities. In that sense, it makes more sense showing the controller. Kind of like they did with the Wii U. But of course, you're right the box matters too. And many are excited for it. So win - win for Sony.

[miyamoto]

it was a very games and gamer spirited show for the PS4 system unlike the PS3 E3 showing where engineers and hardware were the stars.

ease and speed of developing games, ist, 2nd and 3rd party devs wise, is now PS4's strongest point

Sony can not afford to reveal everything to M$

can't wait what games PS4 has for the GDC, E3, Gamescom, TGS presentations from Naughty Dog, Polyphony D, Kojima,

[stage88]

It's so It can be shown at E3 to build more hype throughout the year for PS4 and to take the thunder away from Microsofts xbox conference.

/thread

[Honest_gamer]

i guess one thing is for sure, EVERYONE has been talking about it, if they had shown it after the 1st day the media would have stopped talking about it, and only us would still be talking about it, now the media is just generating free publicity and hype

[danthebios]

Now,since the ps4 architecture is made for game developers comfort guess we will be more hyped about the games rather then the looks of a console.

[Pillsbury1]

It's Sony, so you know the box will look sexy. The appearance of the console is not as important as what's inside and what it offers, a robust online service and social connectivity. And games, don't forget the games!

[tweet75]

i need to see it before i buy it. If it does not look sexy I will not purchase one no matter what it does.