170°

Perception is reality: Sony’s PS4 ramps up the console cycle

Sony is confidently doing its own thing on its own terms, ignoring the established rules and blazing a trail in this new-generation of home consoles, says Matt Martin.

NewMonday3939d ago (Edited 3939d ago )

always said Sony are working on amazing games, you don't rush quality, the flood gates will open next week with Destiny

starchild3938d ago

I'm not worried about it. I've already enjoyed some great games on my PS4 (despite also owning a gaming PC) and I know that more and more exclusives will be coming down the pike. I can't wait for The Order 1886, Bloodborne and Uncharted 4.

mikeslemonade3938d ago

I'm not happy about the Persona 5. It's a series I don't play and it's cross gen in 2015 -_-. And then Dragon Quest, also another series I don't play, is being made by the Dynasty Warrior developers.

These are the JRPGs that cater the eastern audience.

nX3938d ago

I take Persona or Dragon Quest over CoD or Assassin's Creed any day. PS4 now has the best of both worlds, high budget AAA titles from the west and smaller titles from Japan and Indie devs. I knew it was a longterm investment to get a PS4 on launch day and the next few months will prove that :)

KakashiHotake3938d ago (Edited 3938d ago )

Sony's leading the charge this gen. I think the biggest difference between all the consoles is their focus and goals. While Nintendo was being spoiled to the riches of casual gamers who've since moved on to mobile, now Nintendo wants to redirect it's attention back to the hardcore after so many years. After Microsoft built it's Xbox One in an attempt to appeal to casual gamers and become the living room hub, after failing to catch on they've since done 180's and now try to win back the favor of the hardcore. Sony on the other hand has been focused and it's been their goal since the beginning of this generation ( and even the end of last gen ) to win the hardcore gamers and they've done just that and have the sales to prove it.

Tex1173938d ago

This is right on the money from what I can tell.

HeWhoWalks3938d ago

Third-ed! Excellent post, my friend!

Der_Kommandant3938d ago

Here, have a bubble you've earned it

loopygames3938d ago

Kaz Hirai (Sony CEO)
Andrew House (Head of Playstation unit)
Shuhei Yoshida (Manages Playstation's war chest of 1st party studios)
Adam Boyes (Responsible for securing Third Party and Indie titles)
Mark Cerny (PS4 and PS Vita Architect)
Jim Ryan (President of SCEE)
Atsushi Morita (President of SCEJA, nephew of Sony co-founder Akio Morita)
Jack Tretton (Original President of SCEA, Sad to see him leave)
Shawn Layden (President of SCEA)

"When Apple came up with the Mac, IBM was spending at least 100 times more on R&D. It’s not about money. It’s about the people you have, how you’re led, and how much you get it." Steve Jobs, 1998

Even though Sony is currently having financial troubles. Kaz Hirai couldn't have assembled a better team for Playstation. The Three Musketeers (Mark, Andrew, and Shuhei) have been with Playstation since the beginning. They get what developers and gamers want.

starchild3938d ago

There's no disagreeing with that.

Volkama3938d ago (Edited 3938d ago )

I can disagree! Their PR machine currently says they're all about the hardcore. The reality says their real focus is getting the widest install base they possibly can.

You don't need to make a cheap console if you are genuinely focused on the hardcore. You also probably don't survive in the current climate, so cheap is the right decision. But don't confuse the pr strategy with the reality even if this headline says you should!

jmac533938d ago

Sony made the cheaper and more powerful console thus getting the wider install base from the start. What is confusing about that?

Volkama3938d ago (Edited 3938d ago )

There is nothing at all confusing about it. Who claimed it was confusing?

My point is that making "the cheaper console thus getting the wider install base" is not the same as targetting the core gamer. Wider audience, core audience.

The current phase of the PR cycle targets core gamers. The price of the hardware targets a wide audience. The stories don't quite match up.

Death3938d ago (Edited 3938d ago )

"Sony on the other hand has been focused and it's been their goal since the beginning of this generation ( and even the end of last gen ) to win the hardcore gamers and they've done just that and have the sales to prove it."

Sony won over the hardcore gamers with misinformation. Missing features such as DNLA sharing and 3D Blu-ray playback, lack of MP3 support, etc are all excused since "the focus is on gaming". This would be great if somehow something this past year supported that reasoning. What games came out that prove this? The Last of Us port from PS3 that Sony denied was coming before the PS4 launched? Knack?

While Sony says they are focused on hardcore gamers, they launch PSNow which is geared towards those hardcore gamers that don't own a PS4 and enjoy playing games at an hourly rate. They also developed PlaystationTV and make a deal with Viacom so they can become a content provider of original programming, tv, and movies. They have also been "trimming the fat" from their in house development studios, a move that fans say is to make more and better games.

The other thing hardcore gamers seem to really enjoy is indie games that are paving the path for a new generation of talented devs to make hardcore games in the future.

Like you said though, sales prove that Sony is focused on the hardcore gamers. First party releases this upcoming holiday prove it.

medman3938d ago (Edited 3938d ago )

@death
First things first....both the xbone and ps4 were/are missing features due to the rush to get them to the market and into gamers hands for holiday 2013, so stop your nonsense. Secondly, psnow means more games, including ps1, ps2, and ps3 classics...somehow in your mind that's a bad thing? News flash, neither the xbone nor the ps4 is backwards compatible, so many people will enjoy this feature, and it's a feature that Microsoft to this point has shown no ability to match. How's this for a focus on gaming (thanks ps4isking) http://www.listwar.com/rele... How does that taste? Thirdly, pstv is worth it's price merely for the second screen functionality alone...come back to reality son, you're lost. And lastly, what development studios aren't "trimming the fat" in these tough economic times? Trim the fat or go out of business...the choice isn't really a choice at all, it's a neccessity...and every big AAA development studio got it's start somewhere...as an indie studio. And real gamers realize that indie is where most of the innovation in gaming happens, always has. AAA games can't afford to take many risks, the costs of development are too astronomical. Call 911 man, you're having a stroke.

jmac533938d ago

We are talking about winning over the hardcore gamers and you list a bunch of non gaming functions that are missing.

Death3938d ago

@medman,

First off I am not your son. Don't tell me your age because I don't want to know. Age is more than a number and I learned long ago maturity and wisdom aren't measured over time like I would like to think.

Neither console launched with the missing media features. Sony is the hardcore machine because of this and Microsoft is focused on media first. I know, I've heard it before. Oddly the Xbox One launced with an argueably better line up and is still labeled a non-gaming machine.

PSNow gives access to the Playstation library across multiple devices via streaming for an hourly, weekly, and monthly fee per title. I won't argue the pricing matrix, but will argue that this is targeting the casual gamers that don't already own the games or consoles to play them on. This is not a hardcore service unless you believe hardcore gamers like to pay to play what they already own. It targets new Bravia owners and those looking to play on a sub $100 device instead of a $400 console. Renting isn't the same as backwards compatability. B/C is taking a game you own, take it out of the case and playing it on a new system. Atleast Sony found a way to take the games you own from PSN that are tied to your account and made a way to play them on your new system. In a way that is B/C so you are partially right. If you would like to play your PSN purchased games you can do that on PSNow starting at $4.99 for 4 hours.

$100 to play on a second screen at 720p? If gaming at 1080p "upscaled" is "last gen", why on earth would anyone want to downgrade a 1080p game and add the luxury of input lag and connectivity issues? Granted they are minimal and entirely dependant on your home network, but they exist.

Every big AAA studio started as an "indie" and you call me son? Todays "indie" scene is yesterdays homebrew movement. It's not the same as independant. Third party independant studios are not "indies". These so called former indie studios were financed by big ass publishers. That alone would make them "indie" exempt. Many were formed by veterans within the industry. Still not "indie".

You are 100% correct on why "indie" gaming is taking off. It's budget gaming with minimal risk. If that is what you want, why did you buy the worlds most powerful console?

Thanks for your reply. I'm glad to see you put forth the effort instead of simply hitting disagree. I kicked you a bubble for the effort. Take it easy.

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3938d ago
PS4isKing_823938d ago

http://www.listwar.com/rele...

Wow. Sony is steamrolling the competition this gen.
Nintendo and Microsoft are doing good too but Sony is on another level.

Ocsta3938d ago

How DARE you point out such facts! Ps4 has no games, remember! /s

MasterCornholio3938d ago (Edited 3938d ago )

People who say the PS4 has no games dont know what games are in the first place. It must be embarrassing to own a console and to believe that there aren't any games available for it. I wonder what they use their console for then?

HmongAmerican3938d ago

I just went there to vote for PS4.

Kavorklestein3938d ago (Edited 3938d ago )

I still don't want to play MOST of the PS4 or Xbox One's games.

Of the ones I DO want to play, the Xbox has more that interest me.

New Ip's only excite me if they snag my attention at first glance, and then I look a little deeper and follow the games and eventually get really hyped for them.

New Ip's typically disappoint me, so I'm only keen on new IP's if they do something very well, or if they excite me from the get-go.

NO PS4 games have me Excited except The Order:1886-
But time will tell if it ends up being anything special. With ONLY a SP campaign, and NO other play modes like co-op or online, THAT CAMPAIGN or story has to be Top-notch to be buzzworthy, but I'm not about to buy a 400 dollar machine to take a Risk on The Order- ONE FREAKING game- being great.

I'm getting an xbox one, and I fully support anyone else who picks a Wii U or PS4 or chooses to game on PC.

As long as people are gaming and having fun, then they are doing "IT" right.

Spotie3938d ago Show
Kavorklestein3938d ago (Edited 3938d ago )

@Spotie & the rest of the PS-Posse-

Why is it such a big deal for you guys to see that we have different tastes?
Why should my reasons for my spending my hard earned money on WHAT I WANT be such a big deal to you? Why do I have to "JOIN YOU" The Sith, like Darth Vader status in order to be considered a gamer?

Why do I have to buy something I don't want in order to be respected?

Plus, what is there to disagree with from what I said? You disagree with me telling you that none of the games out for either console so far have compelled me into going Next Gen?

Ah, wait... it's because I'm not licking Sony's butthole that's got y'all riled up. Too bad you can't let people give their own reasons. I mean, I didn't even say ANYTHING negative about the PS4 in that comment, and still I get the shaft from you stubborn buffoons.

Are you guys taking some "last gen revenge" out on me? SMH...

How mature! I'm so glad that the same folks who like to place themselves at the top tier of gaming (and some seem to think they are in the top echelon of humanity) are also as rabidly douche-tastical and snobbish as kindergartners!

How lovely life must be in Never-Never Land, where it's all about never growing up and, throwing poop at people and ignoring basic logic just for the sake of some petty revenge.

If you guys are STILL that upset about how last gen went down, I'm sure you will never be able to handle bullying/rejection/tough times/trials in real life.

Or maybe I'm wrong, and I need to have a PS4 to be considered a worthwhile human being???

HMMMM... I'm now facing a huge moral dilemma...

Oh wait, it's just video games.

YOU GUYS: "But Mom! It says 'greatness awaits' on the box! PLEEZE can I have one????"

MOM:"Oh, alright.."

The Next day at school, little Timmy proceeded to join the bullies in beating the living crap out of Skyler, because Skyler- Had an Xbox One.

I'll be here all night, I also do events and gigs for birthday parties.

jmac533938d ago Show
BitbyDeath3938d ago (Edited 3938d ago )

The big difference between the two is that Sony has had financial issues, these issues have changed Sonys way of thinking. They have stated Playstation is key to the business and therefore it received major focus, the financial problems has really brought out the best in them, they are listening to what consumers want, listening to what devs want and everyone in between.

Xbox is just a small division for MS, it is not a bread winner or a bread maker, hell it isn't even bread.

Sony are laser focused, they will not let up, they want to win and they have the entire business behind them.

HeWhoWalks3938d ago

In fairness, they also listened to customers before their financial problems (problems, mind you, that the PlayStation brand is not responsible for - at least, not anymore).

Enemy3938d ago

It's the quality and diversity we're seeing on PS4 that's blowing my mind. This is PS1/PS2 era Sony and it's only year one. Gamescom introduced an almost ridiculous amount of new PS4 exclusives, all of which differ from each other. No other publisher comes close at this point. Sony takes their chances and it always ends with them having more quality and original games than the competition.

It all starts with Destiny next week. There will be no breaks after that given the fall flood.

Show all comments (38)
50°

The Evil Within Deserved More: A Great Horror Series Left Behind

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SimpleSlave23m ago

An OK horror series left behind. It had some great ideas, but it never knew how to play to its strengths. Instead, it came out like just another RE4 clone.

I would love for a third entry to come out, but it needs to learn to lean in on the psychological aspect and move away from the generic "pew pew" ideology at the center of the gameplay loop. It doesn't need to abandon it; it just needs to put it into better context, is all.

Also, try a first-person perspective instead. Too many 3rd-person games with nothing to offer but an avatar taking precious screen space. At least make it an actual option and not that janky-ass mess the second game pretended to have.

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jznrpg52m ago(Edited 46m ago)

PS5/Pro/Switch 2 version of RDR2 seems most likely. I’d love a RDR3 but that seems years away

Profchaos36m ago(Edited 35m ago)

Their contracts are iron clas if they leak anything legit they are threatened with immense legal action.

My hopes for what this is are minimal its probably a meet and greet with the cast

I dont see why they would be involved in a upgraded version of rdr2 when the dialogue hasn't changed

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