NEXT GEN CONSOLES

[LondonTom]

Well summed up that

[Jaybles]

I enjoyed the press conference. Seems like Sony took on board a lot of their learning's from the ps3 generation. Making the console based on PC architecture is pleasing for developers. Be interesting to see what their first party studio's are cooking up.

The thing I am impressed with is the fact that they have decided to whack 8GB of GDDR5 RAM into the system. Evidence based on leaks and lack of console reveal seem to indicate it could have been a last minute decision as the leaked specs had only 4GB. GDDR5 RAM is expensive and as far as I am aware 512MB is the largest it currently comes in. So they have crammed 16 RAM modules into the PS4. What this does to the cost/size of the machine remains to be seen.

Xbox has leaked spec of 8GB of DDR3 RAM. This will not provide the same amount of bandwidth as the GDDR5 the PS4 is packing. Xbox can't really change now either, they can either stick with what they have or add more modules of DDR3 to crank it up beyond 8GB.

Bad points about changing to PC architecture is I guess that put the nail in the coffin for backwards compatibility with PS3 games. The Dualshock 3 controller will not work with the PS4 (It seems the move controller will though). What is good to hear is that they are not blocking used games on the PS4.

The social side of things could be good as long as they play it right. I would like to attach my facebook account to my PSN account, but I do not want my news feed full up with PS4 screenshots/videos and game achievements. If it can be used just to access friends and make it easy to play with them online then that's perfect.

Looking forward to seeing more

[G-Stud]

In case anyone other than me owns a Wii U, here's a list of the upcoming 30p games on the Wii U eshop:

February – F-Zero (SNES) – February 20 – March 21
March – Punch Out!! Featuring Mr. Dream (NES) – March 20 – April 18
April – Kirby’s Adventure (NES) – April 17 – May 16
May – Super Metroid (SNES) – May 15 – June 13
June – Yoshi / Mario & Yoshi (NES) – June 12 – July 11
July – Donkey Kong (NES) – From July 15 – August 13

[Kyelo]

Back to this generation...so Skyrim has released Dragonborn and Hearthfire for the PS3 with Dawnguard next week. I've bought the first 2(question to those on Xbox how much did they cost? I paid less than a tenner for both).

Anyway I've started a new game(my last three I got to level 42 twice and 49)for these DLCs, don't need to, but not played it in a while so want to. Hearthfire seems a bit of fun, nothing exciting. Quite enjoying Dragonborn though, plenty more things to do with loads of new stuff.

[5co77ie]

I enjoyed the press conference. Seems like Sony took on board a lot of their learning's from the ps3 generation. Making the console based on PC architecture is pleasing for developers. Be interesting to see what their first party studio's are cooking up.

The thing I am impressed with is the fact that they have decided to whack 8GB of GDDR5 RAM into the system. Evidence based on leaks and lack of console reveal seem to indicate it could have been a last minute decision as the leaked specs had only 4GB. GDDR5 RAM is expensive and as far as I am aware 512MB is the largest it currently comes in. So they have crammed 16 RAM modules into the PS4. What this does to the cost/size of the machine remains to be seen.

Xbox has leaked spec of 8GB of DDR3 RAM. This will not provide the same amount of bandwidth as the GDDR5 the PS4 is packing. Xbox can't really change now either, they can either stick with what they have or add more modules of DDR3 to crank it up beyond 8GB.

Bad points about changing to PC architecture is I guess that put the nail in the coffin for backwards compatibility with PS3 games. The Dualshock 3 controller will not work with the PS4 (It seems the move controller will though). What is good to hear is that they are not blocking used games on the PS4.

The social side of things could be good as long as they play it right. I would like to attach my facebook account to my PSN account, but I do not want my news feed full up with PS4 screenshots/videos and game achievements. If it can be used just to access friends and make it easy to play with them online then that's perfect.

Looking forward to seeing more

it's going to take a major re-shaping of the PS Network - I'm glad the movement sensor has been put in the DShock4 meaning less stupid peripherals all over the place. I'm still convinced I saw that critter from Thundercats amongst the flash images at the intro. Probably a fanboy inserted it.

[5co77ie]

PS4 = £600

[Kyelo]

PS4 = £600

Where you getting that from? Sony won't be that stupid again, will they?

Most commentators are saying £300-£400.

[5co77ie]

PS4 = £600

Where you getting that from? Sony won't be that stupid again, will they?

Most commentators are saying £300-£400.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/eb-games-prices-ps4-at-au-899/0111327

The Australian arm of games retailer EG Games has gone live with PS4 pre-orders at an eye-watering AU $899.

In real money that equates to over £600 – to be specific, current exchange rates pin it at £606.55.

[Kyelo]

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/read/eb-games-prices-ps4-at-au-899/0111327

The Australian arm of games retailer EG Games has gone live with PS4 pre-orders at an eye-watering AU $899.

In real money that equates to over £600 – to be specific, current exchange rates pin it at £606.55.

FML Sony are gonna go bust! Although reading that it does mention 'guess work'.

Edited February 22, 2013 by Kyelo

[Paul ™]

Can see it being pricey at launch for the premium packages that will come with the biggest hdd, twin camera sensor, 2 controllers etc.

Probably 300 for starter pack

[Jaybles]

PS4 = £600

http://www.shopto.net/video%20games/ps4/PS4HW00-playstation-4-console

Shopto have set pre orders at £399.85. I think anything at the moment is purely speculation.

Its easier for retailers to adjust the price down than up so you will probably see that.

Rumours have been 300-350. I think you will see a couple of models available at launch for different prices. There may even be a subscription based model to offset the price of the console. Lots of questions still to answer. I think Sony realised launching at 425 last time around was a mistake.

[LondonTom]

The Australian arm of games retailer EG Games has gone live with PS4 pre-orders at an eye-watering AU $899.

In real money that equates to over £600 – to be specific, current exchange rates pin it at £606.55.

Yikes,....well looks I will just be upgrading my Graphics card in the pc this year then

If we get another year of FIFA on the current gen, I'll be all set for the price to come down and wait for the slightly upgraded boxes/slims etc . (When I was a kid when the dreamcast/xbox 1/xbox 360 launched i had to have them as soon they went on sale/christmas right after )

[Kyelo]

I'll be all set for the price to come down and wait for the slightly upgraded boxes/slims etc

Every PS3 after the original was a downgrade unless you count size reduction as an upgrade.

[LondonTom]

Every PS3 after the original was a downgrade unless you count size reduction as an upgrade.

Ah! I was going by 360 really, the hard drives got bigger as the price and size came down (slight upgrades to the internals to I believe, fixing RRoD etc..) just presumed PS3 would have done the same.

[jammy2211]

Ah! I was going by 360 really, the hard drives got bigger as the price and size came down (slight upgrades to the internals to I believe, fixing RRoD etc..) just presumed PS3 would have done the same.

That is with happened with PS3... I dunno what the other guy was talking about? Hard drives went from like 60Gb to 250GB. Internals got a lot faster, system quieter, Lower power consumption, fixed YLOD.

It lost a few USB ports and backwards compatibility on the other hand but then not every Xbox had a hard drive did it? 0_o

[Lithium05]

Finished Colonial marines. It was like a very good PS2 game. Not up to modern standards, but still good fun to play. Gonna trade it in for Tomb Raider next week.

[Kyelo]

That is with happened with PS3... I dunno what the other guy was talking about? Hard drives went from like 60Gb to 250GB. Internals got a lot faster, system quieter, Lower power consumption, fixed YLOD.

It lost a few USB ports and backwards compatibility on the other hand but then not every Xbox had a hard drive did it? 0_o

What internals did they change to make it faster?

The hard drive to me is a non issue as you could change it yourself but you can't install multi card readers and backwards compatibility.

Doubt many would see lower power consumption as an upgrade tbh

YLD touche.

[jammy2211]

What internals did they change to make it faster?

The hard drive to me is a non issue as you could change it yourself but you can't install multi card readers and backwards compatibility.

Doubt many would see lower power consumption as an upgrade tbh

YLD touche.

Got a bit confused, it was firmware updates which made it faster. Some of the components got made smaller but i dont think it changed much in performance other then heat / power. Apparently the slims Wifi chip is faster and better though, which makes sense now that I think about it after swapping consoles.

Its crazy to think the first Xbox's had no HDMI ports either... mental 0_o

[LondonTom]

Its crazy to think the first Xbox's had no HDMI ports either... mental 0_o

and it's only got DVD drives! ...as Microsoft thought HD-DVD would win out and had peripheral for that come along later ....Crazy really and risky but I think it paid off for a lower price point for as console as good as the PS3 in alot of other ways.

[t8yman]

It still makes me laugh when I think of all of the Sony fanboys who snubbed their noses and declared they were "waiting for the PS3". A wait that took at least a year depending on where you lived, and that yielded absolutely no benefit whatsoever. And also ended up costing £425+ on launch day for a console that never once "beat" its rival in terms of fps performance or stability for many years.

"The next gen starts when we say it does" was Sonys arrogant battlecry at the time.

"Actually it started over a year ago, and we have been playing next gen games whilst you knobheads have been sitting on your hands espousing "the power of the cell". "

Next time round is gonna be much better for all customers IMHO, 2 machines with very similar architecture (as if I even know what I'm talking about here) that are very similar to program for.

In fact personally I might even end up preferring the sony offering, as the biggest drawback on the ps3 for me is and always has been the microscopic hands required for their pad. the new one looks a bit heftier, and might suit me fine, and some of the moves MS have been making in the last 2 years have been annoying in the extreme.

[windy_miller]

Think I'll probably wait until they are both out and then make a decision. I try to avoid buying anything by Sony as a general rule though, so I am already biased towards the 720. I'll wait and see what MS's stance on second hand games is though.

And if both of them turn out to be shit, I'll wait and see what the Steam Box turns out like.

[LondonTom]

And if both of them turn out to be shit, I'll wait and see what the Steam Box turns out like.

I wouldn't even consider a console if Steam box/pc could play with 720/PS4 gamers to!! (Just for stuff like fifa).

Edited February 27, 2013 by LondonTom

[Jaybles]

I wouldn't even consider a console if Steam box/pc could play with 720/PS4 gamers to!! (Just for stuff like fifa).

Would be refreshing if 720/PS4 gamers could play online together. Not holding my breath though, unfortunately.

What is the steam box bringing to the party? Haven't really checked out the gossip yet. I know they released 'the big picture' mode recently which works well on a TV. Is steam box going to be the next step from there? A steam powered PC in a box designed for the console world, or is there more to it?

[LondonTom]

Would be refreshing if 720/PS4 gamers could play online together. Not holding my breath though, unfortunately.

What is the steam box bringing to the party? Haven't really checked out the gossip yet. I know they released 'the big picture' mode recently which works well on a TV. Is steam box going to be the next step from there? A steam powered PC in a box designed for the console world, or is there more to it?

Basically its going be if rumors are true the cross over between PC and Console with upgradable parts and other "steamboxes" by various manufacturers, so that could bring the price down to. It's also going be open to install your own OS to apparently, though it will come with some sort of Linux (which is why loads of Steam games got converted recently). if they pull it off, it could be brilliant.

Valve were was also beta testing loads of new human interaction stuff to, like blinking your eyes and stuff so expect something Kinectish like to come with it to at some point.

[Jaybles]

Basically its going be if rumors are true the cross over between PC and Console with upgradable parts and other "steamboxes" by various manufacturers, so that could bring the price down to. It's also going be open to install your own OS to apparently, though it will come with some sort of Linux (which is why loads of Steam games got converted recently). if they pull it off, it could be brilliant.

Valve were was also beta testing loads of new human interaction stuff to, like blinking your eyes and stuff so expect something Kinectish like to come with it to at some point.

Sounds interesting, will keep tabs on it.

Surely if you can upgrade it and even buy the box from different manufacturers it will create fragmentation? I guess its not really a problem in the PC gaming world, you just upgrade when you need and lower/raise the visual fidelity to suit your system.

Part of what makes traditional gaming consoles good to develop for though is that they are a closed system where the developers know exactly what they are working with. So in time they can optimize and improve.

I guess the steambox will be cheaper to buy into though, and development costs associated with console lifespans will drop. If they can get a product out there which can perform close to the next Sony and Microsoft offerings, at a lower cost of entry, then they could be on to a winner