GeekwithEnvy

Playstation 4

Sony’s Big Event is Tomorrow

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Well it’s been a few weeks since we heard about Sony’s big event, which is to take place tomorrow February 20th. Everyone is expecting to see the Playstation 4 and hopefully lots and lots of details.

We are obviously expecting the system to feature a cool new look along with enhanced graphics and processing power but a few other rumored features are expected to take the spotlight. One new feature we’re hoping to see is the ability to stream games. The gaming industry is slowly moving in this direction and I can clearly see why. The benefits of streaming a video game to a device are huge. For starters, it allows for advanced games with complex graphics to be played on simple devices like smartphones and tablets without the need for major processing power.

All of the work is done by the server, the device is merely a shell with a screen and some basic components.  It will also ensure that all users experience the same level of quality when playing a particular title. Developers will only have to make one version of their game for one platform and yet it will work on any device.

It’s not all good however. Streaming video games could eventually lead to the demise of the used game business. This is good for developers but bad for consumers, and not to mention businesses that rely on used games to make a profit.

Many rumors also talked about the exclusion of an optical drive but this seems unlikely as streaming and downloading full game content is just getting started. Another issue with an all-digital game system is the fact that many of us still lack enough bandwidth in our home internet connection to provide a reasonable and enjoyable experience.

We should also expect to see an improved social experience along with new control features like a possible touch screen on the new PS4 controller. Hopefully there will be some clarification on how backwards-compatibility will work, if at all. We may also see a price reduction on the Playstation Vita and hopefully the price on the new PS4. (expecting $350-$400)

We will provide updates tomorrow as soon as we can get them and process them, so check back with us to find out more!

Picture of Playstation 4 Controller Shows Up

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Possible Playstation 4 controller
Picture of a Possible Playstation 4 Controller (Source:Digital Foundry)

As we get closer and closer to February 20th, the date that Sony plans on announcing something special in New York, the Playstation 4 rumors continue to pop up all over the web.

An image has recently popped up that apparently shows the new Dual Shock controller for the Playstation 4. The image clearly shows a headphone jack located in the center of the bottom of the controller along with a new analog stick that looks to be slightly recessed. We kept hearing about a touchscreen or touchpad on the new PS4 controller and it seems to be pictured here in place of the start and select buttons.

This is one of the best looking controllers I have seen so far and hopefully it’s pretty close to the real thing, if it isn’t already the real thing. One small issue I have with the Playstation controller that I am hoping will be changed in the new Dual Shock is the left analog stick location. I believe it should be swapped with the d-pad, much like how the Xbox controller is set up. This image comes form Digital Foundry.

Sony Playstation 4 to be Announced Soon?

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Well we are just getting into the second month of the new year and the rumors are pouring in from everywhere in the tech world. There is a lot of buzz going on about the next generation of gaming consoles and to add even more into the mix, sources at the Wall Street Journal have mentioned that they believe Sony is planing on releasing the Playstation 4 before the end of 2013, they have also suggested that Microsoft will be doing the same with the next Xbox. All of this comes after Sony held a press event mentioning something big coming up.

To catch you up, the PS4 project is codenamed Orbis and is slated to utilize a 4x Dual-Core AMD64 “Bulldozer” processor and will also contain a next-gen AMD graphics processor with over 2GB of memory. Rumors have also suggested that both the PS4 and Xbox 720 will still have optical drives despite earlier rumors that mentioned them going to an all digital download system. Blu-Ray will remain the primary media for games on the PS4. The new console is likely to have new controllers and they will likely have a touchpad. Finally, Sony will likely incorporate a rich social experience into it’s next console in order to better compete with it’s competitors.

According to sources, the next Playstation will be unveiled sooner than originally thought in New York City on Feb. 20, 2013.

-Thanks to VG247–

The Used Game Business Could Disappear

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In my last podcast I discussed the possibility of next-gen consoles being released without optical drives, this is something that doesn’t sit well with businesses that rely on used games to keep the lights on.Blank DVD Cases

Just a decade ago, it would have been laughable to imagine that anyone would consider removing optical drives from a gaming console. We have changed the medium many times since the first true gaming console hit the market back in 1972, but we have never seriously considered completely removing physical media until recently. The idea is simple, the gaming industry asks that we download all of our content digitally and then they can control the pricing of the game over time as it eventually gets older.

So how will consumers feel about this move? Based on the recent reaction to the new Apple desktop line up, which no longer includes an optical drive, it would seem that there are still quite a few people out there who would be very upset at the removal of an optical drive in next-gen consoles.

Can you blame them for wanting a disc? Unfortunately, there are many people out there who have a poor connection to the internet, some people are still under a 1 Mbps. Slow internet speeds combined with overall much higher internet traffic could lead to consumers having to wait days before they can complete a download of their favorite game.

There is more to this story though, it’s not just about the optical drive. Even if console makers decide to stick with physical media, the used game business may still suffer. Although it’s still just speculation at this point, there are multiple reports that mention next-gen consoles moving to a system that will only allow you to play your game if you’re connected to the internet and logged into your account. If this idea ever comes to fruition it will permanently lock a game to a particular console, therefore making it impossible to trade in later.

This is clearly a good way to keep software piracy at bay, at least until they figure out a way around it. What impact will this have on the industry? I can tell you one thing for sure, gamers will be unlikely to play along. There has to be some compromise here and it could likely appear in some type of registration system. Perhaps we could simply activate and deactivate a particular game to work with our specific hardware and maybe the ability to do this would be limited to a certain number times in a month or year. This is a system that is already in place for many software titles in the desktop/laptop world. For instance, Adobe software enables you to activate and deactivate the software which allows you to move a product between separate machines, a feature that works really well.

Using the in-store credit system at one of my local used game vendors, I was able to go a full year without ever having to pay more than $10 for a new game title. Granted I only bought a few new games that year, about five, but that’s still a heck of a deal. I kept playing games, beating them and the turning them in before they lost a lot of value. After awhile I was able to keep a stockpile of points that allowed me to get any title for dirt cheap. This all would disappear in a heart beat if the industry takes a rigid approach towards digital downloads.

The success of an all digital system or an online-only system will depend greatly on its implementation. Clearly there should be a way for users to re-sell their games, even if it means redeeming points through Xbox Live Arcade or The Playstation Network. Maybe we could have some type of online used games channel that would allow us to swap games with others right on our consoles. We will just have to wait and see what happens, hopefully we can meet somewhere in the middle.

 

 

 

Playstation 4 Not Too Far Away

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Yes, it’s time to start looking ahead already as the Playstation 3 is starting to feel it’s age. The rumors have already started to roll in and we can discuss of few of them right here.ps3Controller

The latest buzz surrounding the Playstation 4 suggests that the new gaming console will still continue to support optical media and will do so in the form of Blu-Ray.

Even though there will still be a disc drive, rumors suggest that each game you buy will be tied to your Playstation Network account and you will be unable to play them offline. Gamers will also supposedly be able to purchase and download any game directly from the Playstation Network.

A source reports that the new Playstation 4 will also support 4K resolution and will be packing an AMD x64 CPU and AMD Southern Islands GPU in order to provide solid frame rates at the new massively large 4K.  The codename for the PS4 project is “Orbis”.

Sony may also be planning on keeping backwards compatibility out of the new PS4, which is something that isn’t new for Sony fans. Going by the ten year rule, the Playstation 4 should be making it’s debut in about three years.

As we continue to hear more about the PS4 we will keep you in the loop. Just remember most of this is rumor and subject to change over the months to come.