Playstation 4

[stringvest]

I've always thought technology wise we might go down the solid state route with the next consoles.

 

With the cost of SSD coming down for the PC i wonder if the companies will look at read only SD cards as a way of storing and playing the games on.

 

Sort of like a pumped up version of the NintendoDS cards but with more room on the cartridge.

 

Packaging would be small etc.

 

yep. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to see booth-type stores with docking stations, where you can take your USB sticks, SD cards etc and have them loaded with one or more games by selecting from a screen - these could be offered at approx the same cost as online games, and still offer the traditional retail experience for accessories etc.

[Furmedge]

I'd have thought retailers would try to get in on the act by downloading new games from their own sites at prices set by them where the developer would get a set price with each download and the retailer taking a small slice, similar to what happens with discs now. Sony/Microsoft may get on board with it noting it would cut down on the traffic to them and the problems too many downloaders on release day brings. Probably not but it'd obviously be discussed.

 

My problem is that we're not going to see prices drop just because there's less packaging, delivery etc, but in fact they will stay at RRP. If for example the next COD is released it'll be £50 regardless. There'll be no supermarket deals etc which will isolate some people but still bring in a shitload more cash.

[RedKnight]

You only have to look at the prices on Xbox Live and PSN now to see that the RRP would never drop.

[Cardie]

That's a track pad similar to what's on the reverse of a PS Vita.

 

I was talking generally, hopefully they have a few versions with different locations for the track pad and the obvious location would be on the back of the pad where the serial number stickers are on the current dual shock and where it is on the vita.

 

Would be awkward as fuck having it in on the centre depending on what you're using it for.

[Cardie]

yep. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me to see booth-type stores with docking stations, where you can take your USB sticks, SD cards etc and have them loaded with one or more games by selecting from a screen - these could be offered at approx the same cost as online games, and still offer the traditional retail experience for accessories etc.

 

People still have a need to collect things, CD's, Games, Blue Rays people still like having a physical copy you can hold and put a value on which you can't do with digital copies.

[RedKnight]

I was talking generally, hopefully they have a few versions with different locations for the track pad and the obvious location would be on the back of the pad where the serial number stickers are on the current dual shock and where it is on the vita.

 

Would be awkward as fuck having it in on the centre depending on what you're using it for.

 

I'm no fan of additions on the controllers. I still think that the original NES pad is perfection.

[Bobby Hundreds]

I prefer infact I only play single player campaigns I don't want games to solely focus on online multiplayer. Give me my Sunday escapism.

[Dan Vito Corleone]

Far more interestingly than the controller (which matches the "leaks" from a few weeks ago), get onto the size of the devkit. If that is the entirety of the kit then this could be one damned small machine, and launch consoles are known to be chunky monkeys.

[Sut]

PS4 to stream PS3 games with Gaikai tech, says report | News | Edge Online

 

The Wall Street Journal‘s sources have indicated that the next PlayStation will be able to stream PS3 games using the Gaikai technology Sony acquired for $380 million.

 

It cited ‘people familiar with the company’s plans’ in its report. Sony bought Gaikai, led by industry veteran David Perry, last year but has since remained silent on how it plans to implement the streaming technology into its future devices.

 

The piece also mentions the likely implementation of more advanced motion controls with the next PlayStation, and the Vita-style touchpad on the front of the system’s new controller, which we revealed earlier this month. Streaming technology will become one of the most talked-about parts of the new PlayStation, adds the report, as cloud gaming “keeps costs low for customers and allows them to easily play intricate games on mobile devices.”

 

“Cloud gaming makes games much more convenient,” Nvidia chief executive Jen-Hsun Huang told the WSJ. “It’s instant-on and you can play it about anywhere on any device; it will make for a much larger gaming industry.”

 

The news follows the release of a new video documenting the history of PlayStation last night, and an increasing number of leaks surrounding the next PlayStation controller.

[Sut]

PlayStation 4: five things we want to know | Technology | guardian.co.uk

 

PlayStation 4: five things we want to know

 

Sony is preparing to announce its next-generation PlayStation console in New York. Here's what we're keen to find out

 

New York, 6pm Wednesday, the next generation starts. Sony is filling the huge Hammerstein Ballroom with more than 1,000 journalists from all over the world. And although the company remains tight-lipped about what's on show... we all know what's on show. PlayStation 4 – or "Orbis" if you want the alleged working title.

 

Almost eight years after the E3 press conference that ushered in the PS3 era, we're making another hyperspace jump into unknown territory. Specs have been leaked, photos posted online, rumours disseminated and deconstructed. But everyone who really knows what's going on is walled up behind airtight NDAs – for at least another 14 hours.

 

So in the meantime, here's what we'd like to see from tonight's meeting – some of it is mandatory, some fanciful. Feel free to add your own wishlist in the comments section.

 

The specs

 

This is the meat of any video game console launch, and we'll want as much detail as possible. Right now, documents posted on the VGLeaks site and the titbits we've managed to squeeze from developers suggest an eight-core processor set-up based around AMD's Jaguar technology; a GPU utilising AMD's R10XX Southern Islands architecture; 4GB system memory; and Blu-ray drive. Eurogamer has an immense analysis of these specifications and how they compare with rumoured Xbox Durango features here. The information suggests, as many predicted, a much less expensive architecture than the PS3, and one that will be familiar to coders already working with high-end PC hardware. But will there be any extra surprises, like support for 4K screens?

 

The controller

 

No doubt you've seen the leaked images of a reworked Dual Shock pad. It boasts a d-pad, analogue sticks and shoulder buttons, but the Start and Select buttons have gone, replaced by a large (possibly multitouch) touch pad which can also be clicked for an extra input. Rumours also suggest Move-style motion functionality, a microphone and a headphone socket. Documentation seen by various game sites has also mentioned a Share button, which may well allow gamers to take screen grabs or video clips to post on a social network. I've spoken to developers who have told me the touchpad has been on protoype PS4 controllers for some time – but what will it add to gaming experiences? The Vita has shown some interesting uses, especially in tactile titles like LittleBigPlanet and Little Deviants. Is it possible there's another one on the base? Or is that just too Vita?

 

The services

 

We all know that last year, Sony paid $380m for cloud gaming company Gaikai. So what's it doing with that technology? Lots of possibilities here. My money is on an extension of the PlayStation Plus philosophy – ie a subscription-based service that lets you stream and/or download new titles, perhaps even for free. Even if you don't play them over the web (broadband services might not be up to that task), you may be able to start playing titles as they download in the background. I think it's all going to be about ridding gamers of all the bottlenecks associated with digital content and downloadable updates. There's another angle though. Here's Sony's pre-event teaser trailer:

 

[YOUTUBE]

[/YOUTUBE]

 

So, okay, that might just be a little 'story so far' re-cap, but some sites are suggesting it could hint at some sort of backwards compatibility potential. Maybe PSone, 2 and 3 titles will be made available as streaming content. Elsewhere, it seems integration with other devices is going to be a big issue. Xperia, tablets, Vita – will we be able to use them all as controllers for PS4 games, or even seamlessly use them as remote portals to play PS4 titles while on the move? Of course, Sony tried that with PS3 with limited success – but some sort of cross-platform integration between the console and mobile devices is surely inevitable.

 

The games

 

The range of exclusive titles is going to be crucial – this is where the mainstream will be looking to decide on yet another console purchase. So far, the line up of potential launch titles includes a new Gran Turismo (and Sony's latest teaser video revolves around the series), Killzone 4, Uncharted 4, a new Motorstorm, LittleBigPlanet 3 (in development at Sumo Digital), the upcoming new title from Media Molecule, and maybe even Team Ico's long awaited Last Guardian. Metal Gear Ground Zeroes is a possibility and other third-party publishers could also roll out their big multiformat, gen-spanning titles including Star Wars 1313, Battlefield 4 and Watchdogs. Sony also needs to nod toward the indie sector too. If even half of that gets demo time tonight, we'll be happy.

 

The release date

 

I don't think we'll get a price on Wednesday. Even though rumours are suggesting a surprisingly reasonable £299 start point, Sony will want to see what Microsoft comes out with on the next Xbox before committing to anything. But we should get some indication of a launch date. At the moment, most pundits are suggesting Winter 2013 for Japan and the US, with Europe trundling along in the spring. But that was the old model. Now Sony is no longer relying on manufacturing its own proprietary components, surely a contained global launch period is possible. PS4 by Christmas? Is that too much to ask? We'll find out tonight... Maybe.

[Allan]

Here's the video from the above:

 

[YOUTUBE]U7w5i_YCFmQ[/YOUTUBE]

[RedKnight]

The one thing we all want to know; the price.

[Guest davelfc]

Call me old fashioned but I like the have a physical copy of a game, I can sell it or loan it to people when I have finished with it.

 

The trend with the smaller devices is downloadable versions, usually costing as much or more than the physical version. You also lose the ability to trade, unless they have or are planning on having an online trading area.

 

Anyway I haven't switched on my ps3 since late 2011, well roughly since around the time they stopped you watching (illegally) downloaded films on a usb stick from it. So I guess buying this would only be a huge waste of money, I want one.

[RedKnight]

I think most gamers of a certain age would prefer the physical copy of the game. The main thing for me is that gaming isn't like movies or music where they get re-released all the time. The more obscure of retro games can only be obtained via ebay as they don't get re-released and even if they do, the developers will have touched it up a little to make it more palatable to the modern audience. Nothing beats the original game on the original system.

[Sut]

Here's the video from the above:

 

Been told several times how to post videos but can just never do it. Cheers Al.

[Allan]

The one thing we all want to know; the price.

 

Rumours saying that there will be 2 release models, priced at $429 and $529.

 

That's £280 and £345 in real money or €320 & €394 in Euro funny money, at the current exchange rate.

[Sut]

PlayStation 4 v Xbox 720: insiders discuss the future of consoles | Technology | guardian.co.uk

 

Too long to post here - it's a discussion on the merits of the next gen.

 

Can't really see the demise of physical copies just yet although it will happen soon.

[Allan]

PlayStation 4 v Xbox 720: insiders discuss the future of consoles | Technology | guardian.co.uk

 

Too long to post here - it's a discussion on the merits of the next gen.

 

Can't really see the demise of physical copies just yet although it will happen soon.

 

I think we're a few years away from it, yet. Much will depend on how the consumers respond to the Cloud features provided by the new consoles. As has been mentioned earlier in the thread, OnLive was far from a success, but it didn't really have Microsoft or Sony behind it pushing the brand nor the technology.

 

Gaikai/Sony have registered the domain for PlayStation Cloud in the past couple of days, so there is no doubt that both companies will be pushing Cloud gaming as hard as they can. Initial rumours are suggesting that Gaikai/Sony have done this to allow PS4 gamers to stream PS3 titles, as the new console will not be backwards compatible for physical software.

[john23liverpool]

If they do revert to this online only bollocks it'll mean the end of me buying and playing games. I play my xbox on my ship when I'm at work, and I also don't like the idea of not being able to buy/sell 2nd hand games. Greedy bastards.

[Welsh]

I rarely buy games these days on release day. I'll wait months and buy it second hand, then once complete I'll sell it on again.

 

If they decide to make scond hand gaming obsoleet I doubt I'll bother buying this console. Games are far too expensive.

[Guest davelfc]

Rumours saying that there will be 2 release models, priced at $429 and $529.

 

That's £280 and £345 in real money or €320 & €394 in Euro funny money, at the current exchange rate.

 

Ha ha, you forgot to add the 'mug tax' on top of that.

 

For example Macbook pro in US (cheapest) $1199 or £783 using my convertor app.

 

Macbook pro in UK (cheapest) £999 and that's $1529

 

Even allowing for state taxes it's one big rip off and I don't believe we'll get off any better with any new PS3.

 

What was it I read recently when someone was asked about the difference in prices for us compared to the USA, we know the value of goods or something like that. Yeah, mug tax.

[Allan]

If you haven't got a stream link sorted already.

 

PlayStation Meeting 2013

[Allan]

Rumours saying that there will be 2 release models, priced at $429 and $529.

 

That's £280 and £345 in real money or €320 & €394 in Euro funny money, at the current exchange rate.

 

Ha ha, you forgot to add the 'mug tax' on top of that.

 

For example Macbook pro in US (cheapest) $1199 or £783 using my convertor app.

 

Macbook pro in UK (cheapest) £999 and that's $1529

 

Even allowing for state taxes it's one big rip off and I don't believe we'll get off any better with any new PS3.

 

What was it I read recently when someone was asked about the difference in prices for us compared to the USA, we know the value of goods or something like that. Yeah, mug tax.

 

I agree with what you're saying regarding the 'mug tax', though I don't suspect the prices to be too far off the current exchange rate values.

 

If indeed there are to be 2 release models, then I can see them costing £299 and £379 here in the UK, with them being priced at around €369 and €449 in the Eurozone.

 

We'll find out soon enough.

[john23liverpool]

Ha ha, you forgot to add the 'mug tax' on top of that.

 

For example Macbook pro in US (cheapest) $1199 or £783 using my convertor app.

 

Macbook pro in UK (cheapest) £999 and that's $1529

 

Even allowing for state taxes it's one big rip off and I don't believe we'll get off any better with any new PS3.

 

What was it I read recently when someone was asked about the difference in prices for us compared to the USA, we know the value of goods or something like that. Yeah, mug tax.

 

I'm sure I read something not that long ago about the aussies taking the big companies to task over this and asking them to explain why they charge shitloads more there than in the US. Not sure what the outcome was like but it's about time someone pulled them up over it.

[Dan Vito Corleone]

Watch the PlayStation Event Live on IGN - IGN

 

Another link just in case.