by Mike Williams
Over the past few days, I’ve enjoyed the hype building up for the PlayStation 4 announcement. We’ve had photos of a prototype controller in front of what appears to be a dev-box and rumours have been rife about what each new facet of its makeshift body might unleash. However, last night was time for much of this to be cleared up – for the conjecture to finish and the real anticipation to begin; for Sony to coerce us into the first class carriage on our own personalised hype train.
With Skype Instant Messenger open and a voice call in parallel, my friends and acquaintances were suitably excited to see what the next generation console had to offer.
Straight away it was obvious that Sony had listened to problems from this generation (and not just about its own console). Sharing looks to be a huge feature. Sure, it’s not for me but I definitely want to be able to make use of it. More importantly, I want it for everyone who’ll abuse it like I abused that mechanical bull last Summer. Not so horny now, are you.
Games were teased and trailers made us a little warmer in the trouser department. Conceptual pieces excited us with the possibilities of what this hardware can do in the hands of a studio like Media Molecule. Huge franchises leapt aboard, new Intellectual Properties (that’s IP to you and me) showed absolute promise.
Now, whilst the local police might tell you I was stone-cold sober, I was drunk on the lovely pitch that Sony had crafted. Images came and went. The new controller was discussed in more detail. Visit after visit on stage from developer boffins whipped our temperate gussets into a cotton-moistened party of endorphin-enriched happiness.
The show ended and I fell asleep thinking lovely things about the future of home console gaming. Sadly, reality decided to slap me around the face with its calloused hand on awaking. Not my reality but the reality that our culture appears to not only thrive on but breed at a contemptible rate. “No problem”, I thought. I’ll just see what BBC has to say about Sony’s gestating console. Imagine the horror where around 90% of the article was negative and full of stamina-destroying body punches to the midriff.
An entire first world, up in arms over the fact that we’d not seen the new console. An entire media-minded culture where things were damned just because they didn’t get a mention. Countless times I saw alleged professionals tearing several new posteriors because we didn’t have a fixed date of release.
I guess Holiday Season 2013 (near Christmas for us normal folk) wasn’t enough. Why? What has caused this effluent-like putrescence to flow faster than the warm custard on my fruits of the forest crumble? I truly expected to see the usual shenanigans in the comments section but to see nearly all of the press link arms and spout such nonsense was enough to make my blood boil.
I don’t want to know how cynical you are. I don’t want to know why you think PC gaming is better. I don’t want to know about how it all sounds completely out of touch with today’s society and why you not having a price or a sexy shot of the new Sony beast is tantamount to wishing a terminal illness on your loved ones. Step back for a moment and realise we live in a wonderful time where we can even potentially afford such luxuries. Breathe deeply and try to handle the fact that Sony overtook Microsoft (recently) in the sales stakes of home consoles and that they might be doing something resembling “right”.
I wish Microsoft the very best of luck with whatever they show but, just for once, I’d like to see some enthusiasm for the average person (cue: show of hands from TSA’s readership) where we are grown-up enough to realise it isn’t the answer to all of our gaming prayers but looks suitably enticing for us to part with a serious number of crisp banknotes.
I thank the stars that somewhere like TSA exists and that I’m still allowed to be thrilled by the PlayStation 4 hype train.
First class carriage? I want to be sitting on the driver’s lap and supping from his thermos!
heedbaw
I’m on the cynical side. Not bothered about what it looks like, pricing, release date. What disappoints me most is that it’s not like any of the games couldn’t be done on the PS3. Granted they might not look as shiny, but I’m not particularly bothered about that anymore. As long as you can make out what’s going on, why bother throwing a lot more resources at it. And more resources=more time=more money, etc.
Social stuff doesn’t interest me, but I would assume that’s a take it or leave it thing. Same with streaming. A bit like Gaikai when I downloaded it to try it out, had a nose about, thought the streams and stuff were sweet, but that’s only having a look out of curiosity it’s not something I would use.
Even Knack as a new IP didn’t really look like anything special, yes there were a lot of particle effects etc. going on, but it looks like a platformer/brawler type game. Don’t get me wrong, it could be good. But again, is it really anything they couldn’t do on PS3.
The only thing that got me thinking was Media Molecules demo, and that’s down to the possibilities of what you could do with LBP in a fully 3D environment.
The Von Braun
The ‘Could be done on a PS3’ comments, reminded me of just how many game’s over the years started off on 1 platform, but appeared on another:
Shen Mue started out on the Saturn, Tomb Raider, originally planned for Jaguar CD, Alien Trilogy was a MCD game, Loaded was SNES, Res.Evil 0 N64, as was Eternal Darkness, Too Human PS1, Timeshift Xbox, The Getaway PS1, Kameco and P.D 0 i think were G.C originally, then Xbox, finally 360, Onimusha was PS1, Toe Jam And Earl 3+Gun Valk.Dreamcast, as was original plans for Shinobi reboot.
All ended up on more powerful hardware.Probably a good few more examples, but you get the idea.
wonkey-willy
ign ha ha nice one buni how the hell is that pile of shit still going…
does anyone still look at ign?
bunimomike
I check it about … um… five times a year (for around ten minutes per visit). The comments section is sickening at best. Weirdly, I share their high scores as I’m a cheery bugger but their American writers are absolute turd most of the time.
Starman
The BBC’s report I saw this evening was so pathetically negative I thought it was written for them by Apple.
Claiming console gaming’s days are numbered due to tablet gaming?! Saying people don’t buy FIFA anymore because they’d rather play a cheaper alternative in an iPad.
Pretty sure EA announced record sales for fifa13. And of course there’s the while gaming industry grossing more than the film industry thing. Rant over.
bunimomike
With you all of the way on this one. It’s like it was penned by Sony’s competitors and then sub-sections of the industry who wanted to twist the knife into home consoles.
Mobile gaming is massive. iDevices and Android equivalents are huge (metaphorically speaking) but all can get along amicably. I’m now very curious to see what happens with Microsoft as I want to see if it was the media out to get Sony or the entire type of console.
Starman
Yeah the line they take with ms will be interesting. And I think what the likes of the BBC miss with mobile gaming is it brought in people who didn’t play games at any other time, it didn’t take them away from home consoles.
Klart
The show was great. They’ve made me look forward to the next gen.
Dar-Kaus
Well said, and a nice response to the cynical journalism out there that we have to endure so much of these days, it’s always easier to criticise a new idea and there are those who are all too ready to take a swipe at the gaming community and lay the problems of our society’s youth squarely at its door.
I thought Sony did a commendable job at conveying their vision of the next generation and even though I won’t be utilising most of the social features personally, I think it’s the logical direction the gaming community is heading into and demonstrates how mature this eighth generation of consoles is shaping up to be. Sony have only played their first hand, and quite rightly are still holding a few cards up their sleeves for E3 and I can honestly say I have never looked forward to an E3 event so much as the one to come this year, I wish MS the best of luck with their next generation even though I have never owned an XBOX I believe good competition and diversity can only strengthen the gaming community as a whole.
hol
I thought Sony did exactly what they needed too, lets be honest, no-one really expected an actual unit to be displayed did they? That’ll be at E3 to the public & GDC behind closed doors to devs.
stylishkev1
I sat and watched the stream (in parts) eagerly anticipating the box, hoping that the sections that were dropping out would not herald the arrival of the newest shiny thing for the corner of my room.
Alas as the meeting came to a close no sight of the box. Anger filled my heart, WHY? Why has Sony does this to me!!!! To Mug book I go to moan and whine about it.
But before I post I stop.
I realise that this is a great piece of marketing by Sony. Look at the excitement a simple teaser video which showed nothing gained. Everyone was talking about it, the news was filled with it, Facebook and twitter were bouncing about it, the social side advertising had taken over.
Free, positive advertising. And as the meeting went on they pushed the Share aspect of the console. And that continued afterwards if a bit more negative.
Now the anticipation of this machine is building for E3, its growing in the same way as the teaser did, and Sony don’t have to show us anything!!!
They didn’t actually say they would reveal it on Wednesday, we just all assumed as that is the culture of the day, our anger is our own making and our anticipation and excitement has grown because of it. Let all the specs price and information go in one go and you lose the waves of free advertising and excitement that drip feeding gains.
I for one say well played Sony, well played.
Roll on E3
Origami Killer
Really great post. It is time for some to stop being so negative about the whole situation.
bunimomike
Cheers, fella. It’s how I feel. I’m a happy sort of chappie so don’t want to be brought down by the crushing amount of negative press when it’s truly unjustified. I just fancied taking a stand on this one. :-)
Broonba
I honestly think that some people moan & bitch just because the rest of the sheep are moaning & bitching. *You know who you are*
PS4 looks like it’ll be ace when released & no doubt nextbox will too.