the thing you need to know: XBox One was announced as $499. The PS4 was expected to cost $499. It will actually cost $399.
Everyone briefly lost their minds when Sony dropped that. There may end up being different PS4s - hard drives size was not mentioned and it was rumored they would end up with 3 models - but from the story both sides told today, Sony just took Microsoft out at the knees.
That wasn't all. Sony explicity went after Microsoft's new policies: there will be no restrictions on PS4 used game sales (or loaning to a friend), and there will be no requirement to check-in online ever. It's not the most perfect scenario - it was implied that online multiplayer (or at least "immeresive online multiplayer") will be Playstation Plus exclusive, and all the automatic game/system updating will still require that membership.
We've had the discussion about who exactly wants to buy a next generation system already and probably will again, but if you are interested and aren't particular about a XBox exclusive, the PS4 looks to be the better deal.
The PS4 itself is a 3D parallelgram, looking a bit like a PS2 and generally better than the XBox One though not something so great.
Cloud based gaming comes in 2014. Cross game voice chat, play as you download works on launch, and any existing PS+ membership will over to PS4 at no additional price.
Games discussed list follows. Most had some exclusive PS content.
Playstation Vita Still Exists - The Walking Dead (new bundle in August with next chapter)
PS3 - The Last of Us - Puppeteer - Rain - Beyond: Two Souls - Gran Turismo 6 - Batman: Arkham Origins (Knghtfall DLC, 60s Batman skin are PS3 exclusives )
PS4 - The Order: 1886 - Victorian + Zombie fighting (exclusive, out on launch) - Killzone: Shadow Fall (out on launch) - Driveclub (out on launch, PS+ members get a special version of the game free on PS4 launch) - Infamous: Second Son (exclusive, some signs of a plot but not out to Q1 2014, oops)
- Knack (exclusive) - A whole bunch of indy games which will (console) debut on PS4: Transistor, Don't Starve, Mercenary Kings, Octodad: Dadliest Catch, Secret Ponchos, Outlast, Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee, Galak-Z: The Dimensional. A couple of those games were promised as give aways for PS4. - Diablo 3 - Final Fantasy Versus XIII - which is now Final Fantasy XV. This means something to someone. - Kingdom Hearts 3 - Assassins's Creed 4 (which had some freezing issues and ended prematurely) - Watch Dogs (one hour of exclusive content; looked impossibly hard and featured multiplayer help via tablet) - NBA 2K14, with more realistic faces. LeBron's face looked scarily impressive, one where you really believed PS4 made a difference, but not sure how realistic faces helps that much in game play - Elder Scrolls Online (spring 2014) - Mad Max - Destiny
Driveclub is not a game I would've got but would be happy to play for free. Infamous: Second Son looked like more Infamous in gameplay footage. Watch Dogs actually looked intimidating with all the actions needed but maybe it ramps up a bit. Batman is Batman.
I am mildly interested in the PS4 now, but the problem is, I just don't want to pay any $$/mo for a console. I already carry way too many online expenses...
2 x $15/m WoW accounts $20/m Ventrilo server for my Wow Guild (I should cancel this) $8/m Netflix $8/m Hulu $90/m internet (We have both DSL and Cable modem, don't ask) $?/y Amazon Prime $100/y MLB.tv
($90/m DirecTV) ($?/m Cell phone) etc...
I'm personally closer to subscribing to a music service like Spotify or Pandora than I am to paying for a console fee. I am getting weary of $5/month fees.
OK, now I'm stoked. The price is right, I dig the formfactor, and they're giving the finger to Microsoft with the DRM and always online issues that might bite them in the ass.
What I'd love to see are the PSN games that I've already paid for playable on the PS4. Same as being to transfer my saved games and trophies.
The interconnectivity with the Vita fascinates me - as it also frustrates me that it hasn't been taken advantage of with the PS3.
I am mildly interested in the PS4 now, but the problem is, I just don't want to pay any $$/mo for a console.
You don't have to pay $$/month for PS4 (or XBox One), but then you just don't get online multiplayer. Which does seem like something important to you, so maybe that doesn't help much.
FWIW, Best Buy just put PS+ subscription cards on sale. $50 works out to $4/month ($5/month normal), and they don't look like they expire.
The PSN has the added bonus of offering up free games each month, which remain free as long as you subscribe. Its not clear if the games you 'buy' now will transfer to the new system (I doubt it), but at the very least you can get your hands on games like Saints Row: The Third or Deus Ex: Human Revolution on the PS3. I only started subscibing to Plus because I was given a giftcard, but I've found it to easily be worth it just from the games they make available. I'm disappointed that Sony is rolling multiplayer into Plus subscriptions, but the service is valuable enough that I think everyone should be subscribing anyway.
It's my understanding that the multiplayer being rolled into PS+ is JUST for online gaming, and that it won't be a situation like with X-Box Live where you have to pay extra to use subscription-based services like Netflix.
This really was a huge punch in the mouth by Sony. Everything that Microsoft came out with has been equalled, undercut, or bettered. It's as if Sony played electronic rope-a-dope for the past month and just dropped the hammer. I don't know where Microsoft goes from here, or how they regain ground, but as it stands, the XBONE is distant third in my list of consoles. I like what Nintendo did, and I love that Sony came out shooting. Friends of mine who are 360 owners told me that they're going PS4. I'm not important and I don't know a ton of people but I can't imagine the sentiment being that different across the population.
I still love my 360 and think it's one of the best consoles I've ever owned. No plans on switching to anything when the new consoles come out for at least a year, but the PS4 sounds like the way to go hands-down.
Originally posted by SKLOKAZOIDI still love my 360 and think it's one of the best consoles I've ever owned. No plans on switching to anything when the new consoles come out for at least a year, but the PS4 sounds like the way to go hands-down.
This.
There was no way I would even have considered getting a PS4 before the two press conferences because of how the PS3 handles updates and whatnot. But I can't stand the Xbox One policies and it would take some absolutely killer games* to make me consider one.
Either way, I think I'm most likely to get a Wii U out of any of them. Cheaper, backwards compatible, and first-party Nintendo games in HD. I've never been a big Super Smash Bros fan but the Wii Fit Trainer spouting off fitness tips while beating the shit out of Yoshi? Sold.
* these are probably not what most people would consider "killer games"
As for Sony, the PS4 looks decent but I didn't see a reason why I need it over my PS3. Plus, it's Sony. They've burned us time and time and time and time again with their stupidity. I still bought the PS3 eventually, but I think I'll have the same stance on the PS4. Give it a few years, let Sony prove they won't screw this up, and then I'll consider it.
Already have a Wii U, it's decent.
I guess I'm the only person still more interested in the Xbox One at this point. I'm very interested in the idea of game sharing between family members and wonder what counts as "family". Could make for a very cheap way to pile up a library. Love that you can log in to any Xbox One and have full access to every game you own. Really like the integration with TV idea if it works well with my cable box. Don't care a bit about the always connected requirement, mine always would be anyway. Just not getting all the negativity here really.
http://www.avclub.com/article/rip-nintendo-president-satoru-iwata-222162 Pretty sad news. Seemed so energetic and lively in the Star Fox puppet skit from E3 just weeks ago.