Sony PlayStation 4

It’s official Sony have announced the PlayStation4

While the dual shock 4 does look similar to the prototype (admittedly this did disappoint me at first), do not let this stop you!

The all important features:

Share: As rightfully predicted by many, the PS4 features a ‘share’ button in which they can select some gameplay footage to share with friends and bring together the social experience. Not only this but players can also help out other players who may be stuck in a certain part of the game. Personally I love this aspect of having people who are able to help me when I am stuck in a game, and how other players worldwide can help. This is definitely what sold it for me!  Think ‘Onlive’.

Enhanced PC GPU

8GB UNIFIED MEMORY- this is a huge upgrade! Developers can now load larger levels and more textures

Touch screen

Blue bar

Hello Share and Options, Goodbye Start and Select – The Start and Select buttons which have been around consoles for 24 years are now being replaced making way for new buttons – ‘Share’ and ‘Options’.  This shows a change not only in media but also society.

Informed system architecture

The new PS4 seems to fit perfectly with the not so new PS Vita,
maybe this is a reason why they went cheaper before the soon to be popular demand.

Sony PS4 Update

At 3:06pm on the 31st January 2013 PlayStation simultaneously released a blog post, a tweet and a Facebook post.

Why? To tease to the world with an invitation to

“see the future”

All the links connect to one simple site, https://us.playstation.com/meeting2013/

Where you view for yourself this video, 

We recommend viewing this clip with the sound turned up pretty loud (although there are the exceptions if you can’t, such as in class) to get you excited.

At the end of the video we see these symbols, well known to all who have played on a PlayStation.  The reason for this is they feature on the DualShock controllers.  Rumours have previously surrounded that the new PS4 will drop the old controller for something different  possibly an LDC touchscreen.  Will these buttons still feature?

Sony have made an announcement to “See the Future” on 20 February…despite the CEO saying they were in no rush and going to let Microsoft announce first. So why the change? 

Research has discovered this event is due to take place in New York City and “is about the future of the PlayStation business”.  All sign point towards a PS4 announcement.  The clues being that PlayStation have currently nothing else to announce, that we are aware of.

If this proves true then not only would they beat Microsoft in announcing the new Xbox720 but the statement made by Kazuo Hirai CEO of Sony on the 21st January, which he stated  “…it [PlayStation] will let Microsoft make the first move.”  Would have been a lie.

No matter what happens, we already can’t wait.  To view our previous post featuring the PS4 announcements click this link; https://pwnersmanual.wordpress.com/2013/01/19/special-report-playstation-4-ps4-the-latest-surrounding-rumours/

The announcement made on facebook

The announcement made on Twitter

 

Rumors

• Play Station Plus will become next generation
• Social Media functions, such as sharing will be incorporated into the device
• No back up computer 
• Dual 720p camera
• The controller will feature an all new design which may be a touch screen or touch pad

 

Special Report: PlayStation 4 (PS4) The latest surrounding rumours

2013 sees the release of two very different rival consoles.  The Xbox 720 and the PS4.  With the Xbox720 already being covered, (here’s a link for anyone who would like to read it https://pwnersmanual.wordpress.com/2013/01/14/special-report-xbox-720-the-latest-stage/) it’s time to focus on the, soon to be, arrival of Sony’s PlayStation 4.

Rumours are speculating that Sony are to hold an “apple-like” event to announce the PS4 to the world.  In order to have an “apple-like” event you will need a main speaker, a conference with people in the respecting field and the all important press for publicity.  The annual Game Developers Conference (GDC),  being held on the 25th to the 29th March 2013 (expo dates 27th to 29th March) in San Francisco  California presents the perfect opportunity for this.  Although, there is still the possibility of the announcement being made around 11th to 13th June at E3 in Los Angeles in California.

(Update: Kazuo Hirai CEO of Sony  has announced today (21st January) that it will let Microsoft make the first move.  This could lead to Microsoft announcing the all new 720 at the annual Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, California held on 25th to 29th March.  Therefore maybe the new PS4 will be announced at E3)

Whenever the announcement happens all eyes will be awaiting to see if Sony have decided to continue with the 18 button DualShock controller they are known for globally.  If this does happen it could drastically change not only the video game business for Sony but also other companies will await the reviews.  If they drop the DualShock controller for an LDC touchscreen will this then lead to an impact on future Xbox’s and game consoles?  With the 720 also being released this year it does not look like Microsoft will make any similar drastic changes soon.

Time for a makeover?

Launching more than 16 years ago,

3rd December, 1994 – Japan
9th September, 1995 – North America
29th September, 1995 – Europe
15th November, 1995 – Australia

the world was able to lay it’s eyes on this; what is known to many as the first of the ubiquitous PlayStation series.

By March 31, 2005, the PlayStation and PSone had shipped a combined total of 102.49 million units, becoming the first video game console to reach the 100 million mark.  Every time Sony add on to the PS family they make certain that  they continue to push limits and boundaries.  The original PlayStation really does own it’s title as a “classic” and has given many children and adults great memories of continuous hours of game play.

Now come March…or June we may see this;

                      or                  

The image on the left is taken from the “Official PlayStation 4 Magazine” website, a link will be at the bottom of this post.

This does seem impressive and clearly shows the modern menu, which we have seen on other PS consoles, along with several options.

The image on the right is taken from the website “Geeky Gadgets”, again a link will be at the bottom of the post.  Here we do see the DualShock controller but what is interesting is it’s built around a screen.   This would certainly allow for better cross play experiences especially between the already great consoles PlayStation 4 and PS Vita.  Featuring a touch screen would certainly raise competition with the WiiU.

Mock up designs are now appearing on the internet with some looking great and featuring the essential buttons along with the new screen.  For more mock up designs see the Push Square link below,  this one is my personal favourite,

Mock up design

Whatever it will look like people are speculating biometric sensors, a processor with a run-capability of 1.84 teraflops, if this sparks true it will be 50% more powerful than Xbox 720.  A downside is one rumour sees the PS4 ignore the possibility of backwards compatibility and focusing firmly on the next generation, this means if you want to continue playing PS3 games it’s best, for now, to keep hold of your PS3. You never know one day it could be useful for vintage gaming.

If the PlayStation 4 real name changes to become known as Orbis or Omni. Whenever it is released, possibly December 2013,  Sony will not disappoint and release another great console ready for gamers and PS fans everywhere to have many fun hours of game play on.

UPDATE 7th February 2013

One of Japan’s biggest newspapers, the Asahi Shimbun, has run an interesting story they hint towards the new PlayStation 4 will cost over 40,000 Yen, or about $430/£270/€320.  Interestly they only converted the price from Yen into $, perhaps Europe may have to wait a little longer for the PS4.  For more on this story see ‘The Verge’ link below.

Reminder

Don’t forget to check our website and this blog for new posts daily!

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/774884/Websites/claire/site/index.html

Sources;

Digital Trends (2013) PlayStation 4 drops the DualShock controller after 15 years | Digital Trends. [online] Available at: http://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/playstation-4-drops-the-dualshock-controller-in-favor-of-a-new-wii-u-style-dna-sensing-pad/ [Accessed: 19 Jan 2013].

GDC (2012) Game Developers Conference. [online] Available at: http://www.gdconf.com/ [Accessed: 19 Jan 2013].

Geeky Gadgets (2013) PlayStation 4 Controller To Have A Touchscreen? . [online] Available at: http://www.geeky-gadgets.com/playstation-4-controller-to-have-a-touchscreen-19-01-2013/ [Accessed: 19 Jan 2013].

Offical PlayStation Magazine (2012) PS4 News – Official PlayStation Magazine. [online] Available at: http://www.officialplaystationmagazine.co.uk/2012/01/30/ps4-sony-ceo-says-we-will-probably-be-the-last-to-announce-something/ [Accessed: 19 Jan 2013].

PS4 (2013) PS4 Site – Playstation 4. [online] Available at: http://www.ps4site.com/ [Accessed: 19 Jan 2013].

Square, P. (2013) Which of These PS4 Controller Mock-Ups Is Your Favourite? – Push Square. [online] Available at: http://www.pushsquare.com/news/2013/02/which_of_these_ps4_controller_mock_ups_is_your_favourite [Accessed: 8 Feb 2013].

Tech Radar (2013) PS4 release date, news and rumours. [online] Available at: http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/consoles/ps4-release-date-news-and-rumours-937822 [Accessed: 19 Jan 2013].

Telegraph (2013) PlayStation – Sony’s gaming highs and lows. [online] Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/picture-galleries/9776067/PlayStation-Sonys-gaming-highs-and-lows.html [Accessed: 19 Jan 2013].

The Guardian (2013) PS4 rumours: ‘50% more powerful than Xbox 720’. [online] Available at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2013/jan/18/xbox-720-ps4-rumours [Accessed: 19 Jan 2013].

The Verge (2013) PlayStation 4 report suggests $400+ price . [online] Available at: http://www.theverge.com/2013/2/6/3961512/ps4-price-and-release-date-in-asahi-shimbun-report [Accessed: 7 Feb 2013].