you could say
that this Christmas was a
tale of two outcomes for video gamers: there
were those who unwrapped a new next-
generation console – either Microsoft’s
Xbox One or Sony’s PlayStation 4 – and then
there were those who, well, missed out.
If you’re in the latter camp, I wouldn’t worry too much,
as you’ve got plenty of time to catch up – both consoles
are going to be making waves for a long while to come.
The last time these big hitters released a newmachine was
the best part of a decade ago and it ushered in a new age of
gaming. Similar claims are being made again, only on this
occasion, both boxes are also vying to take full control of
all entertainment in your living room. By now, more than
a month after release, much will have been said about
“Hands offmy little black box”
The future of gaming is now here, but how, asks tech editor
Alex Pell
,
will the new PlayStation 4 change the game for good?
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their comparative merits, but it’s the longer-term
implications of Sony’s machine that I want to focus on.
Perhaps the most exciting thing about it is how nicely
it plays with another piece of Sony hardware: the PS
Vita. This is part of the much-vaunted ‘second-screen
experience’ that I suspect you’ll be hearing more and more
about. You can already use a tablet controller with
Nintendo’s Wii U, which adds another facet to game play,
but with the PS4, it will be possible to streammost games
onto the handheld device in order
to play them. Initial reports
indicate it works well, albeit better
over wi-fi. I’ve never had a Vita,
because the games are too pricy and
there are too few, but with this new
feature, I might become a convert.
There are other reasons why the PS4 promises a step
change in entertainment. Some point towards new social
features, such as the ability to see all your pals’ gaming
achievements on the main PS4 dashboard and the inclusion
of a ‘share’ button on the controller. While I’m not so
excited about posting online clips of myself playing games,
the prospect of streaming videos from, say, Netflix or
LoveFilm in Full HD and surround sound is an attraction.
Unlike the Xbox One, Sony’s device gives you more free
online options, including access to these services.
And speaking of games, the PS4 has, in theory, more
graphical firepower than its rival, which should be put to
good use by a glut of innovative indie titles next year (the
result of the fact Sony has really courted indie developers).
I’mmost intrigued by those games that employ motion
sensors. Obviously, Xbox has more mature tech here, but
the PS4’s new, optional camera is pretty good.
Who knows, perhaps we’ll finally see titles
that you don’t have to be tipsy to enjoy.
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