elcome to the latest feature to hit Press pause Radio: Versus! Considering that the name is fairly self-explanatory, we’ll go ahead and illustrate the deets just to clarify. This feature is all about our fellow PPR casters and writers getting into heated clashes of wits as they settle their differences through detailed arguments and organize them against one another for you guys to decide. Here’s the first bout guys, so enjoy!
This past February, we were introduced to the successor to the PlayStation 3, unmistakably known as the PlayStation 4. Announced for a holiday release, the PS4 stated to the world that their new system would put control back into the gamer’s hands. With a solid lineup of titles and first party offerings, as well as social features that are relevant to today’s audience, Sony certainly took the first shot in the upcoming console war. Personally, I feel that PlayStation 4 will be the clear choice in this next console generation, simply because Sony has learned from previous mistakes and are determined to put the games in the forefront.
When comparing the specifications of the PS4 and the newly announced Xbox One, they are similar in almost every way. The PS4 will be the first Sony console to abandon their internally developed Cell architecture, instead going with an 8-core x86 AMD processor. This will allow developers small and large to better design gaming experiences with tools that are common amongst many gaming engines. The console will also contain a faster Blu-ray drive, 8 GB of GDDR5 memory, and what has been described by Sony as a “very large” internal hard drive. Although hardware is very similar, the one difference is Sony’s integration of their handheld: the Vita. Remote Play will allow Vita owners to play their favorite PS4 titles right on the handheld. Although this was promised once already with the Vita’s initial release, president of Sony’s Worldwide Studios Shuhei Yoshida promises that Remote Play will be available day one of the console’s release.
The first public announcement of the PlayStation 4 was one of Sony’s better offerings in recent memory. Many E3 presentations and reveals normally educed negative responses from the media and fans alike. This time, I feel that Sony said only what needed to be said, making no sweeping declarations or promises likely to be unfulfilled. The event focused on what any consumer would like to see in a new video game console, which is games. Exclusives such as Killzone Shadow Fall, DriveClub, and Infamous Second Son showcased franchises reimagined for a new generation of gaming, but also shared the stage with smaller offerings such as The Witness and Knack. Sony emphasized a stronger relationship with independent developers, giving smaller studios an opportunity to reach a larger audience with easier development tools, as well as their Pub Fund and their integration with the Unity Engine.
Overall, Sony has a strong chance to win the favor of the gaming enthusiast this holiday season. Although we're unsure on the hard drive space or the actual design of the console, a dedication to games as well as the streaming and share features make the PS4 seem like a logical choice for the hardcore audience. The one sure-fire way Sony will win this console launch is the fact that their system will be able to play used games. Something that Microsoft unfortunately has not been able to confirm or deny, as apparent in their poor handling of the topic after their press event. I believe it's safe to say that Sony is winning this race by a large margin.
When it comes to gaming in the console market, Microsoft is arguably the dominant force in this console generation. This past Tuesday we finally got a look at what Microsoft has brought to the table with the Xbox One, a gaming console meant to be the center of your home entertainment system. While I will admit that Sony’s conference surely trumped Microsoft when it came to giving us confidence in the system, when digging into the details you can tell that the Xbox One is going to continue Microsoft’s dominance in the next generation.
While the specifications for both systems are basically identical, I believe the sleeper is going to be Microsoft’s custom GPU in the Xbox One made by AMD. We can speculate that instead of using an off-the-shelf GPU like Sony, there customer GPU can be more customized for what Microsoft wants out of games on the platform. And while Sony may tout the system's functionality with the PlayStation Vita, giving the portable a reason to finally exist, Microsoft’s Smart Glass offering can be used from any tablet, including Apple’s IPad; this means you don’t have to buy a $250.00 paperweight to get the most out of your system's functionality. Smart Glass is already showing significant functionality with the current Xbox 360, while the Vita’s remote play feature leaves something to be desired. Microsoft also supports the upgraded Kinect 2.0, which besides being one step closer to Skynet with the new ability to sense your fucking heartbeat, has already proven itself with great games like Dance Central and Wreckateers. What does the EyeToy have... Wonder Book??
While the Microsoft conference was light on games, the additional functionality is what I think puts it leaps and bounds above Sony’s offering. The ability to run live TV and catch up on your NFL games and Fantasy League while Skyping with your friends could be the revolutionary step to moving the console to the center of your living room and out of the man cave. How about the multitasking functions of the Xbox One? Need an FAQ for Dark Souls 2? Of course you do, Andy, just Bing the FAQ and switch back and forth at your leisure. And screw DriveClub -- we’ve got Forza on the Xbox One, not to mention a promised 14 other exclusive IP heading for Microsoft’s juggernaut, and don’t forget about Microsoft’s other great partnerships they had for exclusive content with companies like Activision and Rockstar among others. While we’re at it, don’t let me forget that Xbox Live is already a proven online community that they can just transfer over to the next generation while PSN was competent at best and downright broken multiple times.
Now, I know I’m not touching on the two giant elephants in the room: The used game support and the always-online requirements, but until we have more information on how those systems function, I can’t defend them without saying "#dealwithit" and possibly getting fired. I think that happened to someone already. I can only say that Microsoft showed us they're bringing gaming to the center of your living space, where games, television, and movies are all at your fingertips. While focusing on the games is all well and good, I think success in the next generation requires more functionality, more options in what you can and can’t do on a home console, and I think the Xbox One has this in spades.