Rumour Has It: The PlayStation 4

http://kotaku.com/5896996/the-next-playstation-is-called-orbis-sources-say-here-are-the-details

In spite of the fun and innovation that was the Nintendo Wii, hardcore gamers have sworn by the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 as the ultimate gaming consoles. But with a Blu-ray drive capable of 3D playback in addition to its massive hard drive for storing music, movies and photos, the PlayStation 3 was a multimedia behemoth that easily stood out from the crowd. So what could Sony possibly offer in the PlayStation 4 to outdo not just their competitors, but themselves? Here’s a roundup of some of the rumours surrounding Sony’s next offering.

Release Date

When the PlayStation 3 was unveiled in 2006, Sony claimed that it would have a ten-year lifespan in the gaming market, and that a new console wouldn’t be released until they felt that the PS3’s shelf-life had fully expired.

With reports of Microsoft and Nintendo preparing to launch their new consoles by the end of 2013 though (the Xbox 720 and Wii U respectively), rumours of an imminent release of the PS4 began to surface on the web, culminating in an expectation that Sony would announce the PS4 at E3 this year.

However, Sony CEO Kaz Hirai quashed those rumours, saying, ““We are not making any announcements at E3”, a claim that he followed up on. More importantly though, in response to the rumours that Sony were planning to unveil the PS4 soon, he also added that he, “Always said a ten year life cycle for PS3, and there is no reason to go away from that."

Further evidence of Sony’s plans for an extended lifespan for the PlayStation 3 can be seen in the form of the PS3 Super Slim, whose very existence suggests that Sony is determined to see the PS3 survive through at least one more holiday season.

Specifications

Given Sony’s resolve to see the PS3 last as long as possible, it’s hard to speculate about a console that barely exists as an idea, nevertheless as a piece of hardware.

According to games blog Kotaku, the console is rumoured to have a dual-core 2.3 GHz AMD x64 CPU (central processing unit) and a 28nm AMD Southern Islands GPU (graphics processing unit). For those of us that don’t speak binary, these aren’t the most powerful chips available. If this is true, then it’s possible that Sony could be moving away from offering the best graphics in favour of some sort of innovation, similar to Nintendo and their approach with the Wii.

However, games site VGLeaks reported that the PlayStation 4 could actually be up to 10 times more powerful than the PS3 due to a quad-core 3.2 GHz AMD x86 CPU and an 800 MHz AMD R10x series (Tahiti) GPU.

Whether Sony pushes for major innovations or focuses on pure performance power, either way, they will have to offer something really impressive in the PS4 not only to compete against the upcoming Nintendo Wii U and Xbox 720, but to convince current PS3 owners to upgrade from their current console.

Backwards Compatibility

One area of discussion and (surprisingly) consensus among the tech community seems to be on the assumption that the PlayStation 4 will not be backwards compatible (i.e. it won’t let you play PS3 games on it).

Although die-hard Sony/PlayStation fans will be disappointed by the news, it makes sense that Sony wouldn’t offer backwards compatibility with the PS4. As impressive as the PS3 was when it was first released, sales weren’t as strong as they could have been due to its initially high price tag. By not offering backwards compatibility, Sony can keep the price of the PS4 down, something which could entice people to purchase/upgrade to the PS4 (which is obviously in Sony’s best interests).

Name

The PS4 is reportedly going to be called Orbis, which translates to “ring” or “circle” in Latin. Why does that matter, you ask? Combined with Vita (the name of the PlayStation handheld meaning “life” in Latin), it means “Circle of Life”, which possibly suggests that the PS4 could work with the PS Vita, similar to the way the Wii U console and tablet work together.

Whatever Sony decides for the final product in terms of its specifications and name, we look forward to seeing what comes next for the PlayStation (whenever it finally does come out).

Borderlands 2 Review

image from http://gamereuphoria.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Borderlands_2_Skill_Tree.jpg

Borderlands is one of the most fun first person shooters I have ever played, and I’ve have played a few in my time. What makes the game so intriguing is that it is a single player game, not multiplayer. It appears to be a multiplayer title set in the desert with vehicles and guns but its not. It is easily one of the biggest single player games ever made. It is available for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

In the game itself it you can choose from four basic characters, each have their own skills and abilities. Once chosen you are immediately place right in the game, there is no slow built up you are placed straight in the action. Perhaps the biggest part of the game's success as a story is the vivid recreation of Pandora. Video Game developers know that building a world is one of the best ways to tell a story, especially in a FPS. It's easily one of the video game medium's biggest strengths, and Borderlands 2 knows this. The environment is called Pandora and is like a western era however it has lots of sci fi elements to it, it is a sandbox game (which means you can explore where ever you want with no time limit or being forced down a single path), it’s a huge beautiful open world.

Image from: http://www.borderlands2.com/us/#media

Graphically the game has a unique almost comic book art style, each texture in the environment has been hand drawn much like a living breathing comic. The gameplay itself is a shooter and you can access vehicles to travel across the broad land. Now it is after all a shooter which requires you to kill large waves of enemies, this can be difficult at first. As you character slowly levels up the game becomes much more easier, encouraging players to rank up to the ultimate Level 50. This game also supports co op over a network connection which allows another player to jump in and instantly start playing.  Overall Borderlands 2 is easily one of the most fun and most beautifully designed games I have played in a while.

Nintendo Wii vs. Playstation 3: Distinctive Features

http://www.qj.net/qjnet/wii/whos-selling-ps3-and-wii-online-stores-listing.htm

Games

There are countless amazing system-exclusive games that are available on the PlayStation 3, as there are on the Nintendo Wii.  The main difference between the two consoles is determined based on the type of games you are searching for. Generally, if your interests lie in the family-friendly range such as Mario Kart or innovative interactive games such as Wii Fit, then considering the Nintendo Wii is definitely recommended. However for the more hardcore gamers, the PlayStation 3 offers a wider range of shooting games such as Call of Duty: Modern Welfare, and Killzone. Additionally, the PlayStation 3 also offers other great fighting games such as Street Fighter IV and Tekken. Each video game console has games that can appeal to every type of gamer therefore it entirely comes down to your individual preferences. Generally, the Nintendo Wii caters to more of the family-friendly market whereas the PlayStation 3 tends to carter to more of the hardcore-gamer market.

Graphics

Ultimately when it comes to graphics the PlayStation 3 has the competitive advantage, as its processing power is far superior than the Nintendo Wii. The PlayStation 3 system utilizes a Cell Processor that delegates 8 other Synegistic Processor elements therefore allowing users to multiple task at 3.2 GHz. Whereas, the Nintendo Wii graphic processor is only slightly more powerful than the one offered in the Nintendo GameCube.

Movies

Due to rapid innovation in technology this has enabled video game consoles the ability to play DVD movies. This innovation is offered on the PlayStation 3 along with the capability to play Blu-ray movies.  Due to Blu Ray players selling on the market for up to $300, the PlayStation 3 would be a great option for those interested in video gaming and high definition movie playbacks. The Wii on the other hand, unfortunately does not hold the ability of movie playbacks. Therefore, if movie playbacks are a major aspect when deciding between video game consoles, then it is probably best to pass up the Nintendo Wii.

Overall Value

On the market today the PlayStation 3 is the most expensive system currently priced at $349.99 and new games for this system typically retailing for $59.99. The Nintendo Wii however, is much more affordable retailing for $149.99 and new games are also slightly cheaper typically retailing for $49.99. Subsequently, in terms of price and value the Nintendo Wii has the comparative advantage. For instance the same price you purchase for a new PlayStation 3, results in the opportunity cost of you purchasing a Nintendo Wii and four brand new games is forgone.

Conclusions

Overall the Nintendo Wii and the PlayStation 3 has much to offer. For gamers who are interested in a high quality graphic experience, the latest video playback technology and isn’t too concerned about the high price margin, then the PlayStation 3 is a clear choice.

For gamers who are family-focused with the types of games offered on the Nintendo Wii and those who are also on a budget, then the Nintendo Wii may be a better choice.

Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which video game console would be the better choice to suit your needs and preferences.