Who has the time to wait around for E3? Not the big three console makers — not this year. Nintendo pretty much laid out it’s 2013 in January, and yesterday evening Sony dropped it’s own bomb, unveiling the PS4. Based on how things are going, an impatient Microsoft will probably show off the next Xbox this weekend.
So, how was the Sony press conference? Well, it was long, and very filled with corporate buzzwords, but some interesting announcements and nifty game footage managed to sneak in here and there.
Hit the jump for a breakdown of the press conference with my instant, off-the-cuff, almost-certainly-to-be-regretted-some-day reactions…
videos via Sony and Gamespot’s Youtube pages
You should still be able to watch a stream of Sony’s press conference right here. Those without two hours to spare, read on…
- The conference is in a large room surrounded by giant wraparound screens. Could this be a hint that Sony’s totally planning to steal Microsoft’s wall-projector holodeck thing?
- The screens are shouting slogans at us! Imagination is our one weapon against reality! What’s Sony got against reality? I know coming in 3rd this console generation was a hard pill to swallow, but don’t take it out on reality. Bunch of clips from old Playstation games and ads.
- A guy with goatee named Andrew House is out. Lots of corporate marketing speak tumbles out of his mouth. They’re going to reconceptualize how you play! My spell check doesn’t like most of the words this guy’s using.
- The system is officially called the Playstation 4.
Instant Reaction – So they didn’t dump the most successful gaming brand in history for a name that sounds like it should be attached to a new brand of sugarless gum? Color me shocked.
Sony’s press conference served up all of this guy I could handle.
- The creator of Marble Madness and the Lead System Architect of the PS4, Mark Cerny saunters out.
Instant Reaction – From Marble Madness to creating Sony’s next console. That’s a hell of a career path. Also, this guy looks and sounds like Kenneth from 30 Rock, just, you know, not funny or likeable.
- Cerny goes on foooorever with the interminable marketing speak. He sort of, kind of gets into system specs. The CPU is, in many ways, like a PC! Get out. The GPU is “enhanced” in some way. It will have a hard drive. The only real stat revealed is that the system has 8 GB of RAM.
Instant Reaction – Why are console makers so f–king afraid to tell people what’s inside their boxes?
- The Playstation 4 controller is unveiled. Looks just like the pic that leaked a few days ago. Everything does what it looks like it does.
- Ooo, time for Sony’s specialty — bulls–t tech demos. We get the Unreal Engine 4 demo we’ve all seen before, and a video of a million cubes falling on a city. Okay.
- Mark Cerny himself is working on a game — Marble Madness The Next Generation! Just look at those marble textures! Oh, no wait, actually it’s a game called Knack about a robot made up of little floating trinkets. The graphics looks like something from a second tier CG animated movie. I’m assuming this is mostly cutscenes — the bits of gameplay don’t look as good. Looks like a farily standard, albeit cute, brawler.
Instant Reaction – Hey, let’s play a game — it’s called “Does This PS4 game look better than the PS3 game The Last of Us?” Answer — nope. I mean, I guess we’re supposed to be impressed that Knack is made of a thousand little nuggets, but ehn.
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I’ve always been a Sony guy but I don’t see much different. I’ll have to wait and see the console
I thought I was coming to read about the new PS4 but apparently I went to Spankwire to see someone shit all over something.
Well, if that’s what you’re into, uh, glad I could be of service?
Well you see good sir, we all thought we were going to hear some actual news about the PS4. And instead what we got was a bunch of marketing bullshit and some nice game trailers. Actual news would have been some goddamn specs or even a picture of the friggin thing. Or maybe even addressing those two gigantic elephants in the room. You know, the ones named DRM and Used Games? Nope just more nonsense and bullshit. One can only hope that Microsoft takes a cue from this two hour mouthfart and offers something substantial when they announce.
Not seeing much different, but I’m probably in line to buy this opening day, because I love me the crap out of some inFamous, and frankly, Knack looks like Katamari Damacy as a brawler, and I kinda love that idea.
My question is the strategy behind this, though. It’s pretty clear this is a hype-building event, but what was the goal? Sony didn’t announce a release date, didn’t show the physical console, didn’t give us a price, mostly they just revealed a few games and announced something we already knew exists did, in fact, exist.
It was the same strategy Microsoft used when they announced the Surface without price or release date set. Dominate the news cycle for a period of time and beat your competitors to the punch.
Am I the only one who read the line “and can take over your game if you’re having trouble” and thought that it was a horrible horrible horrible idea that’s going to lead to a whole new level of hacks/griefing?
I’m guessing it’s limited to your friend’s list.
What if your friends are assholes?
Im guessing its something you need to request as a player or at the very least approve.
PSN was hacked without anyone requesting or approving it.
For the games, I thought Watch Dogs was the best game shown. Everything about it was just so slick.
I really loved the option of sharing your last couple of minutes of gameplay, or cropping it down. It really makes those “Wow, holy shit” moments much easier to show others without special hardware to your PC.
They didn’t address the used games thing, the price or the look so there’s still more questions to be answered but it looks promising.
When do we get to the fireworks factory?!
I’m not impressed, but not disappointed either. A lot of this presentation was kinda “vague”, and I certainly didn’t reach the levels of excitement I felt when the PS3 was unveiled. I felt like they should have waited a couple of months so they can show something solid, instead of filling two hours with a lot of words that will bore the average gamer.
There were default things I liked, like the
option to help out friends, and the dual processors that allow you to play and download at the same time.
It’s hard to judge the PS4 based on this presentation, so I’ll wait and see…
To me, the Killzone 4 demo just looked like the Killzone 1 demo. CarClub was laughable. The Witness looked…quiet. Deep Down was the only thing that blew me away graphics wise, the lighting looked superb, and that gives me hope they’ll really find the potential over the next year with the hardware. The Square Enix thing…its Square Enix ffs, of course their cut scenes look good.
All in all, I just put £20 down on a preorder because chances are I’d upgrade anyway, and if at the time of release I dont, I lose £20 I put down a year ago. Theres still Witcher 3 and BF 4, MGS5, and I’m actually really interested in Destiny, so theres enough incentive for me already. Hell, I’ll probably even give Diablo 3 a go.
Yeah, Deep Down was the only thing that gave me that tingly “ooo, look at that” next gen feel. If it turns out to be an RPG, perhaps a continuation of Dragon’s Dogma, even better. Watch Dogs looks like a lot of fun, but it’s pretty obviously running on a spiffed up Assassin’s Creed 3 engine.
Deep Down definitely reminded me of a Dragon’s Dogma esque game, which I am 100% all for. But it also reminded me of the Dark Souls 2 teaser with potential gameplay.
The Killzone 4 demo looked just like the Killzone 1 demo? You’re… you’re joking right? the KILLZONE 1 DEMO?! Have you TRIED playing Killzone 1 recently? it’s virtually unplayable.
I mean the visuals, they look about the same as the original tech Demo of the first Killzone, not so much the actual playability…
Just realised I meant Killzone 2…
So does the Quantic Dream demo mean we’re finally getting “Heavy Rain 2: The Search for Better Voice Acting” soon?
JASON!!
JASOOON!
no backwards compatibility means i’m buying a wii and a fresh 360 with my next gen 400 bucks.
I’ll just stick with my PS3. I own many games and since the PS4 won’t play them, there’s no reason to upgrade.
I don’t get this, it’s not like they take away your PS3 when you buy the PS4. Just leave it plugged in and when you want to play Uncharted 2 pick up a different controller.
This is the first time for consoles where the generation gap is far more difficult to distinquish graphics-wise. We finally jumped to HD with this current gen. and it’s going to be hard to justify a purchase unless the gameplay stands out. Maybe Activision will finally retool Call of Duty, like it did with Modern Warfare 1, because that would definitely sell new consoles.
Not sure it is quite right to compare Last Of Us to to what they showed. The first games of every new console generation never look much better then the last few great games of the previous generation.You’re comparing a game that is on tech people have been working with for years against tech people have been developing for maybe a year. Takes awhile to really get everything out of a new system.
They should look at least a little better, not indistinguishable to worse.
I loved Square Enix’s bit. You could almost see them going “Oh, crap. That thing was today? Uh…”
Damn last of us came out already?
Don’t forget to wash your lips once you pull it out of Naughty Dog’s ass.
The Last of Us is impressive, but if you really think it looks better than Watch Dogs or the new Killzone visually then someone ought to slap your crooked eyes straight.
I’m not kissing Naughty Dog’s ass — I could have used Crysis 3 or some other game for the comparison, I just went with Last of Us because it’s a Playstation exclusive.
I agree. my jaw was on the floor from the new Killzone demo. The Last Of Us looks good, but in no way comes close to the PS4 Killzone or WatchDogs demos.
“Oddly, no talk of how all this “fluidly connecting to a larger world” is required and how you’re not allowed to fluidly connect to used games.”
Sony already announced they won’t block used games on the PS4.
Am I the only one who thinks putting the “Share” button on the controller is a mistake? Its just seems like something that is going to get hit by accident alot.
Nate, are you at all concerned about The Last of Us not looking as good as the officially released gameplay trailers? After Colonial Marines I’m a bit tepid about previews in general.
Dont get me wrong I’ve pre-ordered it and think it will be amazing with Naughty Dog’s pedigree but im still a little nervous. pun slightly intended.
Nah, I think it’ll look pretty damn close. There was some shady s–t going on with Colonial Marines that’s not happening with The Last of Us.
Any new footage of Watchdogs is welcome to me and it looks stunning. I’m also pumped that the whole hacking everything seems to be a major part of the game.
Oof, that sounded like a lot of corporate BS. Your service is appreciated son.
Still, some pretty cool features:
- Krank actually looks pretty cool to me. Every game doesn’t need to be mind-boggling in scope or detail, it just looks like a fun game kids and adults alike can play. Don’t forget Sony doesn’t want to just target us hardcore nerds…erm, gamers.
- Corporate Marketing people are the WORST (I know, I am one). Everyone talks like wine “experts” with subtle, oak-y overtones. Just drink the GD wine already.
- You’ve got a little “Last of Us” jizz on your shirt there Nathan.
- “or even take over your game if you’re having trouble.”. you forgot to add “and are a total little bitch”
- is it just me or does the Killzone intro look like Half-Life’s?
- Media Molecule – I don’t get it, but looks cool?
- Deep Down, Watch Dogs look legit.
Overall, kinda cool, but I think the door is wide open for Microsoft to blow PS4 out of the water with its new launch.
Knack could be cool if the whole “made up of little trinkets” thing is used in an interesting way and it isn’t just them showing off visually. For instance, if you could change the size of you guy on the fly to fit into different situations — that would be neat.
Eggs Zachary. Microsoft has a big opportunity here to eat Sony’s lunch. The trailers were cool but everything else made me want a lobotomy. And speaking of Dragon’s Dogma, that Dark Arisen expansion is looking pretty tasty…
“this guy looks and sounds like Kenneth from 30 Rock, just, you know, not funny or likeable”
..so exactly like Kenneth from 30 Rock?
Meh, I’ll probably upgrade at the 2014 Holiday season, that was plan from the beginning though, we’ll see what Microsoft can do though.
BTW, the Blizzard fanboys are pissed that Diaoblo III is coming to a console, I found that reaction rather humorous.
I think Killzone 4 looked sllllliiiiightly better than Last Of Us. But I imagine the real graphical superiority will be in terms of resolution and stuff like particle effects, rather than shapes.
Speaking of resolution, I was surprised there was no talk of 3D or 4K resolutions. Not disappointed, my TV only does 720p and that’s not changing any time soon, but surprised.
Yeah, I’m gonna be happy with 1080p for a long time to come.
I cannot conceive of one situation in which I would ever have any reason to press that “share” button.
Maybe I stroked out at some point in that overly long presentation but did they EVER actually show what the PS4 is going to look like?
To unveil something usually requires you show it right? And not just hold up a controller that is probably synced to an amped up PC in the back.
Nope.
Meh. My PS3 works just fine for me. I’ll wait until Sony gets desparate and slashes the price in half. Then I’ll think about getting one.
Also, did that guy who talked about Watch_Dogs give anyone else the creeps? His voice fit the subject matter a little too well.
Wanna ask dude who wrote this if he worked on The Last Of Us. He’s really proud of that game.