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Tag: PS4

  • MLB 14 The Show Is Looking Good On PS4

    MLB 14 The Show Is Looking Good On PS4

    As we have already learned, sports video games are set to look very pretty on next generation consoles. 2K Sports proved that it will have the prettiest sports video game ever with NBA2K14, but Sony is at a close second with MLB 14 The Show.

    Sony revealed today its San Diego studio is hard at work on MLB 14 The Show. This will be the first entry in the series to land on the PS4, but the long-running sports franchise will also show up on the PS3 and PS Vita as well. You can forget about those old versions though as the team showed off the first footage of the PS4 version today, and it’s looking really good:

    It’s certainly not NBA 2K14 pretty, but the models are a definite step up from where they were on the PS3. It makes the character models in EA’s NBA Live 14 for Xbox One and PS4 all the more embarrassing.

    The team also notes that the PS3 only allowed them to create 42 unique models for the crowds in the game, but the PS4 allows them to have 1,000 unique models. That may just be unsubstantiated hype, but I’m sure somebody will actually take the time to comb through the audience models to see if they repeat.

    As for gameplay innovations, here’s what the San Diego team says players can expect out of MLB 14 The Show:

  • We know how much time and effort our fans put into their Seasons, Franchises, and Road To The Show players. So beginning with MLB 14 The Show, you can now carry over your saves to future versions of MLB The Show. MLB 14 The Show lays the foundation for year-to-year saves, meaning you never have to worry about starting your Franchise or Road to the Show seasons over!
  • For some of you, full 9-inning baseball games may be too long for your liking, so we’ve created an all-new Quick Counts option, which utilizes generated pitch counts allowing gamers to play through full games faster than ever. Realistic statistics in this shortened gameplay experience have not been compromised. Users will now be able to play a full 9 inning game in less than 30 minutes, essentially cutting traditional game times in half.
  • We think Road To The Show is the deepest, most realistic single-player experience in sports video games, and we’re making it even better. A few of the new features include a new advancement system, new intuitive player creation process, and all new pre-draft prospect showcase.
  • And finally, what makes baseball great are those “big moments.” The power of PS4 will allow gamers to share those moments using the new “share feature” by capturing and publishing their most thrilling baseball moments, from hitting a game-winning grand slam, to picking off a runner at first for a crucial win in a World Series game.

    • All of this is well and good, but it will be interesting to see what 2K Sports does in retaliation with its own baseball franchise. MLB 2K13 was rumored to be the last in the series after it was met with bad reviews and sales, but 2K Sports may want to give it one more shot. After all, without MLB 2K14, anybody without a PlayStation console won’t be getting a baseball game next year.

    MLB 14 The Show will launch in the Spring of next year on PS3, PS Vita and PS4.

    [Image: PlayStation/YouTube]

  • Sony To Release PS Vita System Update 3.00 Soon, Adds PS4 Remote Play

    The PS4 is only a few days away now, and one of its most talked about features is remote play. It will allow you to use a PS Vita system and play any PS4 game on the handheld. That feature will becoming in a day one update on the PS4, and Sony will be introducing it to the Vita through an upcoming system update.

    Sony announced today that PS Vita system update 3.00 will soon hit the system. The update brings with it the aforementioned PS4 remote play capabilities, but Sony isn’t leaving it at just that. Since this is a major update to a new version number, Sony will also be introducing a number of new features that have nothing to do with the PS4.

    Starting with the new parental controls, Sony says that it will now have its own application on the start screen. From there, parents can manage how long kids can play on the system, what games and videos they can play and restrict their use of certain features, like the Internet browser and location data.

    Using the PS Vita’s admittedly terrible camera, you can now also take panorama shots with it. Once the photo is saved in the system, you can look around in it using the system’s built-in motion sensor.

    The Friends application has been updated to include four tabs new tabs – Find Player on PSN, Friends, Friend Requests and Players Blocked.

    Another app seeing a change is the Group Messages application. It will now be simply titled Messages, and it will allow players to not only receive messages from PS Vita and PS3 players, but PS4 players and smartphones with the PlayStation App as well.

    The Party app will get a new icon, and allow for voice/text chat between PS Vita and PS4 players.

    The email app has been improved to allow users to sync contacts saved in your account in Gmail and Yahoo Mail. To sync contacts, you need only do the following – “select Contact List > Options > [CardDAV Settings] > [Add CardDAV Account], and then follow the screens.”

    Another new features that is sure to delight Vita owners is that they can now transfer data between the PS3 and Vita through Wi-Fi. Previously, you had to connect via USB. it’s noted that the Vita and PS3 must be on the same network, and that PS3 must have system version 4.50 or later.

    Finally, this will be last update that you have to download manually. With version 3.00, you can now set the Vita to download system updates automatically.

    If you want to see all the above in action, check out the video tour below:

    [Image: PlayStation/YouTube]

  • Xbox One And PS4 On Sale This November

    Xbox One And PS4 On Sale This November

    It’s almost Christmas time again and for gamers that means going to great lengths to get their hands on one of the new must-have, next-gen video game consoles. On Nov. 15, Sony will release the PS4 while Microsoft will release the Xbox One on Nov. 22 – one week before Black Friday.

    Did you pre-order? If the answer to that question is no, then good luck trying to get your hands on one of these consoles before the year goes out. Your best bet now is to wait in the really long line at your neighborhood Gamestop for the small chance that you may walk away lucky. But if you’re a real gamer you probably knew that already.

    Xbox One: Invitation

     Playstation 4: Greatness Awaits

    Gamestop, Amazon, Best Buy, Target and Walmart have all closed their reservations.  It seems as though every Fall for the past several years there’s a frenzy for the next Xbox or PlayStation.

    For those of you that are still hoping to get a Xbox One or PlayStation 4 – you ain’t gonna get one for cheap. The Xbox One is priced at $499, and the PlayStation 4 goes for $399. The retail cost of these two items may be a bit hefty but these are not just games they are entertainment centers.

    The Xbox One comes with advanced voice and motion control and switches easily from game to TV or a movie. In order to take advantage of premium features, like access to apps, downloadable games and online messaging, users of the Xbox One will need to pay extra for the Xbox Live service.

    Sony claims that PlayStation 4 has better graphics than Xbox One, but the graphics quality for both consoles are so incredibly realistic that subtle differences will be undetectable for most gamers. The PlayStation 4 does, however,  come with Ustream – a feature that will allow PlayStation 4 users to upload and share video game clips to the internet. PlayStation 4 also has a lower price tag that should make it an attractive alternative for hardcore gamers looking to save money.

    (image via YouTube video)

  • Killzone: Shadow Fall Gets A Live-Action Trailer

    The live-action trailer is one of the most overused “genres” of game trailers. Since Microsoft started the trend with Halo 3, every AAA blockbuster seems to get some kind of live-action trailer that lets you know the stakes couldn’t be any higher and the action couldn’t be any bolder.

    Keeping in line with this unspoken tradition, Sony has just released its live-action ad for Killzone: Shadow Fall. In it, we’re treated to a scene ripped straight out of any generic sci-fi action film, just minus the fun. Instead, it’s all bleakness, death and disaster as you see men and women being gunned down in the streets as soldiers recite their oath to protect the innocent and weak. The trailer concludes with our hero surrounded by bodies as it asks the player – “What will you sacrifice for peace?”

    Like the live-action God of War: Ascension trailer before it, the production values are incredibly high. Sony really knows how to nail the live-action game trailer. The only complaint you could levy against it is that it doesn’t really do a stellar job of selling you a game. Instead, it seems almost like a music video for a certain overused song by Drowning Pool.

    Despite that, Killzone: Shadow Fall remains one of the most anticipated PS4 launch titles. It will officially be available on November 15 alongside the PS4, but many retailers are already selling copies. I was able to pick up a copy over the weekend and my local game shop still had many left.

    [h/t: PlayStation/YouTube]

  • ‘Need For Speed Rivals’ Now a PS4 Launch Title

    EA today announced that its newest racing game, Need for Speed Rivals, will be a PlayStation 4 launch title in North America.

    The game was originally expected to launch on November 22 – the launch day for the Xbox One. The new release date announcement was made over at the PlayStation blog, where EA stated that developer Ghost Games “has been pushing themselves to be a part of PlayStation’s big launch day.”

    The current-generation version of Rivals for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC will still hit store shelves and Origin on November 19.

    EA also emphasized that Need for Speed Rivals will take advantage of several of the PlayStation 4’s next-gen features. Players will be able to share footage using the DuakShock 4’s Share button and the game will work on the PS Vita through PlayStation 4 Remote Play on day one. Of course, this is assuming that players have downloaded the huge day-one software update for the PlayStation 4, which enables these and many of the other features touted for the console.

    Need for Speed Rivals is set to provide players with all the racing and car chases that the series is known for, with some visual updates for next-generation consoles. The game will also feature a silly story about cops being the enemy, though it’s unlikely to be quite as silly as the planned Need for Speed movie.

  • Mark Cerny Answers Fan Questions, Discusses Knack

    It’s no secret that I love Mark Cerny – the PS4 system architect and game design director on Knack. He has a voice that could soothe giants, and his knowledge of games and how they’re made is vast. Every interview with the guy is a delight, and Sony has delivered yet again with a new video of Cerny answering questions from fans.

    As you would expect, a majority of the questions are in regards to the PS4 hardware or Knack. He reiterates that the PS4 was designed to be powerful, but easy to develop for. He also shared that the developers who offered the most criticisms about the PS3 were the most helpful when building the PS4.

    As for Knack, he says that the game was designed to be like the platformers that defined the PSone and PS2, like Crash Bandicoot or Ratchet & Clank. Coincidentally, Cerny worked on both games so he has the experience necessary to recreate that experience on the PS4.

    Despite most of the questions being hardware focused, he did answer some general questions. He revealed that his favorite genre is the JRPG, but he’s also checking out some indie games on the PSN. He also shared that he’s about three hours into The Last Of Us. I’m sure many of us hope he’ll share his thoughts on the ending once he finishes it.

    Mark Cerny’s brainchild – Knack – will launch alongside the PS4 on November 15.

    [Image: sonyplaystation/YouTube]

  • Here’s A Guided Tour Of The PlayStation 4 Hardware

    Since E3 2013, we’ve known what the PS4 hardware looks like. It’s a sleek, black design that looks more like the PS2 than the PS3, and fans have taken it to it rather well.

    Now, we may know what it looks like, but we’ve only ever seen press shots or still video. In a new “sizzle trailer” from Sony, the console is shown off from pretty much every angle possible to give you a great look at the console, and all of its nooks and crannies.

    Take a look:

    As you can see, the video reminds us yet again that the PS4 is packing an 8-core AMD CPU and what it calls a “next-generation AMD Radeon” GPU. The company hasn’t elaborated on the specifics, and it probably never will. If you are interested in learning more about the PS4’s innards though, TechPowerUp reports that Sony’s Senior Vice President of Software, Dominic Mallinson, will be presenting at the AMD Developer Summit on November 13. His talk is titled, “Inside PlayStation 4: Building the Best Place to Play.” Considering that this year’s conference will be all about AMD’s APUs, you can expect to see some more detailed information about how Sony collaborated with AMD to build its customized Jaguar architecture.

    If you want to know more about the PS4, Sony shared an exhaustive FAQ that covered almost every aspect of the new hardware.

    The PS4 is still set to launch on November 15 in North America. It will launch November 29 in Europe and Australia. Japan will have to wait until February 22.

    [Image: GamersPrey]

  • CoD: Ghosts Will Run at 720p on XB1 While PS4 Runs 1080p

    Call of Duty has done it again, at least in terms of causing controversy. Unlike previous controversies of the next-generation consoles, one of which involved Microsoft’s crazy DRM policies and the feud with the retail/resale market while another cited NSA-like data collection associated with the Kinect device, this one involves the release resolution for Call of Duty: Ghosts. The bad press, at least for Xbox One, seems viral; as it stands, the PS4 version of the new game will run at a higher native resolution than the Xbox competitor.

    PlayStation/Xbox rivalry is well-documented, and Call of Duty: Ghosts producer Mark Rubin certainly didn’t help things when he confirmed the difference on Twitter:

    “[For] Xbox One we’re 1080p upscaled from 720p. And, we’re native 1080p on PS4. We optimized each console to hit 60 FPS and the game looks great on both,” the tweet continued.

    Erik Kain at Forbes writes that this difference shouldn’t be a dealbreaker, especially for console gamers, most of whom probably don’t care about the strength of their hardware. In other words, “you don’t buy a PS4 because it has higher resolution if you’re a big Halo fan,” he wrote. “You don’t buy an Xbox One because it comes with a Kinect if you’re a big Uncharted fan.”

    Kain takes note of a piece on CinemaBlend by author William Usher, who clearly believes the gaming media is doing Microsoft a favor by downplaying the Xbox One’s technological inferiority. But unlike Usher, Kain acknowledges that console players probably won’t angrily charge onto internet forums and voice their disapproval.

    The endless debate over PC graphics cards shouldn’t even extend to consoles, Kain contends, because a vast majority of console players don’t overclock, tinker, and upgrade their gaming rig in the same way a PC gamer does. “You just plug and play, end of story,” he writes. “You don’t equip your PS4 with water-cooling.”

    [Image via Microsoft/Xbox.com]

  • Contrast Gets A Trailer Ahead Of Its PS4 Launch

    You may have heard that DriveClub will be missing the PS4 launch as it’s been delayed until early 2014. You may have also heard that this throws Sony’s PS Plus plans on the PS4 into disarray as it hoped to offer to a freemium version of DriveClub to members. To make up for it, Sony will now offer Contrast for free alongside Resogun at launch.

    So, what is Contrast? It’s a 3D/2D platformer set in the 1920s where players will navigate 3D environments as you would in any other platformer, but it has a 2D hook. The player character can become a shadow and then the game becomes a 2D platformer as the player traverses the shadows to reach new areas. It doesn’t look half bad and its jazz-infused soundtrack is already sounding delightful.

    To answer any more questions you may have about the game, here’s a quick video of the team at Compulsion talking about the game’s world, mechanics and music:

    Contrast will launch November 15 with the PS4 and be available for free to all PS Plus members. The game will also be available on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

    [Image: PlayStation/YouTube]

  • Here’s Everything You Need To Know About The PS4

    Can you believe that the PS4 launches in just a little over two weeks in North America? With its launch, the next generation will truly begin and gamers everywhere will be treated to the improved visuals and new methods of gameplay that new consoles bring with them.

    Now, you may have a few lingering questions regarding the PS4 and its impending launch. Perhaps you want to know when it launches in a certain territory, or perhaps you just want to know what games will be available on November 15. Sony has the answers to those questions and a lot more in a new exhaustive FAQ up on the PlayStation Blog.

    For starters, when does the PS4 launch in other territories? We know it will hit North America on November 15, but what about our friends across the pond? If you paid attention during Gamescom, you’d know that the PS4 will launch in Europe on November 29. Europe isn’t the only one getting it that day though as Latin American will also see the console launch on the 29. Unfortunately, Japan has to wait until February 22, 2014 to get their hands on it.

    Next up, what will the console come with on day one? Here’s the official list from Sony:

    You’ll get a PS4 system with a 500GB hard drive, a DUALSHOCK 4 wireless controller, a micro-USB cable for charging the DUALSHOCK 4 controller, a Mono-headset for voice chat, a power cable (1.5m), and an HDMI cable (2.0m).

    Sony notes that the PS4 has an internal power supply so there will be no power prick – just like the PS2 and PS3 before it.

    On the hardware side of things, Sony confirms that the PS4 will come equipped with a 5400 RPM SATA II hard drive. You can install your own hard drive as long as its no thicker than 9.5mm and larger than 160GB. An internal replacement will be your only option for upgrades as Sony confirms that external storage will not be supported on the PS4.

    As for the actual power of the system, Sony claims the PS4 is ten times more powerful than the PS3. Here’s the full description:

    PS4 is capable of 10x the processing power of the PS3 system. The system features an optimized design featuring a unified 8GB of high-speed GDDR5 RAM, an eight core X86 CPU, and a powerful graphics processor. Generally speaking, PS4 will enable game developers to build larger, more detailed worlds than they could with the PS3 system. More realistic lighting models, more complex physics and particle effects, more varied and realistic character animations, sharper environment and object textures, higher screen resolutions (up to 1080p), higher frame rates (up to 60 frames per second), larger multiplayer matches and more will be possible thanks to PS4’s next-generation hardware.

    A few other interesting tidbits regarding the hardware include the fact that the PS4 can’t play audio CDs, will allow the use of your real name and Facebook profile photo on your PSN ID and doesn’t support media streaming from a PC.

    Moving onto games, Sony confirms that PS4 games will cost $59.99 at retail. It does leave open the possibility that the digital versions of these games may cost loss though.

    Unfortunately, Sony also confirmed once and for all that the PS4 won’t be backwards compatible with any PS3, PS2 or PSone titles. The lack of backwards compatibility for PS3 titles certainly makes sense, but the PS3 can play some PS2 and most PSone titles through software emulation. It seems like it would pretty easy to enable such functionality on the PS4, but Sony has yet to comment on it.

    In regards to Remote Play, Sony says that most PS4 titles will support the feature. It does caution, however, that the Vita be on the same network as the PS4:

    Remote Play will work best when the PS Vita system is located within the same WiFi network where PS4 is connected. We also recommend that PS4 be connected to the local area network via an Ethernet cable, that a router suitable for gaming be used and that the PS Vita system be within close proximity of the WiFi access point so that the connection is free of interference.

    Moving on to PlayStation Plus, you may have heard that Sony will require PS4 owners to subscribe to the service if they want to play online. Aside from that, here’s everything else PS Plus enables on the PS4:

  • Instant Game Collection
    Access to a regular, curated selection of titles made exclusively available to PlayStation Plus members at no additional cost. The PS4 titles available on Instant Game Collection at PS4′s launch in North America will include Resogun and Contrast.
  • Discounts
    Members will have access to exclusive discounts on PlayStation Store.
  • Online Game Save
    Members may automatically (or manually) upload game save files to Online Game Save Storage for safekeeping. Up to 1GB of cloud storage will be allocated to your PS4 save files.
  • Other benefits
    Early access to exclusive game content, automatic game patch downloads and installation, and more.

    • Sony notes, however, that all the accounts on any one PS4 system can play online as long as one account has a PS Plus subscription. Even non-PS Plus members who sign in on your console under a temporary guest account will have access to online multiplayer for the duration of their being signed in to your console.

    If you just don’t want PS Plus at all, here’s everything you can do on the PS4:

  • Accessing entertainment, film, and TV services (Users must subscribe separately to individual services)
  • Share options, including sending gameplay video and screenshots to Facebook, screenshots to Twitter, or livestreaming gameplay via Ustream or Twitch
  • Sharing video to Facebook
  • Playing PS4 games remotely using the PS Vita system (Remote Play)
  • Comparing Trophy data with other users
  • Sending and receiving text messages from other users
  • PlayStation Store access (users must pay to purchase premium content)
  • Live item, activity feeds on Dynamic Menu
  • Party (cross game voice chat)
  • Web browser
  • PlayStation App services (on iOS/Android devices)

    • There’s even more information on the PS4 available at the PS blog. You’ll want to read the entire thing if you want to know everything there is to know about Sony’s upcoming console.

    [Image: PlayStation/YouTube]

  • Here’s Your First Real Look At FIFA 14 On The PS4

    FIFA 14 is the fútbol simulation to own every year. Sure, there’s Konami’s PES franchise, but EA Tiburon has proven time and time again that it gets soccer better than anybody else. That, at least, was certainly true on the PS3 and Xbox 360, but what about the versions of FIFA 14 hitting the PS4 and Xbox One?

    EA Sports released a new trailer today for FIFA 14 claiming that all the gameplay on show is captured from the PS4 version. It’s also the flagship title for EA Sports’ next-gen rendering engine – IGNITE.

    So, how does it look? You be the judge:

    Personally, I can’t tell that much of a difference. Granted, I’ve been absolutely spoiled by what 2K Sports is doing with NBA 2K14 on next-gen consoles. NBA Live 14 running on IGNITE doesn’t even come close, but I was personally expecting something a little better from FIFA 14.

    To be fair, I’m sure the game plays incredibly well. The additional processing power afforded by the PS4 and Xbox One will obviously lead to a better gameplay experience. It’s just that many sports fans were probably expecting a leap in graphic fidelity and realism as well. That doesn’t appear to be the case here as the character animations and designs look to be almost lifted straight from the PS3 version.

    It should be noted that this is a compressed gameplay trailer on YouTube. The final product on the PS4 and Xbox One will obviously look a little better, but you should probably keep your expectations in check when picking up FIFA 14 on November 15 or 22 for the PS4 or Xbox One.

    And hey, at least Xbox One buyers in Europe get it for free.

    [Image: PlayStation/YouTube]

  • Need For Speed Rivals Will Apparently Have A Silly Story

    Do racing games need a story? Need For Speed: The Run proved that story modes in racing games are actually kind of lame. All you need is some fast cars and great track design to make a great racing game. Need for Speed Rivals looked like it would be ditching the kind of stories that result in stuff like the Need for Speed movie, but the latest trailer for the title leaves one skeptical.

    In a new Need for Speed Rivals trailer released today, the narrator lays it on thick as we’re introduced to a world where the police are under investigation for using excessive force to bring down street racers. The police aren’t going to let these racers embarrass them, however, and are now pursuing them with extreme prejudice. The trailer than ends with a melodramatic one-liner about how the cops were once rivals, but now they’re enemies.

    It’s really silly set up, but we can only hope that it doesn’t get in the way of the game. After all, racing games never benefit from a story mode. All we need to know is that there are cops and racers, and that these two sects of cars will occasionally butt heads.

    In the end, we can only hope that we end up with a game that’s like a cross between Need for Speed: Most Wanted and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit. Anything else, and things might get messy.

    Need for Speed Rivals will launch November 19 on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. The PS4 and Xbox One versions will launch three days later on November 22.

    [Image: EaGamesAus/YouTube]

  • PS4 Gets Another Indie Hit With Trine 2: Complete Story

    Earlier this month, Sony announced that it would be updating four of its PS3/PS Vita indie hits for the PS4 in 1080p at 60FPS. At the time, I pondered if more developers would update their existing PS3 titles for the PS4. It seems that the guys at Frozenbyte pondered the same thing and decided to act upon it.

    Frozenbyte announced today on the PlayStation Blog that it’s bringing Trine 2: Complete Story to the PS4 in 2014. Trine 2 launched on the PS3 in 2011, and received an update called Goblin Menace in 2012. So, what does the Complete Story add to the game? It’s everything that came with Trine 2: Director’s Cut on the Wii U, but with updated graphics to take advantage of the PS4’s capabilities.

    Interestingly enough, Frozenbyte notes that it’s self-publishing Trine 2: Complete Story on the PS4. This is only the third time the company has been able to do so as Atlus published the original Trine 2 on PC, Xbox 360 and PS3.

    Aside from 1080p visuals and 60FPS gameplay, Frozenbyte says that Trine 2: Complete Story for PS4 will support stereoscopic 3D for those who have 3D displays. It’s not yet known, however, if Trine 2: Complete Story on the PS4 will support Cross Buy for those who purchased the original Trine 2 on the PS3.

    With Frozenbyte bringing Trine 2 to the PS4, I think we can safely say that we’re on our way to a trend. Indie developers may very well start remaking their previous PS3 indie hits for the PS4 with improved visuals and smoother gameplay. It’s definitely a smart move, but it’s hard to say if major publishers will do the same thing. It would be kind of weird to see an Assassin’s Creed collection on the PS4 with the improved visuals from the PC versions, but it’s not out of the question.

    [Image: PlayStation Blog]

  • Key PS4 Features Coming Via Launch-Day Patch

    For months now, Sony has been teasing an abundance of new features for its upcoming PlayStation 4 console. Features such as remote gameplay on PS Vitas, suspend features for games, and the functionality of the share button on the new DualShock controller have been touted since E3 or before. Sony today announced, however, that many of these features will be unavailable in the stock console at launch, and will require a large day-one patch to activate.

    The update will be available on November 15 – the same day that the PlayStation 4 launches in the U.S. The patch will update the PS4 software to version 1.5 and will require a 300 MB download.

    The features included in the patch are not trivial. Current-generation features such as online multiplayer and watching Blu-ray or DVD movies will require the update. Other extra features such as multiple simultaneous user log ins, party chat, background music through Music Unlimited, and voice and face recognition for the PlayStation Camera will all require the update as well.

    As for next-gen features, remote play with a PlayStation Vita will not work until the patch is downloaded, and neither will the console’s ability to interact with mobile devices through the PlayStation App. The record, screenshot, and upload capabilities enabled by that share button on the controller will also need the patch, as well as the capability to stream gameplay through Ustream or Twitch.

    At least one touted feature of the PS4 has not even made it into the patch. The suspend mode that allows the console to sleep in a low-power state and resume quickly will not be a feature at launch time.

  • Sony Claims The PS4 Is The Best Place To Play

    Will the PlayStation 4 be the best place to play games in the next generation? That’s hard to answer at this point, and probably will be for the entirety of its lifetime. After all, saying one console is better than the other is a purely subjective opinion, and Sony is of the opinion that the PS4 will be the one console to rule them all.

    In a new advert released today, Sony proclaims that PlayStation 4 is “the best place to play.” What does that mean? In the context of the ad, Sony claims that the PS4 will have plenty of exclusive first-party games, exclusive third-party game content and over 100 games in development.

    Just for fun, let’s compare the two next-gen consoles, shall we? For the exclusive count, Sony says that the PS4 has 24 games in development. The Xbox One has 21 exclusives in development. It should be noted, however, that a few of the Xbox One exclusives, like Titanfall, are merely console exclusive.

    What about exclusive content for third-party games? At this point in time, it appears that only Ubisoft titles will provide the PS4 with exclusive content in their games, and that content will be timed to only the first six months of availability. As for the Xbox One, it gets exclusive content for both Call of Duty: Ghosts and Battlefield 4. Once again, that exclusive content is timed, but getting timed exclusives for both of this year’s big shooters will play heavily in Microsoft’s favor.

    As for the number of games in development, the number for both consoles is hard to pin down as it’s constantly changing. As of right now, however, the Xbox One has 75 games in development. As for the PS4, it currently has 156 confirmed to be in development titles. The high number can be mostly attributed to the large number of indie and free-to-play titles in development for the console. As far as AAA games go, however, the PS4 and Xbox One are getting around the same number of titles.

    So, what does this all tell us? It tells us that you’re going to have a great time regardless of which next-gen console you buy. Pretty much all third-party content will be multiplatfom and any exclusive content in those games will show up on other platforms sooner or later. In all reality, choosing between the PS4 and Xbox One all comes down to the first-party exclusives you want to play, and both platforms have some great exclusives lined up.

    [Image: PlayStation/YouTube]

  • Single Player Story For Battlefield 4 Gets A Trailer, Too

    Believe it or not, modern combat-based first-person shooters still have single player stories and gameplay options available. Well, at least these developer houses play lip service to the option, with varying results. In fact, one of the bigger criticisms about Battlefield 3 focuses on the solo offering. Basically, the online play was great, the single player option a little less so. Considering that the Battlefield franchise was created with its focus on the online multiplayer aspect, with the single player serving as little more than a familiarity ground, perhaps this should have been understood.

    Whatever the case, perhaps the criticisms resonated because members of the creative team indicate more attention will be paid to the single player experience in BF4.

    Perhaps eager to silence the critics–something good content normally does–Dice and EA even went out of their way to focus one of their lavishly-produced trailers on the single player storyline, which leads this post. The game’s cinematics look fantastic, and Battlefield’s gameplay is usually tight–something the recent multiplayer beta confirmed–but the plot probably isn’t anything new. Create reasons to move troops around various hotspots around the globe and let the battle commence. Rinse, repeat. That isn’t a bad thing, either, especially if the action and gameplay is fast, furious, and really responsive.

    Considering Dice’s track record with creating fantastic combat-based gameplay, the single player should be fine. It might even be really good, if it’s as important to the developers as they indicate it is. Regarding the trailer, be on the look out for the dog-punching scene

    It’s nice to see Dice’s penchant for poking fun at the Call of Duty series remains intact. Oh, and the fact that Michael K. Williams voices the single player story’s lead character, SSgt Graves, is a significant positive regarding fan reception.

    [Lead image courtesy of EA]

  • Here’s What NBA Live 14 Looks Like On The PS4, Xbox One

    Last week, 2K Sports revealed the first gameplay footage from NBA 2K14 for PS4 and Xbox One. The video claimed to be taken from a PS4 and it looked absolutely phenomenal. Now EA Sports has revealed the first gameplay trailer for its upcoming next gen basketball title – NBA Live 14. Which one looks better? See for yourself:

    To refresh your memory, this is what NBA 2K14 looks like running on the PS4. We can assume that the Xbox One version will look the same:

    What’s immediately noticeable is that NBA 2K14 is obviously the better looking game. There’s no contest as 2K Sports has made what looks to be the most realistic looking basketball game ever made. NBA Live 14 also loses some points for not showing us what its Anthony Davis looks like, but I can’t imagine it being able to nail his glorious unibrow as well as NBA 2K14 does.

    You can’t count out NBA Live 14 just yet, however, as EA Sport’s brand new Ignite Engine may bring something new to the table. When it was first revealed, EA Sports said Ignite would make sports seem more real. So it may not look better, but NBA Live 14 definitely sports some impressive player animation.

    Even if NBA Live 14 doesn’t quite stack up to NBA 2K14, you have to give the guys at EA Sports a break. The team has had to weather their game being canceled for the last two years, and this will be the first time we’ve seen an NBA game from EA Sports since 2010.

    In short, it’s nice to finally have some competition in the basketball video game arena again.

    NBA Live 14 will launch exclusively on the PS4 and Xbox One on November 15 and November 22 respectively.

    [Image: Official EA UK]

  • Here’s 18 Minutes Of Fresh Killzone: Shadow Fall Gameplay

    Every next gen platform launch needs that one “wow” game that really excites gamers with the kind of visuals that just aren’t possible on current generation platforms. Watch Dogs looked to be that game, but it’s been delayed until Spring 2014. Taking its place is Killzone: Shadow Fall – the latest game in a franchise that pushed the limits of what the PS2 and PS3 were capable of visually.

    Now, visuals aren’t everything when it comes to next generation consoles. We also expect to play games in all new ways. Well, you’re probably not going to get that with Killzone: Shadow Fall, but you are going to get an expertly crafted first person shooter experience.

    Check out the gameplay for yourself as an 18 minute gameplay video has emerged from September’s Tokyo Game Show:

    In more Killzone: Shadow Fall news, the game’s director recently answered a number of questions regarding the upcoming game, including details on the single player campaign, multiplayer customization and dedicated servers.

    Sony also uploaded a story trailer this morning for the title to give you an idea of what to expect from the latest chapter in the Killzone story:

    Killzone: Shadow Fall recently went gold and will launch on November 15 exclusively for the PS4.

    [Image: PlayStation/YouTube]

  • Killzone: Shadow Fall Director Shares Details On The PS4 Launch Title

    On November 15, the PS4 will launch and kickstart the next generation of gaming. On that day, Killzone: Shadow Fall will be one of the very first games to try and convince gamers that they’re living in the next generation. To that end, Sony has invited the game’s director, Steven Ter Helde, to answer fans’ questions regarding this next chapter in the Killzone universe.

    Killzone fans, such as myself, who have thoroughly enjoyed the story told through the last three Killzone games won’t find much from those titles in Shadow Fall. Instead, Ter Helde says that it “is a fresh start for the franchise.” He wants new players to jump into the Killzone universe without having to know any of Helghan’s history, but he says the game will include “nods to earlier Killzone titles.”

    Speaking of the single player campaign, Ter Helde reveals that the campaign will “last well over 10 hours for most gamers.” That’s good news for those who chose Killzone: Shadow Fall as their launch title as it ensures that they’ll get some pretty good mileage out of the campaign.

    Of course, Killzone: Shadow Fall’s single player campaign is only one part of the title. There’s also a robust multiplayer mode in which Guerilla is investing a lot of time and effort into. For instance, they’re completely changing up the multiplayer game to reward players with levels for completing challenges instead of the standard XP progression seen in most modern shooters. This is because they “felt XP was less about skill and more about time.”

    As for other multiplayer details, Ter Helde shares that there will be no split-screen support, and that there will be no campaign co-op. Instead, the game will offer a post-launch co-op horde mode that will be offered as paid DLC.

    Ter Helde also confirms that the game will offer dedicated servers to “handle the transfer of data between clients.”

    On a final note, Killzone: Shadow Fall has gone gold. In other words, it’s done and the master has been sent off to be pressed onto millions of retail discs.

    To learn more, check out the full Q&A session on the PlayStation Blog.

    [Image: PlayStation Blog]

  • The Nostalgia Is Strong With This PlayStation Ad

    Remember your first experience with the original PlayStation? Or how about your first time playing the PlayStation 2? There might even be that special feeling you had when first turning on the PlayStation 3. All that and more contributes to some of our most precious memories, and PlayStation Access expertly captures that in its latest video.

    You may recall a while back that Sony ran a Twitter campaign called #PlayStationMemories. It asked players to share their experiences with PlayStation from the original PlayStation in 1995 all the way to the PlayStation 3 of today. Sony then took all of those responses and made the following video:

    Despite being made in the UK. this ad should resonate with all PlayStation fans. They hit upon all the big hits across all three platforms, especially the original PlayStation. It’s a little strange to see the PlayStation 4 being included as some sort of nostalgic platform, but it works in a way. After all, the friends that play together stay together, or something like that.

    With this latest video, the #PlayStationMemories hashtag has been given new life yet again. Most of the responses this time around are more cheeky than nostalgic, but there’s some genuinely heartfelt stuff as well:


    [Image: PlayStation Access/YouTube]

  • Xbox One Tops Analyst Console Assessment

    The launch of Sony’s PlayStation 4 console is less than one month away, and Microsoft’s Xbox One will follow close behind. As video game fanboys continue to argue over the merits of each console and Microsoft desperately tries to re-educate casual gamers after their initial blunders, a new analyst report has assessed the competitive merits of each next-generation console.

    Market research firm ABI Research has released a new report, part of which details its competitive assessment of the next-gen console race. The assessment rated each console on a number of factors, including “innovation” and “implementation.” Contrary to the zeitgeist of current gamers, the firm puts Microsoft’s Xbox One at the top of the competitive heap.

    ABI stated that the Xbox One got the top ranking due to Microsoft’s demonstration that the console can function on “the broader entertainment front.” The Xbox One’s TV capabilities were heavily touted when the console was announced, and though Microsoft has been mocked for its broad focus, ABI believes the console might actually appeal to those outside the gaming hobby.

    Sony’s PlayStation 4 came in a close second in the evaluation. ABI bumped it down the list in part because one of its most promising features, Gaikai streaming, will not roll out until next year.

    Nintendo’s Wii U was relegated to third place in ABI’s assessment. Nintendo has been struggling to sell the console since its debut last fall.

    “With the hardware specs between Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PS4 so similar this leaves Nintendo’s Wii U on the outside,” said Michael Inouye, senior analyst at ABI. “If not for Nintendo’s wider distribution network, console heritage, and first party titles it would start to find itself in closer competition with many of the new market entrants.”