Way to keep the anticipation high, Sony. Source: Supplied
THE new front in the gaming wars begins today, as Sony is expected to unveil the PlayStation 4 in New York.
Just show us the damn console
More than an hour and a half into the presentation, Sony has yet to show the PlayStation 4 machine. There's no word yet on price or release date, though availability isn't likely for several months.
Real names and hardware compression
Mark Cerny, lead architect for the PlayStation 4 says the new PlayStation will have hardware compression so sharing video of game play will be easier. You can browse live game video of games your friends are playing.
Adopting Facebook's philosophy, Sony will transition to an online game network based on real names, even as people will also be able to keep their aliases.
Explore the PlayStation store for free
David Perry, co-founder of the Internet game company Gaikai - which Sony bought last year - talked about Gaikai's vision of letting people explore any game in the PlayStation store for free. The idea is gamers will then buy what they like.
He says PlayStation 4 will allow for virtual spectating. With one button, you can broadcast your game play so friends can "look over your shoulder virtually."
It will have a feature called remote play, in which you run the game on the PlayStation, which then sends the video to your handheld PlayStation Vita device over the Internet so you can play remotely.
Graphics
Beyond games, Sony is touting the PlayStation 4's fast graphical capabilities. You'd be able to create animation in 3-D using a Move motion controller - all in real time.
PS4 Games
The event continues with demonstration of games that can be played on the new PlayStation.
Among the offerings planned: "Drive Club." An executive from Evolution Studios says it's been a concept for a decade, but made possible with the new machine. The game will be about driving the best cars in the world in the best locations in the world, using 3-D models of engines built by the development team.
Another game showcased was "The Witness." It's a puzzle game that explores an abandoned island. It will be developed exclusively for the PlayStation 4.
First thoughts on the PS4
The PS4 reportedly won't be backwards compatible with previous consoles. Gamers are not going to be happy about this. All of those PS3 games you've accumulated over the years - you won't be able to play them on the PS4.
At least not straight out of the box.
Sony did say it would be exploring "advanced technologies" that can support PS3 games on the PS4. It also said that eventually PlayStation's entire back catalogue of games would be available via the system's cloud streaming functionality".
This option will not be available right away but at least the option is there.
For now, it might be wise to hold off putting your PS3 on eBay or giving it away.
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Cam Shea, IGN Australia's senior editor told News.com.au that the design "is incredibly exciting," as it focuses on ease of use, and social connectivity "backed by a powerful PC-based architecture".
"Players can now broadcast their games live, allowing friends to watch and even take over for them if they're stuck," Mr Shea said. "Instant play means players can start playing digital games as soon as they've purchased online - while the game's downloading.
"Players will even be able to try full games before they buy them. The tech isn't just future-facing either, as eventually the entire PlayStation back catalogue will be available via the system's cloud streaming functionality.
"The new controller is an intelligent refinement of what has come before, with a built-in touchpad and Move support: a stereo camera tracks where the controller is to enable motion control.
"Sony is also focusing on smartphone, tablet, PS Vita and web functionality, so players will always be linked to their social community.
"In fact, Sony's partnership with Facebook means that players will be able to expand their social network to incorporate their favourite hobby. All told, this is a smart system from Sony, bridging the gap between the box in the living room and the many devices gamers now use on a daily basis."
Mr Shea said the new PS4 is an exciting show of strength from Sony that sends a powerful message to their rivals.
"In light of increased competition from smartphones and other ways to game, Sony is boldly attempting to redefine the modern concept of gaming for the next decade," he said.
"The PlayStation 4 looks immensely powerful, and the shared DNA with performance PC components will allow developers to bring new games to life in the earliest days of the console."
The expert analysis comes as Sony unveiled its next-generation gaming system, the PlayStation 4, at a New York event this morning (AEDT).
The development gives the struggling Japanese electronics company a head start over Microsoft and an Xbox 360 successor.
The PlayStation 4 will be Sony's first major game console since the PlayStation 3 went on sale in 2006. Microsoft is expected to unveil the next Xbox in June at the E3 video game expo in Los Angeles. Last fall, Nintendo started selling the Wii U, though it plays catch-up in some respects in bringing the ability to play high-definition games.
Although the Xbox 360 came out a year before PlayStation 3, Microsoft's game machine has been more popular, largely because of its robust online service, Xbox Live, which allows people to play games with others online. The original Wii has sold more units since its launch than both its rivals, but it lost momentum as the novelty of its motion controller faded. Sales of the new Wii U have been slow.
"A bold step forward for PlayStation"
Group chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc., and Mark Cerny appeared in a plaid shirt and jeans as he touted the ease in which computer programmers will be able to write games for the new system. He says that with so many devices around, the value of having a powerful computer on a single chip has diminished. Instead, Sony is building the new PlayStation on top of a traditional PC architecture, and in doing so, game creators will have an easier time developing games.
Just before announcing the PlayStation 4, Andrew House, president and group chief executive of Sony Computer Entertainment referred to "a moment of truth and a bold step forward for PlayStation and the company." He says Sony is looking to offer powerful opportunities to connect and play, including on mobile through a companion PlayStation Vita released last year.
Release date
Rumours this week of price points for Sony's new games console may not be confirmed today, with some gaming experts expecting that price details and even features of the PlayStation 4 to be announced later.
Some analysts are tipping the release of the PlayStation 4 to be before Christmas this year, although the PS3 was announced about 18 months before it hit the market.
PS4 is seven years in the making
It's been more than seven years since Sony launched the PlayStation 3 and the games market has changed dramatically in that time along with game players expectations with the development of smart phones, tablets and cloud services in that time.
The leaked pictures of what could be the controller for the new PlayStation suggests there is little change in the unit but there are reports the new PlayStation 4 will come standard with a camera for body motion control of games.
There are also rumours that the controller with have a button for social media, so that gamers can share video clips of their gaming glory.
The Wall Street Journal reports cloud computing will be a key feature of the new console, perhaps allowing people to save a game on the PS4 and then continue playing that game from the same point using another Sony device such as the Vita handheld game console or perhaps a Sony smartphone or tablet.
The gaming industry gathered in New York for the launch are looking to Sony to announce not just pricing details of the game console, release dates and games titles but also an explanation of how the new PlayStation 4 will fit into a range of products.
With AP and AFP.
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