The grand unveiling of the PS4 is over! Watch a replay of the show here:
The grand unveiling of the PS4 is over! Watch a replay of the show here:
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Originally Posted by confidenceman /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911474
It's a cool little device, but it's too expensive, the games are too expensive to buy and too expensive to make, and the portable market is now dominated by mobile. Even the 3DS is struggling, and that's after a major price drop.
Of course, it could still turn around. But there's just no developer/publisher interest to be had. Everyone's moving to mobile.
Anyway, I hope that Sony has learned those lessons well for its upcoming new console. But, as ever, I'm skeptical. Large businesses are dumb and slow.
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Originally Posted by Mounta1n /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911510
There's enough top-shelf free games on PSPlus right now that I'm thinking about picking up a Vita, but I'm not sure if I'd ever actually use it. I don't have a lot of sitting around doing nothing time when I'm out, and if I'm at home I'd rather play on the big screen...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mounta1n /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911510
There's enough top-shelf free games on PSPlus right now that I'm thinking about picking up a Vita, but I'm not sure if I'd ever actually use it. I don't have a lot of sitting around doing nothing time when I'm out, and if I'm at home I'd rather play on the big screen...
I think they can still sell at a loss, it just has to be a smaller percentage. While Sony may not be in financial heaven, it's not as bad as some like to make it. Some people make it sound like they are minutes away from having to declare bankruptcy, and that isn't the case. I would agree with bd, if they want to charge $50 more than the nextbox but you get a bad ass machine, I am down. Just don't make it a $600 machine this time and they will be fine.Quote:
Originally Posted by confidenceman /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911513
I think the days of selling hardware at an initial direct loss are over. The only way that is possible is if they subsidize that loss through some sort of subscription service or 2-year contract through ISPs or something of the sort. That way they amortize the apparent "loss" through sub/service fees.
It could happen. MS has already done it successfully for the 360 (selling the console for $99 with a 2-year contract). And the mobile industry is built on that model. We'll see what Sony does.
Yes, that is something, and Sony has done a great job of turning around the PS3 from its first two years. Unfortunately, they're all fighting over scraps at this point. The traditional gaming industry is hurting, so there are no real "winners" among the big console manufacturers right now. Mobile is kicking their asses in terms of profit margins, growth, new investments, new products, etc., etc. Unless this next round of consoles can prove otherwise, the console market might get swallowed up by mobile platforms, mobile-console hybrids, and Steam-based console-PC hybrids. I know I wouldn't want to be in Sony's shoes right now.Quote:
Originally Posted by TyrantII /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911504
Well just this month Sony finally outsold the 360, by about a million units world wide. They closed the gap and went past it with a year lag. Not too shabby.
Couldn't agree more. Both Steam and Game Center are better social platforms than any of the three consoles. The console platforms got stuck in a rut and stopped pushing that stuff. And in Sony's case, they ran up against hardware limitations. Hopefully, they've learned just how important it is to allow those social features to evolve and to have the hardware capacity and network infrastructure to let that happen. That was Sony's Achilles' Heel this gen.Quote:
Sony also needs to aggressively reassert itself in the US, and I think a social / web 2.0 focus is that coming to fruition. It'll probably be for PS+ members, but they look to have decided they need to take their OS and background functions more seriously this time, rather than slapping in some functionality. Hopefully social aspects means cross game chat, screenshots and video, better clan support, official leader-board, stat tracking, better trophy support, ect. All on a XMB OS that doesn't chug just trying to send a text message to a friend.
Yup. Add in the fact that most of us already have portable gaming devices (i.e. phones) with us everywhere we go, and it's harder to justify a Vita. If they're aimed at an older crowd than the 3DS, then they've put themselves squarely in the crosshairs of Apple and Android. I had a Vita for a while, and I found that I just never used it. It just didn't fit into my life anywhere. When I'm traveling, I've got my tablet, laptop, and phone. When I'm at home, I've got consoles and a PC. Where would the Vita fit into that?Quote:
Originally Posted by Mounta1n /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911510
There's enough top-shelf free games on PSPlus right now that I'm thinking about picking up a Vita, but I'm not sure if I'd ever actually use it. I don't have a lot of sitting around doing nothing time when I'm out, and if I'm at home I'd rather play on the big screen...
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Originally Posted by Mounta1n /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911493
Even if they don't eat the cost, I'd rather pay $50 more and have the 8GB, rather than sacrifice game quality and UI functionality for the next 6 years with only 4GB.
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Originally Posted by americangunner /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911582
I think they can still sell at a loss, it just has to be a smaller percentage. While Sony may not be in financial heaven, it's not as bad as some like to make it. Some people make it sound like they are minutes away from having to declare bankruptcy, and that isn't the case. I would agree with bd, if they want to charge $50 more than the nextbox but you get a bad ass machine, I am down. Just don't make it a $600 machine this time and they will be fine.
I just don't see that happening. A lot of people are specualting that it will be $400, $450 at the most.Quote:
Originally Posted by CMonMan /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911638
How about something like
stripped down version for $449
or $249 with $15/month 2 year contract
More powerful version with all the bells and whistles for $649
or $449 with $15/month 2 year contract
If they are paying 200-250 for a current gen model, people will pay $249 for a next gen w/ 2 yr contract... while with these ranges- they will get a fair amount to pay $649 to be contract free with a powerhouse... Obviously I pulled these numbers out of thin air, but I think they give reasonable price points that would allow most gamers to purchase a system in their budget, while still allowing sony to put out a powerful console without losing their butt.... I would think the $449 with $15/month 2 yr contract would appeal to many buyers, and Sony would ultimately get $809 over the two years- enough to make a powerful console IMO.
Sounds about right. Launching a new console at what looks like $299 (really closer to $450-500 when you add in the 2-year contract and necessary accessories) would go a long way towards getting broad consumer attention.Quote:
Originally Posted by CMonMan /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911638
If they are paying 200-250 for a current gen model, people will pay $249 for a next gen w/ 2 yr contract...
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Originally Posted by confidenceman /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911605
Sony really blew their shot at cross-play/cross-buy.
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Originally Posted by americangunner /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911654
I just don't see that happening. A lot of people are specualting that it will be $400, $450 at the most.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mounta1n /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors/930#post_22911493
Even if they don't eat the cost, I'd rather pay $50 more and have the 8GB, rather than sacrifice game quality and UI functionality for the next 6 years with only 4GB.
I am sure they don't want to take a huge loss either, but they were killed by coming out with a really high entry price. I just don't see them doing that again.Quote:
Originally Posted by joeblow /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors-grand-unveiling-on-february-20-2013/960#post_22911922
Then a lot of people are smoking something. There is just no way in the world that the PS4 will come out at $400. The deluxe PS3 was $600 at launch and still sold for a loss over the next few years. The rumored specs of the PS4 puts it at 8-10 times more powerful than that one (along with a high tech controller scheme of some sort), and there is the obvious desire by Sony to sell as close to cost as possible to minimize the per-unit-sold revenue loss this time around.
Putting aside all of the rumors of a subsidized option for a moment, we'll be lucky to see a $450 PS4 on the shelves at launch. My guess is that $500 will be the initial price. No way it will be $400.
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Originally Posted by kamouflage /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors-grand-unveiling-on-february-20-2013/960#post_22912120
So what's everybody's magic number to day one purchase this thing? I've got a ridiculous backlog of games to complete and told myself I wouldn't be getting a next gen system until Summer/Fall 2014 at the earliest but we all know about the temptation of the shiny new hotness. If it's $400 I'm definitely buying day one, $450 I'd have to sleep on it and above that I'm just going to wait.
$600 in 2006 vs. $400 in 2013. That is a huge reduction you are asking for.Quote:
Originally Posted by americangunner /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors-grand-unveiling-on-february-20-2013/960#post_22912223
I am sure they don't want to take a huge loss either, but they were killed by coming out with a really high entry price. I just don't see them doing that again.
I realize that, but the demo was in real time. Of course adding game play elements reduces resources, but visual pop is the main eater of those resources. A.I. and such don't need the other 2 gigs of RAM remaining. So with an unoptimized real time demo like in the Agni video from SquareEnix being possible before the PS4 specs were even finalized, you can expect awesome results in games made directly on the console as the machine (and development tools) matures - especially 1st party games. RAM won't be a bottleneck.Quote:
Originally Posted by TyrantII /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors-grand-unveiling-on-february-20-2013/960#post_22912090
Keep in mind Joe that rendered != playable. Games can throw a lot out / render a lot more when they control the FOV and do cinematic. Fidelity goes down when you have to all freelook and gameplay in realtime.
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Originally Posted by TyrantII /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors-grand-unveiling-on-february-20-2013/960#post_22912604
Yup, a unified, set in stone architecture is pretty sweet! Every nook and cranny can be utilized, knowing hardware will never change, and the implementation will always work!
I just wish 3rd party Dev's still had the time and resources to optimize to each consoles strengths. Unfortunately, I think those days are long past us outside of Sony sponsored IP's and 1st party titles.
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Originally Posted by bd2003 /t/1367918/playstation-4-news-rumors-grand-unveiling-on-february-20-2013/960#post_22912281
I wouldn't even blink at $600.