PlayStation 4 Released 294
Today marks the launch of the latest entrant to the next-gen console race: Sony's PlayStation 4. A number of reviews for the system have already gone up, but many outlets are waiting for next Friday's Xbox One launch before passing final judgment. With regard to the PS4's hardware and UI, Digital Foundry praises the DualShock 4 controller design and the improvements to background downloading, while worrying about fan noise in warmer environments. iFixit provides a step-by-step teardown of the device, giving it an 8/10 repairability score. Ars has many good things to say, but many bad things as well: "The PlayStation 4 has an excellent controller, decently powerful hardware, some intriguing, well-executed new features, and an interface that shows belated acknowledgment of some of Sony's most user-unfriendly past designs. It also has a lot of features that are half-assed, missing, or downright bewildering at this point." Polygon's review is more visually oriented, filled with pictures, videos, and drawings. They conclude, "[T]he PlayStation 4's focus on gaming — and only gaming — is undermined by a distinct lack of compelling software. That failing is sure to improve — better games and more of them will appear on the PlayStation 4 — but right now, this is a game console without a game to recommend it." Eurogamer's coverage includes has a round-up of launch title reviews and gameplay videos. IGN has coverage of the roughly 0.4% of PS4s that arrive broken out of the box, and Kotaku explains how they fixed theirs.
Re:I want Sony to win only so that Microsoft loses (Score:3, Interesting)
Why cant we get both loosing?
Re:I want Sony to win only so that Microsoft loses (Score:4, Interesting)
I don't think you should speak for "the majority of us." My impression is it's a vocal minority upset over things most of Slashdot doesn't particularly care about - they got rid of the Linux OS nobody was actually using, and they purchased BMG right after BMG added anti-piracy rootkits to CDs, 10 years ago.
I don't think PS4 will fuck over the user. Sony sells it as a game device and it seems to do just that.
Re:Not this time, Sony (Score:5, Interesting)
That was the point at which I decided that the internet connection wasn't benefiting me, but them. I just disconnected it from the network.
My XBox 360 is happily still working without an internet connection. But from the sounds of it both new consoles are still mostly going to demand an always-on connection (and if they're not at launch, they will I assume).
I'm more likely to buy a spare 360 at this point that consider either of the newer offerings from Sony or Microsoft.
I have no desire to play on-line, give these guys a marketing channel, or provide them with my usage data and a camera in my living room. If game consoles stop being something you can run completely off-line, well, I'll stop having game consoles.
Re:Not this time, Sony (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Not this time, Sony (Score:4, Interesting)
If Linux gaming gains traction due to the Steam Machine, and I hope it does, a powerful one would become useful at that time. One you buy now will be out of date and worth much less than you paid by the time it's actually useful.
Re: Good console but no games (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:Not this time, Sony (Score:4, Interesting)
I also so far never had problem with Steam DRM and that's why I am OK with it.
And if/when Valve go bust or turn evil? (I'm aware Gabe said that if Valve go bust they'll unlock the Steam DRM. I don't believe it for a second - I doubt they're even legally in a position to make that call for other companies' games.)
I use Steam too, and yes it works fine now, but that's not to say that by going with Steam you've escaped all the downsides of DRM. They still hold the keys to your gaming locker.