Game Streaming on PS4

The former head of Sony Worldwide Studios, Phil Harrison, made some interesting comments about the next generation of consoles. The biggest one: game streaming.

Streaming has become a huge source of video entertainment for everyone. We watch movies from Amazon Netflix on our game consoles, computers, and TV. It’s everywhere.

Harrison believes that next-gen consoles, like PlayStation 4, will steer away from the current generation of consoles in a multitude of ways, one of which is game media. Instead of spending fifty-bucks for a disc, you’ll charge a credit card or use points to purchase rights to stream a game, just like we do for Netflix.

Why? He thinks it will be a more service-based model than a retail one, since companies like Sony learned a lesson when they overspent during the development of the PS3.

He said:

“The new business model is going to become a combination of retail and services, and it’s going to be an interesting decision for the likes of Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo, is the next console race about chips and CPU, clock speed and graphics, or is it about business models and monetization and discovery, and I think it’s probably going to be about the latter.”

But is that smart? Probably not. What if your router crashes for a day? How are you going to play your favorite game without being connected to the internet? That’s a major flaw, which is why this just seems silly as the only form of game media. It needs to be something on your harddrive or in your room, that you can access even when offline.

I mean, it would be nifty if some games were streamed, if it were cheap. More casual games, not directly geared towards dedicated gamers.

That may make PS more social, as well. Maybe if the PS4 can have a balance, it will be perfect.

Ubisoft Says PS4 is Coming Soon

In a recent interview, the CEO of Ubisoft, Yves Guillemot, said that the next generation of game consoles, including the PlayStation 4, is coming soon.

Ubisoft is the developer of the Assassin’s Creed line of games. They recently have adjusted from total “hardcore” gaming to more casual games, like Just Dance, which makes a perfect balance of cost and profit, appealing to both crowds of gamers.

While it is true there have been more and more rumors about the PS4 lately (like the manufactures saying it will ship in 2012 and then the developer’s 2013 rumor), this only makes the PS4 earlier release date seem more likely. Originally, Sony kept saying the PS4 wouldn’t launch until 2016, and then they didn’t want to release a new console until 2014. Now it seems that with the Wii U around the corner, and XBox 720 supposedly  already in the hands of developers, the next console really is on the horizon.

”I think [the Wii U is] sending the message that the new transition is going to happen – and we’re going to have new machines coming soon,” said the CEO.

When do you think the PS4 will release? Some rumors say 2012, others 2013, while many people still insist on 2016. Answer the poll and let us know!

[merlic_poll id="1832"]

New PlayStation 4 Concept Design

We’ve been providing you with fan-crafted PlayStation 4 concepts for a long time now. Recently, a new concept hit the market, but this one is a little different: the creator, Joseph Dumary, also says what specs it should have and the capabilities.

Dumary’s PS4 has a brand-new feature: ECO Restart. Basically, the console uses a rechargeable battery to stay in a power-friendly mode after turned off, making it easier on the console when it is turned back on for play later.

This PS4 will also be made of 60% recycled materials, with magnesium alloy and carbon, making the overall console weight considerably light.
We’ve talked before about how Sony should incorporate and integrate the PS Vita and Sony S1 and S2 Tablets into the console, and that’s what Dumary did. You can use either as a remote control, a way to browse the web, or play games from a distance, knocking the Wii U controller out of the water.

The PS4 would have a 1.5TB harddrive, Blu-Ray and 3D support, USB 3.0, Sync, Cloud, and so much more. Even cooler? The PS4 controller would have a light sensor and an adjustment option for the analog stick, incase it’s too loose or too tight for the player’s gameplay.

The model is sleek, futuristic but not crazy looking, and fits the current models of PlayStation that we adore. What do you think? (Click on the images below if you want to see a larger view.)

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