The Case for the PS4K: an important, and necessary, change for the industry.

I will say this one more time.

I already said I understand where people are coming from, wether it is financially, not liking change like most humans or animals, or any of the PERSONAL reasons. I am NOT JUDGING THAT!!!

My comments are more in reference to those who are transparent, and you can see they are too embarrassed to speak what the personal issues are, so they report to spreading unfounded/undocumented/unproven FUD as a basis.

And you should not be taking any of it personally, since I said multiple times, (not you), but rather commenting on the topic at hand.

I am just saying for people to just be honest.
Alright bro well I also said not YOU just like how you said it to me! So I'm not taking this personally and neither should you!

To be honest though, I'm not saying people haven't done fud (the fuck does that stand for anyway) in this thread, but it's been moving too fast for me to tell what everyone is saying. But between me and you, there doesn't seem to be anything else to talk about. Even though we have our disagreements here, it looks like we're on the same page about it.
 
Is the iPad Air you bought in 2013 a video game console?
Na you're not being difficult, you were right to call me out.Sixaxis getting a Dualshock improvement didn't affect developers aside from adding rumble. It wasn't anything new, it was just something Ps3 lacked for a little while. We have at least 1 developer (some dude from Bioware) who stated for the record he ain't happy that this is happening. What we're talking about right now all is in theory though because this has never happened before.
Well it plays games and runs apps and it cost $200 more than a PS4 when they both came out. I think my point stands.
 
In my posts above, I was not talking about a temporary period of cross gen titles, but a permanent state of it. The PS4K is permanently tied to, or held back by the PS4, and my point is that I would under no circumstances support a PS5 next gen system that was permanently held back by, or tied down to the PS4K.

Permanently held back, or held back for the duration of the PS4's lifespan? If the PS4 is retired, is the Neo also retired? Or does it stop being held back by the PS4 and the Neo continues unhindered? What's the difference between Neo holding back PS5 for 2-3 years after launch, and titles being released cross-gen between Neo and PS5? Is it just semantics? How does a hypothetical PS5.5 fit in with this picture? And what happens to the Ps5 when the Neo is retired? Why is there an assumption that an iterative model means newer systems being permanently held back by older systems? How different is to PS3->PS4 other than guaranteed BC and a quicker turn around of hardware?
 
This doesn't make sense in regards to the PS4 Neo as they have to support the console that already has 35 million users. You will see non support when the PS5 roles around.

Yep....and for those saying there will be no PS5 and every console from Sony now is going to be a small iterative jump with automatic mandating of devs to support the last console via forward compatibility are jumping the gun a bit too far IMO.

They aren't dumb enough to throw devs out into the ocean in regards to development priority, they do want to preserve many of the things people like about generations while opening the market up to more hardware.

When the next Playstation comes out, that is going to be far more powerful than the jump from PS4 to PS4k...Sony would have to try as hard as they could to kneecap their own hardware for that to not happen.
 
but how long before you stop supporting the lowest common denominator?

Who knows, I suppose Sony has enough insights into their database to determine who actually buys their games. And if at some point they come to the conclusion that the majority of people buying games already migrated to the newer systems, it's time to move on. That will be inevitable at some point. Question is: Will they abandon the weakest link in the chain (Vanilla PS4) or every single PS4 iteration. And with "they" I mean developers. Basically, I have no doubt that a PS5 will be based on x86, hence BC should be a given but also FC might be possible.

I suppose developers could still release games which can be played on every (!) PS4 and PS5, but in this case Sony won't force them to do so. There should also be PS5 exclusive games. And if by "PS5" we talk about a true generational leap, e.g. because of 32 GB RAM or something like that, Sony actually needs such titles to make a lot of people migrate to the newer, fancier platform. But as I said, those games will only work on PS5, but not on the strongest PS4 SKU.
 
Well you didn't answer my question. And that is the point, that consoles aren't supposed to haven't had iterations within a single generation.

You have to start somewhere, lol. If it was not last gen, or the gen before that, and not next gen, it is now.

Yep....and for those saying there will be no PS5 and every console from Sony now is going to be a small iterative jump with automatic mandating of devs to support the last console via forward compatibility are jumping the gun a bit too far IMO.

They aren't dumb enough to throw devs out into the ocean in regards to development priority, they do want to preserve many of the things people like about generations while opening the market up to more hardware.

When the next Playstation comes out, that is going to be far more powerful than the jump from PS4 to PS4k...Sony would have to try as hard as they could to kneecap their own hardware for that to not happen.

Yep.
 
Because it's not in there. The context was different, where he seemed to believe it was a good way to deemphasize the console business for MS. Now his line of thought is that it's a necessary change for the console industry.

I've always liked reading his opinion on things and I remember his line of thought then. It's different now (and I'll confess I've not been following every little thing he posts the last month or so) and I'm just looking for the link to connect the dots, because I'm really curious what leading factor got him to reconsider. It's way more innocent than you guys are making it out to be.

I don't think my stance has really changed at all. What Microsoft proposed then is much different than what Sony is proposing now. I think that a generational leap by MS is the right move. I also think an iterative console by Sony is a good decision. I don't think MS should go the iterative route for their next console. There are positives and negatives for both situations.
 
Well you didn't answer my question. And that is the point, that consoles aren't supposed to haven't had iterations within a single generation.

New times for everything, people used to ride horses everywhere did the world end when the car was introduced no they moved on. Think of the poor saps that just bought a musket and all of a sudden a repeating rifle comes out. Was it the end of the world then? Times change tech advances if your thinking was the way they reacted back then we would still be riding horses around and shooting muskets with the only change being the ball gets bigger with every new generation of rifle.
 
Even if the PS5 is 15x more powerful than PS4 OG, and it still uses x86, and PC-like components, it's still going to be iterative. But that doesn't mean there will 100% be forward compatibility from PS4/PS4K.

Forward compatibility would hold back the PS5 from being a truly new generation. At some point people will want to be guaranteed a completely new experience. That's probably not at 3 years, but in 6 or 7 years it might be that time.

Why make an assumption to 100% forward compatibility. That just doesn't make any practical sense at all. I can't think why Sony would bother with more powerful hardware at all if they are going to artificially hold progress back in such a restrictive way. The argument makes no sense. Especially suggesting PS4 should be forward compatible with PS5 at all. Hell, with Neo on the market one would have thought a PS5 launch would be the perfect time to drop PS4 completely and not worry about cross-gen support for the older hardware. Time for PS4 owners to move to either Neo or PS5 as they see fit for the latest games. Again, project that forward to a theoretical PS5.5
 
Na man, you really don't have to "start". The console generations could've continued being the way they always have been.

For someone saying you are reading all the pros and cons, you sure are missing the reasons people, even some developers in here, are providing why that is no longer sustainable for the future of the industry. Wether that is right or wrong is irrelevant, since we do not know until it happens. But do not ignore those arguments because of how you feel on the matter.

It is not as simple as, 'well it has always been that way, so...'.

New times for everything, people used to ride horses everywhere did the world end when the car was introduced no they moved on. Think of the poor saps that just bought a musket and all of a sudden a repeating rifle comes out. Was it the end of the world then? Times change tech advances if your thinking was the way they reacted back then we would still be riding horses around and shooting muskets with the only change being the ball gets bigger with every new generation of rifle.

;)
 
For someone saying you are reading all the pros and cons, you sure are missing the reasons people, even some developers in here, are providing why that is no longer sustainable for the future of the industry.

It is not as simple as, 'well it has always been that way, so...'.
To be completely honest, I think there is an underlying causation that has made people and developers feel that it is necessary, but as far as I am concerned as a consumer and video game enthusiast, it is not. The most important thing is making money, right? Which means the most important thing is sales.
 
I agree with the points you've made and I'm all for this new future of consoles (that are becoming more like PCs).

It's interesting to see you come around on the concept of more frequently updated consoles. Seemed you were more a skeptic in early March when Spencer mentioned they were taking Xbox down this route.







I'm slightly curious what made you come around in such a short time.

:O
 
New times for everything, people used to ride horses everywhere did the world end when the car was introduced no they moved on. Think of the poor saps that just bought a musket and all of a sudden a repeating rifle comes out. Was it the end of the world then? Times change tech advances if your thinking was the way they reacted back then we would still be riding horses around and shooting muskets with the only change being the ball gets bigger with every new generation of rifle.
Not really. Video game consoles aren't about to be the first set of products that have had incremental improvements, as evident by the horses and muskets in your post.

There have been console generation cycles concurrent with other electronic device markets, yet all throughout that time, consoles still sold, their software still sold, and the industry remained healthy.

Sure, but this is happening and it doesn't negate your already perfectly fine PS4. A PS5 will come out.
And a Ps5+, and Ps5++, and a Ps5+++...
 
To be completely honest, I think there is an underlying causation that has made people and developers feel that it is necessary, but as far as I am concerned as a consumer and video game enthusiast, it is not. The most important thing is making money, right? Which means the most important thing is sales.

Nope. Sales are easy to achieve, if you don't have to worry about money, that is...

Continuous, predictable, and sustainable cash flows is the way to go. And this is one of the reasons things like subscriptions, software as a service and those iterations are or have been introduced.
 
Because you are choosing to see it as a 'shorter overlapping' generation... where others see it as expanding the generation not unlike the PC sees.

I do not hear devs (or people) screaming about new CPU's and GPU's that are yearly... due to the fact it is within the same ecosystem with the tools just being added upon, and they are building engines to scale. Now developers can take more risks (be more comfortable) in their engine predictions, and not be so apprehensive in fear the next gen shift will be something totally exotic from the last one. It is clearly cheaper than a reset. Many, even big publishers stated this years ago.

^ This.
 
Well you didn't answer my question. And that is the point, that consoles aren't supposed to haven't had iterations within a single generation.
Just because that's the way things have traditionally been done, doesn't mean that's the way things should always be done.

To be honest I was not happy with the news at first either. In fact I didn't even believe it because it sounded so crazy. But then I thought about the upgrades I've made in my life, setting aside computers and mobile devices and just thinking about video game systems:

Game Boy -> Game Boy Color
Game Boy Advance - Game Boy Advance SP
Playstation 2 -> PlayStation 2 revision with progressive scan
Xbox 360 -> Xbox 360 revision with HDMI/bigger HDD
Nintendo 3DS -> 3DS XL -> New Nintendo 3DS

I don't think the PS4.5K Neo is all that different from the times I've happily upgraded for one new feature or another. In many ways this seems to be even more consumer friendly since in a number of those cases listed above the same games weren't interchangable.

I also don't think anyone's getting left behind here. Just some people will have a system with games that look and perform moderately better than some other people's will. The price on the current PS4 should come down, meaning more people will pick one up, which is good if you want more games for your system. Meanwhile those with the extra money and the inclination can get a bit of a better experience than they would by waiting 5 more years for a PS5. I honestly think it could be a win-win.
 
Nope. Sales are easy to achieve, if you don't have to worry about money, that is...

Continuous, predictable, and sustainable cash flows is the way to go. And this is one of the reasons things like subscriptions, software as a service and those iterations are or have been introduced.
Sales weren't easy to achieve for Sony when they first launched the Ps3. And sales were much better than they expected when they launched the Ps4. And the Ps4 has been selling like hotcakes since it launched, so if the generation continued be traditional then Sony would still be making continuous, predictable, and sustainable cash flows like you said.
 
Sales weren't easy to achieve for Sony when they first launched the Ps3. And sales were much better than they expected when they launched the Ps4. And the Ps4 has been selling like hotcakes since it launched, so if the generation continued be traditional then Sony would still be making continuous, predictable, and sustainable cash flows like you said.

To be fair that was in large part due to the Blu-ray drive and that 599 price tag.
 
I can't tell if you're intentionally being obtuse, or just can't grasp something so basic. Cross gen games, as I said multiple times, are not a permanent thing. They only happen for a year or so during the transition between two generations. There's no point you asking me if I prefer cross gen games be made to squeeze between a PS5 and PS4, or PS5 and PS4K, that is completely besides the point, and in a typical new generation introduction, would only happen with early life cycle multiplatform titles either way. Second, third and late cycle games tend not to be as commonly held back by any older hardware at all. In other words, cross gen games get replaced by next gen only games.

In my posts above, I was not talking about a temporary period of cross gen titles, but a permanent state of it. The PS4K is permanently tied to, or held back by the PS4, and my point is that I would under no circumstances support a PS5 next gen system that was permanently held back by, or tied down to the PS4K.

So to answer your question, I'd prefer that PS5 games (or any next gen systems games) were not permanently tied down to any older platforms. If they were, it would stifle technological, graphical and design ambition and progress.
First off its a lot longer than one year.

Second, you keep ignoring the 3/6 year iterative/generation as examples of how it could work.

You are always developing for a ROLLING base of 3 years max vs developing for a base 6-8 years old.

When a 3rd iteration hits, you drop the 1st then it's 2, 3. When 4th hits its 3, 4.

Let's also think about the rate at which technology moves. We want refinement in tools, not huge generational shifts. We want small shifts so we can keep on making our games and less fussing about between boxes. Who knows what kind of hardware will be cost and performance effective for PS5? We don't. Rumor right now is that the GPU is different in the PS4k - that's something we need to work with. If that bridges the gap, with a small shift in tools between PS4 and PS5, that's a lot less work we have to do for PS5. A lot fewer bugs. A lot fewer day 1 patches. A far better, more efficient move through toolsets that keeps us pinning our time on making games and less time spent developing tools for the new gen.

It's not just about "waaaaaa, cross-gen games!" - it's about efficiency in the console space between what could potentially be huge technology shifts. Many cross gen games suffer because of the time needed to make a whole new set of tools based on a whole new set of rules. Make no mistake the PS5 is going to use different tech, if this helps bridge the gap in baby steps - EVERYONE is better off.

If you can't see that, I don't know what else to say.
 
I welcome this iterative stance in the console gaming space for the next few generarions until we get a PS7 powered by quantum computing :p

Lots of us have become complacent in the way hardware increments happen and how SKUs are released with consoles. While change is scary, its not always a bad thing. I'm optimistic about this but if it fails I dont think it will kill the industry or any particular brand. It will go back to the way it was and we will start seeing giant increases in power and a much higher starting price point to stay relevant over longer periods of time. To keep things at a relatively low introduction cost the consoles will always be way too underpowered out of the gate and IMO require shorter lifespans.

I think with this model we will see a more steady increase in power while keeping the prices relatively low.
 
Just because that's the way things have traditionally been done, doesn't mean that's the way things should always be done.

To be honest I was not happy with the news at first either. In fact I didn't even believe it because it sounded so crazy. But then I thought about the upgrades I've made in my life, setting aside computers and mobile devices and just thinking about video game systems:

Game Boy -> Game Boy Color
Game Boy Advance - Game Boy Advance SP
Playstation 2 -> PlayStation 2 revision with progressive scan
Xbox 360 -> Xbox 360 revision with HDMI/bigger HDD
Nintendo 3DS -> 3DS XL -> New Nintendo 3DS

I don't think the PS4.5K Neo is all that different from the times I've happily upgraded for one new feature or another. In many ways this seems to be even more consumer friendly since in a number of those cases listed above the same games weren't interchangable.

I also don't think anyone's getting left behind here. Just some people will have a system with games that look and perform moderately better than some other people's will. The price on the current PS4 should come down, meaning more people will pick one up, which is good if you want more games for your system. Meanwhile those with the extra money and the inclination can get a bit of a better experience than they would by waiting 5 more years for a PS5. I honestly think it could be a win-win.
It's not just about tradition, it's about how that's naturally how this console industry has been, while other electronic device industries have not. That's why I feel like those industries are a causation to everyone thinking that this is a necessity when really it is not; but the console industry is surrounded by other industries that do it, just making it look weird for NOT doing so - but that doesn't make it a necessary change.
To be fair that was in large part due to the Blu-ray drive and that 599 price tag.
Of course. But that generation lasted 7 years long, and the Ps3 eventually matched the 360 in sales, and the 360 is generally regarded as a success at 85+ million units sold worldwide. And the successors are selling even better. That's an indication to me that there's no need to but a drastic change to the industry.
 
Sales weren't easy to achieve for Sony when they first launched the Ps3. And sales were much better than they expected when they launched the Ps4. And the Ps4 has been selling like hotcakes since it launched, so if the generation continued be traditional then Sony would still be making continuous, predictable, and sustainable cash flows like you said.
??? you just showed cash flow in a traditional gen model has not been continuous, predictable, or sustainable. Ps3 lost sony eveything they made on ps2. How is that sustainable or predictable? Wii to wiiu not predictable or sustainable. 360 to xbox one, again not predictable or sustainable.
 
We just don't know what Sony or Microsoft have in mind beyond these new incoming consoles, nothing says they'll release another console in one year, two years, three years etc. Technology leaps, needs and the consumer interest are hard to guess but not having the curve suddenly spike every 5-8 years is probably easier on development, a steady pace to describe what might happen but a pace you can set yourself and need not follow or a wave you can ride and be comfortable with. The simple points, they think this way will lead to better sales of software, services and hardware and staying close to the technology pace to make the most of it competitively is important in the industry. They aren't setting out to kick the foundations away and have consumers come crashing down, building something better that lasts and can always improve and change but at it's core can be as simple or deep as you like, something for everybody.
 
Why make an assumption to 100% forward compatibility. That just doesn't make any practical sense at all. I can't think why Sony would bother with more powerful hardware at all if they are going to artificially hold progress back in such a restrictive way. The argument makes no sense. Especially suggesting PS4 should be forward compatible with PS5 at all. Hell, with Neo on the market one would have thought a PS5 launch would be the perfect time to drop PS4 completely and not worry about cross-gen support for the older hardware. Time for PS4 owners to move to either Neo or PS5 as they see fit for the latest games. Again, project that forward to a theoretical PS5.5

I'm saying there won't be forward compatibility to PS5.
 
??? you just showed cash flow in a traditional gen model has not been continuous, predictable, or sustainable. Ps3 lost sony eveything they made on ps2.
I thought we established that the reason Sony was fucked with Ps3 was because of the price tag and blu-ray, not because it was part of a console generational cycle. The 360 was there too and it was arguably more successful.
How is that sustainable or predictable? Wii to wiiu not predictable or sustainable. 360 to xbox one, again not predictable or sustainable.
We can think of a number of reasons why the Wii U isn't doing as well as the Wii, but I don't believe it is because it came 6 years after the Wii. The xbone is more successful than the 360, just not as successful as the Ps4, which is very successful. They're all successful and likely would CONTINUE to be successful if the 8th gen remained traditional. If we pretend for a minute that the Ps4K doesn't exist, there would still be no indication that hardware sales would suddenly drop.
 
It's not just about tradition, it's about how that's naturally how this console industry has been, while other electronic device industries have not. That's why I feel like those industries are a causation to everyone thinking that this is a necessity when really it is not; but the console industry is surrounded by other industries that do it, just making it look weird for NOT doing so - but that doesn't make it a necessary change.
Of course. But that generation lasted 7 years long, and the Ps3 eventually matched the 360 in sales, and the 360 is generally regarded as a success at 85+ million units sold worldwide. And the successors are selling even better. That's an indication to me that there's no need to but a drastic change to the industry.
I wouldn't use the word 'necessary'. I just think it's a good idea. Give it some time and let Sony make their pitch, you never know, you may come around on this the way I did.
 
I welcome this iterative stance in the console gaming space for the next few generarions until we get a PS7 powered by quantum computing :p

Lots of us have become complacent in the way hardware increments happen and how SKUs are released with consoles. While change is scary, its not always a bad thing. I'm optimistic about this but if it fails I dont think it will kill the industry or any particular brand. It will go back to the way it was and we will start seeing giant increases in power and a much higher starting price point to stay relevant over longer periods of time. To keep things at a relatively low introduction cost the consoles will always be way too underpowered out of the gate and IMO require shorter lifespans.

I think with this model we will see a more steady increase in power while keeping the prices relatively low.

Good perspective as well.
 
I thought we established that the reason Sony was fucked with Ps3 was because of the price tag and blu-ray, not because it was part of a console generational cycle. The 360 was there too and it was arguably more successful.We can think of a number of reasons why the Wii U isn't doing as well as the Wii, but I don't believe it is because it came 6 years after the Wii. The xbone is more successful than the 360, just not as successful as the Ps4, which is very successful. They're all successful and likely would CONTINUE to be successful if the 8th gen remained traditional. If we pretend for a minute that the Ps4K doesn't exist, there would still be no indication that hardware sales would suddenly drop.
You talked about how the traditional gen model was continuous predictable and sustainable. It has been completely unpredictable, and unsustainable for console holders and publishers.
 
Permanently held back, or held back for the duration of the PS4's lifespan? If the PS4 is retired, is the Neo also retired? Or does it stop being held back by the PS4 and the Neo continues unhindered? What's the difference between Neo holding back PS5 for 2-3 years after launch, and titles being released cross-gen between Neo and PS5? Is it just semantics? How does a hypothetical PS5.5 fit in with this picture? And what happens to the Ps5 when the Neo is retired? Why is there an assumption that an iterative model means newer systems being permanently held back by older systems? How different is to PS3->PS4 other than guaranteed BC and a quicker turn around of hardware?

They shouldn't be held back full stop. Even cross gen games the first year of a new generation annoy me, though I understand why they exist, thankfully they're very short lived. The prospect of the PS4K holding back the PS5 even for a whopping 3 years is absolutely awful to me. It shouldn't be held back at all, especially with exclusives.

The PS4K is twice the power of the PS4, the PS4 is 5-6x plus the power of the PS3, even though the PS4 was actually pretty average or mid range from a hardware performance perspective at the time of its release. I suspect or hope the PS5 will be at least 6x or more the power of the PS4, and I certainly don't want it held back by a console only twice the power of the PS4 (the PS4K), for anything longer than the bare minimum of time. If I'm spending hundreds of dollars of my hard earned money on a new generation console, as well as $60 a pop per game, you're damn sure I'm expecting a massive leap in performance and graphics, unhindered by weaker platforms or older consoles.
 
With each new gen came skyrocketing dev costs and starting from scratch with a new userbase. Look at how many studios we lost last gen and continue to lost this gen.

This allows devs to update their engines incrementally while still have a large playerbase to sell games to instead of starting over.

In the short term this word "incremental" sounds like it is going to hinder technology in games. I suppose in the long term it could be advantageous when the PS5 hits, assuming it's a huge upgrade over PS4. If not, then I don't really see the selling point to consumers. A polished asset is still just a polished asset. Better paint on some sharp knees is still just giving you sharp knees.

So, my hope is that these hardware updates are simply incremental updates of the same generation that do not limit the ability of a console manufacturer to produce new generations of hardware and not just incremental updates of the same one. I know this is the old way of thinking or viewing this, but I do not consider the PS4K to be a generational leap over PS4. If handled correctly it could be very advantageous to devs and gamers. A great engine is developed for PS4, and that engine works great, with little tweaks, on PS4K and eventually PS5
 
Yep....and for those saying there will be no PS5 and every console from Sony now is going to be a small iterative jump with automatic mandating of devs to support the last console via forward compatibility are jumping the gun a bit too far IMO.

They aren't dumb enough to throw devs out into the ocean in regards to development priority, they do want to preserve many of the things people like about generations while opening the market up to more hardware.

When the next Playstation comes out, that is going to be far more powerful than the jump from PS4 to PS4k...Sony would have to try as hard as they could to kneecap their own hardware for that to not happen.

Then what happens to PS4K when PS5 comes out? they will just say : "hey you bought a US400 machine 3 years ago and we are not supporting it anymorr"?
 
Then what happens to PS4K when PS5 comes out? they will just say : "hey you bought a US400 machine 3 years ago and we are not supporting it anymorr"?

From a developer's opinion a couple of posts up...

First off its a lot longer than one year.

Second, you keep ignoring the 3/6 year iterative/generation as examples of how it could work.

You are always developing for a ROLLING base of 3 years max vs developing for a base 6-8 years old.

When a 3rd iteration hits, you drop the 1st then it's 2, 3. When 4th hits its 3, 4.

Let's also think about the rate at which technology moves. We want refinement in tools, not huge generational shifts. We want small shifts so we can keep on making our games and less fussing about between boxes. Who knows what kind of hardware will be cost and performance effective for PS5? We don't. Rumor right now is that the GPU is different in the PS4k - that's something we need to work with. If that bridges the gap, with a small shift in tools between PS4 and PS5, that's a lot less work we have to do for PS5. A lot fewer bugs. A lot fewer day 1 patches. A far better, more efficient move through toolsets that keeps us pinning our time on making games and less time spent developing tools for the new gen.

It's not just about "waaaaaa, cross-gen games!" - it's about efficiency in the console space between what could potentially be huge technology shifts. Many cross gen games suffer because of the time needed to make a whole new set of tools based on a whole new set of rules. Make no mistake the PS5 is going to use different tech, if this helps bridge the gap in baby steps - EVERYONE is better off.

If you can't see that, I don't know what else to say.
 
From a developer's opinion a couple of posts up...

Honestly, this isn't an answer I'm remotely happy about from a consumer standpoint. My reading of it is that he likes the idea of a permanent state of iterative hardware releases simply because it makes his job easier. Instead of having to put in the time, money and effort to really push boundaries, engines and tech in substantial ways due to greatly improved hardware performance, unhindered by older far more inferior hardware, the way new generation consoles and cycles often demand, he prefers smaller shifts because it's basically easier to manage.

Well guess what, I'm not paying hundreds of dollars on these products every generation for "small shifts". Yes smaller shifts might make your job easier, but as a result we get less ambitious games with far less advanced tech and graphical fidelity, and less impressive jumps from generation to generation. That makes for less value proposition in my book, and counter to why I even look forward to new generations of consoles and hardware in the first place.
 
Honestly, this isn't an answer I'm remotely happy about from a consumer standpoint. My reading of it is that he likes the idea of a permanent state of iterative hardware releases simply because it makes his job easier. Instead of having to put in the time, money and effort to really push boundaries, engines and tech in substantial ways due to greatly improved hardware performance, unhindered by older far more inferior hardware, the way new generation consoles and cycles often demand, he prefers smaller shifts because it's basically easier to manage.

Well guess what, I'm not paying hundreds of dollars on these products every generation for "small shifts". Yes smaller shifts might make your job easier, but as a result we get less ambitious games with far less advanced tech and graphical fidelity, and less impressive jumps from generation to generation. That makes for less value proposition in my book, and counter to why I even look forward to new generations of consoles and hardware in the first place.

I do not think he said that at all. I think he said it helps the transition to the larger shifts we are used to seeing.

But hey, it is all about perspective I suppose.
 
I do not think he said that at all. I think he said it helps the transition to the larger shifts we are used to seeing.

But hey, it is all about perspective I suppose.

Yea, by enabling "smaller shifts" which basically make it so it takes longer to get to the same point of tech and graphical advancement or progression.
 
Sure, but this is happening and it doesn't negate your already perfectly fine PS4. A PS5 will come out.
But why would I buy the PS5 if I have the inkling that PS5.5 would be out in a few years? The entire point of consoles for a lot of people was that you could buy it and be set with the best casual gaming experience on the market for about half a decade. If they're going to keep cutting that in half its just going to push people like me who border the line of interest into the arms of PC gaming.

Despite the fact that I don't really have an interest in building a PC this model for consoles makes doing so seem much more effective in the long run if I want to keep up with the times in a way that's cost effective. The more they make these things feel like PCs the more I sit here wondering "Well why don't I just build a PC?" Because if this generation is any indication, it's definitely not the exclusive games. At least for me.
 
Yea, by enabling "smaller shifts" which basically make it so it takes longer to get to the same point of tech and graphical advancement or progression.

Well it is not their fault... tech as a whole is at a slowdown due to die shrinkage taking longer than anticipated. This is also effecting the PC. This helps curb and curate the longer wait, as well as gives you a slim with 4K media abilities, and power if you want to take advantage of that.

If not, stay with the PS4 that will still have it's (the same) software. You will have to wait for affordable ($399) tech regardless, because it is just not there yet for the jump.
 
Its not dumb if people care about better performance for the same games. There is a premium option for best performance and an economic option for basic performance. Its not all that complicated.

Forward compatibility isn't the rule, its the exception for these types of stop gap units. Its backwards compatibility that needs to be strictly adhered to in all cases

IMO (coming from the perspective of a current PS4 owner who already purchased the system), I thinks its dumb to pay the equivalent to a brand new generational upgraded system, but with none of the real benefits you'd normally get with said purchase (like all games taking complete advantage of the full potential power, and system exclusives that couldnt have been done due to being held back by older tech etc), beyond better framerate on games i can play on my current PS4.

And to say its not complicated or wont get complicated is naive. Can you remember all the countless threads and articles about the possibility of devs holding back a PS4 version of whatever 3rd party game due to the weaker XB1's power?, that can of worms will be reopened in a massive way. DF are probably licking their lips just thinking about all those clickable articles. It'll be a constant debate about whos getting screwed.
 
Honestly, this isn't an answer I'm remotely happy about from a consumer standpoint. My reading of it is that he likes the idea of a permanent state of iterative hardware releases simply because it makes his job easier. Instead of having to put in the time, money and effort to really push boundaries, engines and tech in substantial ways due to greatly improved hardware performance, unhindered by older far more inferior hardware, the way new generation consoles and cycles often demand, he prefers smaller shifts because it's basically easier to manage.

Well guess what, I'm not paying hundreds of dollars on these products every generation for "small shifts". Yes it might make your job easier, but as a result we get less ambitious games with far less advanced tech and graphical fidelity, and less impressive jumps from generation to generation.
Its about keeping costs and risk down. As for jumps in tech we are already seeing that. Ps2 to ps3 was probably a 30 to 40 times jump in power, while ps3 to ps4 was only 10. We won't pay above $60 for games, so costs have to be cut and risk reduced. Iterative consoles does both. Publishers can make games that release after a new console model comes out knowing that the insall base will still be there.
 
I guess it's *fine* that consoles are going in this direction. I don't see why not. But I look at how it will alter my own relationship to console purchases and I don't see it as a good thing for the industry.

Why on earth would I ever buy a console at launch again? The launch games? The launch window (first 2 years) games? Fucking LOL.

I think it undermines a fundamental trust I have in consoles being a safe investment. I'm sure I'll be more than made up for by all the upgrade double dippers, but still, they're undermining some consumer confidence...
 
On a side note, indie devs aren't even as encumbered by major generational shifts. At the end of the day their games can get away with being far less technically or graphically advanced, and the software is usually priced accordingly. Its not like games like Shovel Knight or N++ didn't do well despite being comparatively far more basic from a tech standpoint.
 
But why would I buy the PS5 if I have the inkling that PS5.5 would be out in a few years?[/b] The entire point of consoles for a lot of people was that you could buy it and be set with the best casual gaming experience on the market for about half a decade. If they're going to keep cutting that in half its just going to push people like me who border the line of interest into the arms of PC gaming.

Despite the fact that I don't really have an interest in building a PC this model for consoles makes doing so seem much more effective in the long run if I want to keep up with the times in a way that's cost effective. The more they make these things feel like PCs the more I sit here wondering "Well why don't I just build a PC?" Because if this generation is any indication, it's definitely not the exclusive games. At least for me.
Why buy a ps5.5 knowing the ps6 would be out in a few years? Why buy a ps6 knowing the ps6.6 would be out in a few years? And so on. You upgrade when you are ready, or can afford it, or when the games you want stop coming to your current console.
 
I wouldn't use the word 'necessary'. I just think it's a good idea. Give it some time and let Sony make their pitch, you never know, you may come around on this the way I did.
i'll wait till sony gives the official press release to give my final verdict on what i'll do.
You talked about how the traditional gen model was continuous predictable and sustainable. It has been completely unpredictable, and unsustainable for console holders and publishers.
oh what basis? Ps4 is much more successful than Sony anticipated, when they had 7 million consoles sold they expected 5, but I don't see how what's unsustainable about it. better hardware sales, and matching or better software sales.
 
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