PlayStation 4 Console Thread

[Bacon Horsemeat]

If that is the case then I will be going PC only. I also have yet to buy a PS3 (I know!), so the Uncharted triology, Killzones and Resistance awaits me. Also fancy some Ratchet and clank.

[NecroMorrius]

It would be amazing if MS copied Sony's DRM plans from six months ago, and Sony then went light on the DRM after the Xbone debacle. Sony has filed patents for used game DRM a long time ago, that's where all the initial rumours came from I think? But they've also said they don't plan on blocking used games. So we'll have to wait and see.

[Super Craig]

They could do it on the PS3 if they wanted, so Sony already have the tech side sorted. Recent Cross-buy disc games don't come with a code for the Vita version. It's all done through the XMB.

[Cthulhu Steev]

Oh dear, there are rumours of used game drm being implemented by Sony across the internets. Sony's silence on the matter speaks volumes.

There are more rumours (and actual words from executives and PR, although somewhat open to interpretation) against it though. What the internet is doing is what you're doing ('oh dear') you are desperately trying to mitigate the actual MS shitstorm (real words from their executives and PR) by pushing guilty-by-silence, and presumed bad news on Sony.

And you're one of the guys crying 'wait and see! xbone will be okay!' in every other thread, but you aren't prepared to wait and see what Sony say on the subject - or you're wilfully ignoring what they've alread said.

Irony 4.

If they both do it I'll just stick to PC and get a Wii U.

Yep. Like Super Craig said, they can already do it, but instead they gave us Cross Play, plus region free being up to the publishers and actually being followed through by one, as far as I'm aware, also speaks volumes.

I guess we get to see just how much power EA has over Sony, I expect we'll lose some day one DLC but there is no way they won't publish on Sony consoles even if Sony say 'No'. I still believe they'll follow the region free example, then we'll see who the real cunts are (EA and Activision).

[Dudley]

Yep, MS had their chance and we now know their plans.

Now Sony get theirs.

[Dandy_Sephy]

Sony has filed patents for used game DRM a long time ago, that's where all the initial rumours came from I think?

Yes, the had patent before the ps3 which they never used, then a patent before ps4 which they have said was never intended for use with ps4.

[SozzlyJoe]

Post on GAF has some encouragement

I just wanted people to know that as of now Sony has flipped their position in response to the shitstorm microsoft got hit with.

So don't let the "just be quiet until E3" people sway you. If you don't like something, say something

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=567973

[simms]

There are more rumours (and actual words from executives and PR, although somewhat open to interpretation) against it though. What the internet is doing is what you're doing ('oh dear') you are desperately trying to mitigate the actual MS shitstorm (real words from their executives and PR) by pushing guilty-by-silence, and presumed bad news on Sony.

And you're one of the guys crying 'wait and see! xbone will be okay!' in every other thread, but you aren't prepared to wait and see what Sony say on the subject - or you're wilfully ignoring what they've alread said.

Irony 4.

Yep. Like Super Craig said, they can already do it, but instead they gave us Cross Play, plus region free being up to the publishers and actually being followed through by one, as far as I'm aware, also speaks volumes.

I guess we get to see just how much power EA has over Sony, I expect we'll lose some day one DLC but there is no way they won't publish on Sony consoles even if Sony say 'No'. I still believe they'll follow the region free example, then we'll see who the real cunts are (EA and Activision).

I cannot wait until you awake from the fantasy land when Sony announce their true intentions.

[Cthulhu Steev]

I cannot wait until you awake from the fantasy land when Sony announce their true intentions.

You have some serious comprehension issues.

[kradica1]

Nomally I would say there's very little we as consumers could do about this, but it seems Sony are really paying attention at the moment and the decision on this DRM could go either way so I think it's worth tweeting the top guys at Sony and telling them what you think. From GAF:

Here's the entire list of sony folks I know of that either are in on the decisions or have the ears of people who are in on the decisions that are on twitter.


My biggest piece of advice is be respectful. They aren't likely to finish a tweet in all caps threatening them.

Shuhei Yoshida (president of worldwide studios) @yosp (easily the highest level person on twitter and quite accessible)

John Koller (head of hardware marketing) @jpkoller (dude has like 150 followers - heh)

Guy Longworth (senior vice president PlayStation Brand Marketing) @luckylongworth

Scott Rohde (PlayStation Software Product Development Head for Sony Worldwide Studios America) @rohdescott



Also couldn't hurt to let the ex-journos that work there like @nsuttner and @shanewatch

[Pob]

Nomally I would say there's very little we as consumers could do about this

When you've got two rival companies going head-to-head with almost identical machines that play the same games, surely that gives consumers a lot of power?

[kradica1]

When you've got two rival companies going head-to-head with almost identical machines that play the same games, surely that gives consumers a lot of power?

Right, but I think this is a pretty unique situation in that the power can be felt before the company makes a "bad" decision by steering them in the right direction, rather than using the power after the "bad" decision has already been made by not buying the console (which may be what Microsoft have to deal with)

[Cthulhu Steev]

When you've got two rival companies going head-to-head with almost identical machines that play the same games, surely that gives consumers a lot of power?

He did pretty much say that with the rest of his post.

[Pob]

He did pretty much say that with the rest of his post.

Yeah, but I mean even without the direct feedback opportunities given by social media MS and Sony still have to make sure their products and services are more attractive than their rival's. It just means they can course-correct earlier these days, rather than having to rethink things when the sales figures don't meet expectations.

[NecroMorrius]

People saying "I'll just go PC" need to realise that Steam has perhaps the most unfriendly attitude towards game sharing and used content going. But on the flipside, they provide lots of tools for modding etc. You might not be able to resell something like Skyrim after you've bought it, but there's an incredible amount of meaty free content on the workshop. I think it evens out.

If that Neogaf thread is true and Sony have reversed their DRM plans, hohboy. Can you imagine Sony coming out and saying "DRM? On used games? What kind of asshole platform would do that? Lolololol". The Sony pro core gamer narrative would be impossible to ignore.

[NecroMorrius]

#PS4noDRM is trending hot.

[smithstock]

So as it stands for me, I'll be getting a PS4 day one. I'm only really hoping that you can play most/the entire back catalogue on the machine via digital downloads; that will be me sold. I will have missed a few PS3 late comers due to not spending time on it anymore: God of War 4, Nino Kuni, Journey, Unfinished Swan, Resistance 3, SoC:HD and Last of Us. Hopefully E3 will make up my mind about what to get day one, I am banking on Battlefield, CoD and FIFA all having substantial upgrades on next gen or else I'll just get the current gen version. The only other question to be answered is with Vita; from which I think they will bundle with the console at a premium cost.

I'll be keeping the 360 on the side, mainly for the FIFA league and until this Xbox farce blows over. I don't doubt it will turn out to be a great machine but at the expense of the stupid things they have mentioned already.

[Dandy_Sephy]

I'm only really hoping that you can play most/the entire back catalogue on the machine via digital downloads; that will be me sold.

I would be amazed if this works on day 1. Or if it does it will be limited to a handful of titles.

[smithstock]

Ah I don't doubt that, as long as they bring it up, that is good enough for me.

[Dudley]

So as it stands for me, I'll be getting a PS4 day one. I'm only really hoping that you can play most/the entire back catalogue on the machine via digital downloads;

It won't be digital downloads, it'll be digital streaming. Very big important difference.

People saying "I'll just go PC" need to realise that Steam has perhaps the most unfriendly attitude towards game sharing and used content going.

The number of £59.99 games on Steam can be counted on the fingers of one Elephant. That helps too.

[Spacehost]

I wish Valve would reveal a used game system for digital purchases so everyone else could copy it and we could just move on with our lives.

[Robo_1]

Yeah, I've sent my tweet off. I think Sony have got the message loud and clear, the question now, is how will they act? I can still see there being some sort of DRM, which gives first time buyers access to all the online gubbins and network functions, whilst basic single player modes are left untouched. More an expansion of the online pass, than what MS are proposing.

I wonder how long the silence will remain...

[scottcr]

The thing is, this 'no DRM' decision is career defining stuff... it's a really really hard call. The money men will be telling them to go for it, as the internet backlash will blow over if the games are shiny enough.

If the choose no DRM and MS run away with all the money, make a fortune, make the publishers happy, then people will lose their jobs.

At the very least, they'll allow this on a per publisher basis.

[Spacehost]

The trick Sony need to pull is introducing a way to trade digital purchases now, and then a while from now let publishers introduce restrictions on disc purchase reselling so it works the same as digital. Show people the carrot, bring in the stick later when everyone is comfortable with the idea and transition gradually to a more PC-like games system.

[Cthulhu Steev]

Yeah, I've sent my tweet off. I think Sony have got the message loud and clear, the question now, is how will they act? I can still see there being some sort of DRM, which gives first time buyers access to all the online gubbins and network functions, whilst basic single player modes are left untouched. More an expansion of the online pass, than what MS are proposing.

I wonder how long the silence will remain...

They'll say "Sorry guys, it's DRM for everything on PS4 ... but there's just one more thing we want to show you ..."

""

[Robo_1]

The thing is, this 'no DRM' decision is career defining stuff... it's a really really hard call. The money men will be telling them to go for it, as the internet backlash will blow over if the games are shiny enough.

If the choose no DRM and MS run away with all the money, make a fortune, make the publishers happy, then people will lose their jobs.

At the very least, they'll allow this on a per publisher basis.

Very much agree with this. Sony's bet has got to be that if MS go through with it, the backlash will be great enough that customers will flock to PS4 in response, and so whilst MS may be making more money per game sold, their customer base will be so diminished, that they still generate a lot less money for third parties.

That's why the noise being made now has to be loud and clear. Sony have to be convinced that enough people will buy PS4 in response to MS's actions, that they can gamble on losing all that potential second hand revenue.

[scottcr]

and this won't happen... Sony and MS will sell roughly the same amount of stuff. And MS will make more per game than Sony. Hell - you never know... MS might end up having cheaper games as a result (lol - I know)... but imagine if the exact same game on the Xbone was 10-20 more cheaper *and* included exclusive content.

I really don't see it changing dramatically... but you never know.

[Dandy_Sephy]

Sony are far more willing than Microsoft to move on price, both digitally and at retail.

[DocG]

and this won't happen... Sony and MS will sell roughly the same amount of stuff.

There is no way of knowning this. After the Megadrive, no-one would have predicted the damp squids of the Saturn and Dreamcast. After the runaway success of the PS2, the smart money was on the PS3. After the massive popularity of the Wii, the Wii-U should have been a shoo-in. The only thing history of platform wars in gaming teaches us is the danger of making broad assumptions based on history. Consumers are fickle. Fashions change. We could see something dramatic this generation, rather than the slightly dull three-way-split of the last.

[JohnC]

Those dastardly damp squids. No wonder they failed.