PlayStation 4 Discussion

[Skyboxer]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

Reading through the STEAM area I thought about this..

Do you guys think we'll get some serious Real time or turn based strategy games this gen?

I really hope so.

[ubernoob]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

Reading through the STEAM area I thought about this..

Do you guys think we'll get some serious Real time or turn based strategy games this gen?

I really hope so.

On consoles? Probably not.

Those games are niche games as it is (PC Gamer ran a debate article asking if the genre is on it's last legs). The guy arguing that it was dying just doesn't seem to realize that the RTS-playing population didn't grow with the gaming community population equally but that doesn't mean it's dying.

RTS games are much better suited for PC with mouse/keyboard controls. It's just one of those genres that doesn't translate well.

I think we'll still see some good ones come out for the PC though.

[Skyboxer]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

On consoles? Probably not.

Those games are niche games as it is (PC Gamer ran a debate article asking if the genre is on it's last legs). The guy arguing that it was dying just doesn't seem to realize that the RTS-playing population didn't grow with the gaming community population equally but that doesn't mean it's dying.

RTS games are much better suited for PC with mouse/keyboard controls. It's just one of those genres that doesn't translate well.

I think we'll still see some good ones come out for the PC though.

I think it could translate well if tried however. The power is there and PS4 (I assume like the PS3) will have keyboard support but yeah they have to program it for non KB support first and foremost.. so that sucks..

In any case I hope we get more.

[ubernoob]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

I think it could translate well if tried however. The power is there and PS4 (I assume like the PS3) will have keyboard support but yeah they have to program it for non KB support first and foremost.. so that sucks..

In any case I hope we get more.

Yes, they have kb/mouse support but the install base isn't there.

Out of 77 million units sold (or whatever it's at now) how many of those do you honestly think have (and use) a kb/mouse on for the PS3?

With the cost it would take to develop a good RTS, that's just fighting a losing battle cash wise. It's sad, because I love RTS (and by extension, MOBA) games but they just aren't right for the console market.

[AUChase]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

I want to get my hands on one of those dualshock 4 controllers really bad. I wonder how much they will cost ? The DS3 is still $60.00

[Skyboxer]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

Yes, they have kb/mouse support but the install base isn't there.

Out of 77 million units sold (or whatever it's at now) how many of those do you honestly think have (and use) a kb/mouse on for the PS3?

With the cost it would take to develop a good RTS, that's just fighting a losing battle cash wise. It's sad, because I love RTS (and by extension, MOBA) games but they just aren't right for the console market.

yep.. that's why I said it sucks because they had to program without KB support first... lol
Guess I'll just keep my PC up and running

[Kearnzo]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

You know, it's funny. Back a couple weeks ago before E3, my buddy and I were chatting about next gen at work. We both said that we'd be just fine waiting until sometime next year to jump into the next gen, as we were both fine with the PS3.

The day after E3, we both had watched the videos for games like BF4 and The Division, and both of us changed our tune REAL fast. I honestly didn't expect the games to look as improved as they do animation wise. I was absolutely blown away with the trailer for The Division, and the MP footage for BF4 was equally as impressive.

Needless to say, we both have placed pre orders now for launch edition PS4's, and I have no regret jumping in right away.

As much as everyone has been arguing and comparing consoles (nothing wrong with a little compare and contrast, mind you), I feel like we are about to see an influx of games that are going to absolutely blow our mind. I can't wait.

[Skyboxer]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

Yeah I'm pretty pumped for next gen. I'm almost certain I'll cancel my XBOX1 reserve and stick solely with the PS4 ....for the first few months anyways.

[EnigmaNemesis]

PS4 does have a touch pad. And the Vita can be used as well for RTS games.

[Chef Matt]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

I want to get my hands on one of those dualshock 4 controllers really bad. I wonder how much they will cost ? The DS3 is still $60.00

Depending on where you buy. I haven't paid 60 for a controller since I got my PS3 and I have 6 of them! lol

[Flawless]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

Digital Foundry: Hands-on with PlayStation 4

During our time at E3, we got a chance to test almost every PS4 title on display, allowing us to get a feel for where development stands for each of these core titles, plus some of the third-party efforts too.

Killzone: Shadow Fall

It's a beautifully realised area, packed with vividly sharp textures with the whole area being divided by a waterfall and stream. Level-of-detail culling is not noticeable on geometry at all either, which is an impressive feat given the broad scale of the vista. However, the obvious popping in of shadow elements is a distraction, and points to a lack of optimisation for this particular area given the absence of any shadow pop-in around the citadel area shown in Shadow Fall's first demo.

It's early days, of course, and we're also glad to see the native 1080p resolution in full evidence as it runs from the PS4 hardware. This bumped resolution suits the visuals wonderfully, save for water caustics and splashes which appear a little current-gen in nature. Guerrilla Games has proven it can handle massive, churning waves in its previous games, so we suspect improvements here are possible if there's enough time.

When it comes to the tricky issue of control and response, Killzone: Shadow Fall currently delivers a largely 25-30FPS experience with v-sync engaged, where a long overview of the forest tests the hardware most. A strong trace of input lag is felt when turning the analogue sticks - a quirk that hangs over from the Killzone 2 days. It's a delay in response that is impossible to ignore after playing snappier low-latency shooters, and at the default 50 per cent sensitivity for the X and Y axis proved tricky to adapt to. Migrating to the new and more shooter-friendly Dual Shock 4 controller isn't the cause here, as this is the only game we test with such problems. Rather, the issue is likely to be the result of latency being built up over the course of a long and complex rendering pipeline.

DriveClub

When questioned, Evolution Studios confirms that it's pushed for a full-fat 1080p presentation, falling in line with all Sony's other leading PS4 titles. Unfortunately, this higher resolution only amplifies the low quality, blurry, flat-looking textures used across this level, which would easily look at home on current-gen hardware. It's also a shame that, while the scenery draw distance is broad, there's an incredible amount of pop-in for trees and waving NPCs as we approach at high speeds.

To its credit, the cars look top-notch in terms of polygonal detail, and vehicle deformation uses a more realistic model that allows metal to crumple realistically over impact points. The interior cockpit view of our Audi R8, set by default, is also very well replicated and shows no sharp polygonal edges. It remains to be seen whether next-gen features like tessellation have made an impact here, but the results are very smooth indeed.

Despite the grey, overcast look of this Kinlock route, the lighting is realistic enough to bring much of it to life in exciting ways - especially while set to the interior view, where shadow lines pass over the dashboard. Each level is promised to feature a dynamic day-to-night cycle that has time running at accelerated speed to mark progress over the course of a track. It works, but can be oddly implemented at times, since we spot shadows shifting with unnatural speed across nearby walls during select turns.

With regards to performance, we're surprised to find DriveClub is running at 30fps with permanent v-sync - an unusual step for any modern-day racer putting heavy emphasis on shaving seconds from lap times. It is noted that 60fps is something the team strives for, but no promises can be made; in the interest of providing a smooth E3 experience it remains decidedly locked at 30fps for now.

Knack

The biggest selling point of Knack is the way debris from nearby objects is assimilated into the leading creature's body, be it lamp posts, post boxes, or blocks of ice. Empowered by what Cerny calls a "custom 5000 object physics simulation," Knack's body grows in this fashion until he becomes a titanic hulk of independently moving cogs and triangles - while getting hit means he loses a layer.

That's the next-gen hook, but little else is in place to enthrall. The Pixar aesthetic is let down by some muddy image quality, and heavily dithered shadows. We're promised 1080p native resolution here, but Knack doesn't look as crystal clear as we'd expect from such a pixel count - perhaps in part owing to the HDTV settings being used at the exhibition. It's a real disappointment on the grounds of image quality, and while the transparency effect on Knack and the big, beautiful ocean view during the first stage are visual treats, there isn't a whole lot to the rest of stages shown.

Certainly, the physics are impressive and technically taxing. All the bits and pieces that whip around Knack indeed feel like individual objects, taking advantage of the game's per-object motion blur. The only problem here is that, despite being a 30fps game in target, we see dramatic frame-rate drops when too many of these pieces go zooming across the screen to form a shell around Knack. To achieve this bullet-point trick, the performance has to take a noticeable hit in the current build.

Infamous Second Son

At a confirmed 1080p resolution as well, Sucker Punch's latest is the most polished and CGI-like title on display. It looks gorgeous in play, with its per-object motion blur being up to God of War: Ascension's lofty bar of quality, and the character's pyromaniac moves bringing out the developer's sterling effects work. The visual standard is unlike anything we've seen achieved on PS3: Delsin swaps to a smoke form in the blink of an eye while lunging at opponents with fiery fists, lit particles fly, and the billows light up brightly with each flaming swipes. Heat haze effects also make an appearance, making every punch and glide a sight to behold.

The frame-rate is very consistent too, and there's no obvious pop-in on the horizon when bounding across rooftops. 30FPS may be the target, but it's easy to believe the game's running at double that given how travel and effects-heavy explosions scarcely drop frames - a testament to just how much visual fluidity is improved by operating at a locked frame-rate.

Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag

We get a proper next-gen upgrade to the Assassin's Creed series on PS4, with jungle environments producing a far more impressive looking game than even a DX11-enabled PC version of Assassin's Creed 3. The decision to go with a Caribbean theme means nailing a convincing vegetation system was a must for Black Flag, and Ubisoft Montreal has delivered. The plants look incredible in motion, with a dewy reflective layer that comes alive under the moon's lighting, and a convincing level of opacity that lets light shine through to their undersides.

The unstable performance of the game's Sony conference appearance isn't in evidence during our private look at the game, and there's no frame-rate dips at all during its 10 minute stretch - while reports came from the showfloor of a 60fps multiplayer experience, this was clearly a silky-smooth 30fps presentation.

The only disappointment is in the blandness of some textures around the initial camp area which, compounded by some rigid geometric designs, suggests some elements are being curtailed on next-gen by the limits of the pending PS3 and 360 versions. However, smoke effects mist, haze, light-shafts (a new addition), and lighting look far more refined than anything we've seen from the series on console. There's no absolute lock on the resolution as yet, but all signs point to the full 1080p based on the clarity of the image shown here.

Hands-on with PlayStation 4: the Digital Foundry verdict

We leave Sony's E3 booth undoubtedly impressed, with two key takeaways in light of the Xbox One's rivalling offerings. Firstly, though almost all launch titles on show appear to be running directly from PS4 hardware, it's a touch disappointing to discover the likes of Thief and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag are only currently being demonstrated by proxy of an on-hand developer. This was a very closely guarded event indeed, suggesting a lack of confidence in the progress of development for some of these titles. Even so, Knack, DriveClub and Warframe do give us absolute, no-holds barred freedom to toy with the most current builds as long as we please.

The second point is that the majority of titles here, from the long-awaited Thief reboot to the CG-like Infamous: Second Son, are overwhelmingly poised for 1080p native output whilst running at 30fps. The sacrifice of 60fps does have its benefits: as far as visual quality goes, Sucker Punch's flame-throwing action title in particular leaves us with our jaws most agape. It looks gorgeous in motion, plays without skipping a beat, and the effects work is quite unlike anything we've seen on current-gen platforms.

[AUChase]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

Depending on where you buy. I haven't paid 60 for a controller since I got my PS3 and I have 6 of them! lol

I bought a new one for $30.00 a few weeks ago.

I was just referring to the actual retail value of them.

$100.00 isn't a pretty price point, but I could see like a $79.99.

[Skyboxer]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

I want to get my hands on one of those dualshock 4 controllers really bad. I wonder how much they will cost ? The DS3 is still $60.00

They are listed as 59.99
HERE

[Kearnzo]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

Not sure if I missed it, but will my set of PS3 Turtle Beach headphones work on the PS4?

[Trapper700]

Re: PlayStation 4 Discussion

Not sure if I missed it, but will my set of PS3 Turtle Beach headphones work on the PS4?

Turtle Beach says yes, but they're still ironing out the details.