@PaperyWhiteBoy
Lol, Japan is such a strange country when you think of it: in some ways they're incredibly technically advanced, like their public transportation, but in some other ways it's like going back into time. Unfortunately I've noticed that lots of the older buildings, restaurants and cafes are disappearing and making place for modern establishments or homes, but it's still a country where tradition meets tech.
But back in the 90s I was convinced that by 2010 Japanese families would have robots assisting them in their daily lives, and so were the Japanese. Robotics is still important in Japan, but not so much for consumers anymore; nowadays it's the field of universities and car manufacturers, but in the consumer electronics department it's awfully quiet. It seems that when the money started drying up to fund ridiculous but awesome projects like the Aibo, the interest of the consumer dwindled away.
If you would've told me in 1996 that Sony would one day launch an affordable VR headset for consumers and ended up only selling 51k in its first week in Japan, I would've laughed in your face and stated confidently that it would be at least 10 times more!
@PaperyWhiteBoy
Funny how your experience is completely different from mine. They used to have huge fairs in Japan, for the lack of a better term, displaying the latest technology and painting a picture of what the future would be like. These weren't events with press and people from within the industry, these were meant for the entire family to enjoy. I've seen a flatscreen TV on one of those occasions before widescreen was introduced for example and it was just magical being there.
Tech companies in Japan had money to burn ,we're not just talking Sony here, and they would spend enormous amounts to court the Japanese audience and get them to adopt their latest and greatest. But if you look at those companies now, they're struggling to catch up and some Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese companies are running circles around them.
As PSVR has shown you should never bet against Japanese design and ingenuity, but when I compare the Japan from my childhood to the current situation, I just get the feeling the people are less excited when technological novelties drop. I've written my master thesis in Japan and saw the transition to mobile devices really early -we were using our mobile phones to call, they were sending mails, browsing the web and playing games on it- but somehow I feel they haven't really progressed as much as others did the last 15 years.
It might be one of those distorted childhood memories, my admiration for Japan as one big engeneering marvel might have altered the reality. But when I hear my brother -who is fluent in Japanese and does business there- talk about Japan or when I visit it, I just feel it hasn't changed for the better somehow.
@thatguyEZ There are already games that can't be downloaded no more, that are just gone unless you own them physically. Marvel vs Capcom is one of them; I'll have to keep it on my memory card if I plan on playing it, cause once I delete it, it's gone.
To think the same will someday happen to my entire library just makes me sad. Not being able to take PS3 games I own digitally with me to the PS4 stings as well, especially because some of them are playable with PSnow. I just hope that in the future all games will be compatible, it just makes no sense that my PSone collection doesn't work on the PS4 for instance.
A Vita 2 will probably never happen, but if Nintendo's NX is a succes I see them trying it once more, Sony is crazy enough to do it.
It's kinda sad to see how Japan has changed when it comes to embracing tech like VR. If Sony would've been able to make a decent consumer VR headset mid 90's, they would've sold 8 million in Japan in the first year alone.
Growing up Japan was always this epicenter of new technology and innovative design, but it's as if the people in Japan stopped believing in a bright future, a future where man and tech would go hand in hand.
It's just amazing that almost every sale I end up buying at least one Vita game. There's always a classic or indie I feel like playing on my Vita, or games like God Eater that I didn't wanna pay $40 for. It's such a shame that the Vita 2 will never happen, it would be so awesome to just take all of these classics with me on another system. That means I'll have to keep an eye out for a good deal on a back up Vita, cause I'll be playing this bad boy for years to come!
Couldn't wait to see some reviews after a little birdie told me this game was supposed to be on par with Hot Shots Golf gameplay wise. But instead of skillfully evading an obstacle like in that beloved franchise, you just punch a hole in one! If its presentation is its biggest handicap I can live with that and after reading this I'm positive this game's fore me. It's also commendable that non- VR users are treated in a fair way by the dev, cause simply putt I was afraid VR -and the PS Pro to a lesser extent- could drive a wedge between PS gamers.
@themcnoisy Finding room for it is the easy part, it'll fit in your backpocket that's how small it is! Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit, but it sure is small. You wouldn't want to tuck it away though, cause it's a really good looking console.
And here's the best part for all you PS4 lovers with a 4K TV who want a 4K Blu Ray player: you can hook your PS4 up to your Xbox One and let the Xbox do the upscaling for you! It obviously isn't any good in a fighting game due to the input lag, but because the TV itself doesn't have to upscale, input lag is reduced tremendously if you let the One do the dirty work!
So after playing One on your PSVR you just play some 4K PS4 on your One S; what a world we live in!
I had more fun in the last 2 days than in the last 3 years combined gaming wise. This was exactly what I needed, something to shake things up. The Witcher 3, MGSV, AC Syndicate, Far Cry 4, every CoD & BF, Uncharted IV, Tomb Raider etc etc, all great games, but are they truly different from their predecessors? Our new triple A titles offers us more, bigger and better... but always more, bigger and better of the same old core experience.
VR changes all of this and let even the simplest of ideas feel amazing! Even if the ideas behind the software isn't mind blowing at this point, the way we interact with it is. This leads to an experience that was long overdue quite frankly and I'm loving every minute I'm spending in VR.
A victory well earned to be honest, MS has really stepped up its game and the One S is simply gorgeous. Couple that with occasional promotions with prices below the $250 for the 500gb FIFA or Madden bundle and you've got yourself a winner. MS is practically handing them out at this point and I still don't think they're losing money on it, so I feel this is the only right strategy for them at the moment. Black Friday will definitely see some insane deals on the green side like every year and I hope Sony is giving retailers the chance to stunt with the PS4 as well; Sony will profit even more with a big installbase now PSVR is out and they'll have to sell units without a profit to make more money in the long run.
The fact Xbox took it in the same month the PS4 slim released in the USA surpirised me, but sources claim they've sold more in the UK as well which is a way bigger shock. Not only did the PS4 have a extremely popular FIFA bundle too, the older PS4 models were sold at insanely low prices in the UK which should've spiked up the sales significantly.
I think Sony has no other than themselves to blame and I wonder where the confident yet humble console manufacturer from 3 years ago has gone. I see a company that's arrogant, which can't release a 1st party game on time if their lives depend on it, but more importantly: I see a company that fails at talking up their products the way they've been doing succesfully in the beginning of this generation.
A friend just gave me a helpful tip if you don't already own Super Stardust for the PS4: you can purchase it at 50% off when you buy another indie game selected by Sony with it in Europe. Afterwards you can "upgrade" the base game for about £8 so you'll just spend somewhere in the region of £4 more in total when you for instance buy Bound to go along with it.
So instead of buying the full VR game, I'd buy the base game with Bound, Enter the Gungeon, Resogun or Dead Nation with it and just upgrade. The game is definitely worth it although the VR bit is nothing to e-mail home about. I hope that games like these will get VR enhanced modes more often, just skipping the obligatory first person add-ons; a game like Alienation would work so well in VR looking onto the battlefield in "God- mode" with your headset on, seeing the beautiful tiny explosions while you control your own army of "ants" to save the world they live in.
@fybyfyby
I got that 😀 The thing is though that one of the units doesn't automatically turn itself completely off (red) after a while. The other unit I used took some time to cool down and displayed the white light, but after half an hour or so it just switched itself entirely off and displayed the red light.
You know what I just found out btw, that the processing unit automatically turns on when your PS4 is downloading in rest mode. I just bought Gunjack -for the hell of it- on my browser and placed it in the download-queue and immediately I heard the processing unit switching on; the little PlayStation that could is pretty loud! It's compensating I guess, typical case of a Napoleon complex.
I've tried my other headset and this one shuts down pretty fast after turning it off, even in rest mode. So I might have to return the other one, it's still in stand- by making noise after about 4 hours of more.
(I've bought several to send back home, but I've got to test them all while I'm in Europe in case there's something wrong with one (or more) of them; turns out that wasn't such a bad idea after all!)
@get2sammyb
Sammy, I'm sorry to bother you, but does your processing unit keeps on "cooling" when it's in standby as well (with the PSVR in rest mode and headset turned off with the power button)? I went out to grab a bit to eat about 2 hours ago and when I came home I could hear the fan still blowing (I suppose it's the fan, it's too noisy for just some static. It sounds like a regular PS4 that's on without it running any games).
Finally! A game where I can be a hard to understand pundit on Match of the Day. Try to get that illustrious platinum trophy by mumbling "well, the ball's round innit, it can roll either way", "as a manager you wanna see the lads give 110% and play football" and classics like "if that ball was on target and shot with some more power, it would've been a goal for sure".
What? Oh, it's not an actual game bout Shearer.... "Oooi, I'm gonna feel this one in da mornin!"
@get2sammyb Still I hope they're working on a VR game and VRemasters of Alienation, Resogun and Dead Nation. The change in perspective is really awesome and adds to the experience. I've seen on Oculus how cool isometric and 3rd person games really can be in VR and I could totally see myself playing basic RTSs or Diabloesque games as if I'm playing living tabletop games or Warhammer (that's the one, right?)
This is one of the titles that I'm most interested in and for a totally different reason than this added VR bit, which looks kinda dull. Not only is this an excuse to play Super Stardust again on yet another "system", but mostly I hope this means Housemarque is building a VR game from the ground up!
Housemarque is one of my favorite developers and their showing on the PS4 so far is nothing short of phenomenal. And if I'm correct they said there is a still unannounced title in the works next to a "normal" PS4 game, so I hope we'll see some of HM's brilliance in VR soon.
Furthermore I hope Alienation will get a dedicated VR- mode, without silly first person add- ons; I just want the base game optimized for VR. 3rd person and games with an isometric perspective are wonderful in VR but don't seem to have any real presence on PSVR. VR isn't all about first person immersion and being able to look at Alienation as if you're playing with toy soldiers would be awesome.
So Sony, buy Housemarque already, it's long overdue. And then make them develop the games they're known for with a thrilling VR angle to spice things up even more!
@get2sammyb
I played it in a controlled setting, something I'm always a bit sceptical about, and I'm really curious to see how it holds up when I can play it at home. With PS4Pro announced and playable at different events, I do wonder if they didn't have me playing on a Pro when I played DriveClub VR... Cause although the screen isn't as good as the ones its nearest competitors are offering, I actually enjoyed my DC VR experience way better than Project Cars on the Rift. I surely didn't feel like I had to squint like in some other demos with blurry text or radars.
I hope PS4 Pro will be made available for you guys at least 2 weeks before launch so you can test if the performance of some games is hindered by the limitations of the headset, or rather the base PS4. I'm a console man at heart, I've always been, but if it takes me $900 to get my VR right, I might have to consider buying an Oculus instead since I have a VR proof rig gathering dust back home.
@get2sammyb
I played a pretty early build and it had me feeling sick for hours. Recently I had another go at it and while it was way better, it still made me feel uncomfortable. But where I'm positive the first time was due to input lag, I believe the second time it was just some sort of a sensory overload; it was like I've just seen a 3 hour IMAX 3D movie.
So for me this game is more to see what my own, or maybe PSVR's, limits are; will I be able to adapt to the current tech like I once stopped being nauseous playing Wolfenstein 3D after endless tries, or will tech have to catch up with me?
Damn, seems I made some absolutely terrible decisions picking my day one VR games
I played RIGS on more than one occasion and I knew what I was signing up for though, but for me it felt like a game I had to back. Lots of money and care went into making it and it surely shows, but mostly I wanted to see if my brain would indeed adapt to VR as I believe it will, or that games like RIGS simply need more horsepower to get right.
This also makes me wonder if the PSP would add anything to the experience...
Really? I played the demo recently and I was really surprised about the quality of the experience. Obviously the visuals aren't as good as in the base game and focus too long on one specific point and you'll notice, but playing it like I was driving an actual car felt like...well, like driving an actual car.
I think this is an inherent VR problem that the tech as a whole has to overcome: lot of gamers are sceptical because they feel it's another Kinect or 3D and have great looking -sometimes 4K- comparison material, and the more casual people that have an interest in VR expect lifelike graphics we won't see for 10- 20 years.
@get2sammyb
I read the article earlier and I loved the image you used: "building castles in the sky".
There is so much more that should've been done and when I hear Shawn Layden saying they're "definitely working on it", I realize that's just Sony for: "let's just see if this VR thingy catches on first".
They should've at least had a contract with 1 BPL or NFL club to have a VR pilot and there should've been tickets available by now for concerts of artists signed by Sony music; this means more options for us consumers and more money for them.
Our company makes UAVs and we have the tech to make beautiful 360degrees images and video for quite some time. To make something like that into a VR product that is commercially viable though, you need big partners like Sony who have a huge stake in it.
I just hope Sony is all- in, cause in lots of ways this reminds me of the Vita launch to be honest. The expensive "accessories" you end up needing to play properly, promises of beautiful things to come and all of that backed up by a pretty strong line- up to make us believe Sony and 3rd parties are committed.
You wasted a perfect oppurtunity to use Oculus Drift as a subtitle btw
I gotta be honest here, I did think about cancelling my PS VR pre order for a moment last week, but it hasn't got anything to do with the technology side of things; I expected Sony to have a bigger non-gaming VR push after PSVR being in development for so long. Where are my live- sports apps? Where are my live- music apps? How will I travel the world without Sony working together with another company?
But in the end I've decided I've been waiting too long for VR to drop out now. I did consider Vive, but ultimately I'm a console kinda guy. I've got an excellent VR ready rig, but I just can't seem to get used to playing on PC. So I'm just gonna give it a go and when it's not for me at this point I guess I'll just keep it in its stand till the content I want drops.
@Oi_Oi_Spanky You haven't thought this through now have you? The consoles don't have to be behind the "false ceiling" you do realize that right? This might come as a shocker, but you can even get HDMI cables as long as 20m!
My brother is in construction and he does stuff like this for a living. We have wires running through my entire house but hardly ever see one. Only if there's a new HDMI standard we have to get it looked at, but since we remodel our house every 3-4 years anyway, that'll never be a problem.
I don't know where you're from, but if I had to guess I'd say Europe. You should realize houses in SA where I'm from and the USA for example aren't build like European homes.
@Oi_Oi_Spanky
In my bedroom back home I have a tv mounted on my ceiling so I can watch movies and even game while lying flat on my back. I prefer that to arching my back and neck to watch tv in bed.
So I hoped PSVR would be a similar solution for me when I'm abroad, since the apartment I'm renting doesn't have a ceiling sturdy enough to hold a decent sized TV. I realize it's not perfect, but I figured that with a pillow under my head I would have a similar effect without too much discomfort from the headset.
@get2sammyb A bit of a shame they don't have more non- (VR) gaming features at launch tbh.
So if I'm correct I still need the camera with the medium and big screen mode, but not with the smaller screen? I want to use it to watch Netflix or Blu Rays lying down, but if it's needs the camera to project the image in front of me, I won't be able to do this.
Where are Ben's monthly video escapades btw, is miss 'em. Leaving a month behind just isn't the same without Ben telling me what I should've liked and hated about it.
I've got just one question where no one seems to be able to give me an answer to concerning the use of a wireless headset (audio): is it possible to use wireless headphones, like the Sony PS4 wireless headset 2.0(It's also known as the "Gold headset" for some reason I believe), without any wires going into the PSVR headset itself?
I've played on the PSVR on several occasions and I never really paid attention to the fact that the headsets they were using were all wired. I just assumed it would work but that they've chosen a wired solution because of possible interference. But with the processing unit handling 3D audio, it would actually make sense that wireless headphones won't work properly. I've heard people saying it works, that it doesn't work and a befriended journalist even claims you need the NEW wireless Sony headset, which I find hard to believe.
I'd really like this question answered because I've bought me that wireless 2.0 Sony headset on the cheap (£40 - £45 if I'm correct) specifically for VR. But if I need to connect it anyway I rather just return it or sell it to someone who actually needs it since I've been using my Hypercloud X 2 after my TB died on me and I'm quite content with it.
TL;DR: Can I use wireless headphones without having to use cables going into the PSVR?
The soccer sim, despite being inferior to this year's PES 2017: Pro Evolution Soccer, has scored a hat-trick or three – smashing the series' already ginormous sales record.
FTFY
My favorite argument FIFA fans always use to "prove" FIFA is the better game is FIFA's incredible sales numbers. The game is indeed selling like hotcakes, but so are One Direction albums... I do hope the change to the Frostbite- engine will allow for EA to improve on the actual gameplay, not just the lighting. The atmosphere in FIFA 17 is impeccable, but the moment the whistle blows to start the match we're back to wading through the usual molasses.
Last year's PES just had a slight edge over FIFA because the latter was saved by its licenses and excellent FUT, but this year we just can't ignore the huge difference in approach on the pitch. I hear people saying FIFA is supposed to be "realistic", but if you put Barcelona's players in a Real Madrid shirt in PES you'll immediately notice something's off; the way PES recreates the different playstyles of teams, how it lets you pass the ball like in rl, how players move intuitively and how it makes you feel your goals are earned is just incredible and makes it feel like actual football.
I can attest the firmware is more stable than it ever was!
I opened several games and apps to shut them down immediately, I scrolled to the right really fast and then made sudden moves to the left and even upwards, all without even a single hiccup. I bet I could even change the settings and then choose the 'restore default settings' option to really stress- test the update, but I rather wait a couple of days to see how 4.01 is treating others; I know it's stable, but I don't wanna get too cocky.
Who needs actual games when Sony's giving us a stable October like this, right?
If only there was a way to get some sort of Infinite Warfare with better shooting mechanics, better traversal and huge mechs. And that it would be made by the same guys that brought us the original Modern Warfare that Activision is wh*ring out now...
I'm really concerned about how Sony is handling the launch; where's the hype? I know I'm excited, but hardly any people I know outside of the people who game regularly are aware of its impending release.
Furthermore I haven't seen any talk about what PSVR is gonna bring outside of the gaming space. Surely they can't be aiming for early adopting core gamers alone? There are so many techminded folks out there that are hugely excited for VR, but don't care for games at all, these people should be persuaded into buying a headset with cool multimedia uses of PSVR. Will Netflix support a cinema mode on day one and will the Blu Ray player? If so, will it have a fixed pov which allows you to wear it away from the camera (read: lying down)? What are Sony's plans for VR in the music and sports space? Will I be able to shop online (IKEA, car dealers, real estate etc etc)? Will VR allow me to virtually travel the world?
Real VR gaming is still very much a thing of the future, but it has incredible potential in so many other forms of media and entertainment. Why isn't Sony doubling down on those non- gaming experiences, the type of experiences that can make VR a mainstream succes instead of a few geeks' wet dreams come true...
I wish football had an equivalent of NBA2k, where excellent gameplay and slick presentation go hand in hand. Choosing between PES and FIFA is easy for me personally, I care more for the game on the pitch and PES better suits my needs, but it's a shame so many people who are fond of the incredible FUT and like to have licenses they don't have to download themselves, have to pick FIFA year over year.
Now I just buy FIFA to mess around with FUT and play the Journey, which I ended up liking a lot, but I'll be back playing PES in a matter of weeks till it's rinse and repeat next year.
Comments 1,381
Re: Japanese Sales Charts: Tomb Raider Leaps into the Top 5 as PS4 Stays Strong
@PaperyWhiteBoy
Lol, Japan is such a strange country when you think of it: in some ways they're incredibly technically advanced, like their public transportation, but in some other ways it's like going back into time. Unfortunately I've noticed that lots of the older buildings, restaurants and cafes are disappearing and making place for modern establishments or homes, but it's still a country where tradition meets tech.
But back in the 90s I was convinced that by 2010 Japanese families would have robots assisting them in their daily lives, and so were the Japanese. Robotics is still important in Japan, but not so much for consumers anymore; nowadays it's the field of universities and car manufacturers, but in the consumer electronics department it's awfully quiet. It seems that when the money started drying up to fund ridiculous but awesome projects like the Aibo, the interest of the consumer dwindled away.
If you would've told me in 1996 that Sony would one day launch an affordable VR headset for consumers and ended up only selling 51k in its first week in Japan, I would've laughed in your face and stated confidently that it would be at least 10 times more!
Re: Japanese Sales Charts: Tomb Raider Leaps into the Top 5 as PS4 Stays Strong
@PaperyWhiteBoy
Funny how your experience is completely different from mine. They used to have huge fairs in Japan, for the lack of a better term, displaying the latest technology and painting a picture of what the future would be like. These weren't events with press and people from within the industry, these were meant for the entire family to enjoy. I've seen a flatscreen TV on one of those occasions before widescreen was introduced for example and it was just magical being there.
Tech companies in Japan had money to burn ,we're not just talking Sony here, and they would spend enormous amounts to court the Japanese audience and get them to adopt their latest and greatest. But if you look at those companies now, they're struggling to catch up and some Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese companies are running circles around them.
As PSVR has shown you should never bet against Japanese design and ingenuity, but when I compare the Japan from my childhood to the current situation, I just get the feeling the people are less excited when technological novelties drop. I've written my master thesis in Japan and saw the transition to mobile devices really early -we were using our mobile phones to call, they were sending mails, browsing the web and playing games on it- but somehow I feel they haven't really progressed as much as others did the last 15 years.
It might be one of those distorted childhood memories, my admiration for Japan as one big engeneering marvel might have altered the reality. But when I hear my brother -who is fluent in Japanese and does business there- talk about Japan or when I visit it, I just feel it hasn't changed for the better somehow.
Re: Halloween PlayStation Store Sale Is More Treat than Trick on PS4, PS3, Vita
@thatguyEZ
There are already games that can't be downloaded no more, that are just gone unless you own them physically. Marvel vs Capcom is one of them; I'll have to keep it on my memory card if I plan on playing it, cause once I delete it, it's gone.
To think the same will someday happen to my entire library just makes me sad. Not being able to take PS3 games I own digitally with me to the PS4 stings as well, especially because some of them are playable with PSnow. I just hope that in the future all games will be compatible, it just makes no sense that my PSone collection doesn't work on the PS4 for instance.
A Vita 2 will probably never happen, but if Nintendo's NX is a succes I see them trying it once more, Sony is crazy enough to do it.
Re: Japanese Sales Charts: Tomb Raider Leaps into the Top 5 as PS4 Stays Strong
It's kinda sad to see how Japan has changed when it comes to embracing tech like VR. If Sony would've been able to make a decent consumer VR headset mid 90's, they would've sold 8 million in Japan in the first year alone.
Growing up Japan was always this epicenter of new technology and innovative design, but it's as if the people in Japan stopped believing in a bright future, a future where man and tech would go hand in hand.
Re: Halloween PlayStation Store Sale Is More Treat than Trick on PS4, PS3, Vita
It's just amazing that almost every sale I end up buying at least one Vita game. There's always a classic or indie I feel like playing on my Vita, or games like God Eater that I didn't wanna pay $40 for. It's such a shame that the Vita 2 will never happen, it would be so awesome to just take all of these classics with me on another system. That means I'll have to keep an eye out for a good deal on a back up Vita, cause I'll be playing this bad boy for years to come!
Re: FIFA 17 PS4 Patch Makes the Computer a Little Less Defensive
I wish there was something to make FIFA players less defensive...
#PES17 #ThePitchIsOurs
Re: Review: Mantis Burn Racing (PS4)
This makes me long for a 4K Death Rally even more!
Re: Review: 100ft Robot Golf (PS4)
Couldn't wait to see some reviews after a little birdie told me this game was supposed to be on par with Hot Shots Golf gameplay wise. But instead of skillfully evading an obstacle like in that beloved franchise, you just punch a hole in one! If its presentation is its biggest handicap I can live with that and after reading this I'm positive this game's fore me. It's also commendable that non- VR users are treated in a fair way by the dev, cause simply putt I was afraid VR -and the PS Pro to a lesser extent- could drive a wedge between PS gamers.
Re: Red Dead Redemption 2 Teaser Image Shows Seven Gunslingers
WE NEED THE BENZ!!!!
Re: PS4 Slumps to Third Successive NPD Defeat
@themcnoisy
Finding room for it is the easy part, it'll fit in your backpocket that's how small it is! Okay, I might be exaggerating a bit, but it sure is small. You wouldn't want to tuck it away though, cause it's a really good looking console.
And here's the best part for all you PS4 lovers with a 4K TV who want a 4K Blu Ray player: you can hook your PS4 up to your Xbox One and let the Xbox do the upscaling for you! It obviously isn't any good in a fighting game due to the input lag, but because the TV itself doesn't have to upscale, input lag is reduced tremendously if you let the One do the dirty work!
So after playing One on your PSVR you just play some 4K PS4 on your One S; what a world we live in!
Re: Poll: What Are Your Thoughts on PlayStation VR So Far?
I had more fun in the last 2 days than in the last 3 years combined gaming wise. This was exactly what I needed, something to shake things up. The Witcher 3, MGSV, AC Syndicate, Far Cry 4, every CoD & BF, Uncharted IV, Tomb Raider etc etc, all great games, but are they truly different from their predecessors? Our new triple A titles offers us more, bigger and better... but always more, bigger and better of the same old core experience.
VR changes all of this and let even the simplest of ideas feel amazing! Even if the ideas behind the software isn't mind blowing at this point, the way we interact with it is. This leads to an experience that was long overdue quite frankly and I'm loving every minute I'm spending in VR.
This. Is. The. Future.
Re: PS4 Slumps to Third Successive NPD Defeat
A victory well earned to be honest, MS has really stepped up its game and the One S is simply gorgeous. Couple that with occasional promotions with prices below the $250 for the 500gb FIFA or Madden bundle and you've got yourself a winner. MS is practically handing them out at this point and I still don't think they're losing money on it, so I feel this is the only right strategy for them at the moment. Black Friday will definitely see some insane deals on the green side like every year and I hope Sony is giving retailers the chance to stunt with the PS4 as well; Sony will profit even more with a big installbase now PSVR is out and they'll have to sell units without a profit to make more money in the long run.
The fact Xbox took it in the same month the PS4 slim released in the USA surpirised me, but sources claim they've sold more in the UK as well which is a way bigger shock. Not only did the PS4 have a extremely popular FIFA bundle too, the older PS4 models were sold at insanely low prices in the UK which should've spiked up the sales significantly.
I think Sony has no other than themselves to blame and I wonder where the confident yet humble console manufacturer from 3 years ago has gone. I see a company that's arrogant, which can't release a 1st party game on time if their lives depend on it, but more importantly: I see a company that fails at talking up their products the way they've been doing succesfully in the beginning of this generation.
Re: Soapbox: Summer Lesson Provides a Peek into the Future
@get2sammyb
"imagine living in World War I trenches or being a guest at one of Henry VIII's banquets"
I hate to say it mate, but if that's the first thing you come up with, you should really try and get your priorities straight in life 😉
Re: Review: Super Stardust Ultra VR (PS4)
A friend just gave me a helpful tip if you don't already own Super Stardust for the PS4: you can purchase it at 50% off when you buy another indie game selected by Sony with it in Europe. Afterwards you can "upgrade" the base game for about £8 so you'll just spend somewhere in the region of £4 more in total when you for instance buy Bound to go along with it.
So instead of buying the full VR game, I'd buy the base game with Bound, Enter the Gungeon, Resogun or Dead Nation with it and just upgrade. The game is definitely worth it although the VR bit is nothing to e-mail home about. I hope that games like these will get VR enhanced modes more often, just skipping the obligatory first person add-ons; a game like Alienation would work so well in VR looking onto the battlefield in "God- mode" with your headset on, seeing the beautiful tiny explosions while you control your own army of "ants" to save the world they live in.
Re: Sony Forecasting 'Hundreds of Thousands' of PlayStation VR Sales
@fybyfyby
I got that 😀 The thing is though that one of the units doesn't automatically turn itself completely off (red) after a while. The other unit I used took some time to cool down and displayed the white light, but after half an hour or so it just switched itself entirely off and displayed the red light.
You know what I just found out btw, that the processing unit automatically turns on when your PS4 is downloading in rest mode. I just bought Gunjack -for the hell of it- on my browser and placed it in the download-queue and immediately I heard the processing unit switching on; the little PlayStation that could is pretty loud! It's compensating I guess, typical case of a Napoleon complex.
Re: Sony Forecasting 'Hundreds of Thousands' of PlayStation VR Sales
@fybyfyby
I've tried my other headset and this one shuts down pretty fast after turning it off, even in rest mode. So I might have to return the other one, it's still in stand- by making noise after about 4 hours of more.
(I've bought several to send back home, but I've got to test them all while I'm in Europe in case there's something wrong with one (or more) of them; turns out that wasn't such a bad idea after all!)
Re: Sony Forecasting 'Hundreds of Thousands' of PlayStation VR Sales
@get2sammyb
Sammy, I'm sorry to bother you, but does your processing unit keeps on "cooling" when it's in standby as well (with the PSVR in rest mode and headset turned off with the power button)? I went out to grab a bit to eat about 2 hours ago and when I came home I could hear the fan still blowing (I suppose it's the fan, it's too noisy for just some static. It sounds like a regular PS4 that's on without it running any games).
Re: Review: RIGS: Mechanized Combat League (PS4)
@wiiware
I don't do demos: I buy and regret later! 😂
Re: Sony Erects Giant PlayStation VR Headset at King's Cross in London
Here ya go @Tasuki, they even got them in your size mate!
Re: Video: Unlock Your Inner-Alan Shearer with Headmaster on PS4
Finally! A game where I can be a hard to understand pundit on Match of the Day. Try to get that illustrious platinum trophy by mumbling "well, the ball's round innit, it can roll either way", "as a manager you wanna see the lads give 110% and play football" and classics like "if that ball was on target and shot with some more power, it would've been a goal for sure".
What? Oh, it's not an actual game bout Shearer.... "Oooi, I'm gonna feel this one in da mornin!"
Re: Video: Does PlayStation VR Put the Ultra in Super Stardust?
@get2sammyb
Still I hope they're working on a VR game and VRemasters of Alienation, Resogun and Dead Nation. The change in perspective is really awesome and adds to the experience. I've seen on Oculus how cool isometric and 3rd person games really can be in VR and I could totally see myself playing basic RTSs or Diabloesque games as if I'm playing living tabletop games or Warhammer (that's the one, right?)
Re: Video: Does PlayStation VR Put the Ultra in Super Stardust?
This is one of the titles that I'm most interested in and for a totally different reason than this added VR bit, which looks kinda dull. Not only is this an excuse to play Super Stardust again on yet another "system", but mostly I hope this means Housemarque is building a VR game from the ground up!
Housemarque is one of my favorite developers and their showing on the PS4 so far is nothing short of phenomenal. And if I'm correct they said there is a still unannounced title in the works next to a "normal" PS4 game, so I hope we'll see some of HM's brilliance in VR soon.
Furthermore I hope Alienation will get a dedicated VR- mode, without silly first person add- ons; I just want the base game optimized for VR. 3rd person and games with an isometric perspective are wonderful in VR but don't seem to have any real presence on PSVR. VR isn't all about first person immersion and being able to look at Alienation as if you're playing with toy soldiers would be awesome.
So Sony, buy Housemarque already, it's long overdue. And then make them develop the games they're known for with a thrilling VR angle to spice things up even more!
Re: Video: A Close Match in RIGS: Mechanized Combat League on PS4
The video of the PS staff hurling up their lunhes after the embedded RIGS match is only available on YouTube.
Be sure to watch it before they get striked by Burger King for copyright infringement.
Re: Review: DriveClub VR (PS4)
@get2sammyb
I played it in a controlled setting, something I'm always a bit sceptical about, and I'm really curious to see how it holds up when I can play it at home. With PS4Pro announced and playable at different events, I do wonder if they didn't have me playing on a Pro when I played DriveClub VR... Cause although the screen isn't as good as the ones its nearest competitors are offering, I actually enjoyed my DC VR experience way better than Project Cars on the Rift. I surely didn't feel like I had to squint like in some other demos with blurry text or radars.
I hope PS4 Pro will be made available for you guys at least 2 weeks before launch so you can test if the performance of some games is hindered by the limitations of the headset, or rather the base PS4. I'm a console man at heart, I've always been, but if it takes me $900 to get my VR right, I might have to consider buying an Oculus instead since I have a VR proof rig gathering dust back home.
Re: Review: RIGS: Mechanized Combat League (PS4)
@get2sammyb
I played a pretty early build and it had me feeling sick for hours. Recently I had another go at it and while it was way better, it still made me feel uncomfortable. But where I'm positive the first time was due to input lag, I believe the second time it was just some sort of a sensory overload; it was like I've just seen a 3 hour IMAX 3D movie.
So for me this game is more to see what my own, or maybe PSVR's, limits are; will I be able to adapt to the current tech like I once stopped being nauseous playing Wolfenstein 3D after endless tries, or will tech have to catch up with me?
Re: Review: RIGS: Mechanized Combat League (PS4)
Damn, seems I made some absolutely terrible decisions picking my day one VR games
I played RIGS on more than one occasion and I knew what I was signing up for though, but for me it felt like a game I had to back. Lots of money and care went into making it and it surely shows, but mostly I wanted to see if my brain would indeed adapt to VR as I believe it will, or that games like RIGS simply need more horsepower to get right.
This also makes me wonder if the PSP would add anything to the experience...
Re: Review: DriveClub VR (PS4)
Really? I played the demo recently and I was really surprised about the quality of the experience. Obviously the visuals aren't as good as in the base game and focus too long on one specific point and you'll notice, but playing it like I was driving an actual car felt like...well, like driving an actual car.
I think this is an inherent VR problem that the tech as a whole has to overcome: lot of gamers are sceptical because they feel it's another Kinect or 3D and have great looking -sometimes 4K- comparison material, and the more casual people that have an interest in VR expect lifelike graphics we won't see for 10- 20 years.
Re: Store Update: 11th October 2016 (Europe)
That's what she said...
Re: Review: Shu (PS4)
No VR mode? What year are we in, 1986?
NEXT!
Re: 100ft Robot Golf's Launch Trailer Totally Nails It
@seanobi
I hope it's on par with the Hot Shots series.
Re: Hands On: Does PlayStation VR Really Have Tracking Issues?
@get2sammyb
I read the article earlier and I loved the image you used: "building castles in the sky".
There is so much more that should've been done and when I hear Shawn Layden saying they're "definitely working on it", I realize that's just Sony for: "let's just see if this VR thingy catches on first".
They should've at least had a contract with 1 BPL or NFL club to have a VR pilot and there should've been tickets available by now for concerts of artists signed by Sony music; this means more options for us consumers and more money for them.
Our company makes UAVs and we have the tech to make beautiful 360degrees images and video for quite some time. To make something like that into a VR product that is commercially viable though, you need big partners like Sony who have a huge stake in it.
I just hope Sony is all- in, cause in lots of ways this reminds me of the Vita launch to be honest. The expensive "accessories" you end up needing to play properly, promises of beautiful things to come and all of that backed up by a pretty strong line- up to make us believe Sony and 3rd parties are committed.
You wasted a perfect oppurtunity to use Oculus Drift as a subtitle btw
Re: Hands On: Does PlayStation VR Really Have Tracking Issues?
f4nb01
I gotta be honest here, I did think about cancelling my PS VR pre order for a moment last week, but it hasn't got anything to do with the technology side of things; I expected Sony to have a bigger non-gaming VR push after PSVR being in development for so long. Where are my live- sports apps? Where are my live- music apps? How will I travel the world without Sony working together with another company?
But in the end I've decided I've been waiting too long for VR to drop out now. I did consider Vive, but ultimately I'm a console kinda guy. I've got an excellent VR ready rig, but I just can't seem to get used to playing on PC. So I'm just gonna give it a go and when it's not for me at this point I guess I'll just keep it in its stand till the content I want drops.
Re: Hands On: Playing Non-VR PS4 Games on PlayStation VR
@Oi_Oi_Spanky
If I didn't have the means to attach one to the ceiling properly, I'd do just the same!
Re: Hands On: Playing Non-VR PS4 Games on PlayStation VR
@Oi_Oi_Spanky
You haven't thought this through now have you? The consoles don't have to be behind the "false ceiling" you do realize that right? This might come as a shocker, but you can even get HDMI cables as long as 20m!
My brother is in construction and he does stuff like this for a living. We have wires running through my entire house but hardly ever see one. Only if there's a new HDMI standard we have to get it looked at, but since we remodel our house every 3-4 years anyway, that'll never be a problem.
I don't know where you're from, but if I had to guess I'd say Europe. You should realize houses in SA where I'm from and the USA for example aren't build like European homes.
Re: Hands On: Playing Non-VR PS4 Games on PlayStation VR
@Oi_Oi_Spanky
False wall...
Re: Hands On: Playing Non-VR PS4 Games on PlayStation VR
@Oi_Oi_Spanky
In my bedroom back home I have a tv mounted on my ceiling so I can watch movies and even game while lying flat on my back. I prefer that to arching my back and neck to watch tv in bed.
So I hoped PSVR would be a similar solution for me when I'm abroad, since the apartment I'm renting doesn't have a ceiling sturdy enough to hold a decent sized TV. I realize it's not perfect, but I figured that with a pillow under my head I would have a similar effect without too much discomfort from the headset.
Re: Hands On: Playing Non-VR PS4 Games on PlayStation VR
@get2sammyb
A bit of a shame they don't have more non- (VR) gaming features at launch tbh.
So if I'm correct I still need the camera with the medium and big screen mode, but not with the smaller screen? I want to use it to watch Netflix or Blu Rays lying down, but if it's needs the camera to project the image in front of me, I won't be able to do this.
Re: Game of the Month: Top 4 PlayStation Games of September 2016
PES 2017 is my pick!
Where are Ben's monthly video escapades btw, is miss 'em. Leaving a month behind just isn't the same without Ben telling me what I should've liked and hated about it.
Re: PS4 Exclusive Gravity Rush 2 Tumbles into 2017
Ah come on Sony... you've gotta be kidding me, right?
Re: Podcast: Episode 15 - A Strong Month for PS4
Great podcast! But guys, where's the (written) Gears of War 4 review??
Re: Hardware Review: PlayStation VR - The Future of Play
@get2sammyb
Thanks!
Anyone wants to buy a Gold Headset for £45??
Re: Hardware Review: PlayStation VR - The Future of Play
@get2sammyb
Great article mate, thanks!
I've got just one question where no one seems to be able to give me an answer to concerning the use of a wireless headset (audio): is it possible to use wireless headphones, like the Sony PS4 wireless headset 2.0 (It's also known as the "Gold headset" for some reason I believe), without any wires going into the PSVR headset itself?
I've played on the PSVR on several occasions and I never really paid attention to the fact that the headsets they were using were all wired. I just assumed it would work but that they've chosen a wired solution because of possible interference. But with the processing unit handling 3D audio, it would actually make sense that wireless headphones won't work properly. I've heard people saying it works, that it doesn't work and a befriended journalist even claims you need the NEW wireless Sony headset, which I find hard to believe.
I'd really like this question answered because I've bought me that wireless 2.0 Sony headset on the cheap (£40 - £45 if I'm correct) specifically for VR. But if I need to connect it anyway I rather just return it or sell it to someone who actually needs it since I've been using my Hypercloud X 2 after my TB died on me and I'm quite content with it.
TL;DR: Can I use wireless headphones without having to use cables going into the PSVR?
Re: PlayStation VR Will Provide Some Headaches for People with HDR Displays
I'll just buy 2 Pros and 1 extra Slim to complement my current PS4, that way I'm pretty sure I'm safe.
Guess Sony's "confusing messaging" is paying off already, you nay- sayers...
Re: UK Sales Charts: FIFA 17 Runs Away with the League in October
The soccer sim, despite being inferior to this year's PES 2017: Pro Evolution Soccer, has scored a hat-trick or three – smashing the series' already ginormous sales record.
FTFY
My favorite argument FIFA fans always use to "prove" FIFA is the better game is FIFA's incredible sales numbers. The game is indeed selling like hotcakes, but so are One Direction albums... I do hope the change to the Frostbite- engine will allow for EA to improve on the actual gameplay, not just the lighting. The atmosphere in FIFA 17 is impeccable, but the moment the whistle blows to start the match we're back to wading through the usual molasses.
Last year's PES just had a slight edge over FIFA because the latter was saved by its licenses and excellent FUT, but this year we just can't ignore the huge difference in approach on the pitch. I hear people saying FIFA is supposed to be "realistic", but if you put Barcelona's players in a Real Madrid shirt in PES you'll immediately notice something's off; the way PES recreates the different playstyles of teams, how it lets you pass the ball like in rl, how players move intuitively and how it makes you feel your goals are earned is just incredible and makes it feel like actual football.
Re: PS4 Firmware Update 4.01 Puts in a Surprise Appearance
I can attest the firmware is more stable than it ever was!
I opened several games and apps to shut them down immediately, I scrolled to the right really fast and then made sudden moves to the left and even upwards, all without even a single hiccup. I bet I could even change the settings and then choose the 'restore default settings' option to really stress- test the update, but I rather wait a couple of days to see how 4.01 is treating others; I know it's stable, but I don't wanna get too cocky.
Who needs actual games when Sony's giving us a stable October like this, right?
Re: Push Rewind: October PS Plus, FIFA 17, PlayStation VR
Ah great, a PSVR unboxing video! Why not upload it again and make a semi- new article about it to start the week with a bang?
PSVR
Re: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered May Require Infinite Warfare Disc
If only there was a way to get some sort of Infinite Warfare with better shooting mechanics, better traversal and huge mechs. And that it would be made by the same guys that brought us the original Modern Warfare that Activision is wh*ring out now...
If only there was such a game....
Re: Video: Watch Us Unbox PlayStation VR
Even better the second time! Keep em coming Sammy!
Re: Video: PlayStation VR Comes with an Absurd Number of Cables
I'm really concerned about how Sony is handling the launch; where's the hype? I know I'm excited, but hardly any people I know outside of the people who game regularly are aware of its impending release.
Furthermore I haven't seen any talk about what PSVR is gonna bring outside of the gaming space. Surely they can't be aiming for early adopting core gamers alone? There are so many techminded folks out there that are hugely excited for VR, but don't care for games at all, these people should be persuaded into buying a headset with cool multimedia uses of PSVR. Will Netflix support a cinema mode on day one and will the Blu Ray player? If so, will it have a fixed pov which allows you to wear it away from the camera (read: lying down)? What are Sony's plans for VR in the music and sports space? Will I be able to shop online (IKEA, car dealers, real estate etc etc)? Will VR allow me to virtually travel the world?
Real VR gaming is still very much a thing of the future, but it has incredible potential in so many other forms of media and entertainment. Why isn't Sony doubling down on those non- gaming experiences, the type of experiences that can make VR a mainstream succes instead of a few geeks' wet dreams come true...
Re: Review: FIFA 17 (PS4)
I wish football had an equivalent of NBA2k, where excellent gameplay and slick presentation go hand in hand. Choosing between PES and FIFA is easy for me personally, I care more for the game on the pitch and PES better suits my needs, but it's a shame so many people who are fond of the incredible FUT and like to have licenses they don't have to download themselves, have to pick FIFA year over year.
Now I just buy FIFA to mess around with FUT and play the Journey, which I ended up liking a lot, but I'll be back playing PES in a matter of weeks till it's rinse and repeat next year.