Tablets, Smartphones, Next-Gen Consoles: Why I'm Not Excited About the PS4

The big things in a next-gen console are not going to be cloud features. Although they are nice, they largely exist today on current-gen consoles. The differences the PS4 (at least as far as we currently know) brings to the table are cloud features like further integration into social networks, the ability to play and download in the background, as well as stop, turn off the console or open another application, and pick up where you left off. Again, these are all new features, and while cool, they will not convince people to buy the console. The next big things are going to be new innovations and integrations into playing style. As the gap between tablets, smartphones, alternative gaming platforms and traditional consoles closes (Have you seen Infinity Blade?), updated graphics and social network integration are not enough.. In fact consoles are playing catch up in regard to social networking integration (which isn't something most gamers are really that excited about anyway). 

The next big thing is going to be a new way of experiencing games, something that you can't easily reproduce on a tablet or smartphone (you can already hook up controllers on the Android platform and play a huge number of titles, basically just like a console).I want something that will allow me to video chat with friends while I'm playing a game, hopefully like how Star Fox characters would pop up in little boxes in Starfox 64 whenever they were talking to you. I want something that will change the way I play video games. Rumor has it Microsoft will be releasing a new version of its Kinect motion sensor that will be fully integrated with the new Xbox. This Kinect v2. will allow for complete motion control and further project the image outside of the screen, we're talking full augmented reality. The details were published by gameinformer a while back.


The Wii U is failing because its basically the Wii with a tablet. They market towards casual gamers now and as such are being outdone by the new market of gaming on tablets and smartphones, they aren't innovating experience. Long story short, what Nintendo and Sony are doing with the Wii U and the PS4, respectively, is too little too late. New performance is nice but it doesn't really make too much of a difference, current-gen performance is still pretty great. Social networking integration is not what the market is asking for. Ability to boot up from where I left off and download in the background is cool, definitely not going to get me out to buy the console. These guys aren't really playing to what the market wants, they're playing to what they think they want. Very Ho-Hum.