This article was originally intended as a comparison between the released information on both the PS4 and Xbone, but honestly, after spending the better portion of a day thinking it over, I just couldn't bring myself to write a post about something I just don't give a fuck about. The Xbone and PS4 just don't interest me, and I think it's partially because I won't be able to afford either but mostly because they're just not needed. What does the next generation bring to the table that we're currently lacking, or would really benefit from? Jack-shit, but lets break it down.
Hardware
On this front, both consoles are practically the same. Both the Xbone and PS4 are getting 8-core x86-64 APU's from AMD and 8 gigs of DDR3 RAM. For those less tech savvy, they're basically pre-built solid gaming computers. Not hot-shit top of the line gaming computers, because they'd be using Intel processors if they were, but I digress. We're all aware that Blu-Ray won the format war against HD-DVD, so both consoles will be sporting Blu-Ray drives and discs for their games. Both consoles have standard wireless connectivity, and the PS4 has also brought bluetooth with it. Which is good, because I was about to throw a raging bitch-fit if MS didn't get their shit together and give us built-in WiFi this time. Seriously, charging us an extra hundred bucks to get fucking wi-fi support on the 360 was just downright offensive. Even then, the piece of shit adapter didn't work with all routers. Really Micro$oft? Sometimes I just don't have (or want) 60 feet of network cable running across the hall, through the living room and into the router so that MY fucking console in MY fucking room can have MY fucking Xbox Live connection that I fucking pay for.
Backwards Compatibility
Neither console has it. Because fuck you. That's why.
My biggest beef here is that MS and Sony keep making shitty excuses. "Oh, emulation would be too difficult. The hardware wasn't designed for it. We plan on continued support for the last generation. Perhaps in the future through cloud-based emulation." This is fucking bullshit. You made it work on the PS3 and the X360. At least MS wins this point for the "previous generation". Fucking Sony pulled backwards compatibility support so they didn't have to continue building PS2's inside of PS3's. And so they could charge you MORE money to buy games you ALREADY OWNED in the form of PS2 "classics" and HD collections. I know that MS and Sony are businesses designed to make money, but there's a big fucking difference between promoting sales (and a good product), and ripping you off because they can.
Another point against this heinous act of omitting backwards compatibility was made by Yahtzee in one of his Extra Punctuation articles. Making the jump up (or down, in the case of the Xbox) to the next generation isn't what it used to be back in the 90's and early 00's. It's not like we're talking about the difference between 16-bit and 32-bit or the separation of 2D and 3D. Both of this current generation's consoles output (very well) HDMI, so what more do we really have to look forward to? Given our current generation's hardware, we've come leaps and bounds just by throwing enough money at triple-A titles. If you don't believe me, go back and play (or just watch, that's easier) Mass Effect. Then pop in Mass Effect 3. Same series, same characters, but a bigger budget and better graphics.
Peripherals
From the sounds of it, both consoles will ship with their respective camera devices: the "creatively" titled Playstation 4 Eye, and the Kinect 2. Sony has claimed that the PS4 Eye will track motion, have facial recognition, and respond to voice commands. Basically, everything the Kinect already did. Kinect 2 on the other hand, will ALWAYS BE LISTENING. The damn thing is always on so that all you have to do is say "Xbox, turn on", and the console will do so without you ever having to lift a fat, lazy finger. It will also watch you, eat, sleep, fap and fuck. Not creepy at all.
The Xbox One's controller is pretty much the same as the 360's. Except this time they fixed the D-Pad. Sort of. It's been changed to the traditional + shape, instead of the previous circle. Which makes playing things like platformers easier, and fighting games more challenging. The oh-so-inspired DualShock4 on the Playstation 4 has seen some growth, despite what its name may lead you to believe. Whether or not it's in the right direction on the other hand... DualShock4 has got two big things to talk about. Number one, Sony put a two-point touchpad in the middle of my controller. Whatthefuckwhy? Is this the WiiU's red-headed stepchild? Second, everyone's favorite mention: the SHARE button.
The PS4 automatically records you as you play, and with the push of a single button, it will tag and upload the last 15 minutes of gameplay to youtube, then share it across Facebook and Twitter. I haven't suffered nearly enough head trauma over the course of my life to believe this is a useful thing.
Sony was also very proud to announce that you can drop the DualShock4 without it skipping forward or ahead on your favorite movies. Innovation at its finest.
Features
On a related note to the stupid share button, the PS4 will also allow you to livestream your games to your friends, who can comment in real time and - if they're obsessively over-controlling - even play the damn thing for you.
The Xbox One has neither the livestream nor the share functions, and I can't bring myself to count that against them. However, they're not without their own bullshit. They've decided to build Skype into the damn thing, so I guess that's their form of social exploitation. The Xbone will also serve as a DVR and cable box as well, just in case you didn't already get those things from your cable television and broadband internet provider.
Through something called Smartglass, Microsoft also plans to let you use your smartphone or tablet as an unwieldy touchpad controller similar to that of the WiiU. Sony, since they've already ventured into the handheld market, is doing the same thing with the PS Vita. But since that platform already has intuitive gaming controls built in, I foresee their version working a little bit better than this one.
Launch Titles
There's nothing short of one metric fuckton of speculation at this point, but here's a rough list.
Xbox One:
Forza 5
Quantum Break
Playstation 4:
Diablo III
Deep Down
Driveclub
Infamous: Second Son
Killzone: Shadow Fall
Knack
The Witness
War Thunder
Both:
Assassin's Creed IV
Battlefield 4
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Destiny
FIFA '14
Madden NFL 25
NBA Live '14
Watch Dogs
Wolfenstien: The New Order
You'll be quick to notice that there are a LOT of sequels on this list. And the funny part about it being that these are all sequels to games from last generation that these consoles are NOT FUCKING BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE WITH. You try explaining to someone that they can't play the first 2 Infamous games, or the other 5 Assassin's Creed(s) because they weren't in on the last generation, and that now they need to purchase a whole other, now outdated, console to enjoy those games. Seriously, what the fuck? Either MS and Sony make this whole backwards compatibility thing work, or they shouldn't release new consoles. It's that easy. There's a big difference between "can't" and "won't" and I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that this issue definitely falls under the latter.
Lastly
So the whole rumor about the Xbox One requiring constant broadband internet access is finally put to rest. First it had to always be on. Then it didn't. Then it needed to check in once a day. Well, Microsoft has finally come out and finalized things. The console will need to connect to the internet once every 24 hours to authenticate your shit, else you won't be able to play games and the Xbone will turn into a glorified cable box (which it already is).
So, my advice to those of you out there who are researching this whole "next-gen" console thing? Don't fucking buy one. They're both overpriced paperweights at this point, and there's such a wonderful library of games on our current generation that we don't fucking need this one. There are just so many aim-down-the-sights generic brown shooters that I haven't played yet!
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