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My Simple Wishes for Features Included in the Playstation 4

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Playstation4

Given Sony Computer Entertainment have begun releasing a series of videos under the “Playstation Evolution” series – it seems that the Playstation Conference 2013 which is set to be held on the 20th February 2013 at 6PM EST will quite likely result in the announcement of the PlayStation 4, PlayStation Orbis or whatever they intend on calling their next-gen console. I am entering the conference with a blank canvas of expectations and thoughts based on rumors and claims made over the last few weeks – primarily because I cannot simply go up to SCE and confirm potentially their biggest announcement of the year. HOWEVER I do have a few idealistic features and other things that I would like to see SCE to have implemented in the console.

My focus is primarily on what Sony Computer Entertainment will deliver out of the box – rather than what developers will have to utilize as their success will depend on the development teams. Anyway, my wishes for the console are as follows:

My Simple Wishes for Features Included in the Playstation 4 1
The Idolm@ster 2 – An import game I reviewed back in 2011

1. NO Region Locking by Default

The Playstation 3 remains most probably my most used of the three current-gen video game consoles, and one of the reasons why is this is because if a game is released in any region that piques my interest – I can generally pick it up and be able to play it without expecting any form of region locking that most consoles have implemented by default (A notable exception being Persona 4 Arena… which still leaves PAL region fans waiting for any form of release).

While I always promote and check out titles from my local publishers/distributors, especially given I reside in Australia where not every game (Especially niche JRPG releases) appears on store shelves, it has always been good to know that in worse case scenario I could acquire it through other means without worries that I will end up with a disc I cannot use. In addition, if it is region locked I will be left unable to do my reviews of Japanese titles such as what I did for The Idolm@ster 2, Tales of Xillia (1) / (2) and Mugen Souls.

I like to think the possibility that they won’t implement region locking is good, even though they made it much tougher to change regions in the Playstation Vita in comparison to the PS3/PSP – they didn’t completely make the switch like the jump from the Nintendo DS to 3DS.

darksoul3 Dark Souls   Review
Is it possible to truly appreciate Dark Souls without online play?

2. Keep Playstation Plus as it is… Don’t build upon it to cover all online functionality

I don’t dislike the idea of the XBox Live service – and I take it the reason that so many gamers do subscribe each and every month/year is because it provides optimal online services for their need – and if you are in that crowd… great! I am on the other hand not a very active online gamer and outside of testing the functionality of a game for reviews I would usually spend only couple of hours at best using the services before I head straight back to the main single-player campaign or move on.

Whereas the XBox Live Gold subscription covers online functionality outside of the consoles marketplace – Sony may not offer all the goodies on the Playstation but their online services remain free with a bonus “Playstation Plus” subscription service (Around the same price from memory) that offers monthly deals and free titles. While we have no idea what form of online functionality will be offered in the PS4 (Home, Online Matchmaking, Trophies etc) – I would like to see the online services remain free with the subscription service separate.

PSvita Everything You Need to Know About Australias Playstation Vita LaunchThe Playstation Vita, released a couple of months after Japan in Australia

3. A simultaneous or near-simultaneous worldwide launch of the console

Historically the Playstation consoles have not been all that great at maintaining a worldwide simultaneous launch, and going back through history….

PS1: JAPAN: December 1994, INTERNATIONAL: September 1995
PS2: JAPAN: March 2000, INTERNATIONAL: October/November 2000
PSP: JAPAN: December 2004, INTERNATIONAL: March 2005
PS3: JAPAN: November 2006, PAL REGION: March 2007
PSV: JAPAN: December 2011. INTERNATIONAL: February 2012

When you have Nintendo launching the Wii U around the world within a period of a week or two, it would be great to see Sony Computer Entertainment launching the console within the same similar time frame between regions. This may also entice developers to make their titles launch titles with the potential of having it available in all regions at the same time – then say a North American developer holding back on the Japanese launch for several months due to the delay in the international release of vice versa.

IN THE END

I don’t really care if they replace the Playstation Move Controller with a bodysuit filled with balls like you see in motion capture work, they choose to expand upon Playstation Home or remove it entirely, have the same simple interface as the Playstation 3 or even have a touch screen on the controller. Instead, I care about the games and what with the further enhanced specs of the consoles developers are able to achieve (This thought carries over other new current-gen consoles as well). HOWEVER, these three things are aspects I think will provide me with a better experience when playing such games.

Oh…. and I would still like to see physical game releases…. I quite like manuals in game boxes.

Sam
Sam
Founder of The Otaku's Study. I have been exploring this labyrinth of fandom these last fifteen years, and still nowhere close to the exit yet. Probably searching for a long time to come.

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