Ben-DutkaIt really feels like countdown to the next generation now, doesn't it? We've got the launch date for the PlayStation 4, so yeah, start counting! Not long now…
PS4…is…coming
We've read all the news, we've heard all the interviews, and we've seen all the media. And in about two and a months, a great many of us will actually have the PlayStation 4 sitting in our entertainment centers. It appears the games won't be an issue (even though I still wish inFamous: Second Son was a launch title), the sleek new UI appears to be streamlined and highly functional, and Sony has said that pre-orders are "breathtakingly high." I admit that I'm excited for the new console and the closer we get to launch, the more intrigued I become. I'm more interested in the possibilities this new generation presents, rather than the experiences that will be immediately available. I always wonder how interactive entertainment will change with every new generation.
That being said, I still have my reservations about that expected changes. I may not be the biggest fan of them, as I've said in the past. However, for the sake of optimism, I'll just say that with more hardware power, more talent of all types flooding into the industry, and a wider variety of types of games than ever before, we're facing a very encouraging time in the industry. Provided people like Hideo Kojima, David Cage, Ken Levine and the dudes and dudettes at Naughty Dog continue to push the envelope, I think everything will be just fine. Better than fine, in fact.
Will The Last Guardian be another top-tier PS4 exclusive?
It didn't make it out for the current generation and Sony swears it's still in the works. However, at this point, one has to assume it's currently being overhauled for the PS4. I wonder if the team realized that, part way through their endeavor, there was no way the PS3 could support their ambitious vision. Maybe Sony really tried to push them but it wasn't working out; Fumito Ueda is rumored to be…well, not the easiest guy to work with, it seems. So, now it basically has to be a PS4 exclusive, right? The only problem I have is hearing that it's not a top priority for developer SCE Japan Studio. I know they have other things in the works, and I know games like Knack and Puppeteer are set for 2013, but Guardian has been MIA for a while . Like, a long, long while.
Perhaps the reason it isn't a priority is because they really are holding off until they can sink their teeth into developing the game for the PS4. Maybe that has been the plan for the past year or so, and they just didn't want to admit it. But if that's the case, why not admit it now? Why just keep people in the dark and give us these vague, "oh, it's still in development" reports? I've never understood why developers and publishers do that. It does nothing to appease the fans and in fact, it just causes more questions to arise. …and those questions typically have a negative tone.
Personal gaming update
The Bureau: XCOM Declassified isn't a bad game, but it isn't a very good game, either. It's not my kind of thing, anyway, so I won't be playing any more of it. I've got Madden NFL 25 , which I've been playing on and off for a few days, and you can also expect to see reviews for Splinter Cell: Blacklist and Saints Row IV this week. I imagine if you just can't wait for Grand Theft Auto V , SRIV is a decent option, provided you're well aware of it's entirely over-the-top persona. Also, don't forget that Killzone: Mercenary will be set to go on September 10; read my multiplayer beta impressions to learn more about it. The Vita needs that one!
Dragon's Crown is still a blast to play, and I'm really looking forward to Rain . Reminds me of something like Journey or The Unfinished Swan and I can't wait to try it. Such fantastic creativity and beautiful music!
