This generation isn't an obvious big jump.
Think about prior generations:
Master System to Megadrive era nothing big.
Megadrive to PS1 bought CD rather than cartridges and a jump.
PS1 to PS2 and XBOX gave us DVD media, big storage and widescreen display.
That to the Xbox360 and PS3 brought HD, blu-ray, built in big hard drives and a bigger focus on network connectivity.

This time around, it's really just an increase in processing power and storage. There isn't that obvious capability jump, and it will take a while to show. Particularly as most games are simply enhancements of the last generation.

I agree although for me the jump from 8-bit to 16bit was huge and thats why I paid £190 for my Megadrive with Altered Beast! and the thing is still going strong.

At the moment paying £300 + for a PS4 with no obvious benefit seems crazy.

So, was looking at the XBox One and PS4 this weekend, can't seem to make a split between them, announced today that XBox prices are coming down to match PS4, any pros/cons from people who own eith(or both)

thanks in advance

I don't own either yet and will wait until prices come down but one thing that does put me off the XBox is the way it looks in comparison to the PS4.

Surely Microsoft have people who can design something nicer? - You may not think it could have a bearing on sales but I think it does.

They're both pretty minimalist when it comes to design. Physical aesthetics of the consoles themselves would be pretty far down most people's list. I think both companies would do well to sell a customisable version like you can do with skateboards and trainers. I'd really like a matte black Xbox One with grey skulls inlaid with diamantes.

In all honesty I wouldn't buy either console yet.
We are still in a period of transition, where it's too early for there to be any games that are exclusive to either next gen console. Certainly none that are worth shelling out £400 for anyway.

Instead what we have are both current AND next gen versions being released for all games currently on the market, or due to be released over the next few months. Even Microsoft's main attraction Titanfall is also being released for the 360 (and PC), while I feel is a big mistake. Make that game exclusive to the One and you might have a system seller. Doing it this way, they don't.

There's a new Metal Gear Solid game coming soon, but again it's also releasing for the PS3/360 - so just save yourself some money and buy the current gen version.

I bought a PS4 on launch day, and I was bored of it after a week. Haven't switched the thing on since then, and that was way back in November!
As I said, there is currently no reason to own one.

I remember reading an article in one of the games magazines shortly before the PS3 and Gamecube were released that talked about Sony bringing in designers that would specifically look at the design of the console and how it would look besides somebodys brand new flat screen tv - as more and more adults are buying consoles it stated that the physical appearence of consoles is important - especially as the difference between competitor's seems much harder to identify.

Its got to be said that the PS4 is far more pleasing on the eye.

(Having said that I will always buy the one that doesn't blow up).

Thats a very honest appraisal and one I think that carries a lot of weight. It seems as if Sony and MS panicked over the release of the Wii U and the potential of the other getting their new console out first and fired early. The game developers don't seem to be behind either and the economics of game development are playing a big role. Games being exclusive to one console are becoming more and more rare these days and this trend has impacted on the new consoles. Now not only are they avoiding tying themselves to one side, they are also refusing to give up on the existing base of 360/PS3 users so games exclusive to the new generation are very rare.

Titanfall doesn't appeal to me at all, looks like a combination of military FPS and mech games, both of which are genres I despise.

Have bought a second hand PS3, but it does seem incredibly noisy, how "loud" should a PS3 be, I think I'll be taking this one back....

Is it a fat one or a slim one? The slim ones pretty much make no noise at all, very quiet.

it's a fat one, seems really noisy to me...

Take it back and get a slim, could have possibly had YLOD previously and been repaired, BUT IT WILL return. Slims make a humming noise from the fans but you hardly notice it.

thanks for the advice, on the way to the shop now to return.

Only problem with slims is that they are not backwards compatable but if you buy a fat for that you have to buy the original 60gb model, and they are getting abit rare now.

My fat went after a couple of years, got a slim and it's been great since.

thanks for the advice, now have a slim, still got my PS1 and PS2 anyway so if I want to go retro I can.

Best of both worlds then



Like i said i cant fault mine and i used to batter it until recently and it still work great even with blu-rays.

Does anyone have the faintest idea when the heists are available in GTA online? i did read somewhere they expected feb but due to the kn0bs hacking money they have put it back to Easter? not sure how reliable as i cant find the article anymore.

I'd stress that this isn't first hand, but I know one person who owns both. He's spoken a lot about them at work, and his verdict is very similar to Nothus' post and boils down to:

1) With so many of the games straddling both generations, with hindsight he wouldn't have adopted early.
2) The difference between the 2 consoles does not seem huge so far.
3) Overall the PS4 does seem to have the edge in the pretty stakes, though...
4) BUT the Titanfall demo seems to make his naughty places feel funny more than anything else has.
5) Kinect v2.0 was the best thing in the world for a week, now he doesn't bother with it as it's too unreliable.
6) He doesn't like the Xbone menu system, says it's too fiddly to navigate when the voice commands are playing up.
7) He still prefers the Xbox pad to the PS, but the gap has narrowed (the touch pad thing is rubbish, though).


His plans are to use the Xbone for games he plans to play online extensively (which is still the majority of his gaming), and the PS4 for the rest. This is partly because of Xbox live, but mainly because that's what his mates have. He has subscribed to PS Plus and claims it is a much improved offering than last generation. Sounds much like the last generation to me, in that which console is better depends upon what you mainly want it for.

To add perspective, he's a staunch Xbot (or at least was in the last generation), has had the Xbone since launch (or at least a week or so later when Game finally got hold of one for his preorder), and his PS4 for about a month and a half. He only really talks about the gaming performances of both, too, I have no idea how much he uses the media capabilities of either.

Dark Souls 2 is imminent, and I can't wait to get my teeth stuck into it. The review embargo lifted in the early hours of this morning and early impressions are very good.
I definitely recommend the first game for anyone who likes action-rpgs that offer a serious challenge!

Did you like the first one? I must admit I hated it. The core mechanics were horrible, just walking around was hard, the cameras were terrible and the combat was simply awful. The fact that it was hard generated the hype, the gameplay was horrendous.

Yep, the first one is pretty much one of the best games I've ever played, which sounds like the complete polar opposite to you


Not sure what to say really, other than the sequel probably isn't for you.

Dark Souls was great, never experienced any particular issues with camera angles or game mechanics. It was challenging, no doubt, but I'd say I felt responsible for the vast majority of character deaths, hence there wasn't an issue of it being unfair (although I found the Capra Demon, early on, and later Ornstein & Smough, particularly frustrating at times....)

Went to my local CEX earlier to pick up a copy of Ni No Kuni as it's my weekend off and wanted something to do, and they had not one single copy. weekend ballsed

Downloaded Pes 2014 from PS+. I didn't realise games could be made so bad anymore.

It's amazing what happened to that game. I never liked it, I'll admit, I could never get past the fake team and player names or the ridiculous Master (Disaster) League idea. But the on field action was quality back in the day, back when FIFA had no genuine physics and was full of sweet spots. Then when FIFA 09 arrived, PES was dead, every year they acknowledged the previous PES' failings and promised it was a return to form and every year they messed it up. So ten years too late they decided to try and get the names right



We couldn't half do with a decent second football game on the next gen consoles. FIFA is FIFA, but there is no reason now for them to even remotely push the boundaries now.

I agree Saddened, I've not played on my console for almost a year now. FIFA 14 is the first FIFA I've never bought and I won't be buying 15 either.

Until they revamp the entire game I won't be bothering, pathetic tweaks every year that rarely alter the gameplay just don't cut it any more. The core gameplay of FIFA hasn't changed for so long I can't believe they can release it as a new title. I play my mates at their house on 360/Xbox1 and every match ends the same way. I've seen 15-20+ different people play FIFA, I've never seen anybody play the match with a 'plan' or a 'style'. Do you see people playing possession and succeeding? Do you see the game's set in tactics working? How about fatigue? These are things that should be present in a modern football game but at the end of the day it all boils down to a counter attack or set piece.