2. Market research
I conducted a small survey to find out preferences for
consoles, games and what people look for in a console.
3. Judging by the data I collected, it is apparent that
currently, the Xbox consoles are the most popular, Call of
Duty and GTA appear to be the most popular games and
the main thing people look for in a console is either good
graphics, high specs or individual internal components of
a console that lead to high quality graphics.
4. The PS4 does not seem
particularly popular compared
to the Xbox one and Xbox 360,
though this I predicted.
The WII is not very popular,
mainly for its low spec
graphics, this type of console
is more suitable for families.
The Xbox consoles
appear far more popular,
which I had anticipated.
5. The Call of duty franchise
appears amongst the most
popular.
The GTA franchise is also
extremely popular.
Due to the most popular games
needing such high specs, the
console I wish to create would
have to have very high specs
too, so it is able to play the
latest titles.
6. It is apparent that the console I
wish to make, should have very
high specifications, as you can see,
most of the responses I received
when conducting my survey,
involves the specs of a console.
This tells me that high
specifications consoles that can
run the latest games are in
demand, my research also tells me
that attractive console s are
preferred also, which encourages
me to create a concept for an
attractive console that will catchy
your eye if you see it in a store or
online.
7. Xbox One review (IGN)• 10
• X
• Xbox One Review
• Fran Mirabella III
• A brave new living room.
• SubmitTweetShare+1Share
• Reviewed on Xbox One
• → November 19, 2013 The Xbox One is at odds with itself. As a gamer, I would have been happy with a more powerful Xbox 360 clone that tapped
into today's vast social ecosystem. But Microsoft is clearly trying to both keep me happy and to reach beyond the traditional gamer, to the vast
expanse of people that spend more time watching Netflix, Hulu Plus, or Amazon Prime on game consoles than they do playing. I, too, have grown
tired of waiting for a smarter television screen, constantly switching between my Apple TV, Xbox 360, and even PC. So when Microsoft said Xbox One
would bring gesture control, voice commands, and blockbuster games to my living room, that all-in-one strategy completely resonated with my
needs.
• 05:21
• Feature
• Xbox One: Booting It Up For The First Time
• It’s come at a cost, however. With its sporadically buggy interface and hardware that’s slightly less powerful than the cheaper PlayStation 4, it's
imperative you understand this split focus. If you lean more towards the gamer-only, you may want to consider waiting until Microsoft can more fully
reconcile both sides. If you do lean towards the living room of the future, there are some truly innovative features on top of a powerful games
console that have already changed the way my living room works for the better.
• The Console
• Function over form takes the stage with Microsoft's simple, boxy new console. Sleek black and covered with heat-dissipating vents, it is the American
muscle car of console designs. It wants to be seen and doesn't care about how much space it takes up. It fits in with modern living rooms, mimicking
common designs with Blu-ray players and audio receivers. You could say that's part of the plan, but the more likely story is Microsoft learned its
lesson from the more artful Xbox 360 design, which suffered issues from overheating. The front of the Xbox One is beveled on the bottom to reduce
its forward-facing profile, which is completed by a thin, slot-loading Blu-ray drive and capacitive-touch power button. It beams a bright, white Xbox
logo and is almost too responsive – a brush of the skin will power the system on or off. It's a non-issue for most, where the console will sit
permanently in the distance, but in close quarters it could lead to minor frustration.
• The left side panel contains both a high-speed USB 3.0 input and the controller sync button – I find both perplexing. It was initially difficult to find the
sync button, and as for the USB, it seems a poor choice to place this more "convenient" USB on the side, where adding a thumb drive or cable will
only further increase the width of the system. In a home entertainment cabinet, you'll likely be fighting for space with the interior wall. Thankfully,
the back of the Xbox One is loaded with two additional USB ports.
• 06:11
• IGN Strategize
8. • Xbox One Interface Tips - IGN Strategize
• However, right now, you can’t use these for much. While it packs a 500GB hard disk, this internal drive cannot be replaced or added to, unlike the
PlayStation 4’s user-replaceable drive. (Microsoft says it plans to support external storage in the future.) Now is a good time to mention there's no
central software view of how much space you're taking up on the hard drive as you install games or apps or download and record video. You have to
navigate through your games and apps individually to determine the sizes, all of which is required to be installed rather than streamed from the disc.
Storage management is a standard in today's consoles, smartphones and tablets, and PCs, making it more apparent that Microsoft launched a
console with software that isn't totally ready for what the Xbox One’s trying accomplish.
• The back of the box also contains one of the biggest distinguishing features: HDMI pass-through. This is where your TV cable or satellite box
connects, but technically you can put any HDMI signal through it. (We tested game consoles, but there's significant lag so this isn't recommended.)
You could easily run something like Apple TV or a PC through it, and still get the advantage of snapping to a second app or getting game invites.
Snapping opens a panel on the right side of the screen. However, a dealbreaker for some is that the HDMI signal doesn't pass through when the Xbox
One is off. Given how simple it is to turn it on, though, I actually don't see this as an inconvenience, other than when major updates could potentially
interrupt viewing.
• If you're having trouble communicating with your devices, there's an IR blaster port on the back as well - but the Kinect is an incredible universal
remote, a feat it achieves by reflecting a swarm of IR beams across your room. It rarely fails. Also, while the back of the box has an optical output, it
only supports 5.1 and 7.1 uncompressed signals, and not Dolby. Many new receivers support uncompressed formats, and Xbox One does support
DTS as another surround option. It's an annoyance, but only a minor one that Microsoft (again) intends to fix. Be sure to look into the surround-
sound beta feature in the system settings if you're trying to get multi-channel audio out of your TV set-top box.
• 23:16
• Feature
• Xbox One Uncut Demo
• For connecting to your home network, the Xbox One comes outfitted with both an Ethernet port and 802.11n wi-fi (but notably not the latest
802.11ac protocol or Bluetooth). It also supports Wi-Fi Direct for streamlined communication with your tablet or phone’s SmartGlass apps. From
streaming video playback to remote control functions via Wi-Fi Direct, your data is more likely to avoid interruption.
• Importantly, the Xbox One remains quiet during operation and stays cool while watching TV and running most entertainment apps. Once the
graphics processors kick in for gaming, the box can get pretty warm to touch, but so far this has been a non-issue. The giant exhaust on top of the
console seems to moderate the heat well enough.
• Finally, under the hood, lies the Xbox One's most important assets: 8GBs of DDR3 memory, accompanied by 32MBs of eSRAM and an eight-core
custom combination CPU and integrated graphics processor. It's an architecture built around several OS components that make background
processing of TV and multitasking with other apps efficient. DDR3 is not cutting-edge, however, and the system architecture is theoretically more
bottlenecked than its main competitor, the PlayStation 4. It's led to several launch games running at 720p (or 900p) instead of full 1080p. Will you
notice? Possibly, especially if you've seen the 1080p version; or, if you're a videophile and can sense the softness that lesser pixel density brings.
Games still look dramatically better than Xbox 360 versions, but the larger your screen, the more you'll notice when they’re running at lower-than-
native resolutions. I expect most games will be 1080p in the future, but it's an issue for now. Still, it could be an ongoing disadvantage that the
theoretical limits of the PlayStation 4 are higher than the Xbox One.
• It's worth noting the priority of the architecture has been placed on running apps in the background, manipulating video signals as part of the
interface, and processing Kinect commands. And it shows. As an example, running a Blu-ray movie in full screen and snapping between pre-loaded
Twitch TV streams and my cable TV was fairly seamless.
• The New Kinect
• While Kinect's stability and functionality has a long way to go, throw out whatever concept you may have about the original Kinect with Xbox 360. It's
a toy compared to the impressively wide 1080 HD camera, multi-microphone array peripheral that is bundled with the Xbox One (and accounts for
much of the price difference between it and the PlayStation 4). The new Kinect also features an IR camera to aid vision, even seeing in the dark.
Likewise, the aforementioned IR blasters that use basic remote commands for your TV and audio-visual receiver, if you have one. In terms of
specifications, it is one of the most impressive peripherals ever bundled with a console, and in the long run I think it’s worth the extra expense. How
the software ultimately interfaces with it is another story, but there's not much I can say to knock it.
• 04:38
• Feature
9. • Xbox One: How To Setup Your Kinect
• It even features onboard processing, which might explain the thick, roughly 10-foot cable you'll need to tether it to your Xbox One. So, something to
consider is how far you intend to place the Xbox One itself from your TV. While you can disconnect the peripheral, I don’t recommend it, as it
removes many of the interface advantages - voice commands, hands-free voice chat, video calling with Skype, visual sign-in, and more.
• The Controller
• It's no surprise that Microsoft's iteration on the popular Xbox One controller has been subtle. Overall, all these small additions and changes are for
the better. For starters, it's got a real D-pad, and it's hard to imagine how we lived without it for so long on the previous console. The controller is
lightweight and, at least for me, the grip is better. These slight adjustments in profile and surface material make for a more elegant controller. As for
the two analog thumb sticks, they're still concave and more rigid to touch, with a very sharp interior edge, which helps keep your thumbs from
slipping off. I don’t mind the edges, but I've heard complaints.
• The triggers and bumpers on the back of the controller are perhaps the most changed. The triggers have more action, which is an indisputable
improvement, especially for shooters and racers. They also feature a slight bevel on the outer edge, which helps your fingers rest more comfortably.
The bumpers are nearly the same as before, also featuring slight bevels. Enthusiasts will notice they have a discernable click to them, which I actually
like. It's a lot of the same, but it's certainly better.
• The big difference is the inclusion of the rumble triggers. Each trigger now features individual and programmable response motors in addition to the
handles. While it's not yet a widely used feature, my experience with Forza Motorsport 5 has sold me on the feature. You can feel the difference
between sliding around left banks or spinning out. The vibrations can be subtle or intentionally agitating, which truly adds another layer to the
experience.
• 05:32
• IGN Game Reviews
• Ryse: Son of Rome Review
• Meanwhile, the battery life is exceptional, but a major oversight is the lack of a battery level indicator. You'll have to use AA batteries, a play-and-
charge kit, or keep the controller wired (not advised). I know many dread AA batteries, but one fresh set will power the controller for more hours
than I've been able to test (which was made somewhat difficult by the fact that Kinect sees when you're holding the controller and powers it down
when you’re not). Sometimes it did annoy me, however, as powering on the controller takes time. In the future, I hope they add settings so I can
personalize the standby.
• And, lastly, the included headset provides a ton of value. The Skype-codec powered audio is clearer than ever, but the build quality of the set itself is
excellent considering it's bundled in. The new data port creates a lack of backwards compatibility with better headsets that the Xbox 360 support,
and it means you may need to wait for new models. Unlike the PS4, you cannot simply stream game audio through a pair of headphones connected
to the controller, which is very useful in quieter environments.
• The OS: Xbox One's Dashboard
• Like the Windows platform before it, the Xbox One introduces a bevy of multitasking features with its new interface. Snap multitasking is the big one.
It feels futuristic and, at times, the Xbox One mesmerizes with its truly innovative living room features. Things like voice commands and instant
switching between apps and games with your voice create real “wow” moments. At first glance, it's pretty straightforward – a bunch of squares and
tiles, just like the Windows 8 start screen. Games are on the right, and your favorite pins are on the left. But the home screen is always changing with
recent activity, making it initially hard to navigate. Xbox One’s pins help with this, as you can set a large volume of them up, but the only feature you
have for organization is "pin to front." There are no folders, and no real way to organize it.
• On top of this, you'll need to learn the right voice commands to get around if you want to take advantage of the platform. In some cases, it's actually
a solution for the cluttered OS. Just say, "Go to Dead Rising 3" and, as long as the Kinect hears you, it instantly switches over. Other features are not
so obvious. Quitting apps isn't intuitive, as you have to press the new menu button on the controller while the app is selected to find the quit
function. And if you want to do it with voice, you have to say "Xbox, show menu." It’s going to take some time to learn.
• 06:08
• IGN Live
10. • IGN Live - Xbox One Live Dashboard Demo
• Surprisingly, the idea of your friends list and achievements hasn't changed that much, despite how much of a trendsetter the Xbox 360 was. You'd think there'd be a lot more focus on
interacting at every corner. The only major upgrade is the activity feed, which can be snapped for a limited view of what's going on. The full page of activity is more graphically loaded to
call out achievements and new videos your friends may have uploaded. Party chat, meanwhile, is better than ever. It sounds fantastic and, if you can believe it, supports up to 32 people
(though only eight microphones can be active at once).
• A new SmartGlass app, specifically designed for the Xbox One, rounds out the experience. It's key to efficiently responding to messages via your phone or tablet, and is actually useful. It
doesn't feel clunky or gimmicky. Game developers are also free to make specific companion apps, as we've seen with Ryse which offers further functionality such using the second screen
to set up multiplayer or watch helpful videos.
• For Gamers
• If you’re a gamer, the experience has, naturally, been pushed forward. All the aforementioned additions, as well as the new Upload Studio, create a rich ecosystem. Upload not only lets
you edit or voice your own five-minute recorded clips, but view those of the entire community. Rest assured, it’s all a recipe for a future better than what we experienced on the Xbox
360. Although, at this time, while a Twitch app is supported for viewing live gameplay streams, you won’t be able to do any of your own streams just yet. While most people don’t stream
gameplay themselves, I do think it’s an oversight at launch and something all console gamers should have access to.
• The drawback for early adopters is that because Microsoft focused so heavily on all these new features that some of the basic gaming experiences suffer at times. I encountered a
number of problems that made me feel like I’d just bought a console that’s still in beta testing. It sounds scary, but this type of stuff only happens occasionally: games have frozen briefly,
seemingly brought down by the multitasking environment. It can be quirky. The interface slows down at times, I’ve gotten unwillingly thrown back to the home screen, and I’ve had
trouble with party chat as well.
• 05:48
• IGN Game Reviews
• Forza Motorsport 5 Video Review
• Forza Motorsport 5 is a great example of the leap forward. It looks fantastic, and uses the new Xbox One servers to power AI versions of you and your friends that keep racing even when
you’re not there. It stores information about how you, your friends, and real players around the world drive, so you're able to experience something more than just ghost laps. I can only
imagine how these advances will translate to blockbusters like the next Halo, Metal Gear Solid, or the up-and-comer mech shooter, Titanfall, to make them more than just graphical
updates of Xbox 360 games.
• All-in-One Living Room
• Then there’s the other side of Xbox One – the one that heavily integrates the new Kinect. It isn’t doing a ton to improve games yet, but for the whole experience, it does things you’ve
never seen before. The potential for instant switching and snap on your TV is huge. Watching the TV and getting real-time NFL updates is genuinely better than using your phone or
laptop. And during commercials, just say, “Xbox, go to…” Forza Motorsport 5, Netflix, or most anything else, and you'll usually get there faster than using the controller.
• Watching TV is a major centerpiece of Xbox One, so you'll be able to access your TV listings (if it’s supported in your area). The OneGuide, as it's called, is a decent reimagining of your
channel guide that adds the ability to track favorites and app channels. App channels like Hulu Plus can be added right there on your guide. But one crucial thing it can’t do is access your
DVR recordings, so you’re still forced to pick up your remote. And in a generation where video on demand is increasing in popularity, this is something that has to be fixed. Xbox One has
several of these dead ends where the ideal of hands-free commands falls apart. Such as when you try to type in Internet Explorer or a message.
• 06:50
• Feature
• Xbox One: How To Upload Gameplay Clips Using Upload Studio
• Furthermore, at any time, you’re able to seamlessly snap back to TV or another snap-supported app quickly. It’s thrilling when it works, but needs improvement. For example, you can’t
control the sound mix if you’re watching, for example, a Twitch gameplay stream and TV. Overall, it’s not exactly intuitive.
• Gesture control is another major Kinect feature, but so far the functionality is a letdown. The only moderate improvement is the ability to “grab” the screen, which I kind of like, but the
feature is inconsistent. And when you finally try to select something, it’s awkward and slow.
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• The Verdict
• Xbox One is an exciting entry into the new generation of home consoles that improves on the Xbox 360 in many ways. It offers a broader set of home entertainment features than its
closest rival, the PlayStation 4. But it’s also more expensive, and because it can’t parse natural language, it’ll force you to learn its specific vocabulary of commands in order to take
advantage of its interface. Whether that’s something your entire household is willing to do is up to you – and them. Fundamentally, it’s one of the biggest barriers to entry if Microsoft
hopes to take over the living room on a massive scale.
• If you’re purely interested in gaming, you may want to wait until the platform stabilizes or drops in price. However, if you’re more like me and are tired of the dumbest screen in your
house being your TV, the Xbox One will change your living room forever. Sure, you’re likely to experience some quirks – but Microsoft is pioneering new territory here. I, for one, will
never turn off my console and TV with a controller again.
11.
12. Personal Xbox One review
• The Xbox one is an exceptionally great console, it has great
features and plays all of my favourite games, it is more
attractive than any other console on the market.
• Xbox One features Xbox Live and the gamescore system,
which attracts me to this console specifically, as they are
very desirable features that are very appealing to me.
• All of the internal hardware such as the RAM is of a
reasonable standard and helps to improve the quality of
graphics available on this console, though they might not
compare to the graphics of a high – end PC or perhaps
other consoles, though the features and just the fact that
I’ve played Xbox since I was 12, encourage me to stick with
the Xbox franchise.
13. PS4 Review (Techradar)
• The PlayStation 4 is the most powerful games console on the planet.
• With more graphical power than the Xbox One, 32 times more system memory than the PS3 and a firm focus on pure gaming experiences rather than media mojo, it
has established itself as the next-gen console to beat.
• It's a games console built by gamers for gamers. It won the hearts and minds of many from the word go, with lots of prospective next-genners left feeling alienated
by some of Microsoft's bizarre policies and choices for the Xbox One – many of which were reversed as a result of a backlash.
• Coming in at £350, the PS4 is also £50 cheaper than the Xbox One despite the latter's recent price cut, making it appear terrific value. It doesn't come with the
PlayStation Camera (the One does come with Kinect) but this can be bought separately for £45 if you so wish.
• •Why the PlayStation 5 could be the cheapest games console ever
• The differences between the PS4 and Xbox One are actually evident before you even switch them on. Despite the two consoles both sporting similar half-matte half-
gloss finishes and containing very similar internal components, they really couldn't be more different.
• For a start, the PS4 is small and sleek in comparison to the enormous VCR-like square cuboid of the Xbox One. And this means that the PS4's box is half the size and
weight of the Xbox One. The Sony console can be extracted from its packaging and plugged in and booted up in a couple of minutes.
• The new DualShock4 pad is an improvement but it's not perfect
• Xbox One on the other hand comes in a huge, hulking box. It's fiddly to open and unpack, and it's full of little compartments, carboard and plastic to get in the way
and make a mess with. The environment was not a concern for Microsoft when it designed the Xbox packaging, clearly.
• This is the kind of streamlining that typifies the PlayStation experience with PS4. It's a console designed for gamers to play games and in this respect it could be
described as more of spiritual successor to the PlayStation 2 – still the best selling games console the universe has ever known.
• Design
• One look at the PS4 and you know you're seeing Sony hardware. It's slim, sleek and jet black, roughly the size of a second generation PS3 Slim. The full measurements
are 275 x 53 x 305 mm. It's a lot more compact than an Xbox One, which is longer, taller and squarer.
• Half matte, half gloss - just like the Xbox One
• In a feat of engineering worth tipping your hat to, and in spite of the PS4's slim stature, Sony has tucked the power supply inside the system, leaving no external
power brick to trip over. The Xbox One on the other hand retains the power brick of the Xbox 360.
• PS4 sports a sloped, asymmetrical design. That's its largest departure from PlayStations past. It lies flat on its belly by default, but can go up on its tiptoes with the
help of a plastic stand, sold separately for £16.99.
• On its face is a slit of a mouth, a slot loading Blu-ray disc drive. To its right are two powered USB 3.0 ports, which can charge your DualShock 4 controllers when the
system is turned off, a feature the PS3 sorely lacked.
14. • Along the top, or the side if you've opted for the stand, is a light, which glows blue when you boot it up. It breathes some life into the otherwise cold
industrial design of the system. Turn it on and it blinks a yawning hello.
• It's smaller than the PS3 Slim - some achievement given the internal power supply
• PS4 specifications
• Inside, the PS4 is all business. It has a custom single-chip processor that combines an eight core x86-64 AMD "Jaguar" CPU with a 1.84 teraflop GPU
based on AMD's Radeon tech. That's backed by 8GB of GDDR5 RAM, and a 500GB mechanical hard drive.
• Sony claims that the PS4's overall performance is ten times that of the PS3. You can also remove that 500GB drive and replace it with a larger drive,
or an SSD for better performance. Sony says these do it yourself upgrades will not void the system's warranty.
• Those two USB ports are the PS4's only front facing connections. In the rear you'll find HDMI, Ethernet, a digital optical audio out and a proprietary
auxiliary connection for the PlayStation Camera.
• For wireless connections, the PS4 uses 802.11 b/g/n for WiFi and Bluetooth 2.1 for its wireless DualShock 4 controllers.
• Features
• The PlayStation 4 is a living room computer, more so than the PS3 ever was. Not just because of its specs and AMD-based architecture, but because
of its robust feature set.
• It's capable of bringing games and movies quickly into your home, as well as connecting you to your friends and other online gamers through the
PlayStation Network as well as Twitter and Facebook to share brag-worthy gaming moments.
• The PS4 is hassle-free to extract and set up
• What's in the box?
• You're bringing home more than a just a stylish asymmetrical black console. In addition to the actual system you get a power cord (not a big power
brick), an HDMI cable, an earbud microphone combo, one DualShock 4 controller and its charging cable (we charged our DualShock 4 pad using the
Xbox One and the world did not end).
• Extra controllers don't come with another charging cable, so don't lose that one. Also, note that we said earbud singular, not earbuds, as in just for
one ear. It's cheap but serviceable, but you can actually plug any old headset or pair of buds you already own into the controller's headphone jack, so
it's not much of an issue.
15. • HDMI and power cables are supplied but you can use your PS3 wires if you like
• Setup
• Setting up the PlayStation 4 is very easy, especially if you have a PS3. You can actually use the same cables from Sony's last system, making for a very
easy swap.
• As mentioned on page 1, the PS4 is super easy to extract from its box and set up, leaving minimal mess and very little environment-killing packaging.
• Once it's all plugged in and booted up, your new PS4 will ask to connect to internet. It wants that 300MB day-one patch, but it doesn't need it for
offline play. You are able to skip WiFi or ethernet altogether and just pop in a game. Unlike the Xbox One, you can get to the homescreen without
initially connecting to the web and patching.
• Once you do connect to the internet, you'll need to let the PS4 update before you can make purchases from the store or play online.
• PlayStation Store games are expensive - physical copies are better value for the time being
• PlayStation Store
• Sony won the popularity contest at E3 by promising not to fiddle with used game trade-ins, but gamers will still have the option to purchase any and
all games on the day of release digitally through the PlayStation Store.
• While opting out of a physical copy means no disc to resell down the road, a digital copy brings a level of convenience to your purchase that's
reminiscent of Steam. It means no disc to lose, scratch or even bother inserting when you want to play. You won't have anything to sell to GameStop
though, nor will you be able to lend out the game.
• Games can even be played before a download completes. When purchasing a game like Killzone: Shadow Fall, you'll be asked which portion of the
game should be prioritized, single player or multiplayer, essentially letting you choose which part of the game you want to hop into first.
• In a little less than an hour, you'll be able to start playing a title. It may seem like something only the truly impatient would enjoy, but when you
consider that many releases weigh in excess of 35GB, it's real luxury feature, and another impressive bit of engineering.
• Then there's the PlayStation app for iOS and Android. With just the stroke of a touchscreen, you can remotely purchase games, and get the download
going on your PS4 so it's ready and waiting when you get home (the console will turn on, download and switch off on its own).
• Finally, PlayStation Plus is offering a bit of financial amnesty for customers who've bought copies of games like Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag or Call
of Duty: Ghosts for PS3, and other titles that are available on next and current-gen. For a small fee, you can get the next-gen version, providing you
insert your PS3 copy as a sort of proof of purchase.
• You'll have to continue to do so, meaning that every time you want to play the PS4 Call of Duty you bought through this offer, you'll need to pop in
the PS3 version. That last-gen copy will still work on your PS3 though, requiring the disc seems like a way to make sure customers can't use both
simultaneously.
• Using the Vita you can play remotely or use it as an extra control pad
16. • PS Vita Remote Play
• When Remote Play for the PS Vita was announced, everyone chirped that the PS4 would be the best thing ever to happen to Sony's struggling handheld. While
it may not sell many Vitas, considering customers have already spent a lot on a PS4, it'll certainly get current owners to dust off the system.
• Basically, a WiFi connected PS4 can stream gameplay to a Vita, much like a gaming PC streaming Borderlands 2 to an Nvidia Shield, or the proposed Windows
to Linux streaming of Valve's Steam Box.
• We used the PS4 and Vita over our home WiFi, provided by a three-year-old Apple AirPort. The connection to the PS4 was lag free, to the point where you
could actually use the handheld as a controller.
• And you can use it as a control pad, as well as a second screen, Smartglass style. It's a great way to avoid using the on screen keyboard, if nothing else.
• Outside of the same WiFi network as your PS4, Remote Play is not an option. At the office we couldn't get it to connect to our PS4 at home, and it simply isn't
an available over a 3G data connection. In regards to this, Sony's official statement is:
• "We strongly recommend that Remote Play be used within the same WiFi network where the PS4 system is connected. Remote Play may or may not work
over a wide area network. For Remote Play to function over a wide area network, a robust and stable WiFi connection and broadband Internet connection is
required, and the local area network where the PS4 system is connected must be configured to permit the PS Vita system to access the PS4 system."
• Sony's statement holds true, so Vita Remote Play is really more like a Wii U Gamepad, letting you play in bed or get a game in while someone else is using the
TV. It's not a strong reason to go out and buy a Vita, but if you already own, it's an impressive novelty at the very least.
• Recording gameplay is super easy but sharing it is less so
• Sharing Gameplay Videos
• When Sony pulled the PS4 out of the shadows and started rattling off features, it mentioned one truly original and intriguing feature: saving and sharing
gameplay videos with the press of the Share button on the DualShock 4.
• At all times when playing a game, your last fifteen minutes of action is being recorded. This can be disabled, if you find it creepy or want to save on hard drive
space, but it's switched on by default. There are also places where recording or screen grabs are locked out by developers. It's usually during cinematics or in
certain menus.
• Right on the console you can manipulate the video to a limited degree, more like trimming than true editing, and then share it to Facebook or on the PSN. You
can also take a screenshot by holding the Share button, and then attach it to a PSN message, Facebook or tweet it.
• Sharing videos and screens is limited to social networks and the PSN. There's no way to get them to YouTube or Flickr, or create a private link to the video.
That's a real disappointment, especially since the Xbox One offers you a lot more freedom with your clips, like uploading them YouTube. In a perfect world
we'd be able to plug in a thumb drive and grab the raw video, but that's not allowed.
• However, you can stream live gameplay for others to watch over Twitch and Ustream, something PC gamers have enjoyed for a while now. It's quite painless
to set up, especially compared to the third-party mechanics needed to employ this on a last-gen system.
17.
18. Personal PS4 Review
• The PS4 is a very undesirable console for me, it
plays little of the games I am interested in playing
and I just don’t find the console or features
desirable.
• People may argue that the online is better and
the trophie sytem is sometimes morew
preferable than Xbox’s gamescore system.
• I am also deterred by the internal CPU, as the
Xbox One had an external power brick so it is
more likely to last longer and not overheat.
19. WII U review
• The Wii U: Nintendo's Biggest Gamble?
•
• First reviewed 30th November 2012
•
• Wii U Retrospective: The forgotten next-gen console
• The Wii U was launched just before last Christmas and it hasn't exactly been flying off the shelves. Now, finally, the big-guns have shown their
hands and the PS4 and Xbox One have been released and by comparison the Wii U looks more than a little underpowered.
•
• But consoles are all about games and when you look at the launch line-ups for Sony's and Microsoft's consoles they feel more than a little
light. By contrast the Wii U has had a year's head-start and, arguably, it may be the better choice if you want to have fun this Christmas,
particularly with the likes of the excellent Super Mario 3D World. At £250 for a Wii U bundled with Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, it's also a fair
bit cheaper than its competitors.
• When we reviewed the the Wii U last year we gave it an 8/10. If we were reviewing it today, having used the Xbox One and PS4, would it get
the same score? No, but that doesn't mean it's a bad console. As ever, Nintendo has taken its own road with the Wii U, making it the console
that offers something a little different the mainstream fare from Sony and Microsoft.
• Read the full review to find out more.
•
• Introduction
• We've seen Nintendo pull off stranger things before. Remember the confusion that confronted the Nintendo DS at launch? The scorn poured
on the nascent Wii just before it became the biggest selling console of its generation? By focusing on innovation rather than performance,
graphics fidelity, services and all the other things Microsoft and Sony have traditionally sold consoles on, Nintendo has always played a risky
game. So far it's paid off, but the Wii U feels like Nintendo's biggest gamble yet.
• We needn't go overboard on the reasons why. Just as Sony and Microsoft prepare to launch new, more powerful hardware, Nintendo has
chosen to launch a console that's – optimistically speaking – only marginally more potent than the existing 360 or PS3. It has a faster and
more modern GPU, believed to be a variation on AMD’s Radeon 6760, and 1GB of RAM against the 512MB available in the 360. However,
we're already hearing grumbles about the performance of the IBM PowerPC-based tri-core CPU, and early games do little to convince you that
Wii U is even half a generation beyond the existing formats; we’ve yet to see anything that convinces us that it’s technically superior in any
tangible sense. Yet nobody expects Wii U to sell based on its graphics muscle. Instead, like the Wii and 3DS, it will sell or not sell based on the
unique experience it delivers.
20. • Wii U - Video Review
•
• Wii U - The Bundles
• The Wii U is selling in three bundles in the UK, with the key differentiators being the amount of onboard Flash RAM (vital for downloadable content as well as saved games) and software.
The cheapest, at roughly £250, gets you an 8GB console, the Wii U GamePad, power adaptors and an HDMI cable. The £300 Premium pack takes the storage up to 32GB and adds a stand
and a charging cradle. A final limited-edition Zombi U pack has mostly the same stuff at the same price, but swaps Nintendo Land for Zombi U and throws in the new Pro Controller. The
Premium and Zombi U Packs would get our recommendation as although it appears like you can add storage to the 8GB version via its SD slot, this can't be used for Wii U content but
rather is there for backwards compatibilty with Wii games and for extra features like downloaded content. Plus, that 8GB storage, once formatted and with the Wii U software installed
only actually gives the end user about 3GB of space, which is a tiny amount.
• Wii U - The Hardware
• Say what else you like about it, but the Wii U is a seriously impressive bit of console engineering. It's a few inches deeper and slightly taller and wider than the Wii, but still very compact
and extremely quiet – even more so than the thin and light PS3. The front hosts the slot-loading optical drive, Power, Eject and Controller pairing buttons and – beneath a flap – two USB
2.0 ports and an SD Memory Card slot. At the back you’ll find an HDMI output, an AV Multi Out port, a connector for the new, slightly smaller Sensor Bar and two more USB 2.0 ports. The
latter will support external USB hard disks of up to 2TB in size, though they’ll need their own power supply.
• It's an unobtrusive unit, but then Wii U"s selling point isn't so much the console as the bundled Wii U GamePad controller. You might be expecting this to be a slim tablet-like device, but
in fact it's closer to an oversized handheld games machine, with comfortable, moulded grips, twin analogue pads, digital trigger and bumper buttons and a large 6.2in LCD touchscreen.
• As well as four face buttons, plus and minus buttons and an old-school D Pad, there's also a Home button, a power button that switches both the pad and console off' and another button
marked TV. This, rather handily, switches the pad to a mode where it offers basic remote control functions for your TV. Having chosen your manufacturer and tested functionality in the
initial setup routine, you can power on your TV, change inputs and adjust the volume using the Wii U pad instead of your TV remote. What’s more, if you use your TV’s built-in tuner you
can access the guide and search for programmes. This won’t replace your TV’s remote or a proper universal control, but it might save you juggling remotes or searching for one when you
want to get gaming with your Wii.
• There's no question that the Wii U GamePad has been built to a budget. In terms of its plasticky materials and construction it's no match for a Google Nexus 7 or Kindle Fire HD, let alone
a PS Vita or iPad Mini. The screen resolution is a standard definition 854 x 480 pixels. Yet within those constraints it's a really nice, comfortable and usable unit. The display might not be
pin-sharp or super-vivid, but it's bright, punchy and clear enough to make games look good. The on-board sound is a little muffled, but also surprisingly usable, and you can always use
the headphone output on the top.
•
• Wii U - Using the GamePad
• This is important because the Wii U GamePad has two party pieces. Obviously it functions as a touchscreen controller, allowing you to play some games using touch controls, or access in-
game functions like inventories and tactical maps. With built-in tilt accelerometer and gyroscope controls, NFC support and a front-facing camera, it’s a seriously versatile pad.
• However, it can also be used as a mirror display, allowing you to play games on the Wii U even when the TV is switched off or tuned to another input. The processing isn't done on the
GamePad - thus why it's not actually a portable games console - but rather your inputs and the resultant pictures are sent back and forth from the console.
• It's quite a technical achievement as there's no discernible lag and it works at a distance of up to 10 metres – we’ve had it running in the next room and even the room directly upstairs -
and it's rapidly become one of our favourite things about Wii U. No longer does the game have to end just because your housemate wants to watch the footie or your partner wants to
watch Kirstie and Phil. You can play as long as you feel like it – though you might want to think about the sound.
• Well, OK, there is one limitation. Battery life on the Wii U GamePad is close to awful, with around three to four hours from a charge in our experience. The two answers to this are to keep
it plugged in to its charger, or play in bursts and remember to recharge between sessions – something that's much easier with the charging cradle bundled with the premium pack.
Neither is entirely satisfactory, and when you consider how long budget tablets with more on-board processing now last for, it's a fairly irritating flaw. .
• Read more at http://www.trustedreviews.com/wii-u_Games_review#0O52bFTQXXH6TlfA.99
21.
22. Personal WII U review
• The WII U is very undesirable to myself, in
runs low graphics games and is hardly a next
gen console. The only positive thing I have to
say about it is that it looks rather nice….
24. RAM
• The RAM used in my console will be 8GB of
GDDR5, because this is a very high quality of
RAM and is one of the fastest out there and it
would not take up too much space in the
console.
25. CPU
• AMD x86 Jaguar 1.6GHZ 8-Core, this is the
same CPU used in the PS4, I have chosen this
because it is of a very high quality and will
enable the console to play new games with no
problems.
26. Graphics Processor
• AMD next-generation Radeon-based graphics
engine, I will use the latest possible to ensure
high quality and optimised gameplay.
27. Video Display
• HDMI output, I have chosen this because most
homes have at least one TV with HDMI
support enabling the console to run HD game
content.
28. Sound/Audio
• HD sound output, standard HD sound suitable
for all games and can be used for surround
sound. I have chosen this so the user of the
console will get an immersive experience
when playing the games featured on the
console.
29. Internal Hard Drive
• 500GB hard drive, suitable for gamers wishing
to save games to the console and it doesn’t
take up too much space in the console itself.
30. Portable Storage media
• Optical discs, the most common storage
media used today and very suitable and
preferred for this console.
31. Power Supply
• The power supply will be an external power
brick to reduce space used in the console and
it better for the health of the console.
32. Controller
• Standard controller similar to the Xbox
controller, wired and wireless compatibility,
connects to console via wireless or USB.
34. Operating system
• Dedicated OS, can be programmed to make
navigating through the consoles features very
easy, will also feature a game point system
allowing the user to earn points for playing
games in which they can compare to their
friends points online.
