Need help, which next-gen console is for me?

[Nate_007]

I plan on switching back to console gaming because I will be using my current PC mainly for work (server/VMs/testing/networking/etc). I haven't been reading up a lot of info about the XB1 and PS4 cuz Im quite busy at work, so Im just wondering if you guys can help me decide which one to get.

Lets just say I dont really care about exclusives since most of the games I like will be multi-plat. I also rarely play online, although I play any games that are good Im just not a competitive gamer. I also would like to think about the future, maybe would like to share the system with my future wife and use it to entertain friends and family etc. I currently have PS4 pre-ordered.

Thanks guys,

 

[purbeast0]

get whatever one has the games you want. we can't tell you what games you want.

 

[Nate_007]

get whatever one has the games you want. we can't tell you what games you want.

Thanks for the reply, as I said, I dont really care about the exclusives. Most of the game I like will be multiplat so it doesnt matter if go XB1 or PS4 when concerning game titles.

 

[smackababy]

"I didn't do my research, please do it for me" should be the title of this thread.

If you only care about multiplatform games and not exclusives, pick whichever fits your budget. If your budget is unlimited, pick whichever has the controller you like the most. If you don't care about that, flip a coin.

 

[Nate_007]

"I didn't do my research, please do it for me" should be the title of this thread.

If you only care about multiplatform games and not exclusives, pick whichever fits your budget. If your budget is unlimited, pick whichever has the controller you like the most. If you don't care about that, flip a coin.

Im not asking people to research infos for me, I just want to know the things people would consider when buying the next gen-consoles. Even if I read up infos, most of them will be bias. I pre-ordered PS4 because they said it will be 50% faster, coming from PC thats what we all want, the fastest. I think the next-gen consoles cannot be treated this way. So you were almost helpful, will consider controller ergonomics. Thanks for that.

 

[Fingolfin269]

50% faster than what? And who is 'they'?

 

[purbeast0]

the only thing i would consider about a console is what games will be available on the consoles. there is absolutely no other reason i would purchase a console.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Im not asking people to research infos for me, I just want to know the things people would consider when buying the next gen-consoles. Even if I read up infos, most of them will be bias. I pre-ordered PS4 because they said it will be 50% faster, coming from PC thats what we all want, the fastest. I think the next-gen consoles cannot be treated this way. So you were almost helpful, will consider controller ergonomics. Thanks for that.

Think about it this way.

The ps4 has about 50% more compute power and more shader cores in the GPU. That means games that use the extra power cannot be done on an xb1 without some sacrifices. Most multiplatform games will be the same either way but the ps4 has the potential to look and run better when the extra power is used. So first party exclusives (which IMO Sony is superior in) will probably look better on ps4 when compared to the best first party games on the xb1.

If nothing else the ps4 is $100 less money.

Or you could be like me and get both and not miss out on anything.

 

[Midwayman]

Do you care about the non game stuff? That's the real reason to pick the xb1 over the ps4 (other than exclusives) It looks like it'll be a better media box.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The two are very similar, and now are both like locked-down PCs.

The difference is that this time the PS4 has a better video card, more memory, and is actually easier to develop for since it uses fast GDDR5 memory instead of slow DDR3 memory plus a small amount of ESRAM (the xbox).

For cross-platform games this means the PS4 will be able to offer one or all of higher resolution, better image quality, higher FPS.

Sony is currently also much friendlier to independent developers so expect many more imdie games to show up for it.

If you like Japanese games, the 360 failed utterly there and the X1 is not even launching there until sometime in 2014 so expect the PS4 to get more JRPGs and other games.

Neither one has backwards compatibility, so your existing libraries won't work on either.

Both now require a ~$50 a year fee for online gaming. With the PS4 you only need this for online games, with the X1 you also need this for Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc.

The main reasons you might want the X1 are:
- You like the controller better
- You play online a lot and have a bunch of friends on Xbox Live
- You love the Kinect

 

[cmdrdredd]

Do you care about the non game stuff? That's the real reason to pick the xb1 over the ps4 (other than exclusives) It looks like it'll be a better media box.

To clarify this point. The PS4 does not communicate with your Cable box and pass through the HDMI signal and does not offer the channel guide through the system. The XB1 does.

Both will...
Play back Blu-Ray movies
play back movies & music streamed from your PC
play back movies and digital media loaded onto the internal HDD or via USB
Work with Netflix, Hulu Plus etc services (requires Xbox Live Gold subscription on the XB1)
Have music streaming service as well as movie rental/download service


One thing the PS4 has that the XB1 does not is a user upgradeable HDD. Both come with a 500GB HDD as standard, but if you feel you want more space the PS4 will allow you to remove the 500GB drive and install a larger one of your choice. This may not matter unless you do all your games digital and don't delete old ones as well as use it for your media storage.

 

[American Gunner]

These consoles are so evenly matched on several areas that it is hard to tell you what to get. You really will have to decide if Kinect is a waste of time and which controller you like more, but you probably won't know what the dual shock actually feels like until the system is out.

 

[Nate_007]

The two are very similar, and now are both like locked-down PCs.

The difference is that this time the PS4 has a better video card, more memory, and is actually easier to develop for since it uses fast GDDR5 memory instead of slow DDR3 memory plus a small amount of ESRAM (the xbox).

For cross-platform games this means the PS4 will be able to offer one or all of higher resolution, better image quality, higher FPS.

Sony is currently also much friendlier to independent developers so expect many more imdie games to show up for it.

If you like Japanese games, the 360 failed utterly there and the X1 is not even launching there until sometime in 2014 so expect the PS4 to get more JRPGs and other games.

Neither one has backwards compatibility, so your existing libraries won't work on either.

Both now require a ~$50 a year fee for online gaming. With the PS4 you only need this for online games, with the X1 you also need this for Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc.

The main reasons you might want the X1 are:
- You like the controller better
- You play online a lot and have a bunch of friends on Xbox Live
- You love the Kinect

I did not know you need Xbox live even just to watch Netflix, my girlfriend loves watching movies on netflix and I do not play online as much. So XB1 will surely not be beneficial to both of us.

 

[cmdrdredd]

I did not know you need Xbox live even just to watch Netflix, my girlfriend loves watching movies on netflix and I do not play online as much. So XB1 will surely not be beneficial to both of us.

Sounds like PS4 is for you. Which is perfectly fine.

Yes, netflix does require an Xbox Live Gold subscription. On the PS4 you can use the free PSN account services to access netflix, hulu etc.

 

[American Gunner]

I did not know you need Xbox live even just to watch Netflix, my girlfriend loves watching movies on netflix and I do not play online as much. So XB1 will surely not be beneficial to both of us.

Just remember that if you end up wanting to play online, you will have to pay for plus on the PS4. But I think that it sounds like you should lean that way anyways.

 

[Midwayman]

To clarify this point. The PS4 does not communicate with your Cable box and pass through the HDMI signal and does not offer the channel guide through the system. The XB1 does.

Both will...
Play back Blu-Ray movies
play back movies & music streamed from your PC
play back movies and digital media loaded onto the internal HDD or via USB
Work with Netflix, Hulu Plus etc services (requires Xbox Live Gold subscription on the XB1)
Have music streaming service as well as movie rental/download service


One thing the PS4 has that the XB1 does not is a user upgradeable HDD. Both come with a 500GB HDD as standard, but if you feel you want more space the PS4 will allow you to remove the 500GB drive and install a larger one of your choice. This may not matter unless you do all your games digital and don't delete old ones as well as use it for your media storage.

The XB1 just uses a usb3 external drive. Can't change the stock one, but not like you're left without options if you need more space.

FWIW the 360 acts as a IPTV interface for some services, and will play on demand service for other cable companies. It also acts as a media extender for WMC if you use that for DVR. Its reasonable to expect this to continue or expand, though unannounced. Given the focus they put on this I'd bet on expansion.

Also a lot of blueray players offer everything in your list. That doesn't make them equal as media boxes. MS is offering a qualitatively better experience in that regard. Also the HDMI pass through is more than just a channel guide even under annouced stuff. They showed it doing a lot of the '2nd screen' material with their side bar stuff that some shows push off onto tablets or PCs currently.

Who knows if it'll be worth giving up the performance, and the extra cost, but it is stuff Sony isn't focusing on at all.

 

[cmdrdredd]

The XB1 just uses a usb3 external drive. Can't change the stock one, but not like you're left without options if you need more space.

FWIW the 360 acts as a IPTV interface for some services, and will play on demand service for other cable companies. It also acts as a media extender for WMC if you use that for DVR. Its reasonable to expect this to continue or expand, though unannounced. Given the focus they put on this I'd bet on expansion.

Also a lot of blueray players offer everything in your list. That doesn't make them equal as media boxes. MS is offering a qualitatively better experience in that regard. Also the HDMI pass through is more than just a channel guide even under annouced stuff. They showed it doing a lot of the '2nd screen' material with their side bar stuff that some shows push off onto tablets or PCs currently.

Who knows if it'll be worth giving up the performance, and the extra cost, but it is stuff Sony isn't focusing on at all.

Don't even go there...you're opening a can of worms.

I made a valid point...you're just looking like a MS salesperson.

Everything the OP is asking about is fulfilled by a PS4. Nothing an Xb1 does extra seems to make any difference to the original question. I'd wager that a majority of people buying an XB1 early on won't use kinect or the TV stuff.

 

[Nate_007]

I appreciate all of your input guys! I guess I will keep my PS4 pre-order, I am not a fanboy or anything. Just wanted a system that suits my condition, its just a downer that you need XLive just to watch netflix.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The PS3 can stream from PCs, etc. that support the DLNA streaming standard. I've done this with music but haven't tried it with movies since I don't rip or torrent them.

Sony has a 7 year head start over MS in blu-ray playback, and (at least to my eyes) the PS3 DVD upscaling is better than the 360's. So I'd expect PS4 disc playback to be better at launch.

But yes, if you want a pop-up chat window to show on screen while you watch TV the X1 does have an advantage there.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Short answer, get a PC. This gen will be the most ports ever as the change between systems is minimal and publishers want to push there games as much as they can. I have a feeling the "exclusives" will be short lived and far fewer. Not saying there won't be ANY..but...

Or get a Wii-U, because it will be the only system that gets game no one else does and will be dirt cheap soon.

 

[DaveSimmons]

The Wii U is PS3 / 360 level hardware. For that you might as well get a $250 PS3 with blu-ray support (Wii U lacks it).

 

[ImpulsE69]

The Wii U is PS3 / 360 level hardware. For that you might as well get a $250 PS3 with blu-ray support (Wii U lacks it).

I think you missed the point of my post, but really your thought is good. However, I think people over estimate the worth of blu-ray support( or blu-ray players in general) on consoles these days though.

 

[Pr0d1gy]

You picked a bad time to switch to console gaming OP. Lower resolution, less capability, mandatory internet tax, are just a few of the many "great new features" the next gen of consoles is bringing to your home.

 

[ImpulsE69]

You picked a bad time to switch to console gaming OP. Lower resolution, less capability, mandatory internet tax, are just a few of the many "great new features" the next gen of consoles is bringing to your home.

You forgot that they can change tv channels!! This is what we ALL wanted from our game consoles We are saved!

 

[cmdrdredd]

There are ALWAYS games you can never ever get on PC. You'll never see a Naughty Dog title on PC, never see Forza on PC, never see Killer Instinct on PC, never see Killzone on PC, never see Infamous on PC, or Knack. The list goes on.

Yeah there is no reason to hold back an easy PC port but that doesn't mean we are guaranteed them now. Thinking we'll get everything is naive and if we do see games on PC a lot of them may not be day one releases. So there's that too.

PC gaming is great, but there are numerous reasons a console is not a bad choice.