MrBiffo
patreon
GAMING CONTENT!!!!!
🕑 Added 2020-11-19 19:59:42 +0000 UTC'Ello. I've not pre-ordered a PS5 or a Xbox X or whatever it's called. I think this is the first generation of gaming hardware that I've not bought when it came out. Admittedly, I waited a little while to get a Wii U... but the combination of, frankly, being broke thanks to this wretched year, and having to save money for Christmas, and the fact I can't entirely wrap my head around the benefit of either... means I'm not in any rush.
Yes, yes... 60fps, 4k, faster load times... but in practice, without a bunch of exclusive titles that really showcase the USP of this next generation, I can't see myself getting either any time soon. I'm currently still making my way through Watchdogs Legion and Assassin's Creed Valhalla, and the only other games I kind of want to play are the new Spider-Man game and the new Call of Duty. All of those are on PS4. And, having watched a bunch of YouTube videos very, very closely, that compare and contrast the games on various platforms... I... I... I'm not getting it. Yes, I know: faster load times. I KNOW!
I know I've been knocking around forever, and this sounds like the grumbling of an old fart, but there was a time when a new generation of hardware meant a quantum shift in gameplay. The new technology a new console brought with it would change the sorts of games that were possible. The leap from 8-bit to 16-bit, from cartridge to CD-Rom, from CD to DVD... Ever since the PS3 and Xbox 360, the generational shifts have been incremental, and it's only until years into the life of those new systems that we really got to see what they were capable of.
I mean, Assassin's Creed Valhalla is a stunning game on PS4. Plus, much as I hate loading/install times, I've noticed in the last couple of years that they've been getting a lot better. I tend to accommodate it now; get a game loading an hour or so before I know I'm going to be ready to play it. So, I can wait... because I have to.
Admittedly, I'm an enormous hypocrite. I'm probably just finding reasons to make myself feel better, because if I had the money right now, I'd absolutely buy myself a PS5 for Christmas. I'm venting, because I've spent all day watching people receiving theirs, via Twitter and Facebook! As a marker of how tough this year has been for us, and the sacrifices we've made to get through it, not being able to buy a PS5 feels like just another thing. A small thing, but significant in its own way, because in any other year I'd have early adopted like I always do. But... compared to what some have been through this year... it's nothing really.
I don't want one. Really I don't. I'll keep telling myself that. Enjoy your PS5s.
Paul
Comments
Nicola
I got an MSX
Dave Graves
I always buy a broken one and fix it, for pennies. Often it's something simple and quick to replace like the USB has detached from the mobo, preventing bootup, or the on/off switch is clogged with hand gunk from being in a sticky person's house (you know the type)...bit of isoprop' and cotton buds sort that right out. Trick is to do your ebay research well. Look for people who rarely sell items as, they're often just genuine members of the public who're looking to pick up a couple of quid for the broken kit. If you find someone who does a high-turnover, then they're likely fixit people who've tried and failed to fix it themselves, and are now looking to recoup their loss.
Thomas Thacker
I usually wait for the "slim" model before buying a new console these days. By that point the hardware's cheaper, more reliable, and has a good library of games built up that can be had for a good price. Like you say, there's nothing really new to see these days... Most of the consoles I've bought at launch I've later regretted (main exception being the GameCube), and the only console I regret not getting earlier is the Wii U.
PJ Close
I find myself less excited about this generation kicking off as well. Yes, they're a bit more sparkly and shiny, but I'm not seeing anything I *need* to play right now. I've always been a believer in gameplay over graphics (My top 2 games of the year are both on Switch), but I'm also increasingly tired of most AAA games these days. All that said, if I could easily procure a PS5 right now I almost certainly would...because I'm a geek. But I also don't care I'm likely gonna have to wait a while. I don't feel like I'm missing out on much...yet.
Sedric And Charlie
I think it's an inevitabliity that we have to get a fair way into a system's lifespan to see the stops pulled out, as it takes time to learn how to exploit the new power under the hood. So yeah the PS5 doesn't look distinct now, but it sort of has to start out this way or we'll never get there. Which is all academic for me really because I fear and shun any videogame where I can't clearly pick out all four edges of the pixels
Tyronne Mann
After enduring load times on cassette back in the 8 bit days of anything between 5-10 minutes if not more if you include multiloaders and the like....present day load times are really inconsequential and all the fluff about the new consoles just leaves me cold and I very much doubt I will get either as I would much rather spend the cash on my pc. It really does not take long for the buff of the new shiny systems to rub away as there is nothing within them that makes me go `wow` in anyway shape or form and as for the games, aside from a few most will end up on pc in some form so why even bother getting one?
Rich John
Y'know, despite owing far more consoles than I can connect to the TVs in my house, I've never been an earlier adopter. The rush to be the first to own a console has never really appealed to me, even though I actually have the money this time around to do it. This generation seems like even less of a leap because basically there's no games, especially on xbox. I'll probably pick up an xbox series x around April next year when there's enough supply that people aren't still scalping them for way above RRP. There might be some actual games on them to play by then. Never really been a playstation guy so maybe I'll get one of those in a year or two, but looking at the size of the bloody thing, I can't say I'm desperate to have that in my house any time soon.
FluxMarsh
To your point about Last-gen load times seeming better; I heard, roughly a year ago, analysts talking about the compression becoming more efficient, so even the likes of Call Of Duty will not need 1/5 of a Terabyte, eventually. On new-gen and future tech, even 8k (PS5 touts 8k capable) textures won't be a problem, with a bit of time. Check back in with the 4k/High res crowd in 2 years when you're a lot more likely to benefit from any of that (and that's even if you feel any kind of improvement from purported High refresh rates, Your Mileage May Vary). I also predict we won't need to be worried about loading times in 5 years, more stream quality and input lag, even after Google bury Stadia in 2021, what with publishers siding with, and being consumed by platform holders.
Stu The Brummie
I feel exactly the same about mobile phones, the technological leap between each upgrade used to be huge, but now it's just marginally better cameras or slightly nicer screens. I don't get excited when it's time to upgrade any more and this time I just changed to sim only.
