Page 10 IN-DEPTH ENTERTAINMENT SPORTS Vol. 4, Issue 3NEWS OPINIONS FEATURES

Console warsThe newest video game hardware battles for control

By Connor Luedtke, reporter

NEXT GEN GRAPHICS: The difference between the previous generation of game consoles and the newly released PlayStation 4 is noticable in games such as “Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag,” which is currently out for most gaming systems. GEForce Web Site

The next battle in the video game war is finally upon us. With the newest generation of game consoles finally out, the questions of quality can finally be

answered. Although many consider the Wii U to be a part of the next-gen console family its utter failure in releasing a year earlier than other systems forced it out of the top unit picture due to disinterest in the video game market at the time. The PlayStation 4, on the other hand, has simply blown me away. It’s superior speed, size, and power definitely change the way video games are played. Other consoles released this year include the Ouya and Xbox One, which attempted to be an all-in-one entertainment system. Bigger isn’t always better, as the Xbox One ap-pears to be slightly inferior. The first revolutionary change is simply in the controller. Slight differences in the triggers and analog sticks allow for smoother gameplay, and the addition of a touchpad in the middle of the stick helps advance the possibility of separate device compatibility with the console. Ever since the PlayStation Vita was released, Sony’s video game entertainment division has pushed for con-nection between handheld gaming devices and their re-spective consoles. So far it’s been to no avail, but utilizing a touch pad on the standard controller forces third party companies to strongly consider the handheld aspects of gaming. Especially after the connection that Windows Glass is making with the Xbox One, most notably in “Dead Rising 3,” it won’t be long until we see complete interaction between our smart phones and video game consoles. Moving on to the actual console, every aspect of the previous console has been improved upon. The ability to play a game online while it’s still downloading onto the console is a game-changing feature, as well as the fast

load times. Instead of the previous 10-15 second wait times to get from the console’s menu to the game’s start screen, the PS4 transitions between the two seamlessly. The online problems that plagued the PS3 seem to be fixed, but it’s still very early in the console’s life. Some bugs have been detected in individual consoles. The system will sometimes shut down when a game is down-loading or will refuse to work once plugged into a T.V. I didn’t encounter any problems while using the console. But, as typical with any launching console, it doesn’t have a whole lot of games yet. That being said, the games out are fantastic. Although “Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag” was out for the previous generation Xbox One, it plays very well on the PlayStation 4. The graphics are stunning, as the higher power in the game’s engine that the new console allows makes games look more lifelike than ever before. This power is most noticeable in the incredibly realistic first person shooter “KillZone: Shadow Fall.” The PlayStation 4 faces some strong competition in the Xbox One, but I think both consoles will do well this holiday season. The Xbox One appears to be more family-oriented and is leaning towards being a multi-en-tertainment system. The PS4, on the other hand, pushes its gaming capability more. Although both consoles are considerably weak compared to PC gaming, it’s a lot cheaper to buy a $400 gaming system then a $2,000+ quality gaming computer. Overall, the PS4 paves the way for a great future in gaming. Every change made was both essential and pro-gressive in Sony’s mission to change the way that video games are played. In fact, “played” will soon no longer be the right word. Once Oculus Rift and other virtual reality devices are added to video gaming, they’ll become an “experience.” Although both consoles are now out, the war between which company is best is far from over.

Leah CatesElkhorn South HS