PS4 launch and shutdown

30/11/2013

PS4
I thought I’d made up my mind to pick up a PS4 first in the new generation, although I’m in no rush as the launch titles don’t seem to be anything special.

I love Sony’s product style, and their viral marketing campaigns are targeted well. I find Microsoft make a more rounded seamless product, much like Apple in the mobile hardware space, but I find their games souless… although I still spend many hours a week playing games on the console, it’s still Gate’s mega software corporation.

So I’ve read that there have been hardware issues with both the xbox one and the PS4.


XBOX One’s have an issue with deffective optical drives, although the owners are been given a free game for their inconvenience
While a replacement console is on its way, we want to ensure our advance exchange customers can stay in the game. We will provide each of them with a free digital download of one of the launch titles published by Microsoft Studios.

Update: To clarify, the free game only applies to those with a defective disc drive. Those with bricked or crash-prone consoles are still on their own.

This is kinda funny, as Microsoft have chosen to use the now benchmark Blu-ray player for the XBOX One, after competing with Sony for the next platform with HD DVD in the last console gen war.


Sony’s issue doesn’t seem specific to a single component, but just an issue of cummulative count of errors when over a million failiure rate, the ‘flashing blue light of death’ caused by faults with the HDMI connection.

“There have been several issues reported, which leads us to believe there isn’t a singular problem that could impact a broader percentage of PS4 units. We also understand that some units were reportedly damaged during shipping. The number of affected PS4 systems is less than 1%, which represents a very small percentage of total units shipped to date and is within the expected range for a new product introduction. We understand the frustration of consumers that have had a problem and are working with them and our retail partners to help troubleshoot issues and ensure affected units are exchanged.”

And then the shutdown, I think it’s genius!
PSN features disabled for PS4 launch

Rather than let the new servers be tested for the first real time at launch, Sony are allowing more people access over time. After GTA 5 shutdown the Rockstar servers