4.
"Bloodborne" incorporates the horror of Cthulhu style
In the last century, the most powerful ones were arcade machines, followed by home machines, and finally personal computers.
However, with the development of the trend of the times, especially the emergence of the "Moore effect" in computer hardware, the situation has been completely reversed. Personal computers that update quickly and develop rapidly are more powerful in entertainment and audio and video. Home game consoles can only be dealt with through software updates during their life cycle. Arcade machines have long become a thing of the past. Capcom, Konami, Namco, etc. Manufacturers with arcade origins have also completed the transformation of home games, and arcades have gradually become an ancient term. More arcade manufacturers such as TAITO, DATA ESTA, etc. that were not sensitive to the market began to fall behind or even be eliminated.
The PS4 successfully suppressed the XBOX1 in this generation. The Nintendo Wiiu quickly collapsed after its release and was temporarily supported by the handheld 3DS. In the three years since the launch of PS4, there have been many masterpieces including "Final Fantasy 15", "Persona 5", "Dark Souls III", "Uncharted 4", "Bloodborne", "The Witcher 3", "Fallout 4", "Metal Gear Solid 5" all performed well. In particular, the exclusive new IP "Bloodborne" has become an instant hit among core players, becoming a unique new star with its ultra-high difficulty and worth-exploring content. Thanks to the rise of the live broadcast industry, players who are interested in this type of game can refer to the clearance process of game anchors. Excellent games have been recognized by more people. Of course, there is no problem with cloud clearance.
"Uncharted 4" has beautiful graphics
2015 was the most prosperous year for PS4. Not only did it have four great gods to protect it, but it also left X1 and WIIU far behind, and it was already a champion. The only thing that worries SCE is that PC games have become a force that cannot be ignored. Many third-party manufacturers have also developed PC versions to make another fortune from console versions of games. The friendly development environment and mature distribution model have attracted many independent developers. Extraordinary creative games are often launched on the computer first, and then transplanted to the console platform after success. Directly leading to a decrease in the attractiveness of the host.
In November 2016, Sony decided to launch a new model out of caution. The first one announced is the thin and light version, priced at $299. This is also Sony's consistent product strategy: simplify the structure after the technology matures, and reduce product prices to gain market share. But what players are paying attention to is another PS4 version, the PS4 PRO with improved hardware and enhanced graphics.
PS4 PRO on sale for $399
This $399 game console can basically meet the needs of current mainstream games. First, the CPU frequency is increased from 1.6G to 2.1G, which improves the computing speed. It is equipped with a minimum 1T hard drive, expands the storage space, supports 4K games, and improves the image quality. This is a good choice for new players who want to buy a PS4.
PS4 PRO provides an enhanced mode that allows games that do not support 4K image quality to output more detailed images through interpolation operations. The display effect on a large TV is greatly improved. Games developed later need to support 4K image quality, such as The effect of a masterpiece like "God of War 4" on PS4 PRO is clearer and smoother than slim, and the distant scenes are more clear-cut. Although later games can also be run on slim, this psychological gap also makes many players choose to switch to stronger consoles.
Replacement in the middle of the life cycle, this method generally appears more on cars. This kind of situation has never happened with game consoles in the past. This is a kind of harm to old users. The game consoles that have been bought for about three years are supposed to be in the maturity stage. Suddenly a stronger brother appears, and it is not a next-generation console. , is an enhanced version, which makes players have some concerns about the compatibility of later games.
God of War 4 reinterprets Norse mythology
Until the second half of 2019, the PS4 series has achieved the leading position in the industry with its excellent software lineup and exclusive game advantages. In particular, the best game of the year in 2018 and 2019 was awarded to "God of War 4" on the PS4 platform. and "Sekiro" (cross-platform), which played a huge role in driving console sales. PS4 sales exceeded 100 million in one fell swoop, making steady progress in this generation's war and gaining its industry dominance since the PS2. The diverse software lineup, high-quality exclusive games, friendly X86 architecture, and performance comparable to that of a personal computer can be said to be the cornerstone of PS4's success.
At this time, people can't help but think of Ken Kutaragi's slogan when the PS was launched: "All games are gathered here."
The game is still there, but the traces of the people have disappeared. Things have changed and people have changed. It is emotional!
5.
XBOX ONE stand-alone version sells for $399
The North American market still has expectations for Microsoft's console. It still supports the X1 at a price of US$499, but it still has a bad start in the Japanese and European markets. The Japanese market has never been very interested in the XBOX series, despite its efforts to develop a lot of products. Japanese games, but still tepid. Microsoft reluctantly used "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword" as an example, saying that the Japanese have always had that kind of conservative spirit in their hearts, and this can be regarded as a step down for itself.
In June 2014, seven months after its release, Microsoft finally announced at E3 that the X1 would launch a game console without a motion sensor, priced at $399. It cut prices in disguise to compete with PS4. In the same month, its sales in the North American market finally surpassed PS4 for the first time and became the monthly sales champion.
The strategy of cutting off the motion sensors has brought huge negative effects, because the bundled version only sold more than one million, and developers were unwilling to bet on this sales volume, resulting in fewer and fewer motion sensing games. After the release of PS4 PRO, Microsoft also launched the corresponding enhanced model X1X Scorpio, and also launched a thin and light version of X1S. These two models completely canceled the interface, and officially announced that it would discontinue the production of this motion sensor.
From rescue to X1 bundled sales, he has made great contributions to Microsoft. Advanced sensing lenses and body sensors are also very suitable for operating games. They were once regarded as a future operation method that frees hands. Many sports games also bring new experiences to players. It could have been further developed on the X1 platform and developed somatosensory operations. For his own unique weapon. But because of the wrong pricing method of the first-generation X1, the one that was axed was gradually forgotten, and it finally became another failed piece of hardware. Its sensitivity is far higher than that of ordinary cameras, and it can collect stereo sound. Its sensing of spatial depth and breadth is also unmatched by ordinary equipment. Although it has become history, we still hope that this technology can be resurrected at a suitable node in the future and contribute to science and technology.
Xbox one x, codenamed "Scorpio", has the most powerful functions of this generation
The X1X launched by Microsoft to compete with PS4 PRO is the most powerful game console of this generation, with up to 6T floating point computing power (PS4 PRO is 4.2T) and 12G video memory. It supports native 4K output and 4K Blu-ray movie playback, and is better than PS4 PRO in the same cross-platform game performance. Due to the three mistakes in the 360 era, Microsoft paid great attention to the power consumption and heat dissipation performance of the host, and specially created advanced functions such as vapor chamber liquid cooling technology and centrifuge compressed air heat dissipation. In the end, the X1X was still very quiet when running large games, and the air outlet was also There is no obvious heat. It seems that Microsoft has completely learned its lesson. But correspondingly, the X1X is priced at US$499, which is still US$100 more than the price of PS4 PRO. This pricing is appropriate for the hardware, but it cannot be said to be a wise decision when it lags behind its rivals in sales by half.
Microsoft's most outstanding game in this era is "Gears of War 4". This game achieves true 4K HDR output when running on the X1X. The 60-frame refresh rate makes the game silky smooth. The upgrade for the new platform is surprising. The protagonist, the tough guy Marcus, has retired, and his son JD leads humans to resist the invasion of the beasts. Players can experience the brutal war in the near future in story mode and multiplayer competition. In the prologue, you can control the old characters to experience three major historical events, especially during the Orc War. The vast influx of orcs from all over the mountains and plains is extremely shocking. The burning trees crackle and the trebuchets scream and throw. How can the humans trapped in the Hoffmann Fortress resist the huge boulders? It makes people sweat. The physical effects in the game are excellent. The yellow sand in the sky shows a realistic particle trajectory. Steel pipes blown by the wind continue to fly and collide on the ground. Even the stumps of enemies on the ground will be blown up by the strong wind and disappear instantly. This third-person shooting game has set a good example for the same genre in this generation, but what is puzzling is that Microsoft changed hands and ported the game to the computer. "Gears of War 5" is exclusive to the PC platform. Microsoft has no doubt Support for the XBOX platform has been weakened.
"Gears of War 4" changes from Marcus to handsome men and beautiful women as the protagonist
Until the end of 2019, although Microsoft did not provide specific figures, outsiders speculated that the sales volume of the X1 series should be around 50 million, less than half of that of the PS4. Although the X1X saved face in terms of hardware, the sales volume was still not as good as the PS4 series. This is in line with Microsoft's current generation sales. Honey juice operation has a lot to do with it.
The elite handle feels very comfortable, can be directly recognized on WIN10, and the keys can also be programmed
But XBOX ONE is still an excellent console. Now that the hardware is seriously homogenized, Microsoft has come up with a game console with its own characteristics and has been welcomed by players. The XBOX online community and store are the most user-friendly digital stores. The X1 elite controller has evolved significantly from the prototype. It is undoubtedly the most comfortable game controller today in terms of feel, appearance, and ease of use.
6.
The sales of wiiu and wii are hugely different
The failure of Wiiu plunged Nintendo into a trough. Iwata realized that he must continue to innovate and need strong platform support to win. Wii's success benefited from its relatively good hardware platform and unimaginable new experience methods. Wiiu's tablet controller is Nintendo's attempt to connect the mobile terminal and the console terminal. Although it has not been recognized by players, Iwata firmly believes that this method can open up a new blue ocean. Avoiding the hardware strangulation of the two major consoles and cleverly striking a balance between hardware and creativity is Nintendo's direction.
Iwata is a leader who combines technology and business wisdom. He not only saw the impact of personal computers on home consoles, but also foresaw the erosion of smartphones on handheld game consoles. More and more powerful smartphones already have 3D processing capabilities. , can completely compete with handheld consoles, and mobile phones take up all the fragmented time. The portability of games will definitely become the next hot spot.
Iwata focuses on innovation
year 2013. Satoru Iwata has been the president of Nintendo for ten years. During this time, the Wii and 3DS he has led the development of have allowed Nintendo to occupy half of the entire gaming industry, and countless new and old fans have experienced the charm of Nintendo games. Satoru Iwata practiced it personally and traveled among major game exhibitions and developers. He gained people's recognition as a player + developer. He often showed it in person with a Nintendo console in his hand and was affectionately called "Brother Satoshi".
On the other hand, he is also the leader who controls a billion-dollar gaming empire and has excellent management skills. The famous manager magazine "Baron" named him one of the top 30 CEOs in the world in 2013. Under his leadership, Nintendo has become more dynamic than ever. He fully understands the importance of keeping pace with the times and must cope with the dramatic changes in the industry environment. He integrated and adjusted the various departments of Nintendo that had not changed for decades and established the "Integrated Business Division" to build the home game console and portable game console departments into a whole. led by Mr. Lao to develop a new Nintendo console.
Nintendo of America President Reggie announces NX instead of Satoru Iwata
In 2014, Satoru Iwata, who had never missed the E3 exhibition, was unable to attend due to illness. After the operation, he appeared at the shareholders' meeting and was still in good spirits, which relieved players who were worried about his health.
In March 2015, Nintendo announced the news of the new console NX. Players were looking forward to seeing Cong Ge's display of the console at the E3 show in June, but what they were waiting for was a brief introduction to the console by Reggie, President of Nintendo of America North America. They It still maintains a high degree of mystery and is not prepared to reveal too much information before its release.
Just two weeks later, news of Satoru Iwata's death suddenly came. It was said that until his death, he was still working on the computer in his hospital bed and discussing future game issues with Tsunekazu Ishihara, the president of The Pokémon Company. This bad news is hard for players to accept. There has never been a player like Satoru Iwata who is humorous, intelligent and kind before. He understands what players need and will do his best to achieve it, while making players feel close to them during the game. The Nintendo led by him is full of innovation and change. Every time, he can always find the opening of his opponents and launch just the right products, making it impossible for other companies to imitate. This is his achievement after implementing the concept of "developing simple and fun games".
Satoru Iwata's death brings deep sorrow to Nintendo
On July 11, 2015, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata died of bile duct tumors at the age of 55. His death shocked the gaming industry more than Isao Okawa and Hiroshi Yamauchi. Almost all colleagues in the industry, the media, and players spoke positively of him, lamenting the loss of a genius who could truly change the gaming industry.
In October 2016, Nintendo's new console was officially named, which means it can seamlessly "convert" between a TV screen and your own screen, and serves as a "switch" that changes people's daily entertainment lives. This is a game console that combines the features of a handheld console and a home console. It has a 6.2-inch screen with a 720P resolution. The left and right handles of the modular design can be inserted on both sides of the screen and combined with a crisp "click" sound to form a portable handheld machine. The host supports gravity sensing and touch, and the archery aiming in the game can be carried out through the mobile host, providing a new solution for the main perspective shooting game on home consoles. If you plug it into a special base, connect it to a TV, and unplug the handle, it will transform into a 1080P high-definition home game console. Although it is not as good as the two powerful enemies, fortunately, Nintendo games are more like anime and fairy tales. , there is basically no jaggedness when playing. Like the Tonghe Division established by Satoru Iwata, this is a game console that completely bridges the barriers between home machines and handheld machines. Players around the world are full of expectations for it, and its popularity even surpassed the Trump election debate debate. Got the top spot.
Adopts modular design
It was released simultaneously in Japan, Europe, America, and Asia on March 3, 2017, priced at US$299, and is accompanied by the super masterpiece "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild." This time period is not a holiday, nor is it a hot-selling time for game consoles, but it still sold 1.5 million units in the first week. "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" lives up to expectations and presents players with a brand new open world. There are many side tasks here. Every NPC will interact with you. Every plant and tree is lifelike. The beautiful continent of Hyrule makes The players were so distracted that they even forgot to save the princess.
The hot sales once again proved Iwata's wisdom, and the major third-party manufacturers he had made friends with during his lifetime also extended a helping hand. "Xenoblade Chronicles 2", "Bayonetta 2", and "Resident Evil" series have broadened the player level. Later, "Dark Soul", "The Witcher 3", "The Elder Scrolls 5", "Assassin's Creed 3", 4》 Such a super cross-platform work, the portability allows players to take it out and play it all the time. Nintendo has also launched a completely interchangeable pure handheld console lite, making the console more portable and easier to carry, and smoothly integrating into the handheld console market.
"The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" has a high degree of freedom
Iwata's ideals during his lifetime have been fully realized. Nintendo's console has surpassed PS4 and X1 and become the most popular game console. Sales exceeded 52 million units at the beginning of 2020, surpassing the seven-year-old Nintendo console in just over two years. XBOX ONE has become the runner-up in the gaming industry. Iwata Satoru must also be able to smile.
Shortly after the release, some professionals discovered a hidden game in the console firmware called "flog", which was the reverse version of "golf", the first game developed by Satoru Iwata for FC. The game needs to modify the system time to run on July 11. This day is officially Satoru Iwata’s memorial day. The way to start is to pick up the handle and make Iwata’s classic “start” gesture. The game will start, and you can also hear Iwata’s death. the sound of. This is the golf game he made back then, and it can be played normally. Programmers expressed their thoughts and tributes to Satoru Iwata in this way. In the hearts of players and friends, he will always be Satoru. In later updates, the hidden game has been removed. The joy that Satoru Iwata brings to us will always be there.
Programmers commemorate Satoru Iwata in this way
As he said: "On my business card, I am the president of Nintendo; in my mind, I am a game developer; but in my heart, I am a game enthusiast."
7.
Microsoft announces new console appearance
Among the three major consoles, PS4 and X1 have reached their twilight years and will definitely be updated in 2020. It is in the limelight, but the hardware is indeed lagging behind. This will become more obvious after competitors update their hardware. I wonder if there will be an upgrade plan for a mid-term facelift. This year will definitely be a critical moment for the reshuffle of game consoles. Game consoles with serious homogeneity can only be invincible by making their own characteristics and increasing the number of exclusive works. Cross-platform works can only add icing on the cake and will not provide help in times of need.
Among the first-party lineups of the three major manufacturers, Nintendo has the best brand quality. Mario, Zelda, and Pokémon are all big IP worth tens of millions. As long as they don't miss out, they can keep their player base. Sony has many brands. God of War, Uncharted, Killzone, etc. all have a higher age group audience. After the original Crash Bandicoot was snatched away by Vivendi, Little Big Planet and Monkey King were unable to stir up the banner for the younger age group. , it is best to misplace competition with Nintendo, focus on 3A masterpieces and cooler and more hard-core games, and build the next generation of game consoles into home consoles that can compete with digital platforms such as Steam.
Sony announces new console controller
Microsoft also has a lot of IP. They are very focused on supporting independent developers. They recently acquired the copyright of "Minecraft" and want to make a difference in the game market. But their biggest problem is that XGP’s subscription system can be used with computers, which inadvertently creates the problem of fighting between themselves and themselves. They hope that the next generation of games will focus on the home console market, guaranteeing at least one year of exclusivity, and giving Sony a try. . Personally, I think kinct motion sensing is an entry point. Resurrecting this brand and developing more motion sensing games may be able to save some of the market. After all, Nintendo itself has launched many motion-sensing games, and Sony has VR helmets. There should be great potential for immersive gaming in the future.
The three major consoles have all released national version, which shows that they are beginning to pay attention to the Chinese market. This is inseparable from the consistent love and support of Chinese players for games. Healthy competition in the market is good for players. I hope everyone will support game manufacturers so that we can play more excellent games.
The console war is over! Thanks for the support!
I am Jueying Dao, and I have sorted out the entire game console war for you from a personal perspective. I will publish more high-quality game articles in the future. Hope you like and follow me.
Below are past articles. Can you pack them up and take them away?
The winner takes all, a series of brutal game console battles! (1) The collapse of Atari
The winner takes all, a series of brutal game console battles! (2) King Nintendo
The winner takes all, a series of brutal game console battles! (3) Heaven and Earth
The winner takes all, a series of brutal game console battles! (4) Peerless twins
The winner takes all, a series of brutal game console battles! (5) The new king ascends the throne
The winner takes all, a series of brutal game console battles! (6) Three-thirds of the world
The winner is king, a series of cruel game console wars (7) Competing for the world (Part 1)