Will Sony make a new Portable PlayStation? (Sony)
The Monday letters page wants to know the best game to play only a long haul flight, as one reader reveals the best video game name ever.
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Two options
Some interesting, and believable, rumours about the PlayStation 6. There seem to be two main possibilities: two models like the Xbox Series X/S or a home and a portable console. The first one seems the more obvious, because it’s relatively easy to do and it makes some sense if Sony is going for another super expensive console. It may even be that the second one is basically the PS6 Pro, so they have them both available from the start.
On the other hand, the other option fits better with current trends and fashions, and is probably what Xbox is going to do. But I don’t see it as an idea that suits PlayStation. A hybrid or portable console may be all Xbox makes next gen, as console hardware isn’t working out for them, but for Sony it still is.
There’s a reason Nintendo stopped making dedicated handhelds but if the next gen PlayStation one isn’t a separate format, what will it be? A depowered version of the ‘main’ PlayStation 6, similar to the Xbox Series S compared to X? I just can’t see Sony doing that.
It seems like a lot of money and effort would be needed to make it and there’s very little guarantee of success. The Xbox Series S hasn’t been successful and even though everyone seems to love Steam Deck it’s only sold a few million. I just don’t see it as something that is likely to succeed or be seen as anything other than high risk.
Of course, Sony hasn’t exactly been making a lot of sensible decisions lately, but I still can’t believe they’d make a home and a portable console at the same time.
Cranston
Old father time
Thanks for that little info box for your review of Marvel Vs. Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics. What is the Dreamcast? Yes, that made me feel ancient! Whatever is next, GC? What was the Great Console War? Go ask your dad, twenty-somethings! It hurt me in my rotting bones.
While I speak of aging, I’m trying to think of a platform game you reviewed a while back that sounded interesting. I think it had echoes of Jet Set Radio and was neither Gori Cuddly Carnage (which I don’t think is a platformer?) or Bombrush Cyberfunk. And I’m pretty sure it was this year. Pretty sure. But then, my memory is not what it used to be. I was there when the Dreamcast was first released, man.
DMR
GC: We hate to say it, but the Dreamcast is over 25 years old. The game you’re thinking of was likely RKGK / Rakugaki.
New coat of paint
I was just wondering if you’ll be reviewing Epic Mickey Rebrushed? I know it’s coming out next week but never played the original 2010 Wii game, so have no hands-on experience with the game at all. I’ve never heard of the studio that are making it either. I don’t want to fall victim to buying a half-hearted Disney cash in.
The visuals looks well animated, bright, and colourful in the trailers that I have seen. It’s caught my attention as my son loves Mickey Mouse and both of us like 3D platform games, so if it gets a decent review it will most likely get a purchase from me.
Nick The Greek
GC: We’ve played it a bit but haven’t committed to doing a review yet. Here’s our review of the original.
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The future of gaming
I’m sick of all the fuss over the PlayStation 6, when the PlayStation 7 is due six months later. The PlayStation 7 will apparently feature a brain inside a cage. It will be known as The Cell. The brain is cultured from cells taken from a strand of hair from a pig’s back. There will be a little door on the side of the console which you will have to open to apply a special compound which will keep the brain fed and lubricated.
In terms of features, it will connect wirelessly to Bluetooth Next. You will need an operation to get this fitted, which will be inserted directly into your brain. Testing is currently underway.
Based on how it works, no controller or screen is required as you will believe that you are actually there inside the games. They are toning down the realism due to the fact that your brain cannot distinguish the game from reality. Early tests from a special port of Bloodborne resulted in the deaths of three people due to shock. Due to this, all games are going to be downgraded so that the graphics will be equivalent to that of a ZX Spectrum. Sony are said to be working on a port of Manic Miner as I write this.
These issues should all be ironed out before release. I, for one, cannot wait.
Steve
GC: The most unbelievable detail of this is that Sony would do anything new with Bloodborne.
Travel guide
Me and a couple friends will very shortly be going on a trip to Japan. I’m wondering if anyone could, firstly, recommend any good multiplayer games for the long plane ride over? Nothing shooter like, but just something fun to kill the time, Bomberman or Crazy Golf, etc.?
And secondly, any specific gaming related places to look out for whilst we visit from anyone who has visited before? (We will be going to Akihabara to look round loads obviously) much obliged for all info.
Liam
GC: Advance Wars for the plane and Akihabara for games are good idea. You’ll also find lots of merch and general nerdy stuff at Mandarake – there’s two in Akihabara and a huge underground one in Shibuya.
Call of Concord
Just wondering if GC and the readership think that Concord would have done better if it was structured as an original, single-player experience, with world building and characterisation, and the multiplayer was the cherry on top, with its live service experience attached?
After all, that was the way traditional multiplayer worked in games like Uncharted, Titanfall 2, and even Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare.
Almost nothing was shown about the story or universe Concord was set in. Everything was about how generic it was, which does appear to be true to all intents and purposes. No wonder there was complete apathy when you knew nothing of the characters, their backgrounds, motives or desires. No empathy for any of them was generated, except to say you had the standard template of tank, medic, all-rounder, etc.
I’d like to see if any of that could be repaired, but I think Sony would have to release it or PS Plus, free to generate any interest now.
Anyway, not to worry, Zelda is out this week coming!
ZiPPi
GC: It certainly wouldn’t have hurt, but what little we saw of the game’s storytelling didn’t seem very compelling.
DIY homage
Would anyone know the proper colour for the original PlayStation? I’ve sprayed my PlayStation 2 in what I thought was the correct colour and I’d like to do my PlayStation 4 next, but I want to be sure.
I’ve found codes and RGB codes but I don’t know how to translate to buying it. Any ideas?
Bobwallett
GC: A quick google turned up this, but we’ve no idea if it’s accurate. We think anywhere that sells paint should be able to make the colour if you give them the code.
Wii U syndrome
Interesting leaks of the Switch 2 in the last week, they kind of highlight potential issues Nintendo is going to have moving onto the next console. A ‘bigger more powerful Switch’ is exactly what I want from the next device… but in a world where we’ve already had the Switch OLED I can really see a Wii U type situation developing where the mass market mistake it for just another iteration of the existing format and don’t bother upgrading. Nintendo’s marketing in the run-up really needs to hammer home again and again that this is an all new device with new games the last console can’t come close to matching.
If the leak is true, other than the larger size how will anyone be able to tell the two machines apart from looking at them? Especially as Nintendo aren’t likely to spend $200 million on the next 3D Mario or Mario Kart, so it looks a quantum leap better than Super Mario Odyssey or Mario Kart 8. Like the Wii, the Switch plays to a slightly different market to Sony or Microsoft, who can just show people ‘better looking games’ to drive upgrades. Horsepower hasn’t been Nintendo’s thing for 20 years now, so it really does need some new kind of gimmick to drive interest outside the hardcore.
In any case, a lot of letters into GC recently thinking Nintendo have a slam dunk on their hands and are about to ride in and save gaming are well wide of the mark. The hype is worryingly similar to what was building prior to the Wii U, where everyone was sick of the stale experiences of the Xbox 360 generation and thought Nintendo was about to bring it’s huge Wii audience into the HD generation and knock it out the park.
The Switch 2’s life cycle will largely mirror the existing console’s if it takes off, i.e. big sales for Nintendo franchises and a few of the moment indie games, but peanuts for everyone else who’s games are mostly played on existing formats. Then how do Nintendo overcome the problem Sony and Microsoft are facing, over gamers happy with current live service titles like Fortnite not bothering about upgrading?
Marc
Inbox also-rans
I’m not surprised to hear Microsoft is putting the squeeze on Xbox’s budget. People say Phil Spencer is no good, but he must be a hell of a businessman to convince his bosses that buying Activision Blizzard was a sensible idea.
Golem
Pirate Yakuza In Hawaii is now officially the best name for a video game ever. At least in the modern era. Change my mind.
Lunef
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