Philadelphia

Will a new Playstation 4 be announced?

GRAPHS_W2_GAMES

Will Sony announce the new Playstation 4 on February 20, six years and counting since the Playstation 3 (an eternity in tech years)?
The official word from the company has yet to come down, but several things are “known.” If announced, a new system could feature a new control with touch pad capabilities, like the PS Vita. It could allow more than one user to log in at the same time. You should be able to stream games and content, It’s probable it will have a more advanced motion support system.
One thing is a fact: This is Sony’s attempt to bring interest back into the home gaming market and quash their competitors Nintendo and Microsoft once and for all, especially in the U.S.
“Playstation 4 could potentially help reignite some interest in the retail console gaming market and top systems, much of the thunder of which has been stolen by smartphones, tablets, and alternative gaming devices,” Scott Steinberg, a consultant for the gaming industry, tells us.
In order to reenergize the video game market, Sony needs to innovate more than the power and performance they have relied on in the past. Manufactures need to consider the online multiplayer experience, expand to include more free-to-play games, provide more digital downloads and think about what sort of signature franchise — games that won’t be available on any other console — they want to provide.
“It’s not like every system doesn’t deliver top notch experiences, but if you look at where Microsoft really scored it was by delivering premium multiplayer experiences, a variety of digital media — not just games — and top notch, premium what we call in the industry “triple A” franchises,” Steinberg explains.
“They are really angling for (the Playstation 4 to be) a piece of your living room, not only as a gaming device but a digital lifestyle hub,” he adds.

Going down
Video game retail sales numbers have been going down for quite some time. In the United States — the top video game market — the NPD Group reported that sales in December 2012 dropped 22 percent compared to sales at the same time in 2011. The downward trend continued in January 2013, which was 9 percent lower than the same time in 2012.

Still, there’s plenty of potential: DFC Intelligence predicted that the worldwide gaming industry — which includes video, PC and mobile games and devices — will grow from $67 billion in 2012 to $82 billion in 2017.


News
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Local

New Jersey police officer shot while making arrest…

Officer Frank Ambrifi, 40, of Delanco Township Police, issued a statement Tuesday from Cooper University Hospital after being shot while making an arrest.

International

PHOTOS: Protestors participate in demonstration against lawmakers' salary…

Kenyan fired teargas to disperse about 200 people demonstrating against lawmakers' demands for a salary 130 times the legal minimum wage.

International

Kenyan police fire teargas at protest over MPs'…

Kenyan police fired teargas and water cannon outside parliament on Tuesday to disperse about 200 people demonstrating against lawmakers' demands for a salary 130 times…

National

Turns out Americans don't really care for hipsters

Hipsters are so passé. It turns out, Americans aren’t big fans of them.

Entertainment

The Word: Vin Diesel thinks Facebook owes him

Vin Diesel has a bone to pick with Facebook. The "Fast & Furious 6" star is taking credit for making celebrity pages popular on the…

Arts

Life and death decisions in 'The Gambling Room'

Backstabbings and betrayals set the scene for "The Gambling Room."

Entertainment

Gotye pays royalties to a dead guy for…

Gotye could have just pillaged a riff from Luiz Bonfa and not many people would have been the wiser.

Arts

John Y. Wind's new exhibit looks at what…

Artist explores "The Making of a Modern Man" in his first show.

NHL

Playing the Field: Maple Leafs fans elected to…

Toronto Maple Leafs fans elected to not riot despite promise

Local

Donovan McNabb to retire a Philadelphia Eagle

The controversial quarterback, who also played for the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins during his 12-year career, will sign a one-day contract with the Eagles,

NFL

Eagles getting up to speed with Chip Kelly

Chip Kelly's innovative first practice.

MLB

Cataldi: Wallets now optional for jaded Philly fans

Columnist Angelo Cataldi breaks down the past week.

Wellbeing

Should you get a preventative mastectomy like Angelina…

The actress and director's decision may have you questioning what to do. We break down the options.

Style

Party pics: MAC Cosmetics and Vogue fete Prabal…

Hollywood came out to celebrate designer Prabal Gurung at a party held by MAC Cosmetics and Vogue.

Wellbeing

Home remedies that don't help, and could even…

Should you really put rubbing alcohol on your cut? Will butter help a burn? Dr. Melrose has answers

Travel

Five adventures in Turkey's Mediterranean region

Where to have an action-packed adventure, and what to eat before and afterwards