Editorials
PS4 vs Xbox One; iOS vs Android – Brand power and marketing schemes
PS4 or Xbox One? This is one of the most common questions that console gamers are currently asking each other and although you may hear some people saying that they own both systems, usually you’ll find that gamers tend to choose only one and completely bash the other for various reasons. But why is that? Well, it seems to me that a lot of people get emotionally attached to their console and as a result, they’re bound to think of it as being better than other similar products and take pride in owning it. You may have noticed a similar scenario when it comes to the already classic iOS vs Android dispute, to name just one more famous rivalry. But is the PS4 vs Xbox One console race just another reason for people to behave irrationally and start attacking others just because they like a rival brand? Well, sort of.
It seems reasonable to assume that once you own the product you’ve wanted there’s very little reason to care about another one that’s for all intents and purposes very similar. But merely owning an Xbox One is not enough, is it? Before you can truly enjoy it, you must first come up with some arguments for why it’s better than the PS4, thus justifying your choice. Naturally, this isn’t always the case, but it is a very common phenomenon and I find it to be highly intriguing. Again, this applies to a whole range of products, so regard the whole Xbox One vs PS4 as just an example, one of many. As for why people feel the need to justify their choice, I believe this mostly comes as a result of marketing and peer pressure.
When it comes to marketing, it should be pretty obvious by now that companies are not as interested in giving you an in-depth look at their product as they are in convincing you that it’s a good idea to buy it. A lot of the time, they do this by either implying that the advertised product is better than its rivals or downright boasting about it. Now, Sony Entertainment and Microsoft are generally just implying that the PS4 is better than the Xbox One and vice versa, with the “console wars” being fought out in the open almost exclusively by the fans. By comparison, Apple and Samsung are two companies that are notorious for creating commercials with the sole purpose of mocking each other’s products. Interestingly enough, Microsoft has no problem with poking fun at the iOS vs Android rivalry – as demonstrated by the commercial below – despite the fact that the company has its own notorious rivalry on a different market. I guess it’s okay when it comes to mobile devices, but not so much when it comes to consoles.
Advertising aside, let’s talk about brands and how they makes people behave irrationally. Since we’re talking about Apple and Samsung, I think we should mention a fact that most people know, but somehow very few are addressing: Apple products are overpriced. For example, BGR has an article about the Dakele 3 Android phone, a knockoff of the iPhone 6 that looks almost indistinguishable from the real thing. Granted, the look-alike doesn’t feature the Apple logo and the iOS operating system, but it does have a very similar interface and specifications that make the iPhone 6 look like a 2012 smartphone. iPhone 6 price: $650 – $850, Dakele 3 price: $240. I’m sure some might argue that nothing beats an original, but it seems to me that people are more than happy to pay ridiculous amounts of money for what is essentially a mediocre product just because the said product happens to come with a shiny and popular logo on it. And for those dismissing the Dakele 3 because it’s a “cheap Chinese clone” keep in mind that iPhones are also made in China and for a much cheaper price than you may think. The point of that example is that pricing will almost always be directly proportional to the popularity of the brand and this is especially true when the brand in question doesn’t have too many direct competitors.
We’ve all grown accustomed to Apple products and their outrageous prices, so let’s get back to the PS4 and the Xbox One for a moment. Microsoft tried to pull an à la Apple stunt back in late 2013 when they launched the Xbox One and priced it based on the brand rather than its actual worth. The company’s console originally came with a $500 price tag, a strange choice given that its sole major rival, Sony, was offering the PS4 for only $400. Microsoft clearly overestimated the power of their brand (not to mention the power of their exclusive games) and it backfired horribly. Two price cuts later and we find that today the Xbox One is priced at only $350, which is a more reasonable price in my mind considering that the console features less powerful hardware when compared to the PS4.
Isn’t it interesting that Apple can get away with offering overpriced products but Microsoft can’t? Although there are several reasons for this, one that I think is very important to mention is again related to brand power. At the moment, Apple is arguably most infamous for their iPhones and their iPhones are very popular all over the world, which means that the company can offer an overpriced smartphone and be confident that it will sell like hotcakes. By comparison, Microsoft’s Xbox One is widely popular in the US, but not so much in many other parts of the world. In Europe for example, people are more inclined to purchase a PS4 console rather than an Xbox One because the former has been better advertised and the Sony brand has more power. Microsoft has plenty of power as well in Europe, but only when it comes to some of their other products, not their Xbox One console. Things get even worse in Asia where the PS4 is considered the go-to console by an extremely large margin. As a consequence, Microsoft has to lower the price in order to grab people’s attention, which it already did a couple of times.
I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m not mentioning games at all here since these are, after all, gaming consoles. Well, I’m not an analyst, but it seems to me that when we’re talking about large companies, it matters less what the products actually bring to the table when it comes to setting a price point. Again, the brand is much more important. For example, the Xbox One originally featured the Kinect sensor, but people weren’t willing to pay $500 for the console just because it had a little something extra. However, if Apple were to slap on some interesting but ultimately useless features on an iPhone and charge $1,200, people would be pushing and shoving to get one asap. Case in point, the upcoming Apple Watch was initially meant to include various innovative health-related features that were actually marketed as being the main selling point for the smartwatch. Recently though, it was announced that these features will not be available anymore, so you’re basically left with a product that’s pretty much identical to many of its competitors in all things save for the brand. Are the guys over at Apple now lowering the price because of the scrapped features? Nope, still $350 and you know people will buy it in spite of the false advertising.
The point I’m actually trying to raise here is that you shouldn’t buy anything just because the brand is popular or because companies make all sorts of promises that may or may not be kept in the end. Even more importantly, I think it’s very unwise to pre-order something because it further encourages companies to continue making promises and gives them little reason to keep their word since they already have your money before you have the chance to get your hands on the product. What’s more, it also give them reasons to delay the product for as much as they like. Obviously, this is true when it comes to the Apple Watch, but it was also true before the Xbox One and PS4 came out. I’m sure at least some of you remember promised features that never made it and “many great exclusives” that – more than one year after launch – actually only turned out to be a handful. In short, make sure you spend your hard-earned money on things that you deem to be worthwhile instead of buying a product just because some company or other tells you that you should and promises that said product is better than anything else you can find out there.
After many years of fans begging Square Enix to remaster Final Fantasy VII, they finally listened and did just that. There were numerous excuses as to why the game’s re-release had lagged behind the re-releases of both VII and IX, with the most common excuse being that the game’s original code was lost years ago. However, the company made it happen and the game is finally available for modern audiences to play on modern hardware today. We’re going to give you 5 reasons why you should do just that.
First time available on modern hardware
As we’ve already said, this is the first time that the game is available on modern hardware. While the game originally launched for PS1 back in 1999, it later got a PC port in 2000. That means that is has been a whopping 19 years since a new version of the game has been available for purchase, and that wait was a brutal one. However, it is finally over and you can now play this classic game on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch along with PC. If the lack of modern hardware support was stopping you from checking out, that excuse just got thrown out the window.
The visuals look better than ever
Thankfully, Square Enix did not just slap this port together quickly and throw it out there to shut everyone up. They did a terrific job of putting on a shiny new coat of paint for the game, with the character models in particular looking much better. While things like environment textures didn’t get quite the same amount of attention, this is nevertheless the best that the game has ever looked. It also helps that the game is simply beautiful from a design standpoint, with the game’s world being gorgeous to behold even though we’re dealing with the hardware limitations of 1999.
Quality of life improvements
While those who played the game 20 years ago will still be getting what is essentially the same experience, Square Enix did add some quality of life improvements to put it more in line with current JRPGs. These changes include the likes of increasing battle speed by 3 times, shutting off random encounters completely and even a cheat to give you max HP and limit breaks. While these may seem minor, these will go a long way to ease some of the tedium that many feel after some particularly long gaming sessions. Max HP and Limit Breaks will also make the incredibly tough Ultima and Omega Weapon boss fights a lot easier to deal with.
Triple Triad
The Final Fantasy series is known for having its fair share of enticing side quests and mini games, but there isn’t a single one that is as addicting as Triple Triad. The game is essentially a card game that is played on a 3×3 grid, and each card has a certain number on the top, bottom, left and right sides. You need to place your cards in a manner that the numbers on your cards are higher than your opponents, and seeing as your card can be attacked from four different sides this can be tricky. You’re able to challenge many different characters to a match throughout the course of the entire game, and doing so comes with plenty of nice rewards that will make your quest easier.
The game is awesome
While our previous points focused on specific elements of the game, this one is a simple fact that has been true since 1999: the game is awesome. Unfortunately, releasing immediately after Final Fantasy VII (a watershed moment for gaming) put it under a very cruel microscope, with many knee jerk reactions simply saying it “isn’t as good as VII.” However, in the years that have passed people have revisited the game, and the consensus has definitely changed. This adventure that Square created is unlike any other in the series, being host to an ambitious and bizarre plot filled with some of the best characters the series has ever seen. If you’ve played the game before then this is the perfect time to experience this masterpiece all over again, and if you haven’t then what are you waiting for?
2019 has been yet another good year for gaming so far, with several games releasing that will be big contenders for game of the year once the curtain closes. However, despite the year already being more than halfway over, there are still some huge titles on the horizon that are sure to make their own dents on the coming best-of lists. This article will list the 10 biggest games that are still coming in 2019.
Control
A new game from Remedy Entertainment is always highly-anticipated, and Control is no different. The game is an action-adventure game in the same style as Alan Wake or Quantum Break, but with a supernatural twist. Players will control Jesse Faden, who possesses a variety of supernatural abilities like telekinesis, levitation and more. She will be using her abilities in order to defeat an enemy known only as the Hiss, which has corrupted reality. Control launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on August 27th.
Borderlands 3
It has been many years since the last game in the Borderlands series released, but the hiatus is finally coming to an end very soon. Those who have played previous games in the series will feel right at home with this game, as it’s once again a loot-driven FPS. The game will offer more zany characters and a charming and insane world to explore, all while dealing with new antagonists Troy and Tyreen Calypso along with their Children of the Vault cult. Borderlands 3 launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 13th, with a Google Stadia port release date being TBA.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon series is returning soon with Breakpoint, which will serve as a continuation of previous game Wildlands. The game is set in an open world environment called Aurora, which is a fictional island in the Pacific Ocean. Players will control Lieutenant Colonel Anthony “Nomad” Perryman, who is a special forces operative that was sent to the island to investigate a series of disturbances in the area. Breakpoint launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 4th, with a Google Stadia port coming in November.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Each new installment in the Call of Duty series is always huge, but Modern Warfare’s release marks a first for the long-running franchise. It will be the first game in the series that is reimagining of a previous game in the series, taking 2004’s original game and updating its mechanics and themes to match today’s world. The game will still have some of the beats that the first game had, but will also incorporate lots of surprises to make it a fresh experience. Modern Warfare launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th.
The Outer Worlds
Obsidian Entertainment’s The Outer Worlds is one that will be very highly-anticipated for fans of Fallout: New Vegas, as this game serves as a sort of spiritual successor to that game. It will be an open world RPG that allows you to explore many unique areas crawling with plenty of deadly foes. Players will also be able to encounter and recruit NPCs as companions that have their own personal missions and stories to take part in. The Outer Worlds launches for PS4, Xbox One and PC on October 25th, with a Switch port also being in the works.
Luigi’s Mansion 3
It seemed very unlikely that Luigi’s Mansion would become a recurring franchise for Nintendo following the original GameCube game, but here we are. Luigi’s Mansion 3 is coming to Switch, which also means it will be the first home console release since the original game back in 2003. This time the game is set in a haunted hotel rather than a mansion, and Luigi has some new tricks up his sleeves to take down all those ghosts. Luigi’s Mansion 3 will launch exclusively for Nintendo Switch on October 31st.
Death Stranding
If you’re looking for the most ambitious (and weirdest) game still coming in 2019, then look no further. Hideo Kojima’s Death Stranding has perplexed gamers ever since its announcement, and each new trailer that releases just brings more and more questions to the table. It is Kojima’s first game since breaking up with Konami after the release of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phanton Pain (and the cancellation of Silent Hills), and it looks like Kojima has taken the newfound complete creative control to deliver something truly original. Death Stranding launches exclusively for PS4 on November 8th.
Pokemon Sword & Shield
At this point we all know what to expect from a new Pokemon game, and Sword and Shield seems poised to deliver even more cute creatures for players to capture and battle very soon. What sets Sword and Shield apart from its predecessors is that it will be the first home console release for the series, which is saying something considering the series has been around for over 20 years. Pokemon Sword & Shield launches exclusively for Switch on November 15th.
Shenmue III
If you’re a fan of Shenmue then nothing needs to be said for the inclusion of the upcoming third game on this list. Fans of the series have been waiting nearly two decades for a follow-up to the second game, and in just a couple of months that will finally be delivered to them. Brought to life thanks to an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign, the game continues the adventure of protagonist Ryo Hazuki as he hunts down his father’s killer. Shenmue III will launch for PS4 and PC on November 19th.
DOOM Eternal
id Software’s DOOM 2016 was one of the best FPS games to come along in years, so it’s a no-brainer that the follow-up would be on this list. Eternal is set to offer yet another intense FPS campaign for players to plunge into, while also offering a multiplayer component that greatly improves upon the last game’s underwhelming multiplayer mode. There will also be twice as many demon types than there was in the last game, meaning that the chaos level just got that much higher. DOOM Eternal launches for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Google Stadia and PC on November 22nd.
Microsoft’s Xbox E3 2019 Press Conference has officially come to an end, and with it came plenty of big announcements to get excited about. Some new games were announced, whereas previously-announced games got new footage and/or release dates. In this article we’ve narrowed it all down to the 5 most exciting announcements.
New Xbox “Project Scarlett” Coming Holiday 2020
We’ve known for a while now that a new Xbox was in the works, but now we know when to expect it. Microsoft’s fourth console (which hopefully has a better official name than Xbox One did) will be a big step up from the previous console. Things like much faster load times, an AMD Processor that is four times more powerful than the Xbox One X, 8K Resolution and 120 FPS were all mentioned. A price and exact release date weren’t mentioned. It will also be launching with…
Halo Infinite Coming Holiday 2020, Launching On Both Xbox One and Project Scarlett
The wait for the next Halo game has been longer than ever before for series fans, and the announcement at E3 revealed that the wait will continue. Halo Infinite will not be launching until Holiday 2020, meaning it will have been 5 years since the previous game released with Halo 5. It will also be launching on Xbox One and Project Scarlett, meaning the new console will have a big launch title for fans to get pumped about.
Cyberpunk 2077 Coming April 2020, Stars Keanu Reeves
It’s hard to pick a game that people have been more excited about than Cyberpunk 2077, and after Microsoft’s press conference we’re even more excited. Not only is it coming in April of next year, but Keanu Reeves himself will be playing a “key” role in the game. Everything shown from the game has looked great so far, so hopefully it all pans out and we have another classic from CD Projekt RED come April 2020.
FromSoftware and George R.R. Martin Collaboration Elden Ring Announced
This one was actually leaked prior to the presentation, but Dark Souls developer FromSoftware and Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin are collaborating on a new game. The game is called Elden Ring, and it will be a departure from the developer’s most recent games as it will be open world. Very little information on the game is known at this point, as it is still in the early stages of development.
Phantasy Star Online 2 Is Coming West
It took a very long time, but the popular MMORPG is finally coming west. The game is coming to Xbox One in a free-to-play form in Spring 2020, so the wait won’t be that much longer. “There will be no limitations on game experiences,”says Sega, because they want to “provide all players with a fair and exciting experience.”
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