Sony PlayStation 4 makes rousing local debut

MANILA, Philippines - A promotional video runs on the big screen and chimes, rather cheekily: “We didn’t build a box; we built an amazing machine.” A flood of game footage highlights the mix — underscored by robust, crisp images and compelling characters.

With that, the much-awaited Sony PlayStation 4 gaming console finally and brashly makes its local formal debut at the Activity Center of Glorietta in Makati City’s Ayala Center.

The obvious jibe is at the console’s longtime chief rival, Microsoft’s Xbox, which ranges its product against the Sony platform. Sony Philippines president and managing director Yasushi Asaoka, in his speech at the launch (and weekend demo/sales event), enthusiastically declares that the PS4 is a “game changer.”

Sony’s Zhorai Lipayon, during her product demonstration, insists as much without qualification: “The PS4 is the most powerful game console.”

Since its first appearance in 1994, the PlayStation marque has continuously redefined the gaming experience even as it weaned people away from the cartridge-based formats of its Family Computer (by Nintendo), Atari, and Intellivision (by Mattel) progenitors and into CD-driven play.

Reports have it that as of last Dec. 28, 4.2 million PS4 consoles had been sold, along with 9.7 million games. Xbox One, for its part, mustered three million.

Sony literature harps that the PS4 is “gamer-focused, developer-inspired,” giving tantalizing insight into not just a host of improved bells and whistles but the significance of these technological upgrades for the person wielding the controller.

Speaking of controllers, the PS4 tweaks its familiar DualShock controller (now on its fourth iteration). There’s a touch pad at the top — offering new interaction for gamers; a three-LED bar; a Share button to do exactly that (broadcast gamer accomplishments) through Ustream or even upload recorded videos to Facebook; an extremely thoughtful built-in speaker and stereo headset jack; and enhanced vibration through multiple motors.

The controller form itself has slightly been modified as well for greater comfort and control. Most significantly, perhaps, Sony has seemingly taken a page off the Xbox playbook by now offering the PlayStation Camera (PS Camera), which can almost pass off for a Kinect. Aside from visual inputs, the camera also accepts voice commands.

At the heart of the PS4 is an x86-64, eight-core AMD Jaguar for the CPU and 1.8 TFLOPS, AMD Radeon Graphics Core engine for the GPU. What all these mean is that the PS4 is faster (nine times, in fact) and more able than the PS3.

The new PS still plays Blu-rays and DVDs, but you need to download and install a so-called “Day-One System Software Update 1.50” then activate through the Internet to play the discs. Sadly, PS4 does not offer backward compatibility; best to hang on to your PS3 console if you still want to play your trusty NBA2K11.

A PS4 console bundled with the PS Camera, a single DualShock4 wireless controller, and a mono headset retails for P26,999; take out the camera and it’s P24,999.

Aside from the PS4, Sony Philippines also formally unveils the PS Vita 2000 for mobile or portable gaming which, says Lipayon, boasts a smaller profile, is lighter, and with a longer battery life. It also comes in more colors and is packed with 1G of memory. The Wi-Fi-capable version costs P11,999.

Soon to debut is the PS Vita TV, which Sony describes as the “smallest and lightest PS console.” Actually known as a microconsole, it has been considered a non-portable (and very inexpensive) version of the Vita. More than a gaming platform, the Vita TV is also a media-streaming device.

Back to the PS4, Sony Philippines sales and marketing director Larry Secreto reveals that the company started releasing the console in select Metro Manila outlets last Dec. 15. Sales were brisk; almost 1,000 units were moved in a month.

When asked for his opinion on the success, Asaoka tells The STAR: “Maybe people understand that this is not simply a game console... but combines all the latest technology of Sony — including augmented reality.”

He adds: “Originally, our sales estimate was on the conservative side. But looking at the (pre-launch numbers) and news outside of the Philippines, we are now revising the sales forecast to the upper side.”

Asaoka did not quote a figure, but did confirm to The STAR that the new sales projection is more than 50 percent higher than the original numbers crunched. Truly, the game is on for Sony.

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For more details, visit any Sony Center or www.sony.com.ph. Like SonyPhilippines on Facebook or follow on www.twitter.com/SonyPHInc and www.instagram.com/SonyPHInc.