Sony PlayStation 4

If you were there Nov. 15th, 2013 (here in America) like I was for the release of the PS4, then you know how awesome the experience was. If you were one of those people who picked this up or received this for Christmas, then you already know about the excitement this console holds. But if you are one of those people who are on the fence or were on the fence about this console or didn't get a chance to get one (or the other console, with review coming soon), then this review maybe able to help you out. With over 4 million consoles sold (as of yesterday) and nearly impossible to find, this is the Sony PlayStation 4.

Let's just get this out in the open so you don't think I am biased or in favor of one machine or the other. This console, the PS4 is by far my favorite console...of the next gen consoles. Until you have actually played one it is hard to describe how easy it is to navigate to menus and the PS store and things like that. This thing just flat out flies. If you were a PS3 owner like I was (or still are) and you go to the PS store or view trophies or go from one thing to the other, you know that on the PS3, it almost seemed like a chore to go from one to the other. On the PS4, that is a thing of the past. This machine takes navigation smoothly to a whole different level. But that's just one thing. I don't even know where to start because there is so much to say about it.

On the inside of the PS4, it houses an 8-core AMD Jaguar/Kabini x86-64 CPU, a Radeon 7870-derived GPU with 18 compute units (vs. Xbox One’s 12 CUs), and 8GB of unified GDDR5 RAM. The best thing is the RAM which provides both the CPU and GPU with 176GB/sec of unified (shared) memory (can see more here). The design of the system is what gets me though. Its black (shiny and matte like Xbox One) (who designed these consoles?!) and very oddly shaped. Think of it as a rhombus. The measurements, which are 275 mm x 53mm x 305mm, remind me of how the PS3 first came out with the huge block/dome looking design, meaning its odd. The controller also got a revamp and is by far the best of the DualShock's and I find it better than the Xbox One's. It's almost like the 360's controller passed the torch to the DualShock 4. I say that because it is a no brainer that the 360 had the better controller as far as feel, hand placement/hand ergonomics, and the overall weight of the controller. This time around the PS4 controller is top of the class other than the share button placement. 

In my honest opinion, and this is just how I feel, but I feel like the games look better on the PS4 vs the Xbox One. I can't put my finger on it, but the games run smoother and are just overall better looking. For those of you who have both, I know you can agree with that a little bit. NBA 2K14 (you knew I would get it) looks and runs smoother on the PS4....to me. Same with FIFA 14 and Assassin's Creed Black Flag. The features of the PS4 are awesome as well. Being able to stream live gameplay is really awesome via Twitch and Ustream. I ended up signing with Twitch and have broadcast a few NBA 2K14 games. I also streamed Killzone as well. The one thing that I don't like is the fact that you cane share video (that I do like) but not to anywhere, it has to go to Facebook! I personally hate BookFace (if you know what show that came from you are awesome) and hate the fact that you can only share your video with them but pictures go to Twitter. Sony does a lot with Android and Google, why can't you share with Google Plus? C'mon Sony get it together! But anyway, that is a small gripe for such an awesome machine. 

Don't Fear, COD: Ghosts Never Came Out of The Plastic!! COD=Terrible

When I got the system, I picked up NBA 2K14, Injustice: Ultimate Edition, and Killzone Shadow Fall. I went with these games because I had Battlefield 4 on and instant upgrade for $10 and all the free games I got for being a Plus member. Resogun is a BEAST!! Love that game. But I wanted a fighting game, and 1st party FPS. 2K was a no-brainer. There were so many deals going on around that time, it was really easy to stack up on games. So I got to try a lot of next gen games and I can honestly say only a handful of them are worthy of next gen labels. Games like Madden 25...first why does it look like that? All the commercials they showed made the camera's close and really nice (not great) detail. But when you play, well you will see it when you play, its not next gen worthy to me. Killzone looks ohh so delicious!! But that's the difference when you actually spend time making a game and just not putting something together just to make money *cough couch EA cough cough NBA Live 14 cough* just saying. Also, why is NBA Live 14 still $60? They came out and said that it was trash but yet they still sell it for $60?! Anyway, The PS4 has all the basic streaming people like Netflix and Hulu Plus and things like that (not as many as Xbox 360 and still a bit under Xbox One) but its a console that you can tell is all about gaming. I mean it took me about 15 minutes from the first start up (after the problem I had) to actually being able to play a game. I had to find WiFi and then connect and then enter PSN credentials and then put in 2K and let it install for about 4-5 minutes and I was playing right after that. Granted it was only the exhibition mode, but I was playing it none the less. 

PS4 is the console you want to own that has a no nonsense attitude and the system you want for pure out games. I bought a game console to play games. I don't need my system to play Netflix and all that other stuff, I have a smart TV for all of that. Even id you are a person who does not, the best Roku player or an Apple TV (and other options) can all be had for about $99 (some Roku's are starting out at $49). But some people like to have everything in one convenient place and I get that and for that, the PS4 does all the major players just right. It doesn't do the TV thing like Xbox One (yet. more on that HERE) but looking towards the future, I think PS4 might be this generations console winner. They have to keep the games coming and those games have to be good, not great but good. They have to be San Antonio Spurs good, not Miami Heat great. I say that because they don't need the heavy hitters, they just need a basic consistency of good games like the Spurs have players. I don't know how they turn average to below average guys into good/great players but they do and it works. I think the Heat will phase out (no doubt they are great) like a trend. And that is how I see the Xbox One and the PS4, Heat and Spurs. To bad the Spurs lost to the heat but the Spurs will continue to be good consistently and the Heat will phase out or lose the luster behind them. The PS4 has a bunch of small features that make it the best thing going like the Spurs as well. And its only going to get better with what they announced at CES 2014 with PlayStation Now (game streaming service) and their take on TV with streaming TV to your console to watch live TV just about anywhere. The PS4 is a beast to be reckoned with and again it is my favorite system of the next gen war. 

I have not been playing it for awhile but there were other things I was testing out and really just wanted to get the feel of the other things I was testing and using. The PS4 should be in your life rather you want it or not. It is a system that people be able to just pick up and play and I really think its trying to make its own lane. What I mean is, when Apple came out with their stuff years ago up until iPhone 5, everything they made or others made went through that 30-pin connector. People had accessories galore. But the new iPhone 5 used a different connector and people went nuts! So what I am saying is PS4 has nothing to do with PS3 or PS2 or even PS1 like the other versions did. PS2 allowed you to play PS1 games on it and even the early versions of the PS3 let you play some PS2 games and PS1 games. Heck even Xbox 360 played some Xbox games. The point is, PS4 is its own thing. Its a gaming console first and everything else second. It does however have something to do with the Vita but we all knew that when they were making project Orbis or NGP. The PS4 will stand on its own two feet and take us into the future. 

The last thing I will say about the PS4 is the PS Vita function. The PS Vita and the PS4 work together as a second screen experience or work perfectly well without each other. If you are familiar with the the Wii U, then you know you use the Game Pad to do a lot of the functions and when someone wants to use the TV, you can just keep playing your game on the Game Pad while the TV becomes free. Well same concept with a tad bit better execution. I say that because the screen on the Wii U is 50/50 at best while the Vita's screen is awesome. The controls are nice, touch screen and a rear touch pad as well. They both can act as a second screen but I think the biggest difference is that you can play your PS4 anywhere in the house (as long as there is wifi) and not just up to 20 feet away. So on nice summer days you can go lay outside in the back yard (hammock action) and just play away. Man that sounds so peaceful. Also the Vita Plays just about every PS4 game so you can really stop playing on the TV and switch it right to the Vita. Its a great companion. And some games come with cross buy. So that means if you buy it for PS3/PS4, you can get it free on the Vita. Like how iOS/Android work, buy it on one device and its free for the other devices you own that run those OS'es. 

Overall, the best system period. We are in a new year and I waited so long to give out a review because I wanted to actually play it and experience it. A lot of reviewers get these systems and new gadgets and just use it for a week or two tops. People in the real world can't just keep using these new devices every chance they get like some of the tech people out there because they are using their hard earned cash to pay for these things. So because of that, they tell you a system or phone is good today, maybe even great but they never tell you how that device is 3 months after or even 6-7 months either. A lot of people didn't get a PS4 or Xbox One because they were waiting for more games or couldn't afford it or just missed out completely. But when they read my reviews a few months from now, I will still be talking about this system and other things because I use them everyday and not just for review purposes only. So when March or April comes around (and its tax season), these will be times when people buy this system for the first time and before they buy may want to know which direction to go in. Don't worry, starting this year I will be doing a review of things every 3-4 months just to keep the reader up to date and those starting off new in the loop and not get surprised like my buddy did with his phone that runs very poor for him. Anyway I hope you all enjoyed and stay tuned for my review of this later in the coming months and my reviews on future products like Xbox One, Lumia 1520, and HP Chromebook 14 just to name a few. 

PSN: The_D_O_P_E_69

XBL: TitosTech

WiiU: titostech

twitter: @TitosTech

Raptr: TitosTech

Twitch: TitosTech (more streams coming soon)

G+: @TitosTech

With My Hue Lights, This is My PS4 Setting When Its Game Time

Simple UnBoxing

Game Time!!

My Number

The Finished Product

My PS3: The Last Days

     This is my last day/time actually taking the time out to comment about my PlayStation 3. As I have moved on form the PS3 and on to the PS4, I can remember a time when I didn't want anything to do with Sony and their PS3. But that was way in the beginning and since then I fell back in love with my PS3. Sony makes some very good first party games like (Infamous) (God of War) (Killzone) (Uncharted) and lately (The Last of Us) and (Beyond Two Souls which didn't do so well but to me the story of the game was unbelievable). Even though there are more games that Sony makes as first party, there is no question that they make some of the best damn games out there and because of that, I went with Sony and their awesome first party of games.

    

     Before I was a PS3 man, I was and Xbox 360'er. I stood outside in 2005 and got my Xbox (the Arcade Edition) with two buddies of mine and we all went home and just didn't look back at the PS2 or the original Xbox. It was all about the new system. When they announced the PS3, I looked at it and kind of laughed at it and said well I will own it one day, but that machine looks terrible. There was also the thing of what the hell is a Blu-Ray disc? Why would anyone change the format of the disc or why would they not adopt (HDD)? (Sorry Hdd players around the world).

    

     Anyway, as time went on around February of 2006, my Xbox died! The first encounter (and not the last) I had with the dreadful red ring of death put me in a state of pure and utter piss-itivity! (I know its not a word but that is a shot out to my old drill sargent!) I replaced it and went on to enjoy my new one. As time went by, PS3 had came out and was announced at a price of $1 Billion dollars!! Well not really, but when it came out, that's what I heard as far as price goes! So because of that, I didn't even give it a shot, at least no until 2009. When the end of 2009 came, around November or December, I went out and picked up a PS3 because it was time to see what Sony had actually been doing and since I loved my PS2, I wondered why in the hell would they make a system so expensive? It must do wonders?! Well when I went to Gamestop and picked up a 60gb backward compatible PS3 (a fat boy).

    

     That was one of the best decisions of my life! I didn't care for how it came on (and still don't) but the interface was cool and changing the backgrounds was awesome. There were even moving parts to it! The problem I had was that all of my friends at the time were on 360 and none of them really wanted to jump ship (as they called it) but I had to because I had become bored with my 360 and it's little nagging "red" problems. But that's neither here nor there. I picked up a little game called Killzone 2 and played it and thought it was okay. I never was a real big online player but I gave killzone 2's online a shot and most of the friends I have on PSN right now, came from that same game (shotout to you guys)! I played Killzone 2 online like everyday! The sounds of the killings and ambient noises left me always wanting more and more. The time I had a kill streak of 8 kills in a row (4 of them came back to back to back to back) set me off into a world of elite status (in my own world that is).

    

     As I started to die down from that game, I picked up God of War one day and again....mind blown! I don't know what they were thinking (Santa Monica Studios) when they made that game but thank goodness you guys were on whatever you were on in that creative studio. God of War was a game that made killing awesome all over again for me. Since I am a fan of Greek Mythology I though it was cool to see the time period get some love (last game I played like that was Battle of Olympus on NES, loved that game). After that game I believe I got a PSP 2000 and then upgraded to a PSP Go. Got some God of War games on the PSP and everywhere I went my PSP went with me.

    

     I played other games and other systems (I had all 3. Wii, 360, and PS3) and enjoyed them with my girlfriend at the time. We alternated a lot between the Wii and PS3. After awhile I got into Uncharted and when I first played that, it reminded me of the first time I played Tomb Raider and it felt good to play. Nathan Drake is a character, and a funny one at that. The story with that game is awesome and the dialouge is what really gets me, the banter back and forth. One day out of the blue, I found out you can swith out hard drives and put a bigger one in. I thought that was awesome and did some research on which ones work and don't work and I took a chance and picked up a 500gb laptop hard drive. Durring that same time, modding was real big and I was hip to j-tag Xbox's and buddy of mine clued me in to what you can really do with a PS3! Tinkering with my system one night, I bricked my system! My 500gb hard drive I just put in....wasted by my tinkering. I was pissed and all kinds of other things. But for some reason I didn't throw the system out.

    

     My fiance can tell you and anyone else who knew about  my modded PS3 (if you guys didn't know, the modded PS3 was the one that was bricked) that thing was awesome. Wait, I forgot to tell you yes some way I unbricked my PS3 and back then that was unheard of. When my screen finally came back on to the debug screen I woke her up at about 4:30 or so in the morning telling and screaming!! I had to see if what I did was real and later that day I went to a buddy of mine who was real nice with making Xbox and Wii's "much better" than what they were (sorry he moded them lol). He had about three or four PS3's that were bricked and all but one came back to life. I then learned about how to mod PS3's and tinker with them and ran Java programs on them and different little utilities. Put different OS on some of them (those that could) and found a great way for meeting PS people. Xbox was so cool for bootlegging things and and it had its moments but the PS3 was capable of SO much more once you really went inside of it. I don't recommend it fat PS3's are the best by far!!

  

     I got out of my modding phase and eneded up selling that particular PS3 to a guy and then I bought two slim ones (the one I have today, the other was stolen) because I wanted one for the living room and one for the bedroom. I switched both hard drives form the 120gb to a 320 and another 500gb. Time went by and more games just kept coming and coming. I lived in the 3 ecco systems of Wii, 360 and PS3, but I would always buy more for my PS3 because that was my system of choice. We all have that system of chooice and there is nothing wrong with that. Xbox had a better online experience and because I didn't do a lot of online gaming (I did but not a lot), that was not the best choice for me. I love Mario and the only place to get that is on Nintendo, so in a sense I buy Nintendo just because of Mario and their first party games. They are always fun. Which brings me to Sony and the PS3. I was into their first party games even though their online service was not as good as Xbox Lives. But When PlayStation Plus dropped, why would you want free game? Who cares if you ever play them or not, they are free and you might find one you really like *cough cough "Hotline Miami" *cough cough.

    

     Anyway, in the final days, which really started in this year in September, I wanted to stop playing PS3 all together and get ready for The PS4 that was coming out in November. The problem was GTA V was coming out and deep down, I really wanted to play it. I caved and bought the game and played GTA V hardcore everyday (even after beating it 6 days later) up until GTA Online came out. After Online came out, I played it maybe once or twice after that, three times at the most. I kind of said I was not going to play anything else, but there I was playing NBA 2K14 on the 1st of October. GTA took a back seat to NBA 2K14, Hotline Miami, and Battlefield 4. It's not like GTA V was not good, because it was great, but I just moved on somehow and I became enamored with looking at how Battlefield and 2K would look differently on next gen systems. (And they do impress a lot) So this writing is dedicated to the era of the PlayStation 3 and the games that lived on it (and the ones that I will not get to play [Batman Origins]) and the ones that still survive today.

    

     Games like Demon's Souls (2009), Metal Gear 4 (2008), The Uncharted Series (2007-2011), Heavy Rain (2010), God of War Series (PS3 versions 2009 & 2013), Gran Turismo 5 (2010), both Batman Arkham Asylum (2009) and Batman Arkham City (2011) (did not say the latest release because did not play it Batman Orgins 2013). Let's not forget Killzone, and Mass Effect, The Last of Us, The Walking Dead and all the rpg's and Portal 2, Ni No Kuni: Wrath of The White Witch (which is so freaking sweet, pick it up if you can), MLB Baseball (any of them, can't go wrong), The Puppeteer, Dragon's Crown, and any other game I missed....I am sorry if your favorite was not mentioned. But do a search for the best PS3 Games and you will find something for sure. I do miss the PS3, but for me (as the type of gamer that I am) it was time to move on to next gen, where I am sure Sony will have more classic first party games in store for us and with over 180 games in development for the next gen PS4, how could I not move on?

 

Lot of ways to connect now:
PS4/PSN: The_D_O_P_E_69 or Titos Tech
XB1/XBL: TitosTech
Twitch.tv/titostech
Twitter.com/titostech
Rapter.com/titostech

 

Thank You to all those around the world (here is looking at you England) who support my site and people everywhere that read tech/games from my point of view or experience.

 

Coming Soon:
Nexus 5 review: after almost a month with the phone, how does the Nexus 5 and Android KitKat 4.4 stack up, check back here soon.
Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4): its been 7 years since Sony released a console. What did they follow up with and is it worth sitting in your living room for at least another 7 years? Check here soon.
Microsoft Xbox One (X1): Not my first choice for a console.....or is it? Did I convert over to X1 as my console of choice for next generation? Find out soon.
And other content as well.

 

 

DualShock 4 (PS4 Controller)

Guess what day is around the corner? If you you said Thanksgiving, you would be right, but I was thinking of something just a little bit better. What could it be? How about the launch of Sony's 4th generation console, the Sony PlayStation 4 or as we all call it The PS4. That is right, the PS4 is right around the corner (November 15th if you forgot) and I have gotten my hands on a very necessary accessory, as in an extra controller. But since, I don't have the console in home yet, the closest thing I have to the actual PS4 is this new form DualShock 4 controller. So how does Sony's newest DualShock stack up? Let's find out. 

Well first thing is first, you can now pick up this controller at GameStop and Amazon. I also believe you can pick up the camera accessory as well and both will run you about $60 American. So the controller really feels good in the hand. It is slightly heavier than the current DualShock 3 and it follows the PS4's new two tone color scheme. So the one I have is black on black or a plastic black on a matte charcoal grey/black. There are rumors of other colors coming our way in America, but when is anybodies guess.

This Would Be A Day 1 Purchase!!

This Looks Good Too!! One Of My Buddy's Favorite Color.

The one problem that I think a person may encounter with the button placement is the share button. Maybe because I was used to start and select in the middle but I didn't press it often on accident but remembering that it is there when you need to press it may be uncomfortable at first. I am also going out to grab the PS4 camera and have that ready as well. There are a few PS4 titles rolling out slowly now. I know at our Best Buy you can get Call of Duty Ghosts now on PS4 and I think Assassins Creed 4 as well. The controller is responsive to input and after several hours of play, your hand (at least mine) didn't get sweaty from playing so long. That is why the Air Flow controllers are so popular, but with this controller, I didn't have that problem.

I have been playing with this for awhile now (well at least 5 days) and really all I play is Hotline Miami and Battlefield 4 with it. I have a list of games that is compatible with it right out the box here. Overall, the controller is stellar and a nice/big change for DualShock fans like myself. So until the real system drops in a few days here in America, this is the best I have to go on. Also want everyone to be aware that this controller is reportedly working with Mac/PC's right out the box as well.

So overall, since the controller is a must for the PS4 and you have no choice but to use it early on in the PS4 release, you'll just have to get used to it. Not saying that it is a terrible controller or feels funny, but it is a mid-major change to a controller that has been around for years (PS1 days) and if your one of the many people coming from Xbox to PS4, then it is a wake up call from what you are used to as well. But it feels good in the hand, and your hands wrap around the controller as if you two need each other (which in essence you do).

So that's it. That's my review of the PS4 DualShock 4 Controller for the PlayStation 4. If I had to grade it, I would say, 9/10 (8.5 at the least and a 9.5/10 at the max). It's not a 10/10, but its damn sure close.

Coming Soon: AOC 23" I2367FH Monitor; I run down my week so far with the Nexus 5. Also we are going to be looking at one of my new favorite things lately, and that is the Philips Hue. And once again we check out some of the most popular PS3 games to come out since 2006 until 2013 as we revisit the Sony PS3. If there are any games you wanted mentioned, send me a message and I will put it in there.

Twittwr.com/TitosTech
Raptr.com/TitosTech
PSN:The_D_O_P_E_69
XBL:Shawn Starr
WiiU: Shawn Starr

POWER A FUS1ON Tournament Controller (PS3 Version)

The FUS1ON

Not thinking about upgrading to the PS4 or Xbox1 just yet? Need a new controller to handle all of the games and new games for the current generation systems? Well look no further than the FUS1ON Tournament controller by PowerA. This is the same company that makes those great air flow controllers and who also has their hands on a controller I reviewed a few months back and one of my favorite mobile phone and tablet controllers; the MOGA Pro. I also have a few other things from PowerA like a few WiiU accessories and Xbox 360 as well. But today, we are going to look at the FUS1ON PS3 edition.

First thing I want to say about this controller is that the presentation of this controller once you unbox it is top notch! Just unboxing it makes you feel like you are getting a very premium controller that you are not upset about spending your hard earned dollars for. The other thing that I want to say early on is that this controller is a corded controller, not a fan of cords but this controller is the exception. One of the main things you feel about the controller early on is the feel of the plastic and the smooth curves that hug this controller. The controller comes with a set of decals and other reading material like product information and warranty info. The box itself houses the kit. The kit contains the reading material, decals, and 4 soft grip handles for the controller and a small screwdriver. The controller out of the box has a unibody hard plastic feel to it. But where the handles are to grip the controller, you can unscrew those pieces and replace them with the included soft grip covers. I played a whole two days with the hard cover (playing GTA V and Battlefield 3) and then replaced them with the soft covers (playing NBA 2K14 and Battlefield 4) which I seemed to like a little better. If anyone out there owns a MOGA Pro controller, then you know what this controller feels like, they feel very similar and the button layout is almost the same.

The Controller also lights up in 6 different colors that are placed behind the two analog sticks and the four buttons (square, circle, X and triangle). The best feature that I like is that, the R2 and L2 buttons are more like "triggers" whereas the original PS3 controller has the buttons going inward. When playing games like Battlefield 3/4, I noticed my fingers didn't slip off the triggers or my thumbs didn't need to be repositioned every few shots because of the intensity. Maybe that is why the PS4 controller went this route as well (and I will talk about that soon as well). As you can tell the controller is set up like the Xbox 360. Which honestly is not a bad thing. The controls are tight and fluid. I didn't notice any "noticeable lag"and I thought the analogs were real responsive to movement and trying to target enemies real quickly. Other than that, there is not much else to say about this controller. It doesn't feel cheap, and other than the cord, which is a special tangle free braided cord, there is nothing real negative about the controller. Since my other controller has finally started to die out on me (well normal wear and tear), it was time to get another controller. But with the PS4 right around the corner, I had to pick up a controller to keep me gaming until November 15th. Thank goodness for PowerA and this wonderful yet lightweight controller. This controller is a keeper and if you are not jumping ship to the new kid on the block just yet this November, then picking up this controller will make sure that those future releases on the PS3 will ensure your most quality control.

Coming Soon: AOC 23" I2367FH Monitor; PlayStation Dualshock 4 (PS4 Controller); I know I said the review of the iPhone 5s was coming, but I decided to go with the Nexus 5 instead. And as soon as that comes in (about 2 weeks) I will have it up for all of you to check out. Lastly, well we check out some of the most popular PS3 games to come out since 2006 until 2013 as we revisit the Sony PS3. If there are any games you wanted mentioned, send me a message and I will put it in there. Also we are going to be looking at one of my new favorite things lately, and that is the Philips Hue.

Remember to circle me on Google+
PSN: The_D_O_P_E_69
XBL: Shawn Starr
WiiU: Shawn Starr
twiter.com/titostech
raptr.com/titostech