A New PlayStation is Coming!

 by Lori Cunningham

As many of you know, the WellConnectedMom is an ambassador for the PlayStation Family.  We have enjoyed this relationship now for nearly 1 1/2 years.  Before the ambassadorship,  I hadn’t had much exposure to the PlayStation system.  I knew that it was the ultimate gaming console for teens and hardcore gamers, but that was about it.

During our first PlayStation Family trip to the PlayStation Headquarters in Foster City, CA, we learned more about how the PlayStation 3 was way ahead of their time in not only incorporating a built-in Blue-ray player in their console, but in providing realistic graphics, online gameplay, and eventually access to online media entertainment such as music and movies.  I learned Why A PlayStation 3 is a good investment and how Sony is committed to creating more family-based games.

On this trip, I also learned about the new handheld gaming console, the PS Vita.  The graphics are amazing and the amount of control you have in maneuvering your player is so precise.  Though the PS Vita tends to lean towards an older audience, my kids and I have played a number of games geared towards kids that are quite captivating.  Our favorite one being Sound Shapes, a game where you create beautiful music as your ball rolls through various obstacles.

Well, now in 2013, the Sony PlayStation is trailblazing a new path again for gaming consoles.  The rumors on the Internet are true, PlayStation is coming out with the PlayStation 4 or PS4 this Christmas season!  Although there is not a lot known yet about the PS4, I do know that it will incorporate:

• powerful graphics
• incredible speed
• intelligent personalization
• fun exciting ways to share your gameplay with friends through social integration
• unique second screen opportunities

The PS4 is promised to be an exciting new highly integrated way of playing video games with  rich immersive interaction.  You’ll be able to instantly share images and video of your favorite gaming moments on Facebook, even real-time streaming through Ustream, encouraging feedback or even the option for friends to play along with you.  For today’s social media interactive society, this is the console that brings it all together.

I am happy to report that they PS Vita is a strategic partner with the PS4 allowing you to continue your PS4 game on your PS Vita on the go using Wi-Fi.  It is Sony’s plan to ensure that all PS4 games are playable on the PS Vita over time.  Interestingly enough, Sony will extend the capabilities of a game via the “PlayStation App,” for the iPhone, iPad, and Android, that offers a “second screen,” to give a player viewing maps or even playing friends in a battle, right from their smartphone or tablet!

Unfortunately, that’s about all I can tell you at this point.  There were a number of  new video games Sony demo’d during their PS4 initial media announcement and in addition to giving some of the details of the PS4.  Be sure to check out the 2 hour PS4 Announcement if you or one of your kids are dying to know more about the future of gaming.