Well guys, it is no surprise that Sony loves to put out the best hardware they can afford, they like to push the best tech (even on handhelds). And I as a hardcore gamer absolutely LOVE them for this, but will this be healthy for Sony's PlayStation 4?
The PS1 had an edge over Sega Saturn in 3D graphics and ease of developtment, as well as CDs over cartridges over N64. It was an advanced console for the time, but despite having less RAM than the Saturn, and maybe less 3D graphic prowess than the N64, it was the best balanced and won the gen.
The PS2 was not the most powerful, because it was launched first (second only to Dreamcast), but by the time it launched yes it was powerful enough, had Emotion Engine and DVD to hype it up. It also had good balance and won the gen.
The PS3 also pushed tech in every way with custom Cell chip, BluRay, but being complex to develop for. While not as successful in terms of sales as other PS systems, it has pushed its generation's graphics to new levels and the exclusive games and services have made the PS3 console a must have, even if later in the gen. It lost some ground due to Wii's catching on fire and Xbox 360 being more balanced (price, power, released earlier and easier to develop for).
Now, enter the PS4. Let's take a look at its competitors: the Wii U which is remarkably inferior technically (on par with PS360) but will have some things working on its favor: released earlier, will be cheapest console, has the strong Nintendo first parties and might get some ports (specially if Durango is between PS4 and Wii U). The Xbox 720/Durango, according to rumors, is only slightly inferior to PS4 specs due to some compromises made for the mandatory built in Kinect tech, which would make the games look on par with PS4 counterparts due to diminishing returns that the majority of players would not notice. So the new Xbox would have the chance of being a huge hit with Kinect (like Wii), might be priced under the PS4 and theoretically be the "most balanced" out of Wii U and PS4. Also, if Xbox 720 is inferior to PS4, it might become the baseline to develop games for, which gives the Wii U a better chance on next gen ports.
So, what do you think? Might Sony be in trouble due to the PlayStation 4 being too powerful? Was 8GB GDDRAM really necessary? Do you think Microsoft will try and top Sony's specs, which would in turn make the PS4 the middle ground, balanced console?
