Home / Editorials / But what if I don’t want to be social, PlayStation 4?

But what if I don’t want to be social, PlayStation 4?

By on February 21, 2013
Header

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Vine, Instagram, Raptr – there are just so many ways I can find out exactly what my friends are doing at any given moment. Probably taking pictures of their food instead of eating it. Bunch of savages. Given our constant state of connectivity, it’s only a given that corporations want us to integrate those social services into their products. And it’s in everything now. Even refrigerators have Twitter functions now.

Then along comes Sony with its new-fangled PlayStation 4, and how it’ll have a Share button right on the controller. Right around then is when I lost a lot of interest in the new console.

You see, I have the mentality of a 90′s-era PC gamer. Sure, I’ll play some multiplayer once in a while. But the single player experience is the main reason I play video games. The Elder Scrolls and Fallout games really speak to my love of being isolated. Isolation is freedom, and the developers of those games really understand that notion. I don’t like to be bombarded with fourth wall-breaking notifications saying DeathAdder666 has just logged in, and then another notification saying XxButtDestroyerxX wants to join my game. I just want to play my game my way. Is that so hard?

Now, I understand that the constant posts to Twitter and Facebook saying “LOOK AT WHAT I JUST DID IN THIS GAME” are something some folks will like. Nay, love. But why is it being forced upon those of us who just want to play Borderlands with some peace and quiet?

When Sony said that you’ll be able to watch your friends play a game, and then immediately jump in and start playing with them, I kind of freaked out. Is this something that I can’t opt out of? Do I have to constantly be broadcasting what I’m doing? Will I be able to play my games offline to avoid these annoyances?

No one really knows. Hopefully, the PlayStation 4 will allow folks to play video games without an internet connection. Remember, this is America, and broadband penetration is barely a thing over here. But even if I can play my games offline, is it worth it? Games like Watch Dogs and Destiny will hardly be playable offline. Hell, in Destiny’s case, you simply can’t play it offline. Will I still be able to enjoy my isolated freedom?

Only the future will tell. And man is it scary.

Max was born at the tender young age of zero in a town noted for its horses and baseball bats. He enjoys giraffes, puppies, Robocop, oft forgotten movies of the 90's, British comedy, and bicycling.
Related Items
  • http://www.facebook.com/mattias.sjostrand.7 Mattias Sjöstrand

    The Muad agress fully. I dont give the slightest about twitter and what not connectivity.

    When i get a game i get it expresly to play it either on my own or with my regular co-op buddy. Strangers in a game is a huge no, telling people on facebook through automated messages, big no.

    Screw it im gonna go play Transport tycoon.

  • Heavy Rain

    Will Google+ come to the PS4?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jack-Vazquez/100000529309569 Jack Vazquez
    • Massacred

      Oh My Glob Yes, this is actually the best news Ive heard since the announcement. I mean wow. This is system seller worthy. Are we sure this is real?

    • Massacred

      Litteraly I am jumping up and down playing Party in the USA right now. Thats how ahppy I am! Jack you are amazing

  • Massacred

    After talking with many of my “Hardcore PlayStation Gamer” friends
    and post seeing the PlayStation 4 announcement, we have come up with a list of
    concerns we have. It would be greatly appreciated it you could pass this
    list on to the proper channels.

    1. Removal of the Start and Select buttons – While we all agree that
    the new controller is stunning and beautifully designed, one of the smaller
    problems we had with it was the lack of start and select.
    “Options” is not sufficient in attempting to play any old game on the
    console. Playing older games threw Gaikai or otherwise might prove to be
    impossible without these buttons. Storngly recomend you change
    “options” back to Start and Select.

    2. Backward Compatibility – We cannot fathom why this was not
    important to Sony, as it was a major issue with the PS3 launch. (Most of
    us have kept the original PlayStation 3 for that reason) If you cannot
    include the hardware to run PS1, PS2, and PS3 games please allow the PS4 to
    obtain the software emulate them. With 8 GB of memory, this should not be
    a problem. Gaikai is nice, but with large collections of PS1, PS2 and PS3
    games, we would like to use them on the new system.

    Or if nothing else, release a high end SKU of the PS4 with backwards
    compatibility, we are sure many of your loyal fans would appreciate (and
    purchase) this.

    2.5 Along with the “backwards compatibility” section,
    we believe it would be a smart move for Sony to allow the Dualshock 3
    controllers to connect with the PS4 as well. This would be great for
    anyone converting from a PlayStation 3 to a PlayStation 4 and does not have the
    money to purchase extras as well as a sign of good faith from the PlayStation
    brand.

    3. Social Features – While posting your trophies or connecting to Facebook
    and various other social mediums throgh PlayStation are good ideas, please make
    all of these optional. Many of the core gamers have no interest in these
    features and many, myself included do not use social networking at all. Thefore
    if it were mandaoty we could not play games.

    4. New Friends Methodology – While we found the idea of expanding
    upon the friends page interesting, we appreciated the privacy that PS3
    provided. DO NOT FORCE users to create accounts with their picture and
    name. Once again, we stress, please make this optional.

    5. New Operating System – The XMB was perfect. Logically laid out with
    every application categorized into a sub category. Because of this, it
    was both intuitive and easy to use. While we only received a quick glimpse,
    the new operating system, seems to make far less sense. Please allow
    customization so the more logically minded among us can use the new system with
    ease as well. Perhaps an optional interface, closer to the PSVITA’s?

    6. Camera – While this new Camera could be used for some interesting
    moments and ideas in gaming. DO NOT make it mandatory. Many of us
    do not nor have we ever liked motion or camera based games. Please DO NOT
    require a camera to use the new controllers.

    7. Intuitive Downloads – Many of us, like to select games with no
    pattern or complete randomness, and in doing so do not like games to be
    downloaded for us. This idea is a good one, but once again it should be
    optional.

    8. Ideas – With 8 Gigs of memory the PlayStation 4 is the perfect time
    for cross game voice chat, PSN ID tagged controllers, and a system that allows
    users to play music at all time along with the game they are playing.
    Doing this would help PlayStation, to also become a hub for entertainment.

    P.S. it would be really cool if the “PS” button on the center of
    the Dualshock 4 light up red. This would make it more iconic.

    In conclusion, we have come to the consensus that while we enjoy many of the
    new PlayStation features we hope that you will consider adding some more and
    that you leave some optional. Aside from that you should know: keep up the
    great work! The specs are spectacular, we couldn’t have asked for a better
    controller (almost) and the game line up looks awesome.

  • Pingback: beseemingly autohemotherapy brachelytra