Lucid Thoughts: Console Fever
It has been an interesting couple of weeks since the launch of the Next Gen Consoles for both Sony & Microsoft. Flashback to just a couple of months ago when both systems FINALLY released the dates and sale prices for each system. Pre-orders went insane. The countdown finally began to what should be a big leap into “next gen” should be.
But honestly the hype was really more around games that would, EVENTUALLY release for the systems, at least for me. If you are a gamer, you know that most launch windows don’t really provide us with A) the best games and B) a timely release. Instead we get clobbered with Remasters, HD remakes..uhh wait, that sounds a lot like the end of last Gen. Yikes! Of course there will be shiny new visuals for other games without patch upgrades mainly through the use of a shiny new HDMI cable that comes with the new consoles. But seriously, on average, any new system usually picks up 1 year after release. By year 4 of its lifecycle, it begins this high peak of amazing visuals. The developers have had time to learn the new hardware and utilize its max potential. We’ve seen this through the years especially in the last year of a consoles cycle, some of the best games get released i.e The Last of Us (PS3) & Ghosts of Tsushima (PS4)
So why is everyone going crazy to get the newest and shiniest new console? Yeah that was your answer, just to have the latest and gloat. Many that have even bought one are trying to upsell to people by drastic amounts. I guess we all forgot there was a pandemic and some can barely fund to keep a roof over their head. But as for myself, I have stopped buying day 1 consoles since the mishaps of previous generations. The PS1 where you had to play the system upside down for it actually play anything. More notorious was the Xbox360 red ring of death. I learned my lesson with the PS1. So my advice has always been, wait for the first batch to run its course. Usually about 4 months. The first runs usually don’t have enough made to keep up with demands.
So don’t buy one from scalpers please. Last thing you need is to spend double the amount it cost for it to not even work. I’ve seen some horror stories as of late of people buying them and when it arrives its an empty box, and $1,400 lost for something that was only $500. Other catastrophes have been pre-orders of systems with no games arriving or delayed fro weeks at a time. Some have the games but no system. OOF!! Some bigger issues like the PS5 being bricked by using an external hard drive. Xbox not reading of the games in the disc drive. Its just too much, I’ve got enough things to worry about right now than have one of my few escapes, just not work AT ALL.
The other reason I wait is of course, THE GAMES. This time around there wasn’t enough games to have me THAT excited to get it so quickly. The ones I really want, won’t be released to either spring or holiday of next year. So why spend that money, for it to collect just dust. So I will get a PS5 when God Of War: Ragnarok and Final Fantasy XVI arrive. As for the Xbox, Hellblade 2 and Fable are the ones I’m waiting for.
Until then, I am very happy with my PS4Pro (even though lately it sounds like an airplane taking off). The XboxOneX with the glorious GamePassUltimate and the Nintendo Switch, which continues to keep pumping games out despite its lackluster online service.
Whether we go into another shutdown or not, I’ll enjoy finally taking to the time to finish some great games. The list is long but so far this year I’ve completed quite a handful of amazing games. Maybe I’ll make a video of my favorites for this year, old or new. Something to think about.
Stay Safe, Mask Up.
Lucid OmniJack