Sony held a press conference on Wednesday evening to show off their latest addition to the world of video game consoles: the PlayStation 4. It's more powerful than a high-end PC, all gussied up to share to all the important social networks and features built-in motion control, following the recent trend of games that incorporate physical activity.
While Sony is aiming to capture a larger market with the PS4, the core of the system is still about video games. And if you think of those as something that's just for kids, you may want to think again.
In the gaming world, each system has a reputation for catering to a certain audience. Nintendo is known for kid-friendly family fun and ease of play, while Microsoft offers a strong social presence and usually wins the popular vote.
Where PlayStation shines is in its exclusive game offerings, including thought-provoking titles like "Journey," "Papo & Yo" and "The Unfinished Swan." These games -- exclusive to PlayStation 3 -- address adult themes such as spirituality, alcoholism and abuse, and exploring the unknown. However, they don't involve the violent aspects that have earned video games some negative press in the past. They also indicate the direction that Sony is taking with its console: entertainment that caters to adults as well as teenagers.
With a focus on less violent themes, PlayStation 4 could help usher video games into a more positive light. At the very least, the adult-friendly ecosystem that Sony is working to create will certainly offer a more comprehensive experience for gamers and non-gamers alike. And Sony says it's just getting started. With cloud-based gaming in the works, this form of entertainment is about to get easier, with more widespread appeal.
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