The appearance of the consoles Xbox One and PlayStation 4 have been waiting for several years. And when they are already on store shelves, many are wondering if it is worth buying them right now? We believe that the perfect time for this purchase will be 2015-2016 – then the price will drop by at least 10-15%, and the number of games will increase significantly. After all, even though the devices are equipped with high-performance processors, gamers are conquered by more than one graphics set-top box.

One of the main features of consoles is exclusive games that are created for a specific model and are available only on it. Consoles provide the user with the opportunity to play excellent games that never go beyond their platform. And in the first months after the release, unfortunately, you should not count on numerous such projects.

But this does not mean at all that there is no point in buying a set-top box today. Both the PlayStation and Xbox have a number of advantages that even the most advanced computer cannot provide to the modern player. After all, it is difficult to drag it closer to the soft sofa in the corner of the room and connect it to your favorite 60-inch plasma. And the harsh rules of mouse and keyboard control aren't well placed for fun cooperative play on the same system. And, among other things, the prefix is \u200b\u200bcheaper.

Is the set-top box cheaper than a PC?

In fact, in the long run, consoles do offer a cheaper opportunity to play. The price for them is lower than an expensive upgrade of a personal computer, this time. But they themselves do not need periodic updates at all, these are two. And thirdly, in terms of capacity, the new generation is at a very high level. Both devices feature 8-core CPUs, 8GB of RAM, and advanced GPUs.

All games for consoles are initially optimized for a specific hardware. The player does not need to think about graphic settings or select the optimal computer configuration. You can forget about such a phenomenon as “system requirements”, a discrepancy with which can simply make it impossible to run the game on a PC. It is enough just to buy a set-top box and for several years enjoy a smooth picture and beautiful graphics without any glitches. The new generation of consoles are able to deliver 60 frames in demanding games like Call of Duty Ghosts and Battlefield 4, almost on par with the graphics of the PC versions at ultra settings.

In fairness, we note that the high cost of a PC upgrade is partially offset by the lower price of the games themselves. So, if the same game was released in versions for PC and PlayStation or Xbox, then the difference in cost between discs can reach $40, or even all $50.

What can you play right now?

As we have already said, none of the models has yet acquired a sufficient number of really worthwhile exclusives. This does not mean that they will not appear. Sony and Microsoft are well aware that a great game, released exclusively for one of the platforms, can significantly increase its sales. The development of a number of interesting projects was started even before the release of consoles.

By purchasing a console today, you will by no means be left without games. The launch list is quite extensive and for the first time this will be enough. Already available to users are games such as Killzone Shadow Fall (PS4 only), Dead Rising 3 and Forza Motorsport 5 (Xbox one only). Not far off is the long-awaited release of the expensive and exclusive projects The Order 1886 (PS4), Infamous Second Son (PS4) and Quantum Break (Xbox One).

Also, the user can buy a set-top box already complete with games and additional controllers - the so-called “bundles”. But such an offer will cost more than the standard PS4 and Xbox One bundles, which start at $600 and $700, respectively.

Paid multiplayer

Even on the Xbox 360, you had to pay for Gold status, which provided the possibility of a multiplayer game. Sony has long resisted such an innovation. But with the release of a new generation, everything has changed and multiplayer on consoles, unlike PCs, has become paid. This decision was made in order to reduce the starting price.

So, in the new PS4, the network mode requires a subscription to PlayStation Plus, which will cost the user about $50 per year. In return, he will receive not only the possibility of online play, but also an excellent selection of free games immediately for PS3, PS4 and PS Vita, which is also a very interesting solution. Subscribing shouldn't be a problem, just like using the exclusive online PlayStation Store. Both in Russia and Ukraine the service is fully supported.

Kinect and other "chips"

If in the past generation contactless controllers were only gaining momentum, then in the new one they claimed themselves to the fullest. The sensational Kinect at the time has become an integral part of the Xbox One system. It provides the ability to control the console using hand movements, body postures and verbal commands, which in certain games allows you to significantly diversify the gameplay. So, there are special games in which the entire body of the user is used to control. As for Sony, they also equipped their brainchild with a branded PlayStation 4 Eye camera with similar capabilities. But in this case it is bought separately.

Another of the interesting "chips" of the new console from Sony is the possibility of remote play. The Remote Play feature allows you to play games from your home console also on your portable PSP or Vita devices. Thanks to this, virtual network battles can be continued outside the house. Data transfer is carried out via an Internet connection. In the previous set-top box from Sony, only a few games supported this function, but in the new generation, Remote Play support is embedded in almost every one.

Is it convenient to play with a gamepad?

It's no secret that game console controllers are inferior in terms of ease of control to the classic solution from the keyboard and mouse. However, they also differ markedly from each other. At one time, a lot of controversy flared up about which one is more convenient? Usually, the solution from Microsoft won with a fairly large margin.

In the new "round" Sony has made every effort to reduce the odds. The PlayStation 4 gamepad has become more comfortable, gaining weight and feels like a glove in the palms, while its analogue sticks have become more sensitive. In addition, he even got a small touchpad, which replaced the usual Start, Select and Home buttons. Therefore, today we can say with confidence that it is pleasant and convenient to play on both consoles, and the controls are tolerable even in first-person shooters.