Um... So... you know those side-by-side comparison videos showing the difference between the Xbox One/PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One X/PlayStation 4 Pro...? Am I, y'know, the only person who can't really tell much of a difference between the old and new hardware?
Maybe you need to see them running side-by-side on a big 4K, HDR, telly, rather than a little YouTube window embedded on a web browser. But... if there's no stark difference, no massive leap up, what's the point of upgrading?
Certainly, what's the point of upgrading when in order to do so you have to pay hundreds of pounds for the privilege of some imperceptibly nicer visuals? What are you actually paying for?
It's like iPhones. There's this big hoo-hah every year when the new model is announced, but then you get the new phone, and you realise that it's basically exactly the same as the old phone, and even runs the same iOS, except it doesn't have the scratches and greasy fingerprints on the screen.
I'm asking this because I kind of want to upgrade my consoles... but I also don't know why I want to upgrade my console, and that conflict is troubling me.
Maybe you need to see them running side-by-side on a big 4K, HDR, telly, rather than a little YouTube window embedded on a web browser. But... if there's no stark difference, no massive leap up, what's the point of upgrading?
Certainly, what's the point of upgrading when in order to do so you have to pay hundreds of pounds for the privilege of some imperceptibly nicer visuals? What are you actually paying for?
It's like iPhones. There's this big hoo-hah every year when the new model is announced, but then you get the new phone, and you realise that it's basically exactly the same as the old phone, and even runs the same iOS, except it doesn't have the scratches and greasy fingerprints on the screen.
I'm asking this because I kind of want to upgrade my consoles... but I also don't know why I want to upgrade my console, and that conflict is troubling me.
THRILLSELLERS
See, what concerns me is that we're not being sold new technology; we're being sold the thrill of the new, of owning the fastest, the bestest, the most now-est bit of hardware.
We're being sold that little buzz we all get when we unbox something which still has that factory-fresh smell, when its impact on how we live our lives, play our games, make our phone calls, is virtually negligible.
In short, we're being sold a feeling, a sense of superiority, that we're ahead of our peers.
Admittedly, lots of us are content to stick with what we've got. Call of Duty: WW2 looks great on my bog-standard PS4 and HD telly. I've seen 4K TVs running and - yes - they're really nice and crisp, but not nice and crisp enough to ditch my current hardware. Likewise, I can't see a single good reason to get rid of my iPhone 7 right now, but can't deny feeling that pressure wave which wants me to do so.
Yeah, I know that technology shouldn't just stagnate; there are always going to be those punters who are buying a PS4 or Xbox One for the first time.
Thing is, technology has reached a stage where it's good enough, and that's clearly a problem for the people making the technology. What I'm talking about is the slightly insidious culture that has risen up wherein we're told we should be excited about this new stuff, regardless of whether we actually are, because they know they can't offer enough innovation to get us to buy it otherwise. Yet from a business perspective they still need to make money by selling us new things.
What makes an utter mockery of all this is Nintendo's Switch, probably the most beloved games console on the market right now, yet it refuses to play by the same rules. It can't even display its graphics in 1080p, yet it makes not a single jot of difference to how glorious its games are.
See, what concerns me is that we're not being sold new technology; we're being sold the thrill of the new, of owning the fastest, the bestest, the most now-est bit of hardware.
We're being sold that little buzz we all get when we unbox something which still has that factory-fresh smell, when its impact on how we live our lives, play our games, make our phone calls, is virtually negligible.
In short, we're being sold a feeling, a sense of superiority, that we're ahead of our peers.
Admittedly, lots of us are content to stick with what we've got. Call of Duty: WW2 looks great on my bog-standard PS4 and HD telly. I've seen 4K TVs running and - yes - they're really nice and crisp, but not nice and crisp enough to ditch my current hardware. Likewise, I can't see a single good reason to get rid of my iPhone 7 right now, but can't deny feeling that pressure wave which wants me to do so.
Yeah, I know that technology shouldn't just stagnate; there are always going to be those punters who are buying a PS4 or Xbox One for the first time.
Thing is, technology has reached a stage where it's good enough, and that's clearly a problem for the people making the technology. What I'm talking about is the slightly insidious culture that has risen up wherein we're told we should be excited about this new stuff, regardless of whether we actually are, because they know they can't offer enough innovation to get us to buy it otherwise. Yet from a business perspective they still need to make money by selling us new things.
What makes an utter mockery of all this is Nintendo's Switch, probably the most beloved games console on the market right now, yet it refuses to play by the same rules. It can't even display its graphics in 1080p, yet it makes not a single jot of difference to how glorious its games are.
THE EMPEROR'S ARSE
I guess this does just stem from feeling like the kid who pointed out The Emperor's arse, when everyone else was cooing over his fine, invisible, threads, so nobody thought they were stupid.
So, I'm saying it: there's nothing wrong with you or me. When you see those graphical comparisons, of two games running on different systems, and you can't really tell the difference, and don't get the big deal, but try to tell yourself that you're the one who's wrong... it's not your imagination, because there isn't much difference. Frankly, to all intents and purposes, they're exactly the same.
If you're considering upgrading to an Xbox One X from your Xbox One, or to a PS4 Pro from a PS4, and your existing hardware is still working fine... don't. Please don't. You're not going to have your gaming experience dramatically altered. You're buying into hype, paying good money so as not to feel left out. You've fallen for their scheme.
You honestly don't need to do it, and if you stumble into the trap of having to have the newest and the crispiest, then you're focusing on the wrong thing. Gaming shouldn't be about having slightly better graphics; the industry was built upon innovating within a limited set of resources.
And try not to worry; if you don't upgrade right now you're not missing a damn thing. In fact, count yourself lucky that you've got a ringside seat at The Emperor's Ball-show.
I guess this does just stem from feeling like the kid who pointed out The Emperor's arse, when everyone else was cooing over his fine, invisible, threads, so nobody thought they were stupid.
So, I'm saying it: there's nothing wrong with you or me. When you see those graphical comparisons, of two games running on different systems, and you can't really tell the difference, and don't get the big deal, but try to tell yourself that you're the one who's wrong... it's not your imagination, because there isn't much difference. Frankly, to all intents and purposes, they're exactly the same.
If you're considering upgrading to an Xbox One X from your Xbox One, or to a PS4 Pro from a PS4, and your existing hardware is still working fine... don't. Please don't. You're not going to have your gaming experience dramatically altered. You're buying into hype, paying good money so as not to feel left out. You've fallen for their scheme.
You honestly don't need to do it, and if you stumble into the trap of having to have the newest and the crispiest, then you're focusing on the wrong thing. Gaming shouldn't be about having slightly better graphics; the industry was built upon innovating within a limited set of resources.
And try not to worry; if you don't upgrade right now you're not missing a damn thing. In fact, count yourself lucky that you've got a ringside seat at The Emperor's Ball-show.
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