So, it looks like I was wrong when I assumed that the video Sony released yesterday was the last of the PlayStation Evolution series. While the video on the history of the portable side of PlayStation did finish off the collection of consoles bearing the name, Sony isn't done reminding you why it thinks you should love the brand. Today, it's all about the games.
According to dramatic voiceover man, who has been our guide throughout this series of videos, the PlayStation name represents “a fundamental change in the way we think of games”. The focus is on maturity. Apparently, PlayStation is the brand that proved games are more than just toys for children. I guess we're supposed to draw comparisons with Nintendo, since Microsoft didn't join the fray until later and Sega is out of the running. But while Nintendo is often associated with kids, that's more to do with the company's policies on things like blood and gore. I guess what I'm trying to say is that Nintendo isn't just for kids and never has been, so PlayStation didn't really invent the idea of adults playing games.
Anyway, to provide context for this suggestion, the video takes a long look at the Gran Turismo series. The idea was to appeal to older consumers with a more realistic racing game, and they obviously did something right. The racing-simulation franchise has proved popular enough to sell 60 million units worldwide.
But apparently, PlayStation is about more than realistic graphics. After more glimpses of games that haven't come out yet (Beyond: Two Souls, The Last of Us) we're then given a long list of games that represent the ideal Sony is trying to push, including: fl0w, Flower, Ico, Shadow of the Colossus, Unfinished Swan, Journey, Wonderbook, and LittleBigPlanet. Voiceover man also gets to brag about the fact that PlayStation games provide “social commentary, experimental gameplay, unique graphics, and, in Journey's case, Grammy-nominated soundtracks.” Thatgamecompany must really feel like the favourite child right now.
At the end, we get this conclusion:
“PlayStation, more than any other platform, is striving to change how we experience games, and continues to push the boundaries of play.”
It makes you wonder what boundary-pushing games – if any – we'll learn about when Sony announces the PlayStation 4 tonight.
