IT After Hours: True Next Generation Gaming with the PlayStation 5

If you are currently trying to buy a Next-Gen console right in time for the holidays, GOOD LUCK!
Trust me, you'll need it.

This is all thanks to the ordeal of pre-ordering, which has been an absolute nightmare. Add on the issues of scheduled deliveries gone missing, and you're set to have a truly immersive Next-Gen frustration. But, sooner or later you too shall receive the all new latest and greatest in the console world. (Exact dates not clear)

PS5 (barely) in a cabinet

In the meanwhile, let's quickly glance over this behemoth of a machine! It's quite big in size (15.4 in x 10.24 in x 4.09 in to be exact). Good luck fitting it into your cabinet! Sony clearly wanted it to be a bold statement piece in the room.

There are TWO PS5 versions (PS5 Digital $399 | PS5 $499). The only difference being the Digital version has no Blu-Ray optical drive, making it aesthetically more symmetrical and a $100 cheaper. Besides that the guts, storage and every other hardware component is the exact same. 

Microsoft seems to have taken a much different approach with their Next-Gen Consoles.

The PS5 supports a base resolution of 4K 120 FPS (variable), and has the option for 8K 60 FPS compatibility (future update). It supports HDR 10, a whole new way of hearing in game sounds with 3D Audio, and Ray Tracing rendering support for more life-like and realistic graphics. 

The DualSense controller has been reimagined from the ground up, and when you play Sony's Astro Play Room game/demo you truly feel the Haptic Feedback and Adaptive Triggers fully immerse you into the virtual world you're in. More games will start tapping into these offerings soon.

In simple speak, it'll look, sound and feel like true Next-Gen gaming. Although you don't need to upgrade your TV, in order to experience true Next-Gen be sure your TV has 4K HDR. The PS5 ships with an HDMI 2.1 cable, so you won't need any new cables.

The custom created SSD can transfer data at lightning speeds of 5.5GB/sec. It is worth knowing that out of the box only 675GB of useable space is available. Users will be able to upgrade it through an NVME slot later and we should be receiving more options relatively soon.

Sony has built upon the PS4 user interface, but has redesigned it to be easier to navigate and more user friendly. The PS5 can also act as your entertainment center by playing your favorite movies, shows and music.

If you're ever planning on playing online, you will need to get PSN+ ($60/year). One of the added benefits being, you receive complimentary PS4 games to play, but compared to Microsoft Game Pass it's nowhere close in terms of games and feels like more of an after thought from Sony.

It is worth noting that the current PS5 game catalog is significantly sparse. It also has limited backwards compatibility and not many games tap into its numerous Next-Gen features.

However, in the coming years you will be seeing an uptick in games that tap into all the offerings of a PS5.

If you really think about it, gaming consoles are a great value proposition. For around $500, you get 7+ years of fully supported gaming before having to upgrade.

Now that I've convinced you to get one, GOOD LUCK! We don't know when the next drop is, but you can keep track of stock across all online retailers here.

Saandhyarag Sasidhar
Web and Media Specialist
Web and Digital Strategies

National Video Game Day

Happy National Video Game Day! This is the day to celebrate one of the great ways you can relax and have fun. Over time video games have dramatically evolved from simple one player handhold's to a complex worldwide network of players interacting. However, i
t also opens up the amount of risk associated with those playing.

Here are a few quick tips to stay safe while playing online video games:

Watch what you download 


At a quick glance, any site or app may seem like its reliable; however, you never really know if it is truly secure until you take a moment to check it out. For starters, always make sure you are downloading your apps from a secured source, like I-tunes or the Google Play Store, which preform self checks of the apps they provide. Second check out the developer of the app, if the name isn't familiar to you google it. Also, make sure to check out the reviews before downloading. This can give you a heads up if the game isn't worth getting or if it isn't safe.

Limit in-app purchases 

Now a-days everything is connected, which makes every day actions easier; however, ease isn't always best. Many of us have our bank account information connected to our phones to make purchases. This isn't a problem if your the only one using it, but if you have little siblings or cousins begging to play on your phone it can be. That game that they "need" to play right that second might end up costing you in the long-run. Always require your account to get permission through a password before allowing charges.

Check a "cheat" before using it

Many games have certain actions or inputs you can do to get you perks during the game. These allow for gamers to do things they otherwise wouldn't be able to, which is why many want them. However, you should always be careful about where you get the codes you're using. There are hackers out there who will use a "cheat" code as a cover for a virus. We unknowingly put them in to get something for the game and lose our information in the process. To avoid this, always get your codes from a reliable source and check any comments available. 

Keep up to date

You should always make sure the device, app, or software you are using is up to date. While it might be inconvenient to stop in the middle of a game to perform an update it is a necessary piece of staying safe online. Typically updates are to fix some form of bug or to implement better security. In either situation, you are better off in the long run to go ahead and update right away. It can save you from problems in the game itself or even problems with you information you provided.

Be careful buying virtual "property"

If it’s too good to be true it probably is. Many times schemers will use urgency and savings as a combination to get your information or money. On a lot of games your "property" is from actual money spent on the game, so it's important to understand the difference. Also, if an message pops us telling you that an outrageous deal from someone else on the game, always take time to check it out before handing over your information or "property". You don't want to loose something that took forever for you to earn on the game on accident.

Learn more by visiting hornet.emporia.edu and clicking on the "Information Security" tile. Have a great fall semester!