PS4 QuestionsFollow

I'm currently playing on a low end PC and considering getting a PS4 or new PC, and I have some questions for people that were in the PS4 beta.

How does the PS4 interface compare to the PC interface? Most importantly, is it limited to crossbar buttons or does it have a function to keybind keyboard buttons?

What kind of framerate does the PS4 pull in high volume areas at 1080p resolution?

Can I swap my PC account to PS4, and if so, swap it back and forth? I have heard that there's no way to move macros and hotbars between platforms, but I can work around a minor inconvenience.

Will I be required to buy another version of the game? I think I read something that said the free trial would be added to my subscription.

I have read that there are only 2 USB ports on the PS4, is a simple USB hub a viable option to overcome this?

Anything else I should be aware of?

To answer any relevant questions:
-my PC can handle anything else I use it for; there's no reason for an upgrade at this point, but FFXIV caps at around 20fps, 10fps in congested areas with low graphic settings
-I'm not a huge gamer, and I don't plan on buying more than a few titles if I get a PS4. The only other game I would definitely get is the new Oddworld

Thanks for the answers.

My PC is a cheapo, and can't handle a real video card (220W power supply)

I'm already used to a gamepad, so the cordless PS4 controller is probably a better feel than my Logitec.

I'm leaning towards a PS4 now, since my PC handles HD Netflix and the rest of the internets that I use just fine. In any event, I'm waiting at least until they release FFXIV on it, and hopefully there will be a bundle worth buying around that time.

Almost everyone I know in the beta said that was the absolute lowest it dipped was 30 frames and ran at a peak of 60 fps. I think it is actually capped at 60 fps..
But it did go up and down pretty much...

Like Nashred stated, the cap is 60 and should hit that, from time to time, but I'd say the average was around 30-40fps.

This was all done by eye, so there's that.

All I can say conclusively is that I know what sub 30 looks like and I know what over 60 looks like. It was somewhere in the middle. It was also very playable and nothing that I saw was sub 20, even during crowded fates.

This was also beta, so I'd assume that theres still some optimization and maybe even some performance sliders that we may be able to customize.

For me, the game ran at 30 FPS but dropped into the 20s pretty frequently. Maybe around 40-45 when you're alone in a story instance. The cap is 60 FPS but I don't think I ever saw the game hit 60 FPS...

It's more playable than the PS3 version and looks better than the PS3 version.

In your post, it seems like you don't currently own a PS4. It's a pretty good console but I definitely wouldn't buy it for this FFXIV port.

The new Infamous game is coming up on the PS4 in a week and if you're a fan of the series you might like that. I'm definitely picking it up. Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes is coming out too but that's basically $30 for a 60-minute campaign prequel to Metal Gear Solid V which won't be out until at least late 2015... so I would only recommend inFamous.

In other words, the PS4 isn't really worth getting right now unless you just really want to have one. But I mean, the library certainly doesn't make it a must-buy yet. It's always like this for the first year of a launch console.

The PS4 FFXIV port is definitely not a system seller in my opinion. I always hear people say that FPS doesn't matter in a MMORPG, but I feel like I really need a high FPS when I'm playing a multiplayer game. The PS4 version is probably going to be running at around 22-25 FPS during major battles and that is just way too low for me when I have my friends relying on me. Just my opinion so feel free to downrate, folks.

Edited, Mar 16th 2014 3:14pm by LucasNox

Actually, to set this straight...

SE first said the game would run capped at 30 FPS on the ps4, which upset a lot of people. Now, they're saying the game is capped at 60 FPS, and should run closer to 60 FPS most of the time you're playing, with 30 FPS more likely in battles with several enemies. The game is only supposed to drop below 30 FPS during very large FATES, such as Odin or Behemoth, according to SE.

Most reviews I've read said the game runs beautifully on the ps4, even in big fights such as Titan HM. Nox's review is the first I've seen that claims such regularly low frame rates.

You can judge for yourself, though... there are tons of videos on youtube with ps4 beta gameplay. Here's one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jabti2eow0

I watched quite a bit of that... seems to run flawlessly, even during battles with multiple monsters and players on the screen. Looks indistinguishable from your run-of-the-mill gaming rig.

EDIT: It's possible that people could be getting sub-30 framerates at certain times when SE is stress-testing servers as part of the beta test, which commonly happened during the beta for the PC version, too.

Edited, Mar 16th 2014 3:12pm by Thayos

They went back and forth several times. The first statement was that PS4 was absolutely going to run 60 FPS. The next statement was that frames would be capped at 30. Now they're saying that the game is capped at 60, but their goal is to maintain 30 minimum. They have evolved their statement several times, but the first comment SE made about PS4 framerate is what Lucas is representing here.

We addressed this in the thread created about Yoshi's ZAM interview IIRC

IIRC it was only thought that PS4 would run at 60 FPS for a little more than a month before they changed their statement. Initial statement was based on speculation about PS4 hardware. They probably turned around when they actually saw how the engine ran on PS4. Now they're trying to make adjustments that at least allow PS4 players smoother graphics.

That said, people don't want their PS4 to struggle displaying a graphics engine that was re-built for the previous generation. Regardless of our personal opinion on which graphic engine looks better, the performance isn't really up for debate. Yoshi looked really uncomfortable when asked about that in his most recent interview.

Don't feel too bad I bought two for just this game, one for me and one for Tes.. I have one sitting since launch..
Now I fixed my laptop issues, I am a little afraid to move to the ps4 because it has been pretty awsum.
The engine will get better with time too as they improve it.....