Introduction, design and setup
Sony has been on a roll since the PS4 was released, lapping up plaudits for its console and beating Microsoft not only in the numbers game but the PR one too.
While I hoped the PlayStation TV would follow this winning trend, the device is more of a wobble than a win.
One of the most interesting things about the PS4 is the Remote Play functionality. Anyone with a PS Vita can currently take advantage of this, by mirroring the PS4's OS to their device. It's fun and, unlike when it was first announced for the PS3, it really works.
It is this functionality that's at the heart of the PlayStation TV - a tiny box that's designed for your second television. The idea is that you connect it up and it allows you to play the PS4 on another screen, when your primary telly has been taken over by a significant other.
The issue Sony has with this device is that it could and should be so much more. It is a TV streamer and a mini games console as well, but these functions feel more like an afterthought. This makes the PS TV feel, well, undernourished.
Design
One thing I couldn't fault was the look and design of the PlayStation TV - it's tiny but a beautiful piece of kit. Measuring just 66 x 104 x 127mm, this is one of the dinkiest micro-consoles on the market and something that will slot into any existing media setup with the minimum of fuss.
The majority of the inputs are situated on the back of the PS TV. Here I found the HDMI in, ethernet port, a power switch and expandable memory slot.
If you are hoping to use the PlayStation TV as a dedicated gaming device and not to simply stream PS4 content, then you will definitely need more memory. There's 1GB on on-board storage to get you started, though.
It takes no time at all to set up the PlayStation TV. Open the box and what you get is a power plug, HDMI cable, the console and downloadable game pack.
That's right, Sony is making sure that you can have fun with this device straight away by bundling in three games: Worms Revolution, Velocity and OlliOlli.
I would love to say that I enjoyed all of the games, but only Velocity Ultra and Worms Revolution worked on my review unit - more on game compatibility issues later in this review.
Setup
Once I plugged in the PlayStation TV in, the setup was simple. The device prompted me to choose a WiFi connection or opt for LAN, then I was asked to sign into the Sony Entertainment Network.
Once done, it then asked me to make sure I adjusted the screen so the screen didn't bleed out of the edges.
Interface
The operating system used by Sony for the PlayStation TV is exactly the same that is used for the PS Vita. I have nothing against the Vita OS but it's meant for the small screen. Put it on a TV and its foibles are amplified.
It's a shame that Sony felt that the OS could go straight on the device as it definitely needs to be modified. Given the Vita uses a mixture of touchscreen and analog controls, just using analog controls feels strange.
Little things like being able to swipe out of one screen and into another is now done with a rather clunky holding of the O button.
Vita owners will be right at home with the navigation of the PlayStation TV but for everyone else, it just isn't that intuitive. Thankfully it is simple so if you do get lost, a press of the PS button on your controller will get you back to the main screen.
Performance, games and media
As most people will do when they unwrap their PlayStation TV, I went straight for the PS4 Remote Play functionality. This is something that works really well on the PS Vita and in theory should work just as good on the PlayStation TV.
To set up I needed to click on the Remote Play icon and the device automatically searched for signs of a PS4 on my network. This took a few minutes for some reason, but when it did finally find my PS4, Remote Play was turned on.
I started playing Fifa 14 on the PS4 in the living room, then moved to the bedroom with the same DualShock controller to try the feature out.
There is a little fiddling involved to make it work. For a start, you have to attach the controller via a USB lead to sync it with the PS TV. And when I switched back, I had to do the same with the PS4 and connect the controller to a lead to sync once more.
Remote Play does come with a caveat: if your WiFi isn't the best, then a warning icon will appear on the left-hand side of the screen. Be prepared to see this warning sign a lot.
My WiFi at home isn't superfast but I was expecting better results. In my tests, the WiFi ranged between 8-10Mbps, which is more than fine for HD stream and should have been for the Remote Play functionality.
The result, however, wasn't great. I tried out Fifa 14 and there was ghosting throughout the game and lots of motion blur. And that warning icon was present for most of the game.
Sony does warn that you need a strong signal for Remote Play to work but with the two televisions barely 10 metres away from each other and a modest Mbps this was disappointing.
The results were better on my next test. I tethered up both the PS4 and the PS TV to ethernet and the motion blur did reduce but there was still some ghosting. It didn't ruin the gaming experience but it will frustrate those who cherish ping rates and Full HD graphics. It also turns out that the PS TV will only push out HD at 1080i max and you can forget surround sound - this device is two-channel only.
Games
The free downloadable games fared a lot better. All three (Velocity Ultra, Worms Revolution and OlliOlli) have been available from the PlayStation Store for a while but it's a nice spread of games.
As you may know already, Velocity Ultra is a wonderful time sink. The top-down space shooter worked great because it was a port that was meant to be played using a Dualshock 3 or 4 controller. Worms isn't amazing but fine as a freebie. I was really looking forward to playing OlliOlli but it simply didn't work with the DualShock 4 controller I was using.
I am not aware of compatibility issues and am sure Sony wouldn't bundle a game that doesn't work with PlayStation TV but after downloading, deleting and re-downloading, I couldn't get past the menu screen.
Compatibility is something of a theme with PS TV and does become an issue. Not all PS Vita games work with it. Sony has a list of PS TV compatible games on its site and while there's a number of decent titles on there - Hotline Miami, Rayman Legends and Metal Gear Solid are standout - this is certain to confuse those who buy the system.
What's even more worrying, some PS4 titles are blocking the Remote Play feature as well, with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare not allowing this feature.
This pick'n'mix nature of the games that you can play through the device is a little frustrating. It is not helped that there is a slot for PS Vita titles to be played through the device. Out of the nine PS Vita cards I had available to me, all of them 'installed' on to the device but only one was actually playable.
To lessen the confusion, Sony does have a dedicated portal to PS TV games and there are hundreds available - mainly PS Mini games and PSOne titles. Others that have been PS TV optimised are The Lego Movie videogame and Minecraft for kids, and Killzone Mercenary and Borderlands 2 for adults that will also play in native 1080i.
Media
When it comes to the television side of the device, again there is potential but the options right now are barebones.
You can rent and buy films and TV shows through the Sony Entertainment Network, so there are some options for the TV. But Remote Play will not allow you to watch Netflix, Now TV, Amazon On Demand... any of the myriad on-demand services that are available on the PS4.
And none of them are currently available as an app for PlayStation TV. It makes you wonder why it even has TV in the title; it doesn't compete with the like of Amazon Fire TV, Now TV or Apple TV so should not be seen as a viable alternative for these.
Verdict
Sony is keen to stress that PlayStation TV is not an alternative for a media streamer - at least not yet. In a briefing I had, Remote Play was pushed as the main reason as to why people would buy it.
That's no bad thing. Extending PS4 playing to another part of a house is a great sell and something Microsoft has yet to deliver.
But it also means that Sony isn't recommending the PS TV as a micro console or a media streamer (although it is capable of both) but as a PS4 accessory - an add-on and a pricey one at that.
We liked
Once we got Remote Play working, it was great to play PS4 content in another room. Yes you need a strong internet connection but Sony makes it easy to set up.
I also like the bundled games. Couple the PS TV with PlayStation Plus and what you have is another place to play PSOne and PS mini games, which is a bonus.
We Disliked
The lack of on-demand TV and movie apps is a little strange and something that needs to be remedied soon, if Sony really wants to honour the TV side of PlayStation TV name.
Compatability issues with many Vita games is also an issue - why put a Vita card slot on the device if not all games are ready for the PS TV?
For Remote Play to work, you really need to tether the PlayStation TV and the PS4 to ethernet connections. This could cause problems in most home networks.
Verdict
The problem is that the £80-plus price tag makes this a rather expensive addition to the PS4. But if you are willing to pay a premium and play the waiting game, then the PS TV may well reward you.
Even though it lacks the television temerity of Amazon's and Sky's media streamers, surely Netflix apps and the like will eventually become available. And news of PlayStation Vue certainly hints at what's to come.
The compatibility issues with a number of games will no doubt be ironed out with a firmware update or two down the line.
It feels like the future of PlayStation TV has been mapped out but in its current guise it's all a little directionless.
from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://ift.tt/1xYGwv9
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