Unite gaming console people who are addicted to video games, not from the word “all” is not an easy task. Sony understands this, because in the gaming industry, the Japanese are working since 1994. Announced in the framework of the recent E3 2017 technology PlayLink was a big surprise for many, including me. Were presented a series of entertainment projects of various genres with an emphasis in social interactions that involve a console, TV and mobile devices. The first game from the line called “It’s you!” is now available for download on your PlayStation 4 console, so I want to share with you my impressions about it.
PlayLink technology is the use of game console Sony PlayStation 4 as a uniting people device. Connecting console and mobile devices of all participants to the same Wi-Fi access point, we get in fact the possibility of asynchronous gameplay, where each player sees a combination of two of the screen. The General role of the screen plays on the TV, which displays the basic visual information. And personal screen – display of your smartphone, which is not visible to other players. And in each game it is used differently. For example, it is possible for something to paint, choose an answer in a quiz show or to control the movements of the character on the main screen.
The idea of technology PlayLink is not new, but still worthy she realized almost no one was. It comes to mind the dance game Just Dance, where smartphones are used to track the movements of the players (although tracking there is so-so, to be honest), as well as a popular karaoke game Sing Star from the same Sony, where the smartphone acts as a wireless microphone. The Japanese at this time decided not to waste time on trifles and at once rolled out five new games with support for PlayLink. This intriguing interactive Thriller Hidden Agenda about catching a serial killer, party games and party games That’s You! (that’s about it today and we’ll talk) and the Frantics, karaoke SingStar Celebration and unusual quiz Knowledge is Power. Below you can see the overview trailer PlayLink to imagine what kind of a beast.
For the development of the game “Is you!” (That’s You!) meets British Studio Wish Studios, founded by immigrants from recently closed Studio Relentless Software. The latter became famous for a series of wonderful interactive quizzes Buzz!, coming out for consoles PS2, PS3 and PSP. The relationship of these games visible to the naked eye. The developers break the “fourth wall”, flirting with the players, cheer and even teasing them in the correct moment. But do it very tactfully, trying not to offend anyone. In addition, based on the listed games are tricky questions and answers. With great anticipation I await their next game, “Knowledge is power” (Knowledge is Power), which, according to the trailer, more like my favorite quiz Buzz!. To pass the time until its release we will play “It’s you!”.
The game is a fun for 2 to 6 people. In other words, this game is for those who have friends. Hickey-couch potatoes don’t belong here. The prerequisites are simple: they must be more or less modern smartphones running operating systems iOS at least version 9.0 or Android version 4.4. Another requirement, as I wrote above, is the need to connect the smartphones of the participants and the PlayStation 4 to the same Wi-Fi access point. If that was the problem, for example, the console is connected to the Ethernet cable or the router in the house just yet, the situation there is a simple solution. In settings “It’s you!” you can click “Make the PS4 the access point”, then you will be given a login and password to the temporary access point, which plays the role of the console. The next important step is how to download the official app “Is you!” from the App Store and Google Play. Once all conditions are met, you can start the game.
Title “It’s you!” was not chosen randomly, although it seems to me that we had in mind, “It’s you!”, and Russian translators simply did not understand the basic idea. The game will allow you, your friends, friends and family, get to know each other. The gameplay is straightforward, so to learn it will not be difficult even for people who are faced with a video game for the first time. The game offers you to go through a series of tasks in which you have to take photos of themselves and their comrades, to paint them and then vote for the best work, answer tricky questions, which the game more than 1000, and to predict how led your friends in any given situation. Sounds simple enough. But really – the psychological aspect of “you did!” is much deeper. The game can really help you to understand his comrades better and to learn something new, albeit in a playful, comic form.
The ultimate goal of “It’s you!” is getting each player the maximum number of bonus points. The better you know your teammates, the more points you get. To win is the most important to try to understand and empathize with other players. To stand in their place. How would they behave in any given situation. The game may ask you “Who here paints their entire day on the clock?” or “Whose birthday attracts the most strange guests?”. All players choose one of the participants using their smartphones so that others do not see their choice. When the time allotted for the answer, ends, results are announced. The anonymity of the answers here and did not smell, so, if one of your mates too touchy – I advise you to be careful in judgment. If you jointly decide that somebody deserves the title of “worst cook” — cook this can for you to inflate. In game settings you can tick to disable very Frank questions, not to confuse the audience.
If most people vote for the same person – participants will receive more points. The same, whose opinion does not coincide with the majority gets nothing. It is to such “common consciousness” to strive in the process of passing the proposed game testing. When you firmly believe that most people will vote for a particular answer, you can take a risk and put it on a special “token” — gold cork from the bottle with a picture of Joker. In that case you are right, will get two times more points. The number of tokens of each participant is strictly fixed, so use them wisely. When playing together, the expense of the players overall, so the winners and no losers. Game just check whether you are close and know each other. But if competing against a whole bunch of friends – each acts for himself, and then starts the real competition.
The questions may not necessarily apply to all participants, but some specific person. For example, the game asks the audience, “If Mary was a sculptor, what kind of sculpture she’d made?” and will offer you four photos of sculptures to choose from. Questions directly related to game locations where players. If it is a tent camp in the forest, then the questions will be associated with survival and nature, and if the amusement Park to interview you will be on a joint vacation with friends. Among the locations you will meet a school, an ordinary apartment, a bar, a police station and other unexpected places. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, the game is fully localized in Russian language, so no problems with understanding the questions and tasks you should arise.
In addition to issues, the game will periodically ask you to compete in artistry. All participants in the game will show a photo of a grimacing human, and the players will have to make a video as similar to this image. After the selfie is done, will vote for the best work. Another type of test is an art. The picture is one of the players, then the game offers to all participants to paint it in a theme. You may be asked to portray the man Robinson, who spent a month on a desert island, Gypsy fortuneteller or the student for graduation. The job I particularly liked, since I always loved to draw. But those people who have artistic talents all bad, you may experience some difficulties.
Very pleased with my highest quality of design and the love with which the developers draw the finest details of the game world and interface. It would seem, what is there to strain because this games graphics are not really even necessary? But the developers approached the issue very seriously. Appears in front of you battered by life and covered with stickers suitcase, inside of which hid the game pieces, cards, photos and other interesting things that will come up during the game. Without exception, all the locations are incredibly beautiful, colourful, elaborate and full of different objects. Each element of the interface is wonderfully animated and woven into the overall picture. It creates an incredible atmosphere of comfort and warmth.
Pros:
- Entertainment for fun, with up to 6 people.
- The game allows you much better know your friends and family.
- Game design and clarity of its interface is pleasantly pleasing.
- Mobile device perfectly fit into the gameplay.
- Perfect even for people who never played games.
- Many questions, artistic and artistic tasks.
- Has the ability to play with friends and acquaintances on the Network.
- You can add additional questions.
- The game for one month free for PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Cons:
- No support for Windows Phone operating system.
- Alone in the “It’s you!” play well, did not work.
- There is a risk to quarrel with friends during the game.
“It’s you!” a great debut promising social technologies PlayLink. Given that during this month the game is absolutely free for subscribers to the service PlayStation Plus, I recommend you immediately test it on themselves and their friends. In any case, you have nothing to lose. Unusual gameplay with a high probability you will have of your company is a good choice. “It’s you!” could be a nice addition in the evening. I put the game score of 8 out of 10. And now I even more want to try for the remaining four games of the claimed range of projects, release of which is scheduled for the current year.
Review of the game “Is you!”
Sergey Grey