On Friday, Sony launched its latest gaming console, the PlayStation 4. Sales were so high over the weekend that Sony’s platform for online gaming and selling game downloads, the PlayStation Network, had network issues due to high traffic on launch day.
The E-Zone in Eastern Michigan University’s Student Center offers a place for gamers to congregate and to play computer and console games.
Students need a valid EMU ID to use the E-Zone facilities. The first 20 hours are given for free, and then students can pay for memberships with more hours or buy the hours in blocks.
John Small II, a Japanese language major, has been working at the E-Zone for about a year. Small said the E-Zone would get new consoles like the PS4 and the Xbox One if there was enough demand.
Criminal justice major Devon Butler and nursing major Keyanna Ward said they are in the E-Zone almost every day.
Butler said he plans on getting both the PS4 and the Xbox One. He plans on getting the PS4 after Black Friday, but said he would probably wait a bit longer to get the Xbox One.
Brian Bobrowski, EMU student, visits the E-Zone to play Battlefield 4 on PS3.
“As long as the games are for the PS3, I’m not getting the PS4,” Bobrowski said. “I don’t really care about the consoles themselves, one way or another.”
Sony has announced it will charge subscription fees for online play with the PS4, which might be a deal-breaker for gamers like Bobrowski.
“I only do online gaming with the PS3 because it is free,” Bobrowski said.
Lance Hillenbrand, music education major, said he prefers Xbox over PlayStation.
“I’m just a Microsoft and Xbox fan,” Hillenbrand said. He said he used to own an Xbox 360 but sold it because he didn’t have time to play it.
Many E-Zoners have agreed that they would play an Xbox One or a PS4 if the E-Zone provided them.
“Initially, [we are] not planning on it because we have budgetary limits,” Small said.
