For every author that bemoaned Sony’s non-showing of the physical PlayStation 4 console at its February reveal, there were others that saw the decision to focus on the ethos and the methodology behind the system as intelligent, full of purpose and timely.
Of course, Sony also confirmed the DualShock 4, they had to after the leaks but were clearly going to anyway – and the video above, released today, shows how developers are behind the controller, which is central to the PS4 experience.
Watch, and be impressed at what this thing can do.
Peter Chapman
I wasn’t totally convinced by the prototypes that leaked but since seeing the shots of the finished thing, and every time I’ve seen it since, I’m really warming to this. Love the look of the textured grip, triggers and sticks especially.
Alex C
All about that touchscreen for me. Super exciting.
Peter Chapman
oh yes, for better Angry Birds :D
KeRaSh
I still don’t understand why they didn’t go for the same textured background that the Vita’s rear touchscreen has.
Other than that I love the look of the controller.
cam the man
Looking forward to getting my mitts on it.
3shirts
I do worry slightly how much the bugger will cost but it looks like they focussed on the important stuff… and the share button (?). I’m glad they went down the route of improving what they had though, instead of trying to come up with some new gimmick *cough* Nintendo *cough*
Alex C
The GamePad is awesome. Best thing about the Wii U.
KeRaSh
I’d take the Gamepad over a touchpad on a controller any day… I still don’t see a real use for the touchpad on the DS4 since it’s slightly out of range for your thumbs unless you change your grip of the controller and even then it’s limited to simple touch or swipe gestures that are bound to some funktions in the game. If it was a touchscreen display embedded in the controller you could actually display useful information and select it if needed.
I would have been glad if it was a little screen….
I’m sure they will implement ways to let people actually play a game with the Vita on the TV and have additional, selectable information on the Vita screen, but Nintendo will have done it first… again. :)
blackredyellow
Looks really well designed. The textures look ‘grippy’ in the right places and the new analogue sticks appear to be designed differently with indents, maybe for pushing L3/R3 for sprinting etc?
However, won’t know for sure until I get my mitts on one. That is the real test.
ron_mcphatty
I still think it looks like a Dualshock 3 wearing a wetsuit, but it’s still a thing of beauty and that coloured bar is very sexy. If the styling is any indication of what the console will look like then I’m excited!
Peter Chapman
LOL “DualShock 3 wearing a wetsuit”
That’s brilliant :)
double-o-dave
The coloured bar is cool. They should bring out a Reservoir Dogs game so your bar can represent what character you are and you can then whinge like a b*tch when you’re Mr Pink & all your mates laugh at your controller.
leeroye
I glad they have gone with proper R2 and L2 triggers. Im fed with the Geotech attachements i have on the current dual shock falling off or breaking. The new Dualshock certainly looks and sounds very good indeed.
webby_15-0
I don’t like the idea of the share button. Surely you’ll get people posting spoilers and what not on facebook (im assuming it’ll be integrated).
Phizzy
I’m certain there’ll be an option for developers to define unshareable sections for things like cutscenes if that’s what you’re worried about.
Bilbo_bobbins
sounds and looks great. Not sure on the touch pad to be honest, even showing us there he was accidentally flicking the sticks as he done it. Oh well, lets see what it brings first before slagging it off.
bunimomike
What I’m impressed most about is Sony’s current attitude to marketing and how these videos build confidence in the consumer. There’s that tangible feeling of how they’ll be looked after as Sony are really giving it that “we’ve sourced opinion from the game companies you love” attitude. Seriously commendable stuff.
KeRaSh
Indeed. I also really hope they keep this up. Hopefully the official Xbox event announcement nudges Sony towards releasing more information throughout May.
Kennykazey
Bollocks! The touchpad is a gimmick that can’t be used together with the sticks and I can’t think of a single use for it that makes sense without feeling like a gimmick. And the stupid little speaker is useless and the first thing I did when I got a Wii was to turn it off before I poked my eardrums out with toothpicks. Prove me wrong Sony, I’d like you to.
The rest seems clever though and the new, more rounded shape is welcome. Weird how they didn’t mention the minijack.
Origami Killer
Already making assumptions about the touchpad when we haven’t seen it in use yet?
I liked the speaker on the wii controller too :)
Kennykazey
I’m not a fan of touch-inputs, there’s no feedback. It’s redeeming features for me is that it’s clickable and stretches to the back. As said in my comment, I’d like to be proven otherwise, but for now I’m not impressed. The speakers on the wii had horrible sound quality, and even if that’ll be improved, it feels unnecessary.
Although, in splitscreen gaming, it could be helpful to distinguish who the sound is for.
teflon
I’m not sure I follow, with regards to the touchpad. You’ll have to move your thumb from one of the sticks to use it, but that’s no different to pressing face buttons or using the touchscreen on the Vita/3DS/WiiU…
It will naturally depend on how developers see fit to use it before we can really say whether it’s a worthwhile addition or not.
As for the speaker, the ones in the Vita aren’t too bad, and as long as this has the quality of those, I’d be happy for certain context sensitive information to be relayed through it. Equally, they can push higher bit rate sound through Bluetooth now, but again it will come down to the developers and how it’s used.
In both cases, I don’t think the video really gave these things a good showing. Bullets whizzing by is rather pointless, I feel, whilst the chap slapping the touchpad was stupidly mashing the sticks at the same time, which certainly doesn’t give a good impression.
Kennykazey
I may have come off a little harsh, but what can you do with a touchpad that can’t be done better with either a stick, d-pad or buttons? And it is different from using a touchscreen as it doesn’t display what you’re poking at.
Loxstokk
Browsing the Internet – which this new Playstation seems to be keen on offering more of…
TSBonyman
I doubt there will be many instances where the touchpad has to be used simultaneously with sticks or buttons. ie you won’t be required to hold X, push Up or hold R1 while having to tap the pad at the same time… well, hopefully not :/
As for the speaker, i’m not sure about that until i hear it in action but for now i’m thinking that a tinny sound might actually detract from my aural enjoyment of the game… we’ll see, if it is tinny i’ll be looking for the mute option.
The controller does look comfy and my old paws are going to love the wider grip and the new shoulder buttons.