Let’s talk about Sony’s new controller for their next gen console, the DualShock 4.
Inventions usually follow two creation paths: either you come up with an entirely new idea or you take an existing idea and try to make it better. Sony’s definitely going for the latter with the DualShock 4, an evolution of their long-bundled PlayStation controller that brings a wide array of new functions to their next console.
There a bit of due trepidation, fairly given of course, when it comes to Sony piling on a ton of feature sets onto a single consumer electronics product – like trying to carry more luggage than you can handle, the company tends to stumble face-first under the weight of its own well-intentioned hubris. I’m looking at you PlayStation Vita.
We will see in the months and years to come how well the DualShock 4 implements the amount of stuff packed in it with the games and services the PlayStation 4 will provide. Items like that two-point capacitative touch-pad (clickable, too!) carved in the middle of that pad, which I hope is used for precise U.I. interaction rather as some soulless mini-game where you have to slice fruit.
Aspects like editing video to then be broadcasted online with the DS4’s “share” button – as shown on left side of the touch-pad – should be a lot more easier to handle compared to using loosey-goosey analog sticks. But hey, I’m not totally against the idea of what game developers could do with a touch-pad – it all comes down to execution.
The same could be said of the DualShock 4 interaction with its camera. Reports confirm that every PS4 will include a new version of the PlayStation Eye peripheral – a Microsoft Kinect doppelganger if I ever saw one – that is suppose to gauge player distance from the television and do a multitude of interactive features like face tracking and better augmented reality.
Who knows what uses Sony has in store with all those bells and whistles; I know one thing for sure, there’ll be tons of Internet moaning about launch games having users shake their controllers like a carton of freshly-squeezed OJ.
One interesting tidbit about the DS4 I find cool is that light bar on top of the controller. Okay, a pretty insignificant item in the grand DualShock 4 scheme of things – and the only reason I brought it up is because I’m such a sucker for bright colors – but touches like the light bar changing colors when your health is low in a game is lovingly whimsical to my ears.
And… much improved R1 and R2 triggers (they’re supposed to be friendlier for shooter fans), better gripping analog sticks, and textured backing on those handles to insure a comfy hold, are all great things too. Again, it’s not a radical departure of Sony’s well-recognized controller, but seeing how a good majority of folks favor the current Dual Shock, why would you fix something if it isn’t broke?
Overall, I’m kind of pleased with the DualShock 4… well, for now. Right before the point Sony pooches it up royally by doing whose know what. Don’t worry about us here at Walyou pooching something up, we know our stuff when it comes to covering things like what to know about the PlayStation 4 and transparent smart phones of the future.
