Post by x-champ-x on Feb 20, 2013 22:26:13 GMT -5
DUALSHOCK 4 Revealed: Pushing the Boundaries of Play
+ Posted by "Filthie" Rich Bantegui // NAMCO BANDAI Games Community Manager
Hi Everyone! It’s a special day at PlayStation, and I hope all of you had a chance to watch the livestream
of PlayStation Meeting 2013 in New York, where we just unveiled
PlayStation 4. One of the most exciting components of our
next-generation platform is DUALSHOCK 4, the new wireless controller
that combines with PlayStation 4 to deliver new gameplay experiences
that have never been possible before.
I’d like to give you a tour of DUALSHOCK 4 and the features that will
provide game developers the freedom to create brand new experiences
that previously were limited to their imaginations.
Design
DUALSHOCK 4 adopts the familiar form factor of the DUALSHOCK 3 wireless controller with some key enhancements:
- Motion control is enabled by a new highly sensitive six-axis sensor
- Dual analog sticks fine-tuned for better precision plus improved surface materials and shape for more delicate manipulation
- L2/R2 buttons on the top of the controller employ a curved design for easier, smoother interaction
- A new “Options” button combines the functions of the DUALSHOCK 3’s “Select” and “Start” buttons for operating in-game menus
New Ways to Play, Share and Connect
In addition to these features that build on the controls that you
already know, DUALSHOCK 4 offers new features that enable new ways to
play, a key part of the PS4 experience. One of the biggest innovations
we’ve designed centers on the deep social interactions that will
surround all games on PS4.
The “Share” button allows you to easily broadcast your gameplay in
real-time through streaming sites such as Ustream, where fellow gamers
can comment and even join your game in new ways. For example, if you’re
stuck in a difficult level, your friends can offer health potions or
special weapons that you can use during gameplay. You can also instantly
upload images or video to Facebook by pressing the “Share” button. As
both a developer and a gamer, I’m personally excited about the
opportunity to get help from friends when facing a challenge, and I
can’t wait to see what my friends are playing in real time along with
videos of their favorite in-game moments.
On the front side of DUALSHOCK 4 is a light bar with LED that
illuminate in various colors to match the color of the character in a
game as a simple way to identify players. The colors can also provide
useful information to players, such as when their character has taken
damage during a game. DUALSHOCK 4 was developed alongside a second
peripheral, a dual camera which can sense the depth of the environment
in front of it and also track the 3D location of the controller via its
light bar. The new camera incorporates four microphones capable of
accurate sound detection and source origination, and it will support the
PlayStation Move motion controller with more precision than ever
before.
DUALSHOCK 4 also has a touchpad at the front of the controller as a
new input method, offering more ways to interact with games.
Additionally there’s a built-in speaker and headset jack to deliver
high-fidelity sound effects from the games. A headset will be bundled
with PS4, enabling gamers to chat with friends during online gaming and
to hear sound effects from the controller.
There’s a lot built into DUALSHOCK 4, and the features were all
thoughtfully designed with input from the development community (both
our internal studios and third parties) and PlayStation gamers. Our goal
was to give game creators an open canvas to express their ideas, and
DUALSHOCK 4 combined with DUALSHOCK 4 will help us achieve the future of
gaming that we at PlayStation see ahead of us.
What do you think? What’s your favorite new feature for DUALSHOCK 4?