AWKWARD ZOMBIE

So, a thread for discussing the newly "revealed" PS4. Opinions, etc.

Honestly, the controller looks ugly. The PlayStation controllers were always so good, and now the analogue sticks look super awkward and uncomfortable.

I never really liked the dualshock controllers, so it was meh to begin with.

I'm still iffy on what was shown, because it still screams tech demos and non-finalized graphics to me and I think it's overall too hyped. Plus, for it being released by the end of the year, the lack of definite details, including a display of the PS4 hardware is shooting red flags. If people hate it at E3, there's almost no time for an overhaul. I think it'll get pushed back to 2014, or else it'll be rushed out and the games won't be there (I.E. every Sony product since the PSP).

Also, lol touchpad.

I liked the dualshock controls, why change what isnt broke?

It's been a pretty nice strategy for nintendo lately. (granted they do offer normal controls too, though)

Yeah, for a motion controller, which is and remains a shit gimmick. One that makes oodles of cheddar, so I cant exactly fault Sony for aping it, but still

Because almost always, controller sales go with new consoles, and often help their bottom line.

Sony is notorious for selling consoles at a loss.

They're probably going to want/need every penny they can get out of the consumers for this.

Wii U's bottom line was probably hurt a bit by reusing Wii Remotes, though it's a big plus for people to upgrade that they don't need a similar substitute.

You know, I keep hearing this, why doesnt Sony stop making consoles with tech they cant afford yet?

Yeah, the analogue sticks do look pretty damned weird.

I've said in the General Games thread that I like the touchpad. I think it's a good way to add more functionality to a basic controller without dramatically increasing it's overall size, shape, or (hopefully) weight. It also lets you keep your focus on the TV while letting hand-eye coordination do its thing with simple swipes across the touchpad with your thumbs or fingers. All the regular sticks, buttons, and triggers are still there, so I don't see the big deal. That share button, though? That's just plain stupid. I'm not that big a fan of Sony; I just think the touchpad on the controller is an interesting idea with potential.

In my eye there are levels of distinction.

Games that have you flailing around like a jackass = bullshit

Games where a flick will do the one action that is motion controlled (super mario galaxy) = perfectly fine

Games where the controls actually have a modicum of thought put into them (Zack and Wiki, Skyward Sword) = really great

Because people expect them to be top of the line to differentiate themselves from the competition.

The PS2 ran with the DVD player because they felt it would help sales (and it did because they hit the market at the perfect time).

They felt they had to step up with the PS3, especially since the PS2 was the worst graphics-wise, and so they thought they could make the Blu-ray player a selling point, and it would justify the high cost (which was still sold at a loss).

The point is, they hope that, in the long run, they'll make more than they lose because manufacturing costs will go down within a year.

Unfortunately, it hasn't been working well recently, and with expectations being very high for a successor to the PS3... there's going to be problems with going against the grain.

Sony's gotta hit this one out of the park though, and hopefully their E3 will be better than this.

I'm worried the touchpad will be too small to do much effectively though. It's got to be the right balance between size to do things with, and not being too big to be cumbersome.

If the touchpad is anything like the one on my laptop it'll start registering clicks and zooming the screen in/out for no reason whatsoever.

Crossposting from general game thread:
To sum up the conference:
Specs:
vague, the word PC was repeated a couple of times

Graphics:
Seem on par with current highest end computers, assuming those demos were actually real time

Controller:
Looks ugly, has a touch pad and a share button

Features:
To sum it up, you'll be able to instantly stream and record your game to the internet by pressing the share button. There is also a cloud system allowing you to try out full games for free without downloading them. Combining those two might allow you to watch a friend play a game, and jump in to help him even if you don't have the game.
An odder thing is the facebook-esque tracking of your preferences, which will probably influence the advertisements shown for you. This will go as far as to pre-download games you might like before you even bought them
No backwards compatibility (surprise, surprise)

Pricetag:
Not mentioned

Console itself:
Not shown (probably because they haven't finalised the design yet and didn't want to show a butt ugly prototype)

Games:
Klanck
Infamous 3: Second Son
Driving Club
Diablo III (lol wut)
Watch_dogs
Killzone: Shadow Fall
New Final Fantasy (no trailer or anything shown, just an old tech demo)
New Dragon's Dogma (codename Deep Down)
Destiny
The Witness


For starters, what would you use the touchpad for that can't already be done with the regular controller? Secondly, it's kind of in a weird position, I don't really see how you can use it ergonomically.

It's nice that they're trying new things but I don't see the touchpad getting much use.

Syobon you butt.


This was kinda my first thought. It doesn't look close enough to use the thumbs to effectively reach and navigate with, and if you're holding it like a dual shock, your pointer fingers are either on the triggers or on the handles, and in either case, you're going to have to contort to get your pointers on it, or take a hand off to use it.

Not really sure at this point.

It's still infinitely better than those fake pictures where the sticks were replaced by trackpads or one huge pad.

Also, I just looked back again at the picture with Mark Cerny holding the controller up for everyone to see, it seems like it's small enough for me to be able to move my thumbs up to the pad and use it easily. That, or his hands are freakin' HUGE.

Touchpads are my bane as a left-handed gamer. Where's the joystick that controls the camera? To the right. Which one controls movement? The left. So for most people, they can move around as they swipe. Me? I get to stand still.

This is why I hate the rise of touch-pad gaming.