PS3 games could get touch controls

Naughty Dog already started the Wii U vs PS Vita debate ealier this month, claiming that the handheld system, when paired with the PS3, could deliver an experience similar to the Wii U. Sony too confirmed that games like Ruin allow players to seamlessly switch between PS3 and PS Vita gameplay, much the same way the Wii U tablet can operate games free from the TV.

Now the company says that the handheld could even be used as a PS3 controller, allowing games that utilize the functionality to implement control schemes that take advantage of the PS Vita's unique touch screens and gyroscope. Sony Europe R&D manager Phil Rogers explains:

PS3 can send data down to Vita and Vita can display it. You could use the unique features - gyroscope, touch front and back - as a control device for a PS3 game.

You can run software on both devices and use the network to sync the game states. And that's pretty good, because you then have the processing power of PS3 doing that work, Vita [doing] fancy graphics - however you want to do it. You're not sacrificing the PS3's CPU to be able to have a rich experience on Vita.

Rogers also says Sony will have several PSN titles for launch that utilize cross-platform gaming, dubbed "Continuation Play."

At launch we're going to have some PSN features that work across both platforms. You could access data on each side and access scoreboards, for example. We're building on that.

Even Remote Play, which streams PS3 content to a remote Vita screen, is already up and running on the device. Down the line, Rogers says that existing PS3 games could be patched for Vita compatibility and make use of these new features.

[source eurogamer.net]