There’s a touchpad included as part of the DualShock 4 – but there was very nearly so much more. In a report published earlier in the week, the platform holder confirmed that it had toyed with an asymmetrical analogue stick setup, and now it has revealed that it experimented with a full Wii U-esque touchscreen, before scrapping it due to poor developer feedback.
“A touchscreen was another idea that we had,” product planning manager Toshimasa Aoki told GamesBeat. “We actually tested it, but [besides cost factors], our game teams felt like having to look down at the controller is not what they want to do. They want to have the consumers concentrated on the big picture that they show [on the TV].”
It’s a complaint that’s cropped up in regards to Nintendo’s latest console in the past, with Tekken chief Katsuhiro Harada noting that looking between screens is “distracting”. Sony actually tested up to twenty different design prototypes, before settling on the final version. “Some had no buttons, just touch panels,” Aoki added. “Some were rounded. [We did] all of this crazy stuff.”
Guerrilla Games has mentioned in the past that it outright rejected the platform holder’s touch-based trial. We reckon that the final input device is a huge leap forward over the DualShock 3, but we’re a little disappointed that the firm didn’t manage to squeeze in those rumoured heart rate monitors, too.
[source venturebeat.com, via gamespot.com]
Comments 16
Still better than a touchpad, in my opinion.
@Epic To be honest, I agree. Would have increased the cost, though, so I'm glad they just stuck with the pad.
Good because the Dev's would been up at arms about the "Gamepad" situation which plague Nintendo right now and that's one of the reason's why hardly no 3rd Party Dev's jumped on board to develop titles for the platform. It's not the worst idea though but it's better to have the traditional pad in my opinion.
That would make it so difference in multiconsole game I suppose (at least with xboxone)
At least with touch pad it won't be too much different as long as it's not forced
I think a big difference is the size. (subconscious pun) I think Nintendo was/is counting on off-screen play, especially for it's collection of VC games, as much as 2nd screenplay, hence the U(you) in the name. Now if they could only extend the range so it worked over an entire house it would be useful.
And had Apple not come out w/ the iPad after Nintendo had started on it (or so that's the way Nintendo likes to tell the story) imagine how cool the Gamepad would have been i fannounced in a tablet free world.
The DS screen looks more like an updated Dremacast VMU more than the Wii U's Gamepad.
Poor Dreamcast - it had a controller screen, and a portable Chao raising one at that, a built in modem for online play, a web browser, a VGA adaptor for some nice graphics, but nobody ever gives it any credit for anything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKiegkfExn8
For any young-uns, that's not the Dreamcast controller, that's the Dreamcast's memory card. Now that's how you make a proprietary memory card.
I think their developer feedback comment is a bit of a shame. Does it mean that they are not actually going to put any effort into Vita/PS4 dual screening?
@D3athBr1ng3r187 the gamepad definitely detracts from some traditional gaming experiences on Wii U but devs complaining about using it is just a cop out due to their lack of imagination or publishers not allowing them to use resources on the gamepad. Off-TV play is great but so far the best uses of the pad have been purely for local multiplayer.
@rjejr Pretty much everything we take for granted this gen was there at the start of the previous gen with the Dreamcast. It was a full gen ahead of its time. Such a shame that some young uns have no idea what a Dreamcast is. Having the VMU beep and show info plugged into the controller while playing is still just as awesome today when I play my Dreamcast than it was back then.
Im kinda glad sony just decided to use touchpad. If the 3DS touchscreen is any indication, Id hardly look at it or even use it. Maybe the devs could work some second-screen mechanics into games when a Vita is connected to the Ps4. With remote play being mandatory, controls will already be done for remote play so a Vita could be used as a controller on Ps4.
That controller looks pretty sick
i still can't help but feel that the screen is holding the WiiU back and if it just had the Pro Controller then the WiiU may be in a better position
Glad someone's thinking. I like the Wii U, but the touch pad itself isn't a good idea, nor is it that useful. It's hard enough to look at a screen that's close to another screen, at least you still have periferal vision there. But having to look down at your lap is far worse.
@CanisWolfred That's one reason why I think secondsscreen gaming won't take off. Remote Play is fine because what you're playing is being streamed to your Vita, but not many people can be bothered with playing on a TV and ipad-- I mean gamepad at the same time, it's just too distracting.
@CanisWolfred I think the touchpad is great. Maybe it helps with navigation in the menu's ? Or typing something. It's far better than typing a message with a the old dualshock. Oohw well voice chat right:D
"We've already taken a regular screen and put some buttons around it; introducing regular buttons with a screen inside it! What's the difference, you ask? Tangibly nothing!"
To bad, I love the second screen on my Wii U GamePad. For example, the touch screen inventory menu for Wind Waker HD is so much better then the menu for Wind Waker (GCN).
@Ali247 does sick mean good or bad? I'm not down with the kids?
It means good lol
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