We only saw a glimpse of the new DualShock 4 controller during Sony's Meeting this morning, but they released official images of the controller for everybody to check out.
Included in the batch of images is also the first look at the PlayStation 4 Eye, Destructoid reports that the new PS Eye uses two high-sensitive cameras with wide-angle lenses that have an 85-degree diagonal angle view. I will have 4 built-in microphones and will have the ability to do facial recognition.
Hopefully the PlayStation Eye comes with the standard PS4 package, but if history repeats itself, we most likely have to buy the eye separately.
The design of both the DualShock 4 and the new PlayStation Eye is not final. Changes can be made throughout the year, but it's looking good so far.
[UPDATED] - PS Blog adds more detailed information about the new controller.
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
The share button, which got a lot of attention during the event, gives players the ability to share any image or video clip on the fly. You can even live stream your game session through streaming sites like Ustream. The share button also allows spectating players to help you out in a difficult part in the game.
At the front, the LED light can illuminated various color and can be used to differentiate characters and players. The LED light can also be used to indicate if the player has taken damage for example.
The controller was developed with the new PlayStation Eye in mind. A peripheral that has 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 touchpad adds another new input for the players to interact with certain games. It also has a built-in speaker and headphone jack.
The Sony PlayStation meeting is now over and the PlayStation 4 is now officially announced. All the details and game reveals below.
Opening the PlayStation Meeting, they instantly announce the PlayStation 4. I was hoping for a new name, but I'll take it. What's great about this presentation is that they explained the features and specs of the new console quick and simple, then went straight to the games.
The PlayStation 4 specs and features
The PS4 features a supercharged PC architecture, with a x86 architecture CPU, an enhanced PC GPU, and 8GB of GDDR5 system memory (PS3 currently has only 512 MB of system RAM, a big leap). This all means that the PS4 can make nearly two teraflops of computations a second. These specs make developers fell less constricted when developing their games for the PS4, Sony says.
The PlayStation 4's specs provide the ability to play any game while you're downloading. So updating your game via patch, or downloading new DLC can now happen in the background while playing. Sleep state is now also available - You can turn off the PS4 and resume where you left off. The power of the PS4 was shown with a real-time demonstration of Epic Game's Unreal Engine 4.
Another feature for the PlayStation 4 is remote play - Allowing players to transfer the game currently played on your HD TV, into your PS Vita. This was demonstrated when introducing their first official title for the PlayStation 4 - Knack. They haven't confirmed if this feature can be used on all games.
DualShock 4 controller revealed
After they announced the PlayStation 4, they reveal the controller. Similar design to the traditional PlayStation controller with added features:
Touchpad: The Dual Shock controller has a touchpad in between the d-pad and the face buttons. They haven't added much detail on it, but it's strongly familiar to the back touchpad seen in the PS Vita.
The Share button: A lot of rumors mentioned about Sony adding a share button, and they were spot on. The added button gives the player the ability to share any moment during a game session to your friends with a press of a button. A video clip, a screenshot, even the ability to ask a friend within PSN to take control of your controller via his own PS4, and to help you in a difficult part in a game. This feature is thanks to Gaikai joining the PS4.
LED and motion tracker: The LED found above the controller has a built-in motion tracker which has somewhat similar functions if you compare it with the PS Move. The LED can illuminate various colors to either differentiate characters and players during a game, or add extra info like if you have taken damage.
Analog Sticks: A bit of a change in looks. The analog sticks now have rims around its edges which I'm guessing is done to get a better grip of the stick with your thumb. The gap between both sticks seems to be wider as well.
Triggers: For the Dual Shock 4, the annoying and, at times, slippery R2 triggers, has been changed. Instead of the R2 triggers being convex, it's more straight making it easier to press or hold. L1 and R1 triggers are more rounded as well.
The Dual Shock 4 controller is said to be faster and stronger. The options button is now also location on the upper right of the touchpad, with the share button on the opposite side. The controller has a built-in mono speaker and sixaxis motion sensor system. Less latency and enhanced rumble. Of course, we'll only know if this new controller is more responsive if we actually get to hold it in our hand.
After all of the talk about the PlayStation 4, they went on with the games. have a look at everything that was shown, plus other reveals:
Knack
Killzone: Shadowfall
DriveClub
inFAMOUS: Second Son
The Witness
Deep Down (working title)
Deep Down is Capcom's new IP for the Playstation 4. Together with the new IP announcement, they also revealed their new engine called the Panta Rhei. Deep Down will be the first game to use this engine on the PS4, and it really shows. I think this is the most graphically appealing reveal during this press conference.
Watch Dogs
Ubisoft's new IP Watch Dogs is confirmed as a next-gen title. During the announcement, a new demo was shown giving a bigger idea on the game's sandbox gameplay.
New Game engine from Quantic Dream
Quantic Dream (Heavy Rain, Beyond: Two Souls) went on stage but sadly did not reveal a new game. What they did show is a new game engine running on the PlayStation 4 showing the emotions that are now possible thanks to the console. A real-time demo shows an old man reacting to the light, showing a lot of the new facial animation.
Media Molecule reveals new PS4 design tool using the PS Move
Media Molecule didn't show the next littleBigPlanet, but they did showcase what's possible with the new PS4 design tool together with the PS Move. they showed examples of digital shapes being sculpted using the PS Move, and also giving users the ability to animate a scene using the Move.
Square Enix working on new Final Fantasy for PS4, wait for E3 they say
Square took center stage and showed the Agni's Philosophy tech demo being played in real-time using the PS4. Square's new game engine - Luminous, is definitely next-gen software and will be used for future games. Square also announced that a new Final fantasy is in development and we should stay tuned on this year's E3.
Bungie's Destiny coming to the PS4, even on PS3
Bungie revealed that their recently announced title Destiny will be hitting the PS4. They also revealed that the online shooter will be available for the PS3 as well. A trailer was played showing new gameplay footage.
Blizzard partners with Sony. brings Diablo 3 to the PS4
One of the most surprising reveal during the event was Blizzard partnering with Sony. Diablo 3 will be the first to get affected by this partnership since the action RPG is now heading to the PlayStation 3 and 4. No date given, but expect console news from Blizzard from now on.
PlayStation 4 coming this holiday 2013
At the end of the presentation, Sony reveals that the PS4 will be available this holiday. No price was given. Even the console wasn't shown yet. It looks like Sony is not throwing all their cards on the table just yet. But I'm positive we'll have a look at the console and a price announcement during this year's E3, which is coming this June.
Irrational Games released today a new trailer for BioShock: Infinite called Lamb of Columbia. In the floating city of Columbia, there's a lot of mystery - The city's history, the people who live there, the civil war in Columbia, that damn songbird we keep seeing, and more importantly, Elizabeth.
Together with the release of the new trailer, Irrational Games announced that BioShock: Infinite has finally gone gold. It's finally done, and all that's left to do is mass production of the final product. It's been in development for five years, and I just can't wait to experience the world of this new BioShock game.
BioShock: Infinite is out on March 26 for Playstation 3, Xbox 360, and PC.
[UPDATE] - A new video was released which focuses on the classic games of PlayStation.
Ever since Sony informed the world that they have a big announcement planned on February 20, they have been releasing YouTube videos looking back at the history of PlayStation, making it more clear that this big meeting happening this week could potentially be the next PlayStation console reveal. Each video gives us a quick history lesson of how PlayStation has evolved through the years, talking about each hardware released so far.
The Beginning
PlayStation 2
PlayStation Portable and Playstation Vita
PlayStation 3
Evolution of PlayStation: Games
Sony is keeping quiet about this February 20 announcement but it's pretty clear at this point that we'll be seeing the next PlayStation. If not, then they sure fooled us. The PlayStation 3 was released in 2005, so another console coming in on 2013 sounds about right, what's surprising is that it's rumored to be available at the end of the year.
I'm ready for another PlayStation console. While I do think the PlayStation 3 has a couple of years left, It's about time we see a glimpse on how the next generation of gaming would look like in the future. For me, as long as it's not motion control heavy and still requires you to have a controller to play, I'm all good.
This big announcement is coming on February 20, 6PM Eastern Standard Time, which is February 21 at 6 AM in the Philippines.
Bungie has finally lift the lid on their new project with Activision. The first look comes as a ViDoc which shows and explains the now independent developer's vision for Destiny. Check it out below.
Bungie also released the official description of the game via Bungie's forums:
Everything changed with the arrival of the Traveler. It sparked a Golden Age when our civilization spanned our solar system, but it didn't last. Something hit us, knocked us down. The survivors built a city beneath the Traveler, and have begun to explore our old worlds, only to find them filled with deadly foes.
You are a Guardian of the last safe city on Earth, able to wield incredible power. Defend the City. Defeat our enemies. Reclaim all that we have lost.
Key features:
-The next evolution of entertainment - an incredible story set within a newly-imagined, always-connected universe filled with action and adventure.
-Create your character, forge your legend by defeating powerful foes, and earn unique and customized weapons, gear and vehicles.
-Unprecedented variety of FPS gameplay that redefines the genre breaks traditional conventions of story, cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, combined with public and social activities.
Destiny is an online game and requires internet connection at all times, even when you play solo. bungie quickly clarified that this game will not have any monthly subscriptions, but also won't be Free-To-Play, which confirms that this game is somewhat an MMO-ish kind of experience. The ex-halo developers is really focusing on the social aspect in the game, hoping that this game will be something you'd like to play with friends for hours. There won't be any main menus to pair up players, everything will be done in-game. The best way i can describe a concept like this is that it may be similar to the online features of PS3's exclusive PSN title Journey - You play and explore the game, then you will stumble upon another player that might be going the same way, so you decide to work together.
With gameplay, it's going to be very familiar since this is Bungie after all, and we know damn well that they do good with FPS. The game will definitely have a competitive side, but they haven't talked into detail on how it will work in this world.
It's hard to pinpoint Destiny's genre aside from it being a FPS, but Activision is calling this a “shared world shooter”. GameIndustry reports that Destiny will have persistent worlds with sandbox-like elements.
Players will be able to customize their guardians looks, weapons, abilities, and even their own ship which can be used to travel from planet to planet. There are three confirmed classes so far - The Hunter, the Warlock, and the Titan. Not much details on the classes at this point.
Destiny will be available on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, but no PC. This is a bit strange and I'm sure a lot of PC gamers are outraged by this decision. Bungie considers themselves a "console shooter", so don't expect any PC port anytime soon. No release date was give, but is expected to launch this year.
Released concept art of the game can be seen below.
UPDATE: Activision confirms that Destiny is not set for a 2013 release, when? To be announced...
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We only saw a glimpse of the new DualShock 4 controller during Sony's Meeting this morning, but they released official images of the controller for everybody to check out.
