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Could We Dim The LED Light On DS4? “Sounds Reasonable”

Ben-Dutka 32 Comments

The battery life of the Dual Shock 4 controller isn't that great, as you know.

The LED light has been blamed for that shorter battery life, and gamers have been wondering if Sony could do anything about it.

Previously, PS4 owners asked Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida if there'd be any way to disable the light bar in the future; specifically, for games that don't make use of the feature. Yoshida responded bluntly, "No." But maybe there's another way to save some juice…

One gamer asked Yoshida on his Twitter page if dimming the light might be a possibility. Yoshida wasn't nearly as dismissive this time, responding- "sounds reasonable." If Sony can make that happen, maybe they can indeed lengthen the lifespan of the PS4 controller. That light can be somewhat distracting sometimes, too.

Hope you've got two Dual Shock 4 controllers so one is always charging!

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Share Feature Recording Random Footage After PS4 Update?

Ben-Dutka 10 Comments

The nifty new Share button on the Dual Shock 4 controller is a great feature.

…when it works.

Users have been complaining about a bug that throws a wrench into the awesome concept- the Share button records the wrong footage. Irritated DS4 owners took to Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida's Twitter page , and the attentive head honcho is now well aware.

As you can see by the responses, he asked questions about whether or not it happens all the time, and which games it seems to affect. It appears that after the most recent system update, the Share button records totally random footage for some people. That's sort of a problem, especially if you've got a bad-ass segment of footage you're just dying to share with friends. Yoshida said he appreciated the feedback and it seems Sony is going to look into the problem.

I'm always leery of system updates in the early days of a new generation. Remember all the updates that would brick PS3s in those first years? Happened to the Xbox 360, too. I always cringe when I download a mandatory update…God only knows what might happen.

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Sony: No Update To Disable Light Bar On Dual Shock 4

Ben-Dutka 57 Comments

The battery life of the Dual Shock 4 isn't especially impressive, as many new PS4 owners will tell you.

Perhaps one of the reasons it isn't great is because of the controller's light bar, which may require unnecessary battery power. We say "unnecessary" because not all games make use of the light bar.

As such, many gamers have been wondering if Sony will release an update that will disable the bar for titles that don't need it. Unfortunately, that won't be happening; a fan asked Sony Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida on Twitter if such an update was coming, to which Yoshida simply replied: "No." It's probably a good idea to invest in a charging station, or at the very least, have two controllers so one is always charging while the other is being used. I did that with my PS3 controllers; worked out fine.

Do you have a problem with the lifespan of the new Dual Shock 4?

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Using The Dual Shock 4 Touchpad In Thief Is “Really Intuitive”

Ben-Dutka 11 Comments

The Dual Shock 4's touchpad has been a common topic of conversation among gamers.

Is it just a gimmick? Or does it really enhance the overall experience? Well, Thief developer Eidos Montreal feels it's the latter, because they're effectively using the touchpad for the upcoming reboot.

In speaking to GamingBolt , level designer Steven Gallagher talked about how the touchpad is extra intuitive:

"The PS4 touchpad is used to quickly select items from your inventory and switch arrowheads – it’s really intuitive and people that have played it really like it. We also have the light on the front of the pad changing color to indicate when you step out into the light – it flashes white when you step into the light and goes dark blue when you’re in shadow. It’s subtle but when you’re playing in a darkened room it’s really cool and helps you know when you’re in danger."

Gallagher also referenced the length of the campaign, which is always important in any game that doesn't feature a multiplayer component. He didn't give an exact number, but he did say that those who want to find all the hidden treasures and explore to their heart's content will appreciate the "huge city." If you'd rather be more aggressive, obviously, it won't take you as long. You should definitely stop and smell the roses!

Maybe the best recent example of that is Dishonored , where the length really depended almost entirely on your play style. As for the touchpad, I still say it's little more than an unnecessary feature, but if used correctly, I'm sure it'll work out fine. You used the OWL drone in Killzone: Shadow Fall with the touchpad and that was quick and easy, so…

Thief is scheduled to launch for next-gen platforms in February.

Related Game(s): Thief

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Yoshida Cancels Dinner Plans Due To “Addictive” Share Feature

Ben-Dutka 23 Comments

Have you tried that nifty new Share feature? Apparently, once you use it, you just can't stop.

The Share button on the Dual Shock 4 allows players to stream game footage via the PlayStation 4 so others can see their progress. And SCE Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida just loves it.

As reported by DualShockers , Yoshida has been streaming quite a bit of gameplay from his personal PS4. He explained why during the "Kurokawa School: Thinking the Future of Entertainment" roundtable, which also included Comcept founder Keiji Inafune. Yoshida said that Share is "absolutely addictive if you try it out" and in fact, he canceled dinner plans so he could keep live-streaming his games.

He also added:

"You receive tips on gameplay, tricks and impressions in the comments from the audience, it’s fun like playing with other guys."

It's definitely a useful and impressive feature, and one that really sets the PS4 apart in my eyes. I won't use it too often myself, but I can definitely see why others would get a big kick out of it.

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Dual Shock 4, PS4 Camera Unveiled In New Unboxing Video

Ben-Dutka 18 Comments

As you may have noticed in checking around the Internet recently, a lot of people are already coming home with the advanced Dual Shock 4 and the new Eye camera.

If you don't have yours yet, how's about checking out an unboxing video for both accessories? This is courtesy of Arm Length Interviews and it shows off both the DS4 and the camera, both of which feature obvious improvements.

Personally, I don't care much about that central touch pad on the front of the PS4 controller, but the rest of it looks great. The concave triggers and analog sticks should make control that much better (no slippety-slipping off the R2/L2 buttons any more), and I like that Sony maintained the standard format. I know they toyed with the idea of ditching the iconic X, O, Square, Triangle setup and I'm really glad they didn't.

As for the camera, I probably won't use it much but it certainly looks like it's well designed. What do you think?